Sudden Scoop

The words “expo” or “clinic” really don’t capture the essence of QuarterFest: A Celebration of the Horse. Actually, “celebration” is a pretty good way to sum it up.

Sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association, QuarterFest – April 30 - May 2 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee – is a weekend filled with top-notch clinicians, a fun area for kids, evenings of entertainment and more. Whether you bring your horse to participate or just come to watch, you’re sure to find plenty to see and do. 

Click here for more about QuarterFest on AQHA.com.

Here's a message from Cody Fisher regarding the Circle G show held in Tunica, April 2-5.

I wanted to thank all of those who came and showed with us! We had a blast and can't wait until next year! If you missed it this year, you really MISSED IT!

In preparation for next year, I would love to get a list of your favorite judges and least favorite judges. Plus, any tips on making the show better and if making it run over four days would be good or bad. Thanks again for making this show great!

Send me an email at [email protected]!

The NSBA 2009 Stallion Incentive Fund Payout paid $93.98 per point. License payout checks were mailed in March to approximately 318 stallion nominators, horse owners and horse nominators in the NSBA Stallion Incentive fund License program. Payout checks were distributed for horses registered with and earning points in the AQHA, APHA ApHC, IBHA, ABRA , PHBA and PtHA.

NSBA is proud to once again have such an exciting payout for the License program. Horses may still be licensed for $100 during their weanling year and for the low fee of $200 for yearlings and older horses until the end of 2011. Beginning in 2012, the fee to License a horse during the weanling year and yearling year will remain $100 and $200 respectively, but after the yearling year the License fee will increase to $600.

Why not license your horse today? Click here for the License Form.

You can check the eligibility of your horse's sire; if the sire is not listed or is not listed for your horse's foaling year, contact the nsba office and we will help you explore the "Grandfather Clause" as a means to create eligibility for the sire. 

Click here for more from the NSBA.

Congratulations to proud parents Steve and Erin Heckaman. Warren Wesley Heckaman was born Thursday night, April 1st. He weighed in at 6.5 pounds.

The name Warren was Erin's grandfather and Wesley was Steve's.

Best wishes to the entire Heckaman family. 

Visit Cowgirl I Candy's Facebook Fan Page and click to enter their FREE TEE FRIDAY. Reply to the link that says ENTER HERE and you will be automatically entered in their drawing. Monday morning, Joselyn will draw a winner for a free t-shirt with your choice of designs.

Click here for Cowgirl I Candy's Facebook Fan Page.

Visit www.cowgirlicandy.com to see all their great designs.

The Circle G Classic held in Tunica April 2-5 is definitely a show on the rise! Supportive show management, lead by Cody Fisher, combined with low all day fees and innovative new award concepts have helped make this one of the best new shows on the circuit. Several trainers from AR, TX, OK, OH and GA have already put this show on their yearly calenders.

It is still not too late to come see why this show is gaining so much interest!

Click here for the Circle G Classic showbill.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We at AQHA hope you’re enjoying this happy holiday with your favorite American Quarter Horse.

Just for fun, we dug up some St. Paddy’s Day-themed registered names. Add in your own!

Kiss Me Im Irish

Irish Accent

Lucky Clover

Whiskey A’ Go Go

Irish Whiskey Bar

Luckily Irish

Leprechaun Charm

Luck Tu The Irish

Irish Whiskey

Leprechauns Gold

Irish Shamrock

Four Leaf Clover

Irish Clover

Luck Charm

Irish Bar Whiskey

Luck O Dublin

Irish Elf

Luck O Irish Hancock

Irish Bailey Cream

Luck Of The Irish

Luck O’Shannon

Irish Coffee N Cream

Luck’s Lass

Luckofthegreene

Blarney Kiss

Irish Lucky Charms

Blarney Stone

Ima Irish Dame

Luckier Than You

Kiss The Blarney

Pot Of Gold

End Of The Rainbow

Irish Bar Maid

Pint of Guinness

Irish Bartender

Pint Of Stout

Im Irish Gold

Pub Crawler

Sipping Irishwhiskey

Drinks Are On Me

Click here for more from America's Horse Daily

The Silver Dollar Classic, is under way March 17–21 at the South Point Events Center in beautiful and warm Las Vegas. Great judges, management, prizes, facility, futurity classes with added money and lots of fun to be had! 

Click here to VIEW THE LIVE WEB CAM!

Judges: Jeff Allen, David Dellin, Murray Griggs, Bruce Walquist. Special Event on Wed., 3/17 - Open & Amateur Trail & Western Riding judged by Laurel Walker-Denton, Wilma Holcomb.

Management: Jan Bruner and the Bruner Group is putting the show on 480-419-6318 or [email protected] for more information. Show Manager/Secretary is Track One Events - Poncie & Larry Gimple.

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Prizes: HIGH POINT AWARDS
Saddles by Blue Ribbon Custom Tack 

All Around Senior Horse
All Around Junior Horse
All Around Amateur
All Around Amateur Select
All Around Youth 14-18
All Around Youth 13 & Under

RESERVE HIGH POINT AWARDS
Trophy Spurs by Blue Ribbon Custom Tack

CIRCUIT AWARDS in all AQHA CLASSES
Silver Dollar Circuit Barn Chairs by Precision Silk Screen

Facility: An unique experience in horse showing...From the hotel to the arenas and stalls...it’s all under one roof! Just take the elevator from your hotel room right down to the show.

