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The MFTHBA has received several questions regarding when campers may arrive prior to the World Show and Celebration.  The campground officially opens on Monday August 29; however, we recognize many members would like to utilize the weekend to set their trailers.  For those individuals that need to bring their trailers on Sunday August 28, they are welcome to do so.  We do request that those coming in that early do not turn on their air conditioners until they return.  “We understand that many people would like to plug in the refrigerators so they are cold when they arrive; however, it would help the show’s expenses for individuals not to run their air conditions while they are not on site,” shared Dr. Graening.

Individuals setting their trailers early should be aware that once their trailer is set, the grass around their spot will not be mowed.

If you have any questions, please contact the MFTHBA office at (417) 683-2468 or foxtrot@mfthba.com

At the 2016 Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity, exhibitors were encouraged to provide feedback on ways to improve show policies and procedures.  One suggestion received was a request for exhibitors in split classes to know their split class assignment when they leave the show office versus having to wait till the office closes.

“It is important to that we look for ways to make the entry process convenient for our exhibitors,” said Dr. Joyce Graening, MFTHBA President.

To address this suggestion, a new process will be tested at the World Show and Celebration.  As exhibitors enter designated split classes at the show office, the entry personnel will assign the exhibitor to a split class.  The first person to enter the class will be able to select which split they would like to enter.  After the initial entry, class assignments will be done utilizing an “every other one” assignment process.  Show entry personnel will not be authorized to alter this process.  No exhibitor, except the initial entry, will be able to select which split they enter.

Once the appropriate class is determined, the entry personnel will write the exhibitor number on the split class entry sheet.  The exhibitor will then enter that class number on their entry form.  Show office personnel will enter the exhibitor in the assigned class number.  The class number will then appear on the exhibitors receipt.  No splits will be posted after the entries close.  Exhibitors are responsible for being prepared for the appropriate class.

This process will be re-evaluated following the end of the 2016 World Show and Celebration to determine if it addressed the needs of our exhibitors.  The MFTHBA encourages exhibitors to utilize the “Idea Box” in the show office to provide feedback on the process.

Exhibitors had fun showing off their dogs at the first dog show in 2015. The second annual event promises to provide more fun.

When you drive around the MFTHBA World Headquarters during the World Show and Celebration, you quickly realize that Missouri Fox Trotting Horse owners love their dogs.  Relaxing at the stalls, riding on golf carts, and napping in the camper, there are cute, adorable puppies all over the grounds.

“Last year’s dog show was a great success!  We are looking forward to even more entries and laughs this year,” shared Amy Stangl, MFTHBA Membership Committee Chairman. Monica Daugherty, MFTHBA Membership Committee member, has taken the lead on organizing the event.

This fun event will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 9, in the Dale Esther Arena.  Eight classes will be held with all participating pooches receiving a treat.  Special awards will also be given for the top 5 places in each class.

“We hope people will just have a good time with it,” shared Stangl. “This isn’t meant to be a serious dog show, but just a way for everyone to have fun and maybe even laugh a little.”

Entries will be taken in the office starting Monday, September 5.  After noon on Friday, entries will be taken on the south side of the Dale Esther Arena.  Entering early is encouraged.

Exhibitors are encouraged to start making plans now to show their favorite dog!

MFTHBA’s 2^nd Annual Fun Dog Show

2pm at the Main Arena on Friday, September 9

1. Any Breed Puppy (up to 12 months old)
2. Toy/ Small Dog Breed (Height 14 inches & below)

3. Medium to Large Dog Breed ( Height 14 inches and above)
4. Junior Handler (11yr old and under with parents)
5. Trick Class (Any tricks your dogs do)
6. Ugliest Dog
7. Cutest Dog
8. Dog Costume Class

** Entry fee = $5 per dog per class

**All dogs need to abide by the MFTHBA’s vicious dog policy. Please have your dog current on their vaccinations.

The MFTHBA Membership Committee has announced their educational seminar series for the 2016 World Show and Celebration.  Four seminars have been scheduled for Monday, September 5.  All seminars will be held in the Special Events Tent located on Vendor Row.  All attendees should bring their own chair.

The education series will kick off with a clinic on saddle fitting presented by Hedgpeth Saddlery.  During this session, attendees will learn what they should look for in choosing a saddle that will properly fit their horse.  This session will begin at 9:30 a.m.

At 10:45 a.m., Dr. Erin McQueen of McQueen Animal Chiropractic will be conducting a demonstration and sharing her knowledge on Equine Chiropractic with attendees.  Dr. McQueen’s presentation will include a hands on demonstration, followed by a question and answer session.  Dr. McQueen will be available for additional appointments after the seminar.  You can reserve your time by contacting her directly at 515-509-5116 or at dr.erin@mcqueenanimalchiropractic.com.  To learn more about Dr. McQueen visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mcqueenanimalchiropractic/. This clinic is sponsored by Darrell and Kim Martin.

