VHSA - Annual Convention

VHSA Annual Meeting & Convention

The 2024 Virginia Horse Shows Association's Annual Meeting & Convention will be held at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, the weekend of December 6th. Everyone must check in at the VHSA Registration Desk to pick up your tickets and goodies we have for all attendees. We will be located in the Dominion Room (off of the Jefferson Parlor)

Saturday, December 7th will be the start of the Annual Silent Auction. The displayed items will be set up in the Dominion Room along with the VHSA Registration Desk. The day will be a full day with meetings, including the Equine Trivia Quiz Competition, and a Junior's Skating Party with refreshments in the afternoon. This very busy day will wind down with the President's Reception and the Hall of Fame Ceremony on Saturday evening. The first part of our Live Auction will be held this evening. We are pleased to announce the following well deserving individuals and horses who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year:

Ms. Molly McIntosh

Mr. Gordon Reistrup

Mr. Chris Wynne

Castle Magic, owned by Mrs. Phyllis Jones

Henry The Hawk, owned by Ms. Jane Gaston

Let's Dance, owned by Fairfield Farm - Holly Fuller McLain

Sunday, December 8th will start the morning with various meetings, including the Membership Meeting where Senior Members will vote for the 2025 VHSA Board of Directors. The Awards Reception will begin at 11:30 a.m., immediately followed by the Awards luncheon. The second part of the Live Auction will take place prior to the luncheon beginning. The Silent Auction will end once the Awards Luncheon begins. Make sure to stop by the Dominion Room after the Luncheon to see if you are a winner in our Silent Auction. Anyone who is picking up a year-end Championship/Grand Championship Trophy must have signed the Trophy Contract and must present the copy of the Contract in order to receive the Trophy for photos as well as to take them home for the year.

New this Year: We are offering a choice of meals for the Hall of Fame Dinner (Beef, Chicken, Vegetarian) and for the Awards Luncheon (Chicken or Vegetarian). Please make sure to mark your preference when you purchase your tickets online by clicking on PAY DUES above, and follow the prompts. Your purchase is complete once you see TRANSACTION COMPLETE at the top of your screen. All tickets must be purchased in advance (NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR), food choices must be made at time of ticket purchase and the deadline will be November 25, 2024.

We are pleased that the Virginia Horse Industry Board is once again sponsoring all VHSA Year-End Awards. We are extremely fortunate to have their continued sponsorship.

In order to reserve your guest room at The Homestead, please make your reservation using the link below:

https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/homestead-virginia/meetings/va-horse-12032024

The VHSA Room Block is on a "Bed and Breakfast Plan" which means that breakfast is included. As a reminder, only registered guests will be able to use the Breakfast allocation in the Dining Room, all others will be billed at the EP price for Breakfast currently $34.00 per person. Please make sure to list all guests who will be under your reservation in order for everyone to receive their free breakfast.

This weekend is pack full of very important information and a lot of fun and celebrating. We hope that everyone can join us this year at The Homestead.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the VHSA Office at either (540) 349-0910 or vhsa@verizon.net.

Special Award Nominations

The 2024 Special Awards are presented to the winning nominees at the VHSA Annual Meeting which will be held at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, December 6th ~ 8th, 2024, from nominations received in the VHSA Office from current VHSA Members. Seniors can nominate Horse Person of the Year, Amateur Sportsman of the Year and Horse Show of the Year. Juniors can nominate Junior Exhibitor of the Year and Horse Show of the Year. Please send completed Nominating Forms to the VHSA office via e-mail (vhsa@verizon.net) or mail to our office at 400 Rosedale Court, Suite 100, Warrenton, VA 20186.

NOMINATING FORM

NOMINATIONS ARE DUE IN THE VHSA OFFICE NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2024!

VHSA Scholarships

The Virginia Horse Shows Association is very pleased to offer the following Scholarships to a deserving VHSA Member. Please send Nomination Letters, along with any pertinent information to the VHSA office by October 1st for the following Scholarships:

L.M. Sandy Gerald Collegiate Scholarship:
The VHSA/Hollins University’s L.M. Sandy Gerald Memorial Riding Scholarship is donated from the VHSA and Hollins University in honor of his memory and is awarded to a VHSA Collegiate Rider who is competing in the Adult or Children’s on a School or a Leased Horse.

L.M. Sandy Gerald Junior Riding Scholarship:
The VHSA L.M. Sandy Gerald Memorial Riding Scholarship is donated from the VHSA in honor of his memory and is awarded to a VHSA junior rider on the basis of need, ability and desire, and
is to be used for riding instruction with a professional trainer.

The Scholarships will be presented at the 2024 VHSA Awards Luncheon on Sunday, December 8th at The Homestead. The Nominating Letters can either be mailed to the VHSA Office at 400 Rosedale Court, Suite 100, Warrenton, VA 20186 or e-mailed to our office at vhsa@verizon.net

Deadline to submit Nominating Letters is October 1, 2024

Jenna Evans Wynne Horsemanship Grant

The Jenna Evans Wynne Horsemanship Grant was established in memory of Jenna Evans Wynne, by her family and friends, with the hope that her ideals and tenacious character would be carried on in future riders. The Grant will provide financial support to a Junior rider within the Virginia Horse Shows Association community who shares the same passion and tenacity for superior horsemanship that Jenna Wynne possessed. The grant will provide $10,000 annually to a young rider to help further their riding career, allowing the student to carry on Jenna's Legacy.

An applicant should have Jenna's love for all horses, regardless of show ring performance or ability. The applicant should have an enthusiasm for learning and an attention to detail, but most importantly, should recognize horses as privilege and have a desire to treat them with the utmost respect.

To apply, a trainer must nominate a current Junior VHSA member (Associate or A circuit) for the grant with a letter explaining how the student best exemplifies the qualities important to Jenna Wynne. The letter should also describe how the grant would be used to further and enhance the student's riding career. Applications must be received by November 1st in order to be eligible for the award, which will be named and presented at the VHSA Convention annually.

For further information, as well as the Application Form, please visit: Jenna Evans Wynne Horsemanship Grant.