Sudden Scoop

Now the world knows: Our reiners know how to have F.U.N.

AQHA Professional Horsewoman Stacy Westfall of Mount Gilead, Ohio, reprises her role as the masked bandit as she rides TSW Can Can Vaquero to Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive."

A great bonus to reining’s inclusion in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is that the world gets to see, up close and personal, how athletic and versatile the American Quarter Horse is.

AQHA has a robust presence at the Games to promote our horse and our industry as much as possible. In fact, I’m watching the replay of an interview with AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway being broadcast in the main media center right now.

So when we had a packed house for the freestyle reining exhibition on Thursday night, it’s no wonder that the world paid attention. The blogs and news websites were humming Friday morning with reports from the freestyle. Here’s a sampling:

• From AQHA Corporate Partner SmartPak: “Throw in a set of wings, a couple of tuxedos, an evening gown, lose a few bridles, and we have a party!”
• From the Louisville (Kentucky) Courier-Journal, interviews with the Kentuckians who participated.
• The Horse Channel says the freestyle was a “wonderful salute to the athletes, both human and equine who worked so hard to get to these championships.”

At the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, reining’s individual gold goes to USA’s Tom McCutcheon.

The American Quarter Horse Journal --All week, U.S. reiner Tom McCutcheon has been trying to keep his mount, Gunners Special Nite, fresh and happy. Thursday afternoon, the 6-year-old American Quarter Horse stallion returned the favor by turning in a score of 228 in the individual finals at the FEI World Reining Championship, held as part of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. It was enough to earn the gold medal by a margin of five points.

“I knew he was pretty special tonight,” McCutcheon said. “I felt pressure, for sure, because (I) wanted to do him justice. He’s a great little horse. ... I didn’t do a whole lot with him between the team medal and this one. I just wanted to keep him happy and fresh and go have a run."

Earlier in the week, McCutcheon and his horse helped the U.S. team to a gold medal in the team reining competition. Gunners Special Nite is sired by Colonels Smoking Gun and is out of Mifs Doll by Mifillena. He is the 2007 National Reining Horse Association Futurity intermediate open champion and has $194,237 in NRHA lifetime earnings

The individual silver medal went to U.S. teammate Craig Schmersal and Mister Montana Nic with a score of 223, while bronze went to the defending WEG individual gold medalist Duane Latimer of Canada, riding Dun Playin Tag, with a 222.5.

See the schedule of NBC Sports' coverage of the WEG reining events.

At 12 years old, Mister Montana Nic is twice as old as the other horses on the U.S. team, and he has been with Schmersal since he was a yearling.

“That’s what it’s all about, right there,” Schmersal said of the horse’s longevity. “We’ve just got to keep those old horses sound and happy.”

Mister Montana Nic is an American Quarter Horse sired by Reminic and out of Mollie Montana by Montana Doc. He was the 2005 FEI World Reining Master silver medalist and has $132,784 in NRHA lifetime earnings.

Latimer’s mount is a 6-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding by Whiz N Tag Chex out of Brennas Dunit Fancy by Hollywood Dun It. He has $188,942 in NRHA lifetime earnings.

The other members of the gold-medal U.S. team were: Tim McQuay and Hollywoodstinseltown, finishing individually in fourth place with a 222; andShawn Flarida and RC Fancy Step with a 207.5 after faring some bad luck. Flarida’s stirrup leather broke during the run, and he touched the saddle to regain his balance, which mandated a five-point penalty from each judge.

Judges were: Greg Darnall, USA; Patti Carter-Pratt, Canada; Thiago Boechat, Brazil; Ralf Hesselschwerdt, Germany; and Eugenio Latorre, Italy.

Countries competing in reining at the World Equestrian Games were: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, South America, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

It was, most definitely, reining on the world stage.

“I think it’s safe to say that this afternoon was exactly what we all wanted it to be. The sport of reining had probably its biggest week in history,” said Brad Ettleman, reining discipline manager at the games.

Learn more about all 21 riders and horses that competed in the individual reining event. Plus, find out how you can own a special momentum from the historic 2010 World Equestrian Games, honoring the role of the American Quarter Horse.

On September 27, President Barack Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010. which is intended to help small businesses and create new jobs. The bill continues the bigger write-off for horses and other property purchased and placed in service by a horse business that were originally included in earlier stimulus bills, according to the American Horse Council, of which AQHA is a member.

