Yearly Archives: 2011

Texas HORSE focused on saving the horse industry in Texas.

Every year there is an unprecedented exodus of horses, breeding farms, and other horse professionals leaving the state of Texas. Texas' neighboring states enjoy an insurmountable economic advantage when it comes to their horse industries.

The operation of slot machines at racetracks in Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma offer higher purses and breed incentives that Texas can’t match, leaving the Texas horse industry in decline.

AQHA and several other equine organizations are working together on legislation in the 2011 82nd Texas legislative session that will invigorate and restore the ground lost to surrounding states. This focus will also provide resources to the many horse enthusiasts who participate in diverse disciplines. We are asking the Texas Legislature to give Texans the chance to vote to allow slot machines at all currently licensed Texas racetracks. Doing so will enrich all aspects of the Texas horse industry, and the dependent industries of real estate, tourism, and the wide spectrum of rural economy tied to farm development.

Sign up on the Texas HORSE website – to receive e-mail alerts so you can stay informed during the legislative session.

“ALL BREED HALTER INCENTIVE PROGRAM”

PURPOSE:

A halter futurity program for all stock horse breeds of conformation horses. All breeds will compete together in open and non-pro futurities for weanlings and yearlings with additional purse money awarded to highest placing horses within the color division. A futurity program judged on the merits of each horse’s conformation regardless of color or status of handlers.

WHERE; Des Moines, Iowa - September 22,23,24,25 2010 in conjunction with Iowa Breeders and Breeders Cup Futurity Programs.

STALLION ENROLLMENT:

Similar to the AQHA Incentive Fund, each stallion owner pays an enrollment fee equal to the current year’s advertised stud fee, or $600.00, whichever is greater. Stallions standing at Private Treaty will be accepted at the highest amount charged to any mare owner the previous year, or $600.00, whichever is greater. Stallion nomination fees can be paid in two payments, 50% when nominating and the balance due July 1. When enrolling a stallion each owner agrees not to breed any mares prior to February 1. Violation of any condition set forth or misrepresentation of stud fees will be grounds for permanent expulsion from the program and all get ineligible from competition with all fees paid non-refundable. $50.00 of each stallion’s nomination is withheld for office and association expense, the remaining amount is added to total purse payouts.

OPTIONAL COLOR ENROLLMENT: Each stallion owner, regardless of breed, can allocate 25% of their stallion’s nomination fee to the “color purse”. By doing so, any offspring by this stallion is then eligible to compete for additional prize monies in the color class of each futurity. Offspring must be registered with respective breed registry: APHA, Appaloosa, Pinto, Palomino or Buckskin. 100% of entries fees into the color classes are added to purse.

STALLION RECOGNITION:

Owners of stallions whose get are futurity champions will be recognized when the champion of each futurity is named and a permanent earnings record of each stallion’s offspring recorded.

FUTURITY CLASSES OFFERED:

Open Weanling Colts ( Stallions and Geldings Combined)

Open Weanling Fillies

Non-Pro Weanling Colts

Non – Pro Weanling Fillies

(Depending on number of entries in each class the weanlings may, or may not, be split in separate age groups.

If only one class is offered per sex division the horses will enter the arena based on age, youngest horses first, with back number reflecting foaling date.) All horses must be registered with respective breed association.

Open and Non Pro Yearling Stallions, Fillies and Geldings

“Color Classes” Within Each Futurity

Purse Distribution:

90 % of stallion nomination fees allocated to the weanling futurities – 50% of this amount to Non-Pro purses

10% of stallion nomination fees held back for yearling purses the following year – 50% of this to Non-Pro

25% of any stallion’s nomination that elects to allocate money to “color purse” will be deducted and the remaining amount distributed 90% for weanlings and 10% for yearling purse.

In 2011 the yearling futurities will be funded by sponsorship monies, in future years the yearling futurities will be subsidized by sponsorships in addition to the 10% held over.

MEMBERSHIP:

All participants must be members of WCHA.

ENTRY FEES: All Fees Due on September 1

$250.00 This is entry into the Open Futurity

25.00 Office Fee ( For awards-judges expense)

Non-Pro Entry Fee: $100.00 (100% Paid Back) 50% of stallion nominations added to total purse

“Color Entry Fee” : $100.00 (100% Paid Back) 25% of allocated stallion nominations added to purse

Late entries accepted at double the amount due. No Refunds. No Substitutions.

