When, Peter J. Cofrancesco, III, of Sparta, New Jersey is sworn in as the new AQHA President this weekend at the AQHA Convention in Grapevine, Texas, it will be a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. At the young age of 39, this loyal and highly respected showman, politician, and business owner has filled his late father’s shoes quite admirably.
A 16-time AQHA World Champion, Peter will be the second youngest ever AQHA President and the only AQHYA Youth President to become AQHA President.
When GoHorseShow.com asked several industry leaders and friends to
describe Cofranscesco–there was a common theme in
everyone’s responses: loyal friend, huge heart, a leader, the ability to
make everyone feel important, always does the right thing, a great
listener, thoughtful, huge advocate for AQHA and the breed, guardian
angel, mentor…the list goes on and on.
Julie Johnson Bryant, who is a former Director of Youth Activities and
AJQHA (now AQHYA) says that is Peter J is somebody who has always wanted to make a
difference, and be an agent for change. “Everyone gravitated toward him when
he was Youth President. He is a very thoughtful person, and his life is
all about helping and serving others,” she said. “Everyone at AQHA would
call Peter the ‘Pied Piper’ because there would always be a little
crowd of people gathered around wherever he was.”
“I would say that Peter’s becoming President is a lifelong dream of both he and his (late) Father,” said long-time friend, Travis Dobbs. “Knowing Peter for the last 20 years, I know that both Peter and his late father have had a true love for the Quarter Horse. With this love has come a family breeding farm that has done nothing but be a good steward to our horse. If you have ever had the privilege of visiting their farm, you see this first hand. Their horses are part of their family. It won’t be the first time that the love for the horse is brought to the AQHA Presidency, but Peter’s presidency will amplify that.”
Good friend and long time AQHA exhibitor Robyn Kaplow remembers a time when they were all young and showing at the New Jersey Quarter Horse Shows. “Peter J, his brothers Jason and Jarrod and I were playing right outside the ring in the grass watching halter,” she recalls. “I clearly remembered how proud and how much respect they all had for their father, Peter J. Cofrancesco Jr., and all they kept saying was that they wanted to be like their father when they grew up.”
Wallace Anderson of Kentucky remembers one special memory about Peter when they were youth kids. “Peter could talk to the CEO of a major corporation and then turn around and talk to the maintenance man,” Anderson remembers. “When we were staying at the Ramada at the Congress, Peter J stood in the corner of the hallway talking to the maintenance man for over an hour. It was beyond me what they were talking about, but he is truly interested in everyone–regardless of their status.”
Rob Fenimore, whose late father was horse trainer Roger Fenimore, talks about the time Peter J helped when his father passed away. Fenimore mentions that It happened in 2008 at a regional show in Springfield, Massachusetts. “Everyone knew that something was wrong when my father didn’t show up to the show grounds,” Rob said. “Peter went to the hotel and found my father and discovered that he had passed away. He stayed with my father’s body when it was sent to the mortuary. He also personally gathered up my father’s belongings and gave them back to us. His gesture meant so much to me. He has such a big heart and truly cares about people.”
His wife of 12 years, Carmen, enjoys telling funny stories about her husband. “I met him at the Congress in 1997, and the first night we met, he introduced me to his friends as his future wife. He is very self-confident,” Carmen says and chuckles. “He is very funny, quick witted, likes to pull practical jokes on his friends, and he knows exactly what he wants and knows how to get it in all aspects of his life.” (pictured right–Carmen and Peter)
Family is also very important to Cofrancesco. Peter and his wife have three kids, Ireland, 10, Peter IV, 7, and, Emma. who is five years-old. Ireland has already been successful in the show ring in the halter, showmanship and Small Fry Horsemanship. There may be plans for the other two children to start showing as well.
Considered family by the Cofrancesco’s, halter trainer Jeffrey Pait and performance trainer, Chris Thompson, have worked for the family for over 20 years. Peter’s mother, Peggy, is the matriarch of the family and is still heavily involved with the horses and AQHA. Peter also is close to his brothers, Jason and Jarrod, and his sister, Daria, who competed quite successfully at AQHA shows when they were younger.
GoHorseShow Director of Sales, Evan Kaplow (pictured in group photo above, far left), has been a long-time
friend of the Cofrancesco Family and hopes to share new experiences with
Peter and his family. “We both attended each others weddings here in the
Northeast and now Carmen and my wife, Meg, have become good friends.
Our new families with our young kids are starting the tradition over
again,” Evan said. “When my sons are a bit older, I hope to again be
setting up the trailers next to one another and seeing our kids
competing in the same show ring.”
“Peter is a business man, he is a horseman, he is a leader and he is an
advocate for our breed. Hard to find all that in one man but he is all
that,” says long-time friend, Jenny Jordan Frid. “One of the things that
I love about Peter is that he makes an effort to stay in the know with
the next generation of young horseman. Whether that be the current
winning group of halter horse trainers, pleasure trainers or all-around
trainers, but also with the upcoming youth leaders in our association.
How many people on the Executive Board do that or have done that? That
is what makes Peter J. so special. He is truly passionate about the
American Quarter Horse.”
When asked what his plans are during his year as AQHA President, Cofrancesco pauses to collect his thoughts and then talks for thirty minutes about what he is passionate about changing and promoting within the industry. The list is long, but Cofrancesco is not daunted by the task. He has extensive leadership experience being Youth President and being one of the founders of the World Conformation Horse Association (WCHA). He is also the chair of the Grinnell Group of Companies, which includes several entities, including solid waste and recycling, real estate and concrete products manufacturing.
“I have several priorities that I would like to work on which include revitalizing the incentive fund, the show leveling program, bringing quarter horse racing to the northeast, and navigating a yet-to-recover economy, while maintaining a balanced budget,” Peter said. “We need a team to succeed and I value input from any member that can supply any ideas that will move the Association forward. “If it’s good for the horse, and good for the membership, then it’s good for me.”
