The Australian Warmblood Horse Association Limited 2014 Assessment Tour with Joanne Verikios of the AWHA Ltd and Lynne Crowden of Woodlander Stud from the United Kingdom!

The AWHA Ltd Federal Board is delighted to announce that we will be conducting the Australian Warmblood Horse Association Limited 2014 Assessment Tour. The AWHA Ltd's objective is to promote Australian Warmblood horses without bias to any Warmblood breed. We are commited to promoting AWHA Ltd horses, breeders and members.

The assessment tour point of contact is the AWHA Ltd Federal Registrar, Silvia Ahamer, via email awhansw@acenet.com.au or phone (02) 4884 4143.

All required forms relating to the tour will be uploaded to the AWHA Ltd event page as they become available: www.awha.com.au/EventsPageDetail.aspx?ID=87 You can also stay up to date with tour information via our Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/467865443323164/ Please 'join' our event and be sure to invite your friends!

* Please note: all horses being assessed must be registered with the AWHA Ltd in the current owner's name. Owners must be current financial members of the AWHA Ltd. Please attach a copy of your AWHA Ltd registration papers to your entry form.
* Where applicable: foals shall be entered registration pending, inclusive of foals that are not yet born, by the closing date of Friday 17th January 2014. Please contact Silvia Ahamer for further details.

MARE CLASSIFICATIONS: all Warmblood mares being classified on tour may enter their relevant led class in the assessment tour free of charge. Please note: this does not apply to Foundation (Thoroughbred and Anglo Arabian) mares requiring classification. Any members wishing to have their mare classified during the assessment tour must contact Silvia Ahamer prior to close of entries.

Membership forms: www.awha.com.au/memreg.aspx?C=1
Registration forms: www.awha.com.au/memreg.aspx?C=2

ENTRIES CLOSE: all forms (excluding horse health declarations) must be received by COB Friday 17 Jan 14 with all fees paid in full (inclusive of foals not yet born).

STATE ASSESSMENT TOUR VENUES ~ further details regarding dates and venues will be made available shortly.

~ South Australia ~
Saturday 22 Feb 14: Northern Equestrian Centre: www.clivereed.com/facilities_indoor_arena.htm
South Australia venue photographer: TBA.

Flying out of South Australia to New South Wales on afternoon of 22 Feb 14.

~ New South Wales ~
Sunday 23 Feb 14: Oaks Sport Horses: www.oakssporthorses.com
New South Wales venue photographer: TBA.

Flying out of New South Wales approximately 26-27 Feb 14 depending on Stud Stops.

~ Queensland ~
Thursday 27 Feb 14: Beau Cheval Warmblood Stud: www.beaucheval.com.au
Saturday 01 Mar 14: Arnage Warmblood Stud: www.warmbloodstuds.com.au
Queensland photographer: Catherine Reid Photography and Designs (www.catherinereid.com.au).

Flying out of Queensland to Western Australia on 02 Mar 14.

~ Western Australia ~
Sunday 02 Mar 14: Brookleigh Equestrian Estate: www.brookleigh.com.au/equestrian-introduction.html
Monday 03 Mar 14 (public holiday): Narbethong Equestrian Park: www.narbethong.com.au
Western Australia photographer: TBA.

Flying out of Western Australia to Victoria approximately 05-06 Mar 14 depending on Stud Stops.

~ Victoria ~
Monday 10 Mar 14 (public holiday): 5 Star Equestrian Centre: www.fivestarindoorarena.com.au
Victorian venue photographers: TBA.

Assessment tour concludes approximately 12-13 Mar 14 depending on Stud Stops. Please note: a minimum of six horses to be assessed and/or classified to constitute a stud stop. Stud stops will be confirmed at close of entries.

Tour Assessor: Joanne Verikios - AWHA Ltd Classifier and Judge.

Better known to the AWHA Ltd as Joanne Pappas, she established Highborn Warmblood Stud near Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, and bred the AWHA Ltd Licensed Stallion Highborn Powerlifter (Valuta x Nova Vega xx x Spats xx).

Joanne was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, and grew up with a passion for horses. She acquired her own pony at the age of nine and went through the Pony Club ranks with great enthusiasm. Joanne later qualified as a Pony Club instructor and was a member of the Downs Pony Club team that won the Duke of Edinburgh Pony Club Games Championship in 1972.

Joanne was the founding President of the ACT Branch of the AWHA Ltd and has also served as the AWHA Ltd Federal President and Federal Registrar. She was also a committee member of the National Capital Horse Trials Association. Joanne is an experienced Warmblood classifier and trainer of classifiers and judges. She has written for a number of equestrian publications and has competed with success in eventing, dressage, hacking and led classes.

We look forward to having you meet Joanne during the 2014 assessment tour.

Tour Assessor: Lynne Crowden - Woodlander Stud (United Kingdom).

Lynne and Dave Crowden are the owners of Woodlander Stud and work tirelessly both centre stage and behind the scenes, whether sweating over a foaling mare or a hot computer! They have bred over 300 foals and ensure they achieve the best results from their breeding by using the best training and riding, including working with Carl Hester and latterly with the inimitable Eilberg family.

Lynne began riding seriously in her thirties through hunting, team chasing and hunter trials, followed by dressage when 'self-preservation' became vital to her burgeoning headhunting career and growing family. Her interest in breeding began with racehorses, incorporating the theory of Thoroughbred breeding and ‘black type’. This unlikely beginning resulted in six money winners from eleven foals, including Pink Gin who won £56,000 and ran in the Grand National. This experience convinced Lynne about line breeding with top dam lines.

For over twenty years, funded by her day job as a Headhunter in the automotive industry, Lynne and Dave have bred top competition horses from German mares, culminating in an outstanding win for the homebred Woodlander Farouche in the 5 year old World Championship in Verden, Germany  in 2011, a win which would be repeated in 2012 when Farouche added the 6 year old World Championship to her resumé.

Lynne also works tirelessly to promote British breeding with the BEF Programmes and Futurity, the BBSH (British Bred Sport Horse), the National Equine Database, the Warmblood Breeders’ Studbook UK and the BHHS (British Hanoverian Horse Society).

As if life wasn’t busy enough, Lynne and Dave have four children, seven grandchildren and a Jack Russell called Elton!

The AWHA Ltd Federal Board is pleased to announce Stallions Plus as a proud supporter of the Australian Warmblood Horse Association Limited 2014 Assessment Tour!

Stallions Plus is offering the following:

• The highest scoring Led Studbook Australia Wide and highest scoring WPRB Australia Wide of the assessment tour will receive a $100 Stallions Plus voucher. This voucher can be used towards a listing in the Stallions Plus advertising categories such as equine services, stud directory or horses for sale.
• Every individual or stud who has a horse/s entered in the Australian Warmblood Horse Association Limited 2014 Assessment Tour will receive one $25 Stallions Plus voucher which can be used towards a listing in any category on the Stallions Plus website (one voucher per owner/stud).

Please contact Liz Benson of Stallions Plus via email liz@stallionsplus.com.au or call (08) 9525 4439 to make use of Stallions Plus' generous offer.

Stallions Plus website: www.stallionsplus.com