The first incentive allows an owner who purchases a horse or other business property used in a horse business and places it in service in 2010 or 2011 to expense up to $500,000 of the cost. This so-called “Section 179” expensing allowance applies to horses, farm equipment and most other depreciable property. Once total purchases of horses and other eligible property reach $2 million, the expense allowance goes down $1 for each dollar spent over $2 million. Without the bill, the expensing allowance would have been $250,000 in 2010 and gone down to $25,000 for successive years.

“Let’s assume a horse business purchases $750,000 of depreciable property in 2010, including $650,000 for horses, and places it all in service. That business can write off $500,000 on its 2010 tax return and depreciate the balance,” explained Jay Hickey, AHC president.

This provision will benefit any business involved in the horse industry that purchases and places depreciable property in service in 2010 or 2011.

The second incentive reinstates the 50 percent first-year bonus depreciation for horses and most other depreciable property purchased and placed in service during 2010. The bonus depreciation option expired at the end of 2009. This benefit applies to any property that has a depreciable life of 20 years or less. Also, the property must be new, meaning that the original use of the horse or other property must commence with the taxpayer. For a horse to be eligible, it cannot have been used for any purpose before it is purchased.

“The tax benefits in this bill are great for any horse business that has or is planning on making major purchases,” Hickey said. “The expensing and bonus depreciation provisions can be used together in 2010.

“For example, let’s assume an owner pays $1 million for a colt to be used for racing and $100,000 for other depreciable property, bringing total purchases to $1.1 million in 2010. If the colt had never been raced or used for any other purpose before the purchase and is placed into service, the owner would be able to expense $500,000, deduct another $300,000 of bonus depreciation (50 percent of the $600,000 remaining balance), and take regular depreciation on the $300,000 balance.

“We hope the horse industry will take full advantage of these two tax benefits while they last,” Hickey said.

The American Quarter Horse Journal -- The next best thing to being inLexington, Kentucky, for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is watching it on television.

You can now catch even more action from the World Equestrian Games. NBC Sports has added two hours to its existing scheduled coverage on Sunday, October 3. Catch reining coverage from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EDT.

This second show will feature expanded coverage of reining’s individual finals, so you can see more of the world’s top American Quarter Horses sliding and spinning their way into the history books. Eventing and dressage will be other major elements. NBC is the place to find more American Quarter Horse action and more World Equestrian Games coverage. AQHA is an official sponsor of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the official breed sponsor of reining.

Check local listings to make sure your NBC station is carrying this expanded coverage from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can also call your station to encourage them to include the coverage.

Updated Coverage Schedule

• Sunday, October 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT, featuring individual reining competition
• Sunday, October 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. EDT, featuring extended individual reining competition
• Sunday, October 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. EDT, reining featured as part of the overall WEG recap
  

This TV coverage marks the largest commitment a network has ever made to equestrian sports in U.S. television history.

AQHA member and Colorado reiner Aaron Ralston will be the on-air commentator, interpreting the reining events to TV viewers who may not be familiar with what they’re watching. He’ll explain the scoring, the maneuvers and will give tips on what viewers should be looking for.

“I hope to represent the sport of reining, and I hope to give a good understanding of what goes into the sport of reining,” Ralston said.

Ralston breeds a small number of horses each year with his wife, Meg, and also produces some western-discipline competitions.

A “second-chance” competition allows five more riders into Thursday’s individual finals at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Great Britain dominated the second individual qualifying round at the FEI World Reining Championship presented by John Deere, held Tuesday at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The top qualifying score of 217.5 went to Great Britain’s Lee Rutter riding Setting Off Sparks, while his countryman Doug Allen with Don Julio Whiz had the second highest score of 216.5.

Twenty horses had been given this second chance at qualifying for Thursday’s individual finals. Sixteen horse and rider teams had already qualified by posting high marks during the team reining competition.

Other riders qualifying Tuesday included Frederik Thomsson of Sweden, marking the first time his country has ever sent a rider to the individual finals. Australia’s Warren Backhouse and the Netherlands’ Hubertus Heule rounded out the qualifiers.

Anneli Silverstope, the Swedish chef d’equipe, was thrilled about the historic qualification. “I was sitting up there (in the stands) and was so nervous for Fred, counting the riders and (thinking) oh, ‘I hope, I hope,’ and I did make a text just to make it clear, he is in the finals. When we knew he was, I just texted away, and I hope it’s all over Sweden now,” she said.

