Sudden Scoop

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Exhibitors, owners, trainers, equine enthusiasts and nearly 900 of the world’s most colorful Appaloosas came together Oct. 22 - 31 in Fort Worth, Texas at the Will Rogers Memorial Center for an exciting 2010 World Championship Appaloosa Show hosted by the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC)!

The annual 9-day international event showcased the world’s most talented Appaloosas and exhibitors, all of whom competed for prizes and prestigious titles in 150 ApHC classes including cattle, western, English, jumping, games and halter, not to mention some of the equine industry’s most exciting competitions including the Rope Race, Freestyle Reining and the Nez Perce Stake Races!

While only the best Appaloosas are invited to participate in the World Championship Appaloosa Show, an even smaller group of horses compete for the prestigious titles of World's Best Appaloosa and Nutrena Iron Horse.

Grabbing the spotlightwas Shys Blue Boy, a 9-year-oldgelding owned by Abby Bruno of Moreno Valley, California, who was named “World's Best Appaloosa” and Nutrena Iron Horse at the show. Bruno was awarded an aluminum horse trailer for one year's use, compliments of Featherlite Manufacturing, a trophy saddle made by KO Trading, a custom sterling silver show halter from Kathy's Show Equipment, gift certificates from Dale Chavez Company and Smart Pak Equine Supplements, a check for $1,500 and a trophy from the Appaloosa Horse Club for Worlds Best. The duo also earned $10,000 from Nutrena, the industry leader in advanced equine nutrition and the Official Feed of the Appaloosa Horse Club. A custom designed bronze sculpture by Wally Shoop entitled "Forged From Fire" was presented to Bruno and “Blue boy” for their achievement.

The ApHC proudly hosted the annual Toys for Tots Benefit in conjunction with Freestyle Reining. The ApHC raised more than $2,300 and collected eight bins of new toys for the children of Fort Worth. The ApHC would like to thank everyone who contributed and made this charity evening a success!

The 2010 World Championship Appaloosa Show was once again an exciting and successful ApHC event—total entries and exhibitor numbers were comparable to last year’s participation. This year’s show boasted a total of 2,591 entries.

Now the ApHC is gearing up for the 64th National Appaloosa Show & 2011 World Championship Appaloosa Show at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex in Tulsa, Okla, July 4-16, 2011.

For more information about the Appaloosa Horse Club and its events, please visit www.appaloosa.com or call ApHC Headquarters at 208-882-5578.

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was established in 1938, with a mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Appaloosa breed. The ApHC has since registered more than 690,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline, including racing, endurance riding or serving as reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho; the heart of the Palouse region, the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.

Every world champion has a great story, and the American Quarter Horse Journal has captured a few of the stories behind those crowned during Bank of America Amateur Week at the 2010 AQHA World Championship Show. Here are some highlights to get you started:

--Physical challenges: Willys The Boss survived a trailer accident just a month prior to carrying Dean Holden to the win in amateur cutting. And multiple roping world champion Apache Blue Boy almost died of an infection just two weeks ago – but he carried Mike Row to the amateur headingworld championship.

--Mental challenges: Kara Oldford and Im Shy But Deluxe came back from a bobble in the horsemanship finals to win the showmanship– her first year of amateur competition.

--Repeat champs: Sharnai Thompson and Hot Ones Only returned to win amateur hunter under saddleand pleasure driving; Meghan O’Malley and A Chanceof Blueskies returned in amateur hunter hack; and Jessica Johnson and Royality In Blue in amateur hunt seat equitation.

--Breeding success: Trent Tobin of Fredericktown, Ohio, won both the amateurand junior pole bendingworld championships on his homebred mare, Redneck Daisy. Trent also won third in amateur poles with another homebred, Redneck Mariah. (Both are by his stallion, Redneck Jet.) Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, won amateur performance halter stallionswith Execute and won several halter world championships with his get, too: weanling mare Execute Pretty, weanling stallion Execute A Score and 2-year-old mare I Execute Class.

--First-time world championships: Sarah Yaglowski and Zip It By Me in amateur trail; Jim Sancken and How Do Ya Like Menow in amateur 3-year-old geldings; Allen Hartness won the 2009 breakaway and returned to win the 2010 tie-downon Zan Dozen; and Susan Drawdy and Hes So That won amateur yearling stallions– both at their first World Show.

Stay tuned to the exciting start of the Open Division of the AQHA World Show. Many of these horses will be back to compete this week.

Paint Horse breeders, owners and exhibitors from around the world converged at the APHA Fall World Championship Show in Fort Worth, Texas. Australia, Germany, Mexico and Denmark were just a few of the countries represented.

