History of the MHAA

 Two Arizona Miniature Horse enthusiasts, Hermeen Peterson and Joan Solheim invited other Miniature horse owners they knew to a meeting on November 8, 1983, for the purpose of starting a club. Twenty folks came and agreed to call the club the Miniature Horse Association of Arizona. On January 10, 1984, a constitution and by-laws had been drafted and accepted. The First Charter officers elected were Joan Solheim, President; Mike Peterson, Vice President; Nancy Thurston, Recording Secretary; Janet Strubhar, Corresponding Secretary; Gar Dutton, Treasurer; and four Directors at Large, Ardith Elmore, Hermeen Pererson, Larry Strubhar and Allan Solheim. In April, 1984, the club approved a rough draft design of a club Logo submitted by artist-member, Jan Garbero. In September, 1984, the finished Logo art-work was approved.  The organization put on garage sales, sold candy bars and held silent auctions for fund raising activities. The meetings were held at different members homes and in short notice the Pot Luck dinner meetings became the scrumptious meal of the month. The members had a keen interest in shows and parades. A large club banner was made for the parades and a uniform dress was selected. The first Parade entry was the Phoenix Jaycee's Rodeo Parade on March 9, 1985. Members wore the uniform of red long sleeved shirts with the club Logo, black trousers, boots, hats and western ties, leading and driving freshly clipped and groomed prancing little horses. The group won "Best Special Entry" and was shown on Channel 10 television Parade Highlights Program. This was just the beginning of the many parade awards that followed.  The club sponsored miniature horse classes at the Carousel All-Breed Horse Show and worked hard at getting miniature classes in other open shows throughout Arizona. On December 5, 1985, the club incorporated with the Arizona Corporation Commission and fulfilled the affidavit of publication requirements on January 27, 1986, to become an officially formed corporation. In June, 1985, nine breeders agreed and joined together to take out a full page advertisement in the Miniature Horse Magazine. The first of many miniature horse expositions was a 5 day Half-Arabian Show in September, 1985. A booth was set up and a one hour noon break program featured miniature horses in the main arena, driving and at halter.

 After several years of applying to the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) for club recognition (the AMHA kept denying the club based on having the word "Association" in the club name) five members with a lot of fortitude attended an AMHA open general meeting held in San Diego, California. At the meeting, Joan Solheim made a motion to the attending members that the club be recognized. The vote of the members was unanimous and on February 22, 1991, the club received the official certificate of AMHA affiliation. The other four members of the club in attendance at the national meeting were Larry and Janet Strubhar and Mike and Hermeen Peterson. The first fully sponsored miniature horse show by the club was November 21, 1987. The show was called the Arizona Touch of Class Show and was conducted in Scottsdale, Arizona at Horseman's Park (West World). The first judge was Mr. Gary Clay who judged 87 horses, entered in 46 events. The Arizona Touch of Class Show has been an annual event with the exception of 1993. In 1993, the fall show date in October conflicted with the AMHA National Show date. At the June 1993 club meeting, it was approved to change the show to a spring time frame in 1994. The show has continued to grow as more miniatures horse are entered in competition and the number of events increased. Several senior members made an impact in the club by donating their horse sense and knowledge to the members at no charge, whenever needed. Lena Dickey of Sedona, Arizona gave the club the first trimming clinic at the Dutton Ranch. She is honored as our only Honorary lifetime member. Colonel R. C. Templeton gave the first driving clinic and numerous others, always being there to help at the shows. His death in March, 1992 was a shock to many of the members. His memory lives when the Colonel Templeton Memorial Trophy is presented at the Touch of Class shows established at the 6th annual show October 1, 1992. The Miniature Horse Association of Arizona continues to grow in members every year and takes a strong interest in the promotion of the American Miniature Horse in all facets of the industry.