by Wendy Flowers, president, SPHO-Maine

Gray, ME — The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Maine is the proud sponsor of several high point breed awards for the coming show season.

From southern to central Maine, there are a variety of opportunities to get out there with your Standardbred, participate and demonstrate the versatility of this adaptable breed, all the while having a great time doing it.

In today’s economy, retraining Standardbreds for pleasure riding plays an important role in the success of the rehoming process, giving countless former racehorses new opportunities after racing.

One such program, the SPHO-ME Ambassador Horse Program, accepts donated Standardbreds that have finished their racing careers, retrains them for use in a variety of pleasure disciplines, and places them with a new owner in a responsible home.

In fact, the Standardbred makes an exceptional pleasure horse: not only athletic, but also tolerant, intelligent and willing.

At SPHO-ME, our focus includes creating awareness and promoting the Standardbred as a pleasure horse. It is our hope that providing the SPHO-ME high point breed award through different organizations and venues across the state will help do just that.

Thank you to the following host organizations, which have graciously adopted the SPHO-ME Standardbred year-end award:

• Cumberland County Riding Club
• Maine Dressage Society
• Maine Horse Association
• Mousam Saddle & Harness Club
• Southern Maine Dressage Association

Horses must be registered with the USTA and exhibitors belong to the organization in which they are competing. Points will be accumulated on the horse/rider combination and administered by the host organization.

For more information, contact the organization’s point administrator or e-mail SPHOME80@gmail.com.