Here to show was Manuel Mora Rojas, who defended his world title successfully with his Mexican-bred yearling filly Miss Ali Tramp, while his other horse, Finessinating, won the World Championship in Tobiano Weanling Mares. Both fillies were by the Diamond H Ranch’s Premenitions Tramp. Rojas also purchased a horse in the Breeders’ Trust Select Sale as did fellow countryman Juan Jose Milanes.

Some international enthusiasts were here buying horses. Craig Dengate from Australia buys and keeps horses in the United States to show at World Show.

“It’s around $25,000 per horse to fly our horses from Australia that we show there,” Dengate said.

“It’s too cost prohibitive for us to ship horses, so we keep a string of our horses in the U.S. to show at World Show and other large shows here,” he continued.

Sergio Martin, the President of the Mexican Paint Horse Association, handcarried his papers for transfers and registrations and took advantage of the new APHA “On The Road” onsite registration desk on the John Justin concourse. He was also here to scout out halter horses.

Viggo and Annette Mortensen of Denmark came over to enjoy the sights and pick up Annette’s No.1 Zone 12 award from 2009.

An International Reception and Meeting was held Thursday at the show for fellowship, to foster communication and discuss international issues.

“The international segment of our Association continues to grow,” said APHA Executive Director Lex Smurthwaite.

“Our strong showing of global members and international horses here at the show is evidence of this trend. We look forward to an even bigger presence from these folks in the future.”

These ambassadors put the “world” in World Show and we welcome them!

Top Amateur exhibitor Angela Fox who recently won the Congress in the Amateur Showmanship with her equine partner, The Heat Seeker and last night was 5th at the AQHA World Show in the Showmanship, unfortunately had a heavy heart going into the finals. After she showed yesterday, she had to drive home to Texas and put her beloved retired show horse, Leaguers Haley Bopp (Haley) down.

Angela and her 1997 chestnut mare out by Kay Cee Leaguer out of Zippos Belle were quite a team when they showed together. They reached over 500 points in their show career, with several superiors and top 10 placings at the World Show, Congress, and in the nation. In 2001, they were Congress winners in the Novice Amateur Equitation, and a few years later, placed third in the Showmanship at the AQHA World Show.

“Haley was a great show horse but importantly my best friend for the past 11 years,” Angela Fox, whose heart is obviously heart broken over this news. “She lost her battle with Laminitis last night and my life won't be the same. She greeted me every morning at the back gate with her sweet face waiting for her breakfast. We thought there was a chance she would make it and did everything we could, I chose to not let her suffer and said goodbye. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.”

TULSA - Pinto was not the only type of colored horse at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square this month as Buckskins and Palominos shared the spotlight in Tulsa, Okla., during the Color Breed Congress horse show on Nov. 3-7, 2010.

Almost 600 exhibitors from 27 states competed for cash and prizes during the inaugural event that held classes approved by the Pinto Horse Association, Palomino Horse Breeders of America, American Buckskin Registry Association and the International Buckskin Association. Presented by the Pinto Horse Association, the show also hosted classes that included Appaloosas and American Paint Horses.

"The basic idea of the event was really just four separate breed shows at the same time," said Darrell Bilke, Show manager and PtHA Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer. "Then, to add a little fun to the competition, we created the Color Breed Cash Challenge and the Champion of Champion classes that allowed all the breeds to show together. The exhibitors are showing the same horses the same way, but against different horses with a little more prestige. It was exciting to see all the breeds compete together!

The show started with halter and longe line classes, moved to English and driving classes with trail, gymkhana and western performance classes closing the schedule. Medallions and embroidered pullover jackets, Kensington luggage sets and high point belt buckles designed by Gist Silversmiths were included on the prize list but plenty of exhibitors took home a chunk of the $6,720 in prize money as well.

Dual approved National Snaffle Bit Association classes offered a chance at cash and statue trophies while the Color Breed Cash Challenge classes in several open division disciplines paid back entry fees to the top horses on a sliding scale.

Perhaps the most entertaining classes were the Champion of Champion events for youth, amateur and open competitors. Just by placing in the top three of their respective breeds' classes, exhibitors were eligible to enter the finale events. With halter and performance classes on the list, it is no surprise that Pintos, Palominos and Buckskins earned more than $4,000 cash in these events.

In keeping with PtHA tradition, more than 100 lucky exhibitors had the opportunity to show off their moves in theHula Hoop Hoedown. Light-hearted smiles were also seen in abundance during the Congress Cookout when PtHA provided dinner for all the exhibitors and their families. Children and adults alike also participated pumpkin painting event that benefited the OU Cancer Institute.

For detailed results and more information about the 2010 Color Breed Congress, please visit www.colorbreedcongress.com. To learn more about the Association, visit www.pinto.org or call the PtHA Headquarters at (405) 491-0111.

