The Miniature Horse Association of Arizona

Promoting the American Miniature Horse Breed By Delores Kuhlwein and Marcia Sizemore

 

On November 8, 1983, two Arizona miniature horse enthusiasts, Hermeen Peterson and Joan Solheim, invited every miniature horse owner they knew to a meeting. Their purpose: to officially form a miniature horse club. The Miniature Horse Association of Arizona was launched, and two meetings later, on January 10, 1984, a constitution and bylaws were adopted. The first charter officers elected were: President Joan Solheim, Vice President Mike Peterson, Recording Secretary Nancy Thurston, Corresponding Secretary Janet Strubhar, Treasurer Gar Dutton, and Directors at Large were Ardith Elmore, Hermeen Peterson, Larry Strubhar, and Allan Solheim. In April 1984, the club also approved a rough draft design of a club logo submitted by artist/member Jan Garbero. In September 1984, the finished logo artwork was approved. In the early days, fundraising activities included garage sales, candy bar sales, and silent auctions, and meetings were held at various members’ homes, just as they are today. In no time, the club’s potluck dinner meetings became legendary for their delicious food, a representation of the welcoming atmosphere of the club itself.