Hello Readers!

It is with great pleasure that I thank your editors for the chance to speak with you through my upcoming column, "On With The Show."

Over the years, I've met many people in the horse show world. While Arabians have been my favourite horses, and racing is my favourite activity, I have worked with many breeds as an artist, a breeder or a handler. That's a lot of horses!

As a governor of one of the oldest riding clubs in the United States, I see thousands of horse lovers every year. Whether they have one horse or a whole stable of winners, they are members of a very important community. I look at those of us in the horse community as business people and I take our horse-related investments seriously.

Because I understand how important our sport, bloodlines and horses are to us, and how deeply we want our efforts to continue long after we are gone, I believe our efforts must be profitable. Profit, of course, can be measured in many ways. Sometimes, there is no greater profit than the emotional satisfaction and well being our horses can provide as they

These are changing times when jobs are not secure and the value of our money is not guaranteed. The price of oil and many other things are going up and affecting us in many ways. When horses depend on the week to week paycheck of an owner's outside job, those horses are vulnerable. But, if our horses are self-supporting, they can provide for the one taking care of them. We will always be looking for ways to do that in this column. 

We are the stewards of international sports generating significant industries. We have a place on the world stage. The development of our farms, breeding programs and show or racing campaigns are all matters of importance to us, and I will deal with many of these issues relating to horses and the people who love them, from a business point of view.       

This column isn't just about horse shows, it's also about living today as a member of the horse community. In my writings and talks, I always say animal lovers are the most sentimental and romantic people in the world. I do believe that. And I believe they should be treasured.

Author/Artist RON HEVENER specializes in animal sports and entertainment. Mr. Hevener owns one of oldest dog show kennels in the U.S. ("Lochranza," specializing in Collies since 1945). His dog "Kane" (Ch. Amberlyn's Bright Tribute) was featured in his popular novel "The Blue Ribbon."

His interest in Arabian horse racing goes back to the early days of Delaware Park, now one of the leading Arabian racetracks in the US. His stallion "Nahgua" (Nugui El Khamsin) was one of the first Arabians to  race at Delaware Park and inspired Mr. Hevener's novel, "Fate of the Stallion."

Along with racehorses and show dogs, Mr. Hevener's interest in Greyhounds started with the adoption of a retired racer and led to a full-fledged racing kennel and inspired his novel, "High Stakes." Today, he owns sons and daughters of every major Greyhound racing sire from the U.S., UK, Ireland and Australia.

An accomplished artist, Hevener figurines and prints from his novels are bought and traded throughout the world. His original paintings and sculptures are displayed in galleries and can be found in many private collections.

Mr. Hevener is currently on tour, speaking at bookstores, libraries, theaters, schools, gift stores, pet stores, dog shows, art shows and horse shows throughout the country. "Life is a movie," he says. "On with the show!"

I am here for your letters. And, I'll try to answer a few of your letters each time. Love and romance are things I'm always asked about (probably because of my life as an artist or the books I have written). I guess people think artists know about such things. Or, maybe, they think I've lived so long I must surely know a few secrets!

As sporting people, competition is something always on our minds, and good sportsmanship is something we need advice about every once in a while. If you think I might be able to help on these things, write to this column in care of the editors.