If you are interested in equine color, you won’t want to miss the next presentation.  At noon, Lee Yates will present on Basic Equine Color Genetics.  This event will be the perfect event to ask questions about equine colors.

The last seminar in the series will be presented by MFTHBA DQP Administrator, Randall Dennis.  This session will begin at 1:15 p.m.  This session is especially important for first time exhibitors that may not be familiar with the DQP process.  During the session, Mr. Dennis will discuss the general procedures and answer questions.  The session will start in the Special Tent on Vendor Row but will move to the DQP shed outside the warm-up arena to show attendees how the process works.

Do you have spare items in your tack room or show clothing closet?  This year’s Tack Swap at the World Show and Celebration is a perfect opportunity for attendees to sell unneeded items or find exactly what they are looking for.  The Tack Swap will take place on Monday September 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Special Events Tent on Vendor Row.

All horse related items, including show clothing, may be sold at the swap.  All tack should be in good conditions.

Space will be limited.  Individuals interested in setting up a table may do so on a first come first serve basis.  Participants may not reserve space ahead of time.  A maximum 10 foot table per seller may be used.  Sellers must bring their own table and chairs.  Set up may begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the event.

Buyers should be aware that all sales are private and between the individual participating.  The MFTHBA is not responsible for tack or other items sold at the event.

The 2015 World Show and Celebration kicked off a new way of communicating for the MFTHBA.  During last year’s Celebration, the MFTHBA launched its new mobile alert service.  This service allows those interested in MFTHBA programs and events to receive information directly to their cellular phones.  In addition to the main MFTHBA group, special groups were established for the MFTHBA’s two main events: the Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity and the World Show and Celebration.

Attendees to this year’s World Show and Celebration are encouraged to sign up for the special Celebration text group.  “We continue to get excellent feedback on the convenience of getting information via text message especially during the show,” shared Amber Wilson, 2015 MFTHBA Promotions Committee Chairman and now Region 4 Director.

Subscribers can expect to receive an increasing number of text messages as the event gets closer and during the event itself.  “We try to keep text messages to just a couple a month for most of the year but as the event gets closer, subscribers can expect one per week.  During the event itself there may be several per day,” shared Ms. Wilson.

Signing up for the text group is open to anyone interested; however, there may be fees associated depending on the subscriber’s cellular phone plan.

Starting Monday September 5 through Friday September 9, subscribers to the World Show and Celebration group will be randomly selected to win gift bags provided by the MFTHBA Promotions Committee.  All subscribers are eligible.  The winner will be randomly selected by the MFTHBA mobile alerts service provider.  Winners will receive a text message alerting them to their winnings.  Winner must be present at the show the day they receive their text to win. Prizes must be picked up in the MFTHBA the same day.

To sign up for mobile alerts for the World Show and Celebration simply text MFTCELEBRATION to 41411.

The MFTHBA Membership Committee will host their third annual MFTHBA Membership Dinner on Sunday September 4.  The Membership Dinner serves as the kickoff of the World Show and Celebration.

This year’s dinner is once again sponsored by the MFTHBA Membership Committee.  We would also like to recognize Joe and Jennifer Stewart who are generously sponsoring the meat portion of this year’s meal! Thanks to the Stewart’s generosity this year’s meal will feature pulled pork and chicken.

Dinner will be served at the Versatility Arena from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday September 4.   This event is FREE to MFTHBA members who RSVP using the online link or call the MFTHBA office at 417-683-2468 by Sunday August 28th.  The first 250 people to RSVP will receive a special commemorative gift.

Nonmembers may join us for $5.  All attendees are requested to bring their lawn chairs.

Online Registration Form

In just five short months, Missouri Fox Trotting Horse enthusiasts from around the world will arrive at the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA) World Headquarters in Ava, Missouri, to celebrate the versatility of the smooth gaited Missouri Fox Trotting Horse.

This year’s World Show and Celebration will be held September 5-10, 2016. Long time attendees will notice that this year’s show will begin on Monday rather than on Sunday. “The 2015 World Show and Celebration was extremely successful, but we are always looking for ways to improve. Our attendees from across the country have expressed an interest in shortening the show to make it easier for them to travel,” shared Dr. Graening. “This meets the trend of a number of large horse shows around the country, too.”

The MFTHBA Board of Directors asked the MFTHBA Show Committee to review the numbers to make recommendations on classes that may need to be removed or combined to ensure all classes had a strong participation.