Incorporated in 1956, the Pinto Horse Association of America was formed to encourage the promotion of quality horses, ponies and miniatures with color and to establish a registry for maintaining their pedigrees and records. Currently, the association serves approximately 12,000 members and boasts more than 140,000 registered Pintos.

Please join us at the John Justin Arena in Fort Worth, Texas during the APHA Fall World Show for a reception sponsored by Rodrock Ranches and A Scenic Impulse. 

The reception will be held on Friday, November 12th at 4pm, a heavy hors d'oeuvre reception will be for all exhibitors and guest. We are anxious to meet everyone and announce the new incentive programs for A Scenic Impulse. Hope to see you there!

The Rodrock Ride to The Riches program is the first major stallion based incentive program in the paint industry. Darol Rodrock and Amy Gumz will also be at the Paint World to give out the championship buckle in the 2 year old Western Pleasure class. 

[NPI Float="left"]/Media/16/gif/2009/10/7c923c79-b61c-04c0-9487282aebe23e5d.gif[/NPI]RULES FOR RODROCK RIDE TO RICHES TO WIN THE MONEY

•Foals must be sired by A Scenic Impulse

•Eligible foals of A Scenic Impulse for this program must be born no earlier than 2012

•$25,000 will be awarded to the FIRST APHA World Champion in Western Pleasure

•Program ends when the FIRST APHA World Champion in Western Pleasure is given

•$6,250 will be awarded to the breeder of APHA Record* of the foal

•*If foal is the result of embryo transfer/embryo purchase-written agreement of owner of embryo is required

•Award will be paid after official results are published by APHA

•No Rodrock family or employees are eligible to participate in this program

Elizabeth “Spike” Roberts Brewer has a special bond with Shes Inviting, a mare who would not exist without the miracle of science. This mare won a Reserve World Championship in the Masters Amateur Senior Western Pleasure on Monday with Spike’s mother, Nancy Roberts, in the saddle.

The story behind Shes Inviting is one of tragedy and triumph.

It started with the mare that Spike and Nancy purchased by the name of HF Skipa Tizzy. Spike, her sister Carrie, and Nancy all showed “Tizzy.” Spike showed her in Youth and Amateur earning two World Championships in Youth Western Riding and a Reserve World Champion in Youth Showmanship.

“We spent $50 and tested to see if Tizzy was homozygous,” Spike said. “She was, and we thought we had hit the gold mine. I talked my parents into breeding her rather than selling her.”

Tizzy bore a total of five foals including the stallion Invited Back, who is sired by Willy Be Invited AQHA.

However, in 2003, Tizzy was sent to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, after foundering in a hind leg. Advised to put the mare down, Spike asked if there was any way to save her or try to save some eggs from her ovaries so she could pass along her excellent disposition, conformation and performance traits.

She decided to send the mare’s ovaries to Colorado State University to try an osteocyte transfer for one last chance to produce a foal. “We knew we had only one shot at this,” Spike said. “Luckily, it worked out and we got Shes Inviting.”

Also sired by Willy Be Invited AQHA, Shes Inviting won a World Championship Classic Amateur Junior Western Pleasure in 2009 with Spike. “I had jokingly told my mom that if I won a buckle last year that she could show her this year, and now she’s won a Reserve World Championship on her,” Spike said.

“The mare is actually in foal right now and will have a baby in April 2011,” she continued. “I’ll probably end up bringing her back to show next year.”

Tizzy’s genetics will carry on with Shes Inviting, and Nancy and Spike both consider her, like Tizzy, a part of the family. These two sets of mothers and daughters share a common bond and look forward to seeing the next generation of offspring.

The 2010 World Show Sale is already making history.

The buzz on the 2010 AQHA World Championship Show Sale is great, according to Mike Jennings of Professional Auction Services Inc.

“We have sent out a record number of catalogs this year, over 2,000,” Mike says. “Last year, we sent out 1,300, and the highest I could find before that was about 1,550.

“I’ve had a number of people say they thought the entire catalog looked stronger than it’s been for a while, and we agree with that,” Mike says.

The big changes for this year’s sale include:

--Move of the sale to open finals weekend, November 18-19.

--Inclusion of breeder groups in working, pleasure and halter horse sessions, including the “World Saleabration.”

--Using the Barn 3 arena with a round sale ring, so horses can be longed or ridden as they are being sold. “We felt that’s a big asset that would benefit a lot of the horses being offered,” Mike says.

--In addition to November 17 performance horse preview, there will be a roping horse preview in the Coliseum following the senior heeling prelims. “More of the roping horse exhibitor crowd will be able to view the sale horses, and we’ve got some very, very nice roping horses and prospects in the sale,” Mike says.

