American Quarter Horse
owners love their horses – past, present and future – and many want to
keep track of those horses even after they are sold.
The American Quarter Horse Association developed the Full
Circle program to reunite breeders and
previous owners with horses they remember well. Through the free Full
Circle program, AQHA members will be able to indicate on a horse’s
registration certificate that if the horse ever becomes unwanted,
unusable or simply ready for retirement, the member will – if possible –
assist in providing or finding a suitable home.
Originally dubbed Greener Pastures, the program has been
renamed Full Circle and enhanced. The Full Circle name more accurately
reflects goal of the program when horses that were once sold by their
original owner come full circle back to them, often times after lengthy
careers enriching lives of multiple riders. Even in the program’s short
existence, AQHA has received success stories from customers who have
been reunited with horses they once owned. To read more about Full
Circle, visit http://www.aqha.com/fullcircle.
The free, voluntary
program does not guarantee a buyback or exchange of money will occur nor
that a horse is assured a home – situations can and do change. It
allows members an opportunity to keep track of and provide for the
long-term care of horses they’ve bred or owned. However, you must be an
AQHA member to sign up and enroll a horse in the program. AQHA members
can enroll a horse by logging in to the member services section at www.aqhamembers.com or by calling the Registration Department at (806)
376-4811.
“AQHA wants to help
responsible horse owners,” said Don Treadway Jr., AQHA executive vice
president. “We believe we can better serve the equine industry and help
ensure the long-term care of horses we register with this program. By
implementing Full Circle, we begin to fill a void.”
Through this new program, the Association will act as a
clearinghouse by tracking Full Circle-enrolled horses and AQHA members
who have indicated the desire to help.
