American Morgan Horse Institute

For Immediate Release:
Date: October 22, 2008
Contact: Linda Hall-734-697-5937 - lindahall2@comcast.net

Shelburne, Vermont - September 16, 2008 — The American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI) Board of Trustees today adopted a resolution to build an American Morgan Horse Pavilion at the Kentucky Horse Park with a targeted opening of Spring 2010. The AMHA offices and the American Morgan Museum will remain headquartered in Shelburne, Vermont.

“This is a landmark decision for the Morgan world”, remarked Bob Morgan, President of AMHI, and a member of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Board. “The Pavilion will showcase the Morgan breed and stand as a lasting tribute to its legacy and vitality.”

A committee of prominent AMHI Trustees has been appointed to oversee the project. Chairman Richard Hawkins is proud to announce the following members of the committee: Susan Fu, Elaine Galatz , Jack Gatewood, Arthur Perry, Frances Pugh, Mona Skager, and Jill Smith

Designed by the award-winning architect and Morgan owner, Kee Fu of Dragonsmeade, the main level of the 15,000 square foot Pavilion will house an Immersive Theater, exhibits highlighting the Morgan in History; in Art; in Sport and the Morgan today, interactive kiosks showcasing Morgan Farms throughout the nation and a Gift Shop. The upper level of the Pavilion will include offices and a conference room which can be adapted to a classroom for hosting meetings and workshops. The Pavilion will be surrounded by a traditional “Kentucky Stone Fence” and a pathway leading to a “Legacy Garden” honoring Morgan horses who have been the champions of the ring and the champions of our hearts.”

A capital campaign has been initiated to raise the $5 Million required to build and furnish the Pavilion and Theatre, to develop and place the Exhibits, and to landscape the Legacy Garden. This includes an endowment that will supplement the admission fees to support the operation, maintenance, and ongoing development of the facility and exhibits.

“The American Morgan Horse Pavilion at the Kentucky Horse Park is a project that everyone in the Morgan world can participate in…from visiting the facility, to placing a brick in the Legacy garden in honor of a beloved Morgan or equestrian friend to Sponsoring the immersive Theatre and other naming opportunities in the Pavilion”, said Linda Hall of Carriage House Promotions, who has been contracted to provide Project Management and is spear-heading the Fund Raising Efforts. “During the course of a 6 month feasibility study which included preliminary architectural design, identification of building costs, and site development meetings with the Kentucky Horse Park, we have identified potential Corporate and Individual Contributors who have expressed interest in pledging significant support to the Pavilion initiative. We look forward to announcing some very exciting Contributions in the near future and engaging the Morgan community in this lasting tribute to our beloved Morgans and their legacy.”

The Grand Opening of the Pavilion is targeted for May 2010, with full operations coinciding with the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, which will draw an attendance of 500,000 spectators, 800 exhibitors, 1000 Press entities, and will be televised reaching millions. This is one of many events held at the Kentucky Horse Park, which has an annual Park tourist attendance of approximately 120,000. The Kentucky Horse Park is considered the National Horse Park—Exhibits and programs at the new American Morgan Horse Pavilion will engage people from around the world in sharing the wonders of the Morgan Horse and its legacy.

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For additional information or a sample copy:
Contact Linda Hall, Carriage House Promotions
734-697-5937 — lindahall2@comcast.net

For Immediate Release:
Date: June 13, 2008
Contact: Barbara Young 802-482-5438 - info@morganhorseinstitute.com

Shelburne, Vermont - June 13, 2008 — The American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI) is pleased to announce the 2008 educational scholarship recipients. Each award is for $3,000. The AMHI is proud to collaborate with the 2008 scholarship donors to assist these outstanding young women in defraying the cost of their college tuitions.

Rocky and Diana Schliefer have been involved with Morgan horses for four years and particularly enjoy the Western Pleasure and Park Harness divisions. They are building their Morgan breeding facility, Wild Rose Ranch, on 100 acres in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Wild Rose Ranch includes 40 box stalls and an indoor arena. With this scholarship, they are pleased to be able to recognize the efforts of outstanding young people involved with Morgan Horses.

The recipient of the AMHI Wild Rose Ranch Educational Youth Scholarship is Lisa Drewry of Farmington, Minnesota. Active in 4-H, Lisa was recognized as a “Top Ten Individual” for her participation in a national livestock judging contest. She was her high school class valedictorian. She participates, and has won awards, as a member of a jazz band ensemble. Among her many equestrian accomplishments, Lisa is most satisfied with her top ten finish in the 2007 Hunter Seat On The Flat Equitation 16 at the Grand National. “When I think of what I overcame to ribbon in that class, I can’t help but be proud,” she said. “I placed in a national equitation championship with an exclusively amateur trained horse. I placed and it means the world to me.”