--Expansion of the World Show Sale bonus program so there would be more money paid to more people.

--Offer of three original Orren Mixer paintings of Goldseeker Bars, Paul A and Red Wimpy.

Mike points out that a lot of what has caused the buzz has been “the very well-bred horses” being offered throughout the sale. Of the 420 horses catalogued, about 225 of them are pleasure horses, including a consignment from breeders Robbie and Joan Schroeder of Gainesville, Texas.

“We wanted (the sale) to generate buzz,” Joan says, “to give people something to talk about, and it has. There are a lot of great horses in this sale, not just ours, and it’s exciting.”

Mike points out that halter breeders have really supported the sale, offering world champions in both the breeder promotional groups and through individual consignors.

“We’re pleased to have that much interest in this economy; we’ve seen some strength in our show horses throughout the fall,” he continues, pointing to positives at the fall National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale in Reno, Nevada, and at the Congress Super Sale in Columbus, Ohio.

“With the interest coming into this sale, it’ll be a better market for our consignors than they’ve seen for a couple of years now.”

For more sale information, go to: www.professionalauction.com, or call (800) 240-7900.

Champion: Must Be A Detail, owned by Highview Ranch Quarter Horses Inc.
Reserve: A Chance For Romance, owned by Amy Brosch

Amateur All-Around
Champion: Im Shy But Deluxe, ridden by Kara Oldford, owned by Gale Oldford
Reserve: The Heat Seaker, ridden and owned by Angela Fox

Select Amateur All-Around
Champion: Knowtorious, ridden and owned by Susan Wilson
Reserve: That Would Be Me, ridden by Laurel Champlin and owned by Cassidy Champlin

Novice Amateur All-Around
Champion: Leaguers Gone Roan, ridden by Shayla Witaker, owned by Mark & Nina Baker
Reserve: DowntownDetailBrown, ridden by Jenny Martin and owned by Janet & Kent Martin

Youth All-Around
Champion: Its My Lucky Detail, ridden and owned by Madison Eichstadt
Reserve: Certify This Chex, ridden by Carey Nowacek, owned by Rita Brightwell

Youth (11 & Under) All-Around
Champion: Skips Top Asset, ridden by Harley Huff, owned by Hanet Huff
Reserve: You Shock Me, ridden and owned by Calley Huston

Youth (12-14) All-Around
Champion: Its My Lucky Detail, ridden and owned by Madison Eichstadt
Reserve: Gifted Circle, ridden and owned by Grant Smith

Youth (15-18) All-Around
Champion: Certify This Chex, ridden by Carey Nowacek, owned by Rita Brightwell
Reserve: Harley D Zip, ridden by Ali Papendick, owned by Highview Ranch Quarter Horses Inc.

Novice Youth (13 & Under) All-Around
Champion: That Would Be Me, ridden and owned by Cassidy Champlin
Reserve: An Awesome Chip, ridden and owned by Ashlyn Lawrence

Novice Youth (14-18) All-Around
Champion: RL A Sudden Image, ridden and owned by Jonathon Nowacki
Reserve: Chippen In Style, ridden and owned by Brittany Donald

DULUTH, Ga. — October 28, 2010 —Merial today announced the entry period for its’ Stay on Guard contest has closed, which means the countdown is on to name four new ULCERGARD^® (omeprazole) spokespeople. And Merial is asking the public to choose the winners.

While five finalists have been selected for each spokesperson category - English, Western, Racehorse and Veterinarian/Veterinary Technician – the winners will be determined by popular vote. To cast your ballot for your favorite finalist, go to stayonguard.ulcergard.com and click on the person you’d like to see as one of the next ULCERGARD spokespeople. You may vote for one finalist per day (from all categories) until the voting period closes November 19, 2010.

Since Merial announced its Stay on Guard spokesperson contest in late August, horse owners, equine competitors and veterinary professionals from across the country have eagerly shared their ULCERGARDsuccess stories.

“We are thrilled with the response we have gotten to the contest and are excited about the stories that have been shared with us,” says Amanda McAvoy, Merial’s product manager for Equine Pharmaceuticals. “In their own words, contest entrants have conveyed the positive impact ULCERGARD has had on the performance of their horses and demonstrated their commitment to guarding against equine stomach ulcers. I look forward to working with the individuals who are ultimately chosen to be the next ULCERGARD spokespeople.”

For more information about the Stay on Guard contest, go to stayonguard.ulcergard.com. Visit www.egus.org for additional details about equine stomach ulcers. Product information can be found at www.ulcergard.com.

Important safety information:

ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 pounds. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined.

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,700 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2009 sales were over $2.6 billion. Merial is the Animal Health subsidiary of sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see www.merial.com.