Sudden Scoop

RULE CHANGE PROPOSALS FOR AQHA CONVENTION
DECEMBER 31 IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING

AQHA members have until December 31 to submit items for the Convention. AQHA’s standing committees will meet March 4-7 in Grapevine, Texas, to consider submitted items.

For a list of standing committees, click here and log into the AQHA Member Services Area.

Please download and complete the rule change proposal form. There are two versions of the form for your convenience: Word version | PDF version
Once you've completed the form, please return it via email to [email protected].

If you prefer, items may also be submitted by mail at:

AQHA
ATTN: (Committee Name)
P.O. Box 200
Amarillo, Texas 79168

Amarillo, Texas, October 7, 2010 – For the past 10 days, the equestrian world has been focused on Lexington, Kentucky, and the2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, since this is the first time for the event to be held in the United States. It’s also the first time that WEG has been featured on national U.S. television with an amazing 8.5 hours of coverage on NBC Sports, the largest commitment ever made by a network to equestrian sports.

AQHA and theNational Reining Horse Association have worked for more than 20 years to have the sport of reining be recognized by the Federation Equestre Internationale and included in the World Equestrian Games.

With the World Equestrian Games on U.S. soil for the first time, NRHA and AQHA teamed with corporate partnerJohne Deere to highlight reining and American Quarter Horses during the Games in a special demonstration arena. AQHA and NRHA officials also served as media advisers for the national broadcast.

Reining has enjoyed 2.5 hours of coverage and according to recent Nielsen ratings, the U.S. audience also has enjoyed watching the only western event in the Games. Nearly six million total viewers have watched both shows, the first of which debuted September 26 featuring the team reining competition and the second on October 3, which featured the individual reining competition.

AQHA, who is the official reining breed sponsor of the Games, received national commercials in both broadcasts that also had an influence on website traffic – there was an increase in visitors to aqha.com and its WEG coverage. AQHA’s WEG-related pages on aqha.com, which include a 15-page microsite and numerous press releases, were viewed more than 22,000 times. WEG-related blog posts on America’s Horse Daily had an additional 3,500 views.

Visitors to aqha.com have until October 10 to sign up to win a Shorty’s Caboy Hattery felt hat signed by members of the gold medal winning Team USA.

NBC’s coverage of the Games concludes Sunday, October 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern with reining included as part of the overall WEG recap.

A three-year contract will keep show in Amarillo through 2012.

The American Quarter Horse Journal – A new three-year contract with the Tri-State Fair that began with the 2010 Adequan Select World Championship Show will keep the show at the facility in Amarillo through 2012, according to Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity.

“The AQHA Executive Committee approved the three-year contract, which gives the Tri-State Fair an option for an additional two years at the completion of the three years,” Persechino said. “The contract also contains the provision that should the show grow, AQHA can exercise an option to move the show to a larger facility.”

Persechino said the contract also addresses some items about the facility and its amenities that some exhibitors have voiced concerns about, including the footing in the Bill Cody and other warm-up areas on the grounds.

“We still hear from the majority of the exhibitors that they like coming to Amarillo,” Persechino said. “They like the (AQHA) staff attentiveness, the hospitality, the party that is hosted by the American Quarter Horse Foundation and the economics of Amarillo.

“On the surface, it’s easy to say that the show should move, but it receives a substantial stipend from the city and the venue to have the show here,” Persechino added. “Take that away and the cost to exhibitors to show at the Select World will go up.”

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.