California Riding Magazine • March, 2009

California Riding Reader Writes: The Ammy Army
Amateur Arabian enthusiasts band together for the betterment of their industry.

by Commander Dimitri Delgado, USCG

I entered the Arabian Horse industry in 2004 with the purchase of the yearling colt TF SIR PRIZE. My short time in the industry has afforded me the opportunity to meet and befriend some wonderful people. The non-exhaustive list includes Carol Steppe, Steve Heathcott, Manny Lawrence, Ted Carson, Rich Simpkins, Rodney Eckenrode, Rob Simpson, Mary Ann Rafferty, Andy Sellman, Justin McManus, Ricardo and Riyan Rivero, Andy Steffens, Troy White, Dick Reed, Dick Adams and many, many more great people who have served as mentors and educators.

Early in my pursuits I would often hear the lament over the state of the industry and the distress over the exodus of Arabian horse enthusiasts. Initially, given my lack of knowledge and history of the industry, I restricted myself to listening without forming an opinion. Many established people in the industry would often comment that “we need to advertise to encourage the participation of new people.” However, as I began to learn the realities of the industry and campaigned TF SIR PRIZE via the use of professional trainers, I did indeed begin to formulate an opinion of the state of the industry and perhaps some possible fixes.

In addition, I soaked up every bit of information I could from my educators. How to train a halter horse, how to prep a show horse, how to condition, feed, present and market were all portions of my education.

I quickly began to formulate an opinion of a possible “fix” and how I could influence the industry in a positive manner. I began to realize that, by some estimates, 80 percent of Arabian horse enthusiasts do not engage in the showing of their stock. If they don’t show, then they are most likely not motivated to register their stock and/or engage in futurity or sweepstakes programs. Their lack of participation would continue to have a negative impact on registration numbers, show dollars and overall operation of the Arabian Horse Association.

Action Plan

In November of 2007 I decided to articulate my plan and announced the establishment of the Ammy Army. Ammy is short for Amateur. The vision is for a nationwide army of amateur enthusiasts who would help each other, support each other and encourage each other to do things on their own. The use of professional trainers is a sound business plan for many Arabian horse owners, however, for some it is either not financially possible or they simply can’t get “into” the barn of a big-name trainer. Why should they sit home? The goal is show rings filled to capacity.

I have learned much from my mentors and educators. After a couple of years I made the decision to breed, train, haul and show my own halter horses. I took training aspects that I liked from many of the aforementioned professionals, left behind those notions I did not like and incorporated many of my own. The TF SIR PRIZE son, SIRPREMACY DP, is my first produced foal and I have campaigned him solely on my own. We garnered a Scottsdale Top 10, a NORCAL Top 5 and a Region 3 Top 10 his yearling year. News of those accomplishments began to spread and fellow “Ammys” began to seek advice and become encouraged to either enter the show ring for the first time or return to the ring after an absence.

Today the Ammy Army is broken down into 18 regional regiments that mirror the AHA regions. For example, the Army has the Ammy Army 3rd regional regiment that mirrors AHA region 3. The establishment of Regiments affords folks that are in a region to coordinate with each other as they make show plans. They enter together, help each other haul in, stall together, cheer for each other and simply enjoy the experience together versus alone.

Scottsdale Force

At Scottsdale this year, four farms have banded together to show their horses under the Desert Camoflage Drapes of the Ammy Army. Those farms are: Delgado Prized Arabians from Dixon, CA, Mortazavi Farms from Lincoln, CA, NN Elite Arabians from Houston, TX and McShane Arabians from Hesperia, CA. The Desert pattern honors our desert horses and those Americans who currently find themselves in the deserts of the world doing what they do so that we have the privilege of showing our horses. In total, seven of the horses at Scottsdale will be representing the Ammy Army. If we can generate five horses from each Regiment to go to Tulsa for U.S. Nationals in October, that will mean that The Ammy Army will have 90 horses under the Desert Cammy. When we get to those numbers we can begin to have hope that the industry is moving in the right direction.

Some have indicated that the formation of the Ammy Army will be damaging to the professional trainer. I disagree. If a professional trainer shows in a class A show and the Ammy Army has added, say, an additional 10 horses into the ring, then more qualification points exist. If the trainer can qualify a horse at only one show, versus over several shows, then said trainer can take on more clients. The Ammy Army is not anti-trainer. It is pro-owner. Professional trainers are welcome to provide input to the army in terms of pointers, recommendations, etc. If that involvement generates new clients for the trainer, terrific. If the pointers help an AMMY realize greater success in the show ring, terrific. We all win.

But more than that, the Arabian horse wins. Let’s say there are 25 big name trainers and all of them have “picked” their yearling colt for the year. We all know that more than 25 colts were foaled out the year before. There is no reason to believe that the 25 colts that are with the trainers are the only ones of show quality. Why should the others stay home? I say, they don’t have to. Their owners simply need some help, some guidance and encouragement to share their horses with the rest of the world. The Ammy Army is their source.

The Ammy Army is a place to learn, support, sell, market and simply enjoy the privilege of owning an Arabian horse. The Army is not restricted to halter. Not only are all disciplines represented but professional trainers are welcome to join and provide guidance. Professional trainers are called “military advisors” on the website and even have their own “name color” in order to distinguish them to the amateur enthusiast as an expert in the industry. I encourage everyone to consider joining the Army so that they may positively impact the breed, the enthusiast and the future of our industry. The site is www.theammyarmy.forumotion.com. Join, participate share your talents and have an overall positive, good time.