Riders who qualified for the individual finals during the team reining competition are:

• Shawn Flarida, USA, riding RC Fancy Step (Wimpys Little Step-Sonita Wilson by Doc Wilson)
• Stefano Massignan, Italy, riding Yellow Jersey (Wimpys Little Step-Ms Clara Melody by Mr Melody Jac)
• Tom McCutcheon, USA, riding Gunners Special Nite (Colonels Smoking Gun-Mifs Doll by Mifillena)
• Bernard Fonck, Belgium, riding BA Reckless Chick (Hollywood Reckless-High Brows Chick by High Brow Hickory)
• Craig Schmersal, USA, riding Mister Montana Nic (Reminic-Mollie Montana by Montana Doc)
• Duane Latimer, Canada, riding Dun Playin Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex-Brennas Dunit Fancy by Hollywood Dun It)
• Sylvia Rzepka, Germany, riding Doctor Zip Nic (Reminic-Sugar Jodie Doll by Mr Gay Sugar Bar)
• Rudolf Kronsteiner, Austria, riding Einsteins Revolution (Great Resolve-Fly Flashy Jac by Boggies Flashy Jac)
• Grischa Ludwig, Germany, riding Hot Smokin Chex (Nu Chex To Cash-Snip O Gun by One Gun)
• Tim McQuay, USA, riding Hollywoodstinseltown (Hollywood Dun It-Miss Tinseltown by Great Red Pine)
• Martin Mühlstätter, Austria, riding Wimpys Little Buddy (Wimpys Little Step-All Thats Dun by Hollywood Dun It)
• Ann Poels, Belgium, riding Whizdom Shines (Topsail Whiz-Setting Off Sparks by Shining Spark)
• Rieky Young-Van Osch, the Netherlands, riding Burnt Starlight (Gallo Del Cielo-NU Playgirl by Freckles Playboy)
• Shawna Sapergia, Canada, riding This Chics On Top (Smart Chic Olena-This Chex On Top by Topsail Whiz)
• Wellington Jesus Teixeira, Brazil, riding SJ Rodopio (Brazilian Criollo)
• Martin Larcombe, Australia, riding Top Prize Prince (Freckles Top Prize-Miss Dot Brennas by Torijac Kid)

Here’s some immediately-after-their run comments from the riders who qualified during Tuesday’s round:

• “It was do or die today. He was awesome out there. If I wanted to get into the finals, I just had to go hard today and try and get there.” – Australian Warren Backhouse on Whizs Bronze Star (West Coast Whiz-The Bronze Star by Rollin With The Flow)
• “We had to go for it, and we went, and she followed, and it was good. That’s what you’ve got to do at a show like this I guess. We had nothing to lose. There are only five spots for that finals, and I for sure wanted to be in it.” – Dutch rider Hubertus Heule on Crome Shiner (Custom Crome-Shining Dancer by Shining Spark)
• “He’s a very nice horse to be around. I’m privileged that the owners let me ride him here. I’m also very thankful for all the people who worked so hard to make reining a part of these games, and all the efforts that have gone in, both from the NRHA and the AQHA and to all the sponsors and all the volunteers who make it possible for us to be here today.” – Sweden’s Frederik Thomsson on Gallos Stylish Star (Gallo Del Cielo-A Stylish Queen by Docs Stylish Oak)
• “I had a couple of penalities the other day, and the main goal was just to clean those up and keep the manuevers that were strong strong and then try to build on the ones that were weaker. And everything went according to plan.” – Great Britain’s Doug Allen on Don Julio Whiz (Topsail Whiz-Ms Maggie Jac by Hollywood Jac 86)
• “Never once did she ever think about doing anything other than what I asked, which is a perfect reining horse, really. Just awesome, an awesome ride, awesome mare. I give credit to the horse, because she’s a good horse. I had a good draw, coming in 18th, so I could see all the other scores that went, but also knew then I had some work to do. I couldn’t go cruise around. I had to go put a score in. That was the plan, really.” – British rider Lee Rutter on Setting Off Sparks (Shining Spark-Buco Little Bit by Bucolena)

Details about three major horse sales are now on the American Quarter Horse Association’s website.