Only one handler for each entry with all entries competing together in the Open Futurity, once the open futurity is placed the horses exhibited by the open exhibitors will be excused and horses competing for the Non-Pro monies will remain in the arena for further placings. When the Non-Pro placings are completed the horses competing for “color purse” will be judged. (Non-Pro horses can earn money in open and non-pro, Paint-Pinto-Appaloosa-Palomino-Buckskin horses can earn money in all three divisions.)

Possibly have $50 of entry fee, + office fee, due June 1 to get people committed prior to babies being weaned.

SUMMARY :

By teaming up with the Iowa Breeders and Breeders Cup futurity programs in a centrally located- modern facility we will best serve stallion owners, mare owners, and exhibitors of halter horses of several surrounding states and regions. All three programs will benefit and see higher participation of owners and exhibitors.

WCHA will work with AQHA so that this futurity can be held prior to World Show entry deadline. This would allow people to “shop” at the futurity for prospective weanlings to compete at the World Show thus helping breeders market their horses and AQHA benefiting by more entries in the WS.

For Stallion Nomination Forms Contact:

WCHA Home Office – Wayne or Rebecca Halvorson – 405-282-8142 or 405-850-7982

Email Address: [email protected]

Forms and information will also be posted on the WCHA web site: www.conformationhorse.com

Any questions you can contact:

Wayne Halvorson – 405-850-7982

Luke Castle – 405-826-0698

Don Falcon – 830-401-4470

Tim Finkenbinder – 903-814-0613

WSQHA announces its 2011 Northwest Emerald Masters Maiden Two Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity now has $8,000 in added prize money, plus an all new limited rider division.

Greetings Trainers and Owners,

WSQHA has made some very exciting changes to the 2011 Northwest Emerald Masters Futurity which is held in conjunction with the Northwest Emerald Quarter horse circuit outside Seattle. I want to communicate those changes to you. The information is outlined below:

1. The 2011 NW Emerald Masters will be a “one-go” event held on September 9^th, with four Western Pleasure experts judging; Bruce Brown, Andrea Simons, Brett Clark, and Jan Hoskins.

2. This western pleasure futurity will continue to be held for registered two year old Quarter Horses, Paints, and Appaloosas that have never before been shown.

3. This will no longer be considered a “slot owner” only event. The entries will be open to any owner that signs up by the deadlines.

4. Entry fees have been lowered, and entry dates have been permanently changed. For entries postmarked and fully paid by April 15, the entry fee is $1,000. If entries are paid and postmarked by August 15, the entry fee is $2,000 (Credit cards are accepted). All entry fees are jackpotted 100% to the top placing exhibitors.

5. There will be two exhibitor divisions based on NSBA rider designations. Riders in the open/intermediate division (those with earnings in excess of $15,000) qualify for $5,000 in added money for first place.The high point limited rider (those with earnings less than $15,000) will receive an additional $3,000 in prize money, making the overall added money for the class $8,000! Thanks again to our NW Emerald Masters Futurity sponsor Cranbrook Dodge.

6. As always, each horse showing in the Masters will be charged drug fees and will be subject to random drug testing.

There has never been a better year to show your horses in Washington, and it is my hope to see you at our Washington State Quarter Horse show in September. If you have any questions please contact me directly at 253-303-1135, or visit www.WSQHA.com. Thanks and have a great show season.

-Jeff Williams

WSQHA Show Committee Chairman

In the January 5, 2011 issue of the Wall Street Journal, journalist Stephanie Simon discusses the renewed debate of equine slaughterhouses in the United States. Regardless of your opinions on the topic, people need to be aware of what is going on regarding this issue.

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Less than four years after the last equine slaughterhouses in the U.S. closed down, an unlikely coalition of ranchers, horse owners and animal-welfare groups is trying to bring them back.

The group, gathering in Las Vegas this week for a conference called Summit of the Horse, aims to map out a strategy for reviving an industry that slaughtered as many as 100,000 horses a year in the U.S. before it was effectively shut down by congressional action in 2007.

Click here to read the entire story from the Wall Street Journal

The 2011 AQHA Convention is March 4-7 in Dallas, TX.

Hotel and Registration Information

Register online, or print the registration form to attend the 2011 AQHA Convention before January 31 to avoid late fees!

Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas
$215 Single/Double (includes resort fee) Run of House
$235 Lone Star Tower
To receive these rates, reservations must be made prior to February 2, 2011
Phone:(817) 778-1000

Committee Agendas

Amateur Committee Agenda
Equine Research Committee Agenda
Finance Committee Agenda
International Committee Agenda
Judges Committee Agenda
Marketing & Membership Committee Agenda
Nominations & Credentials Committee Agenda
Professional Horsemen's Committee Agenda
Public Policy Committee Agenda
Racing Committee Agenda
Recreational Activities Committee Agenda
Show Committee Agenda
Stud Book & Registration Committee Agenda
Youth Activities Committee Agenda

Tentative Schedule

Friday, March 4
8 a.m. - Noon Directors’ Summit (AQHA’s Board of Directors only)
2 - 4:30 p.m. Marketing Forum (Open to all AQHA members)
Emerging Markets
New Tax Laws for Horse Owners
Breeding Analysis Numbers Update
This impact session is open to all interested AQHA members.
7 - 9 p.m. President’s Reception

Saturday, March 5
9 - 11 a.m. Membership General Meeting
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Board of Directors’ Luncheon (Attendance Required - Directors Only)
2 - 5 p.m. Committee Meetings
6:30 p.m. Awards Banquet

Sunday, March 6
8 a.m. - Noon Committee Meetings
1:30 - 5 p.m. Committee Meetings
6 p.m. Hall of Fame Induction Banquet

Monday, March 7
8:30 - 11 a.m. Membership Business Meeting
11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Board of Directors Luncheon (Attendance Required - Directors Only)
3 - 6 p.m. New Appointed AQHA Directors Meeting

Tour of six horse farms offered on March 6 during the 2011 AQHA Convention.

The American Quarter Horse Journal– The 2011 AQHA Convention in Grapevine, Texas, is quickly approaching, and on Sunday, March 6, the Association is hosting an all-day tour of six major horse ranches.

These farms include:

• Green Valley Ranch in Aubrey, owned by Wallis and Jane Winegar and home to reining stallions Master Snapper and Chocolate Chic Olena

• Valor Farm in Pilot Point, owned by AQHA Past President Clarence Scharbauer and home to the 1987 Kentucky Derby winner, Alysheba

• JEH Stallion Station and JEH Equine Reproduction Specialists in Pilot Point, owned by AQHA Past President Jim Helzer and wife Marilyn, and home to American Quarter Horse racing’s former all-time leading money earner, Refrigerator

• Carol Rose Quarter Horses in Gainesville, known as AQHA’s all-time leading breeder of performance horses
Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point, owned by AQHA Professional Horsemen Jason Martin and Charlie Cole, known for its all-around trainers, AQHA Superhorses and breeding

• Main River Quarter Horses in Gainesville, owned by current AQHA President Johannes Orgeldinger and wife Astrid, and known for its breeding of excellent cutting and reining horses.

The all-day tour will allow visitors to see these world-renowned reining, cutting, racing and breeding facilities. February 15 is the deadline to purchase tickets, which are $50 per person. In addition to bus transportation to and from the Gaylord Texan hotel, lunch will also be provided. To reserve your spot, call or e-mail Kay Preston at (806) 378-4344 or [email protected]. Click for more convention details.

A service to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Allison Kasten will be held at Christ Church, 13460 N. Port Washington Road in Mequon, Wisconsin on Friday, January 7th 2011 at 7:00pm. It will be preceded by visitation on Thursday night from 4:00- 8:00pm at Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home in Mequon and at Christ Church on Friday from 3:00-6:45 pm. The service can be viewed online at christchurchmequon.org. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honor Allison’s memory by making a donation to the American Quarter Horse Foundation’s scholarship program, which may be directed to P.O Box 32111, Amarillo, TX 79120.

Click here to see Kasten's obituary courtesy of Schmidt and Bartelt

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January 1, 2011

According to the Channel 10 website that reports on news happening in Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg, local journalist, Elyce Grimes, reported that Allison Kasten, 20, of Wisconsin has been identified as the victim in an overnight fatal accident.

Deputies are currently investigating the single vehicle accident that happened in the area of Falkenburg Road and Palm River Road around 5:30 this morning.

The initial investigation shows that Kasten lost control of her F-150 when she hit a curb then struck an oak tree. She died at the scene. There were no passengers.

Kasten was in Tampa for the Gold Coast horse show.

GoHorseShow.com is saddened to report this news, and our hearts go out to all her friends and family. We will update you on any other news regarding funeral arrangements when we find out the details.

Blazing Hot, VS Code Red, Don't Skip Zip, Hot Ones Only, Kids Classic Style, Lena Spark, The Power To Impress, Third Cutting, and Fleet Machine are a list of some of the outstanding Quarter Horse and Paint stallions that are participating in Gallops 2011 Annual Charity Stallion Services Auction to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.