2010 Summer Sojourn - June 17, 2010
Representatives from SASHA spent an enjoyable evening out at the Summer Sojourn fundraising event held on June 17 to support Visitation House. It was the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Visitation House and featured live music, dinner, a silent auction, a live auction of San Antonio Spurs items and a welcome by the Mayor of San Antonio, Julian Castro.
SASHA board members Sandra Arguello, Megan Beasom, Terry and Wayne Carter, Buelah Cates, Cathy Hof, and Judy Jordan were on hand to present Visitation House with a check for donations raised during the 2010 SASHA Charity Horse Show in March and sponsorships of children from Visitation House for the Special Leadline Class.
SASHA at the World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions Show - March 29, 2009
The San Antonio Saddle Horse Association (SASHA) had the privilege to be asked to promote American Saddlebreds and our Club during an afternoon of performances by the renowned Lipizzaner Stallions. The magnificent horses and their Vienna-trained riders visited San Antonio in March and held demonstrations and exhibits at the AT&T Center, home of the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs.
Our SASHA members had a wonderful time interacting with hundreds of people who attended the event. We shared information on Saddlebreds, directed people to local stables, and talked about our Charter Club before, during and after two performances.
Talented and generous SASHA members pulled together and contributed what each individual did best, and the event could not have been pulled off without everyone's efforts. Newly elected Club President Sandra Arguello pulled it all together just weeks after our Spring Show. Vice President Vanessa Wheeler supplied the technology to show the video "I Believe I Can Fly" onto a large flat digital screen and set up a second electronic slide show of more personal, locally-oriented Saddlebred pictures. Megan Beasom and Judy Jordan brought Michael Beasom's Victory Lane Farm stall drapes & chairs to turn our booth into an example of a decorated horse show tack stall setting. Stace Rust decorated the booth with our SASHA show's center ring flower plantings. Club members contributed a variety of framed pictures, from old show shots to a barrel racing Saddlebred, to a kid's Equitation photo; a dramatic presentation of the versatility of the breed.
How much can a booth table and back wall look like a decorated and draped show tack stall! The blue and yellow just popped. The film playing big on the big screen never got old, filling us- visitors and presenters alike - with admiration for the beauty and the music of our Saddlebreds. People attending the event had come to see and talk about beautiful horses. Most commented that didn't realize they would be treated to a "bonus" show outside the main arena! Terry Carter and Cathy Hof encountered several rushes for brochures and coloring pages, people standing three-deep a couple of times. Groups of youth riding clubs streamed by, and general admirers of good horses from across central Texas stopped by the booth. There was much general conversation about what it would be like to ride a Saddlebred that Michael Beasom of Victory Lane Farm made the offer of a lesson or ride if the opportunity presented itself. And of course there was sharing memories of past shows or encounters with the Saddlebreds. It was gratifying that our breed is so fondly remembered.
We couldn't have managed as well without the spouses who did so much of the "heavy lifting": Bob Arguello, Michael Beasom, Wayne Carter, Al Hof, and David Wheeler. We were a well oiled horse-event machine.
SASHA is ready to go anywhere with the American Saddlebred story. We have ideas for improvement in our exhibit and look forward to the next opportunity to build an exhibit and extol the virtues and beauty of the Saddlebred. Our booth was beautiful and very professionally presented due to the willingness of our talented members to contribute their time. We are justly proud and we had a really fun time in the process.
Check out the photos!