The American Quarter Horse Association, along with the National Reining Horse and National Cutting Horse associations, has created a one-stop website for details on this fall’s major horse sales.

Visit www.aqha.com/horsesales for more information about these sales, beginning with the AQHA World Show Sale November 18-19 in Oklahoma City. The website includes information on each of the three sales, travel, shipping, insurance and other events.

It is the ultimate stop for your horse shopping experience, where you will have the opportunity to purchase horses from a variety of backgrounds.

The World Show Sales will feature horses that showcase the versatility of the American Quarter Horse – from show horses, prospects and breeding stock halter, western pleasure, hunter under saddle, roping to other performance events.

AQHA offers bidding by phone, online or through agents, which makes purchasing your new American Quarter Horse easier than ever.

Click here to learn more about the AQHA World Championship Show.

[NPI Float="left"]/Media/0/jpg/2010/9/58ab7455-9ed9-b65b-6ebf0917d7d721e2.jpg[/NPI]

2010 APHA Annual Convention
September 30 – October 2, 2010
Radisson Hotel at Opryland
2401 Music Valley Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
615-889-0800

All association members are encouraged to participate in this important function. Attendees will have the opportunity to express their views on matters of importance to the association, ask questions of APHA officers and staff, meet the association’s Executive Committee, and enjoy friendly social events in the company of Paint Horse enthusiasts from around the world.

Click here to find out more information and the schedule of events

Congrats, Team USA

At the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Team USA captures gold in the team reining competition.

Going into Day 2 of the team reining competition with a strong lead, Team USA maintained consistency to take home the gold in the team reining competition September 26, 2010, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.

Team Competition Final Rankings

1. U.S. -- 674.5
2. Belgium -- 659.0
3. Italy -- 655.5
4. Austria -- 653.5
5. Canada -- 652.5

Full story coming soon!

Meet Team USA, and find out how you can own a piece of Games history and celebrate the role of the American Quarter Horse in the reining competition.

The World Equestrian Games are September 25-October 10, 2010, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Everything you need to enjoy the Games -- whether you're in Kentucky or at home -- is right here, from schedule and coverage to travel tips and souvenirs.

• Meet Team USA, representing the United States in the reining competition, aboard American Quarter Horses.

• View the schedule for AQHA Test Rides, NRHA Ride A Reiner events and AQHA/NRHA demonstrations, all taking place in the John Deere Reining Arena.

• Reining Event Schedule

• Win a Cowboy Hat signed by Team USA.
• Event Coverage, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal

• Top-10 travel tips for the Games
• Related reining videos

Get your tickets for the Games. Plus, reserve your premium parking spot for only $100 per day or preferred parking is available for $60 per day. Visit the online parking order form for more information and to complete your reservation. Before you place your order, be sure to review the parking map so you'll know where your parking location will be.

Commemorative Medallions
Available for a limited time only!

These specially designed and manufactured medallion coins bring the spirit of the Games to your home, while celebrating AQHA's passion for the sport of reining as an official sponsor of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the Official Horse Breed of Reining.

Get Your Medallion or Pendant Today!

These one-of-a-kind keepsakes will not be available to purchase forever. Choose from either the silver pendants or one of the five styles of the commemorative medallion (antique bronze, solid silver, timeless treasure, plain bezel beauty or 100 percent gold plated). Each comes in a beautiful package - perfect for a gift.

Don't miss a minute of the reining action at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The American Quarter Horse Journal -- In addition to the 6.5 hours of televised coverage on NBC Sports, you can also enjoy the reining events at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games live from your computer.

Check out the live feeds from the FEI and USEF websites, and see some of the world's greatest reining American Quarter Horses in action!

Also, follow the latest Games news at our Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games blog, and on Facebook and Twitter. And find out how you can take home a momento and get your chance at a cowboy hat autographed by Team USA.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA Publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.

This flashy filly is a stunning combination of excellent breeding, sweet disposition and athleticism! This yearling has a good mind and is a quick learner with potential to excel in a wide variety of uses. Her breeding and conformation makes her suitable for a broad range of disciplines including all around, speed and cattle events. Click Here to find out more about the American Paint Horse Foundation.

Check Out USAhorseauctions.com for your chance to bid on and win this fantastic filly–Lot #65.
Bidding for A Catty Quixote closes Sunday, November 7 at 5 p.m.