Europe’s premier American Quarter Horse event just finished in Kreuth, Germany: the 21st European Championship of American Quarter Horses. More than 400 American Quarter Horses, as well as top riders from all over Europe attended the show. They competed in various disciplines for medals and European Champion honors.
One American, Amy Gumz of Gumz Farms in Morganfield, Kentucky, attended her first European Championships. Gumz, who stands some of the top stallions in the United States, decided it was a perfect time to visit with some of the European horse owners and breeders.
Gumz Farms stores all of their internationally shipped semen at the
University of Austria, so, it’s very easy for the Europeans to access
it. “We had such a great response from the European mare owners this past season with breeding to some of the stallions with frozen semen. I went over to learn a little bit more about their industry and also to connect with the customer base that has been developing. Every year, we have been increasing the amount of semen we have been exporting, but this past season, we had a really amazing response from the European community.”
Gumz Farms currently has seven stallions who offer frozen semen in Europe; Certain Potential, Only in The Moonlite, Huntin For Chocolate, Iron Age, VS Code Red, Absolute Investment, and No Doubt I’m Lazy. According to Gumz, most international requests were to breed their mares to VS Code Red and Certain Potential. Certain Potential also had a 2011 European Champion this year.
Gumz says that the facility in Kreuth, Germany was absolutely breathtaking. “We don’t have anything like that here in the United States. It’s just beautiful, and it’s huge. I’m not exactly sure, but I guess at least a half a dozen outdoor, and, at least, a half a dozen indoor pens, covered round pens, and, it’s beautifully worked into the mountain side,” she said. “The competitors would show in the morning and go trail riding in the afternoon or let their horses graze. There’s also a full steeplechase course.”
Gumz was surprised by the quality of horses she saw at the show. “I had always been told that the quality was not particularly that good and that’s not true. They had some horses that would definitely be competitive here in the states. The most impressive thing I saw was how skilled the riders were,” she said. “The youth were incredible riders. I talked to one of the trainers there, and, they attributed it to the fact that they haven’t always had quality there. They have to be better riders to get more out of their horses. Some were imported and some were home bred. I was very impressed when I watched some of the non-pros school and show. They did a wonderful job.”
The hospitality was exceptional, Gumz says. Kathy and Amy didn’t know many people when they got there, but the two friends had a great four days at the horse show, and, then, travelled to Italy to Karin and Ruggero Prevedel’s place called KTR Quarter Horses in Pordenone, Italy. “They are very accomplished trainers in Europe, and we spent a couple of days at their facility– it was really nice.”
Then it was time to come home, they flew out of Venice and got home late Tuesday night. “It was really a working trip. In fact, my souvenirs for my family consisted of what I found in the Venice airport! I knew better than to come home empty handed.”
Amy explains that she was able to solidify some future business with the Europeans. “We were able to let them know that we are very interested in their breeding programs. We reached a lot of people who didn’t know that we offer frozen semen.”
“We had a huge response, and we plan on having a booth at their big futurity in September in Germany. I will be at Carol McWhirter’s dispersal sale during that time, but, we will have a lovely woman who speaks seven languages there to man the booth for us. She will have lots of information about our breeding program. It was a great experience, and, one I hope to have again.”
Go to gumzfarms.com for more information on the stallions at Gumz Farms.