Shoo-fly manufactures and sells automatic insect control systems popular in stables and barns throughout the United States. Many of Shoo-fly's systems have been in operation for over 25 years. As long time Morgan breeders, owners, and exhibitors, Chuck and Carol Hudson bring years of practical expertise to their business. This scholarship provides Shoo-fly with a unique opportunity to give a leg up to deserving young Morgan owners.

The recipient of the AMHI Shoo-Fly Educational Youth Scholarship is Megan Jurasek. She received her summa cum laude degree in Animal Sciences from Oregon State University (OSU) after three years and is currently a graduate student in veterinary medicine with the goal of becoming an equine veterinary practitioner. Honing her skills as a 4-H member in middle and high school, Megan is the founder, president, and drillmaster of the OSU equestrian drill team. “I have grown to value intelligence, ability, efficiency, versatility, elegance, and a can-do attitude, which attracted me to the Morgan horse. Now, in fulltime veterinary school, continued involvement with my Morgan helps keep my life balanced,” she said.

As the largest equestrian facility in the Kansas City area, Peeper Ranch believes in supporting current Morgan owners and creating new ones. Their riding instruction, training and breeding programs create new World Champions every year. In addition to supporting all of their clients’ dreams at the farm, Peeper Ranch also wants to promote awareness for autism and autism spectrum disorders. They have donated and named this educational scholarship for that purpose.

The recipient of the AMHI Peeper Ranch Autism Awareness Educational Youth Scholarship is Rachel Hamlin. Rachel, an advanced placement scholar with distinction and a national merit commendation student, has received academic awards for both mathematics and humanities. She has volunteered for four years at Root Farm Therapeutic Riding assisting the children in vaulting exercises on horseback. “They wear smiles on their faces as they walk through the door, they leave their mothers’ sides without hesitation, and they are conversational and outgoing. Experiencing their joy in the presence of horses is as soothing for me as riding,” she said.

The AMHI Cy Tirrell Educational Youth Scholarship was so designated fifteen years ago when the AMHI Board of Trustees named the award in honor of Professor Loring V. Tirrell, an animal husbandry professor at the University of New Hampshire from 1920 to 1966.

The recipient of the 2008 AMHI Cy Tirrell Educational Youth Scholarship is Valerie Davis, a member of the National Honor Society and the teacher-selected recipient of outstanding achievement awards in art, geometry, and history. Her versatility extends to the show ring where she has competed in western, hunt seat equitation, and dressage medal classes. She was the 2007 AMHA Youth of the Year at KYOVA and is secretary of the Western Reserve Morgan Youth Group. “I strive to be the best person I can be. I believe the Morgan breed needs more youth and young adults to take the breed into the future and I am dedicated to this work,” she said. Valerie plans to double major in business and equine studies with the goal of being a teacher at the university level.

The recipient of the 2008 AMHI Educational Youth Scholarship is Whitney Childs. An honor roll student throughout high school, Whitney will major in biology and English equestrian with an emphasis in dressage. Her goal is to promote the Morgan breed within the dressage discipline. Whitney bred, raised, and trained her four-year old Morgan gelding and placed in the top ten with him in the 2007 Grand National Dressage Training Level Tests. “I salute the past Morgans in my life who have shaped me into the confident young woman that I am today!” said Whitney.

Each year the AMHI is proud to sponsor over $15,000 in scholarships and grants to Morgan youth nationwide. All AMHI scholarships and grants are available through the generosity of individual contributors and from the proceeds of special events.

For Immediate Release:
Date: April 28, 2008

Contact: Linda Hall 734-697-5937 - lindahall2@comcast.net

AMHI Board Approves Feasibility Study for American Morgan Horse Pavilion at Kentucky Horse Park

Shelburne, Vermont-April 24, 2008 — The American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI) Board approved engaging a consulting team lead by Carriage House Promotions in a Feasibility Study to determine the potential for initiating a capital campaign to raise $3M in cash and in kind contributions to support the building of an “American Morgan Horse Pavilion” or alternative expanded presence for the Morgan breed at the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP).

