The most prestigious awards presented by AERC are the Hall of Fame person and the Hall of Fame equine. Do you know an exceptional person or equine that you feel is deserving of this award? Don't just think about sending in an nomination, do it. Now is the time to get in that nomination.

Also send in your nominations for the Pard'ners Award which is the rider and member who make an exceptional partnership together.

The most recent award enacted has been the Volunteer Service Award. I have included a description of each award in this article; please take time to read them and nominate a deserving party.

As of last year, all who are nominated will continue to stay in the system for a total of three years. If you nominated a horse or person last year you may want to update some information. The nominations will be voted on by the Hall of Fame Committee at the midyear AERC board meeting to be held in Louisville, Kentucky on August 23.

You may send the nominations in by mail or e-mail to the AERC office or to the chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. This year nominations are due by July 15.

Hall of Fame. Two categories, equine and member, honor lifetime achievements by recognizing outstanding performances or outstanding contributions to the sport or to AERC. Nominations are made by ballots submitted by members to the Hall of Fame Committee. This award is kept secret until the annual national awards banquet.

Pard'ners Award. Rider and horse perform together as a mutually bonded team. Rider and horse engender a spirit of friendship, enthusiasm and championship that makes those around them glad to have attended the ride. However competitive they may be, good sportsmanship remains their first priority. Horse and rider take care of each other. Together horse and rider personify the prevailing and abiding goal of AERC: "to finish is to win."

This award was established in honor of the late Mae Schlegel. Selection is made by nomination and announced at annual awards banquet. Recipient receives a keepsake plaque and the names of horse and rider are engraved onto a perpetual trophy.

Volunteer Service Award. This award is established to honor an AERC member who has devoted an extraordinary amount of volunteer effort, time and service on behalf of the AERC for many years. This award may not be given every year. The recipient shall receive a keepsake plaque of such quality as to underscore the value placed on volunteer efforts by members of AERC.