While the schedule is still being finalized, preliminary information presented to the MFTHBA Board of Directors in February indicated that enough classes would be combined, and the schedule would be reworked to shorten the show.

One of the most unique world shows in the equine breed, the World Show and Celebration will still offer all Missouri Fox Trotting Horse enthusiasts an opportunity to celebrate the versatility of the breed. Attendees can expect all the same great activities, including show ring competition, trail obstacle challenge, organized trail rides, along with social and educational activities.

More information on scheduled activities will be posted over the next several months.

Participants in the National Trail Rides at the 2015 World Show and Celebration might walk away with a $50 gift certificate to the vendors at the show. “The World Show and Celebration is a true celebration of all the things we love about the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse,” shared Amber Wilson, MFTHBA Promotions Committee. “We wanted to do something special for those individuals that come to the Celebration to participate in the MFTHBA sponsored National Trail Rides.” A truly unique event, the World Show and Celebration includes World Championship competition in performance, model, versatility and ranch horse events. In addition, it incorporates organized trail rides, trail obstacle challenge competition, clinics and other social events. The annual event is the MFTHBA’s celebration of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse.

Co-sponsored by the MFTHBA Trail and Promotions Committee, each participant in the scheduled National Trail Rides will receive a raffle ticket for the drawing. “We will be handing out tickets daily to those participating in the rides,” said Stephen Assenmacher, MFTHBA Trail Committee Chair. “Then we will have a drawing during the first several classes of the evening session of the show.” Drawings will be held Monday through Friday with just those attending that day’s ride being eligible to win that evening.

“We hope the National Trail Ride participants will come back to the showgrounds following the ride to support those participating in the evening session of the show,” added Assenmacher.

World Show and Celebration National Trail Ride Schedule

Monday, September 7         Letsinger Farm Ride

Tuesday, September 8       Elk Ranch Ride

Wednesday, September 9 Corbitt Potter (Mark Twain National Forest)

Thursday, September 10   Crystal Lake Ranch

Friday, September 11         Assumption Abbey – Bryant Creek

All rides meet and leave across from the MFTHBA showgrounds. Meet and leave time is 9:00 am for the Monday ride. All others meet and leave for the trailhead at 8:30 am and rides will start at 10:OOam. Bring a sack lunch. We recommend that all horses be shod.

For information contact the MFTHBA Trail committee chairman, Steve Assenmacher at 417-796-2912

Special Note: MFTHBA members from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, or 10 earn double points when they participate in the National Trail Rides at the World Show and Celebration. The National Trail Ride Program not only provides organized trail rides around the country for Missouri Fox Trotting Horse enthusiasts to participate in but they also recognize MFTHBA members for their involvement. After earning 10 points, MFTHBA members receive a beautiful belt buckle with additional awards at 20 and 30 points.

When you drive around the MFTHBA World Headquarters during the World Show and Celebration, you quickly realize that Missouri Fox Trotting Horse owners love their dogs. Relaxing at the stalls, riding on golf carts, and napping in the camper, there are cute, adorable puppies all over the grounds.

“Our committee was brainstorming something fun to do during the day at the Celebration. On one of the Membership Committee surveys, someone had shared the idea of a dog show, so we took the idea and ran with it,” shared Amy Stangl, MFTHBA Membership Committee Chairman. Monica Daugherty, MFTHBA Membership Committee member, has taken the lead on organizing the event.

This fun event will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 11, in the Dale Esther Arena. Eight classes will be held with all participating pooches receiving a treat. Special awards will also be given for the top 5 places in each class.

“We hope people will just have a good time with it,” shared Stangl. “This isn’t meant to be a serious dog show, but just a way for everyone to have fun and maybe even laugh a little.”

Entries for the classes will be taken right before the start of the show in the main arena.

Exhibitors are encouraged to start making plans now to show their favorite dog!

MFTHBA’s 1^st Fun Dog Show

2pm at the Main Arena on Friday September 11^th

1. Any Breed Puppy (up to 12 months old)
2. Toy/ Small Dog Breed (Height 14 inches & below)
3. Medium to Large Dog Breed ( Height 14 inches and above)
4. Junior Handler (11yr old and under with parents)
5. Trick Class (Any tricks your dogs do)
6. Ugliest Dog
7. Cutest Dog
8. Dog Costume Class

**Entries taken before the show starts. Entry fee = $5 per dog per class

**All dogs need to abide by the MFTHBA’s vicious dog policy. Please have your dog current on their vaccinations.

Every dog will get a treat. Special prizes 1^st through 5^th in each class.