“This study is timely, as Kentucky Horse Park will be the hosting venue for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, which will draw an attendance of 500,000 spectators, 8,000 exhibitors, 1000 press entities, and will be televised reaching millions”, said Bob Morgan, President of AMHI, and a member of the Kentucky Horse Park Advisory Board. “Having a broader representation of the American Morgan Horse at the KHP to complement the Morgan Horse statue and riding simulators which were generously donated and already in place, will allow us to showcase our Morgan breed to the large audience visiting the Park and attending events there. It would position us soundly at one of the major crossroads of the Equestrian world, while respecting and honoring our presence at the American Morgan Horse Museum and offices in Vermont.”

“Conducting a Feasibility Study before embarking on a Capital Campaign will allow us to gauge the level of community and corporate interest in supporting such an endeavor, and to determine the scope of presence at the Park—from a American Morgan Horse Legacy Garden to an American Morgan Horse Heritage Pavilion.” said Linda Hall, a longtime Morgan owner and exhibitor, and President of Carriage House Promotions who is conducting the study. “So far the feedback from Corporations and Individuals has been overwhelmingly positive, and we anticipate having very exciting news to share with the AMHI and AMHA members in the coming months.”

“We are delighted that the AMHI has undertaken this study to evaluate the prospects of a larger Morgan presence at KHP. A Morgan pavilion would serve as fabulous backdrop for AMHA’s participation at the Games. AMHA has formed a very distinguished panel of experts and specialists with deep backgrounds in marketing, promotion, motion picture and television entertainment, fundraising, event and project management, and horsemanship to develop several Morgan exhibitions and special showcase events” said Julie Broadway, AMHA Executive Director.

The Feasibility Study has been funded through designated donations of two AMHI members, thus creating no incremental cost to the Institute or Association. The study will conclude in early June with a recommendation to the AMHI Board regarding scope of the project and potential funding sources. If the Feasibility Study reveals support at the Pavilion level, with AMHI Board approval, ground breaking for a new building could be as early as May 2009.

The World Equestrian Games 2010: In 2010, the World Equestrian Games will be referred to as the "ALLTECH FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES" and will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington Kentucky, USA, the world's finest equestrian facility. Comprising over 1,200 acres of rolling Bluegrass countryside, and host to 15,000 competition horses, during 80 horse shows and special events annually, the KHP boasts a cross-country course, steeplechase course, indoor arena and numerous show rings. 2010 will be the first time in the history of World Equestrian Games that all seven disciplines will be held at the same venue.

For Immediate Release:
Date: March 23 , 2008
Contact: Shanna Gish at 260-396-2640

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Perrysburg, Ohio – We are pleased to announce that eligible Morgan weanlings will continue to have a venue to strut their stuff and earn substantial prize money for their owners beginning in 2009. With the conclusion of the Morgan Breeders Sweepstakes in July of this year, a group of people that recognized the importance of this class gathered together in an effort to create a new class for Morgan weanlings to compete for honor and prize money. Their efforts were realized earlier this month when the American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI) offered the group an umbrella to work under. “We are thrilled and honored that AMHI has accepted our proposal to establish a new class for breeders to showcase their foals.” said committee Chairman Larry Bolen.

The new class has been coined “The Morgan Weanling Gala” in honor of the spectacular performances these young horses put on for their owners and handlers. “It is our goal that the yearly event continues to interchange between the Jubilee Regional and the New England Regional, with the premier class kicking off at the Jubilee in August 2009” said Bolen. “Right now, we are contacting stallion owners to gather commitments, and their response has been incredible. People are really excited about the new program and the renewed involvement. We also have extensive marketing plans to promote our nominated stallions not only in print but also with a richer Internet presence.” Bolen concluded.

The class is open to all weanlings whose sires have been nominated to the program. This event is an incredible and one of a kind way to promote a stallion’s offspring based on conformation and athleticism. The event invites as many stallions into the program and the payouts are based on percentages of total monies collected. Initial commitments from stallion owners need to be in place by May 1, 2008. Larry Bolen, Paulette Bodnar, Shanna Gish or Elizabeth Hobby can give anyone more information and a website will be in place soon. “We promise to put together a spectacular, fair and well-run event for everyone to enjoy.” Bolen added.

Please direct all requests to Shanna Gish at IndianCr@aol.com or by calling 260-396-2640.

The American Morgan Horse Institute is a not-for-profit charitable, historical, and educational institution. As a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, contributions are tax deductible. AMHI activities include awarding educational scholarships; collecting and displaying materials relating to the Morgan breed at the Shelburne, Vermont-based National Museum of the Morgan Horse; and conducting the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show®. For membership information or to make a donation, please contact info@morganhorseinstitute.com.

The American Morgan Horse Association of 501 (c) (5) non-profit, tax exempt corporation under the laws of the State of New York.