Futurity Classes:

• 3 YO Open Pleasure - $1,000 added - entry fee $125
• 3 YO Non pro Pleasure - $500 added - entry fee $75
• 4 & Over $10,000 Limited Horse Pleasure - $1,000 added - entry fee $125
  (All are NSBA approved. May enter at the show.)

Fun! Special sponsor raffles - One ticket for every $100 sponsored. The Annual Gillette Girls' lunchtime hot dog party on Friday hosted by Taylor and Erin Gillette.   

Click here for the current Premium Book. 

The 2010 APHA Slot Classes will be hosted at the APHA Fall World Championship Show in Fort Worth, TX – November 4 - 13, 2010. All slot classes will be held prior to their corresponding World Championship class(es) during this show.

2010 Slot Deadlines
Renewal: July 10
New Purchase: August 10
Late Purchase: September 10
Horse & Exhibitor Nomination: September 10

Click here for the 2010 APHA Slot Class Criteria

 Happy 12th birthday to AQHA World Champion Ziprageous! Ziprageous is owned by Stricker Quarter Horses of Batavia, Ohio. 

Ziprageous is the only stallion ever to win the 2 year old Snaffle Bit at the AQHA World Show by Unanimous Decision in both the Preliminaries and the Finals.

Ziprageous stands at Cooper Quarter Horses in Maysville, Georgia. Please Call Clarice Cooper at 706-224-8492 or email at [email protected] or [email protected] to book you mare.

Show competitors, it’s time to make your plans, finish qualifying and get ready for the World Show in your division. To help you plan early, AQHA has released schedules for the Built Ford Tough AQHYA, Adequan Select, Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open World Championship shows.

“Significant improvements have been made to all of the schedules for AQHA’s slate of World Shows,” said Tom Persechino AQHA Executive Director of Competition and Breed Integrity. “We hope these modifications, as well as the early release date of these schedules, will make it easier for exhibitors to plan their summer and fall trips to Oklahoma City or Amarillo.”

Among the changes to the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show schedule: AQHA will utilize the performance arena, begin with performance halter and move halter classes up earlier in the schedule. The Ford Youth World begins Friday, July 30, and continues through Saturday, August 7. View the 2010 schedule at www.aqha.com/youth/activities/yws/schedule.html.

Competitors coming to Amarillo for the Adequan Select World Championship Show need to plan on arriving a day earlier and will get home a day earlier to enjoy the Labor Day weekend with their loved ones. The show now begins on Sunday, August 29, and wraps up on Saturday, September 4. See the schedule at www.aqha.com/showing/shows/selectshow/schedule.html.

For all schedules, AQHA has slightly spread the time between preliminaries and finals.

“So many exhibitors – from youth to select to professionals – told us they would like more time to celebrate making the finals with their friends and family,” Persechino said. “We had refined the schedule so much that in many cases preliminaries and finals were back-to-back. By adding some time, our members can go enjoy a nice dinner, relax with family or simply relish in the fact they are one of the top 15 in the world. Part of the fun of showing is celebrating every accomplishment and being in the top 15 is a big accomplishment few have the chance to realize.”

To see the schedule for the 2010 Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open World Championship Show, visit www.aqha.com/showing/shows/worldshow/schedule.html.

Following the AQHA Convention in Kissimmee, Florida, earlier this week, AQHA’s expanded Show Council approved the revised schedules. The council had asked that the schedules be modified and made available earlier to benefit exhibitors.

For more information on AQHA’s World Championship Shows, visit www.aqha.com/showing and select the Shows & Events option along the top of the page.

The National Snaffle Bit Association Announces Hall of Fame Inductees and 2009 Horse of the Year

Each year, NSBA inducts individuals, horses and riders into the NSBA Hall of Fame. Nominations for horses and individuals are made in writing to the NSBA office and these nominations are reviewed by the board at their regularly scheduled meeting in February.

More information on previous winners visit www.nsba.com

Hall of Fame - Breeding Horse Category

Qualifications - this category is open to Sires or Dams; they maybe living or deceased but must be permanently retired from the show ring.

2010 Inductees

• Blazing Hot, owned by Robbie and Joan Schroeder of Gainesville, Texas

• Goddess of Love, owned by Hedy Levin, of Strugis, Michigan

Hall of Fame - Show Horse Category

Qualifications - Stallions, Mares or Geldings; they maybe living or deceased as well as they maybe actively showing.

2010 Inductee

• Potential Diva, owned by Steven and Susan Thompson of Hillsboro, Ohio

Hall of Fame - Individual Category

This category is to acknowledge individuals that have had on impact on the National Snaffle Bit Association. This can be evident by their dedication and time served to the association. This could be an individual, company or association.

2010 Inductee

• Debbie Popp Hubbard

Hall of Fame - Rider Category

Qualifications - All NSBA earnings will count in a rider's earning figures. All earning from Hunter Under Saddle, Longe Line, Western Pleasure, Trail and Western Riding will be combined. Results on records from 1984 through the present year will be used. A NSBA Rider will be inducted into the Hall of Fame the year following the year in which he/she has obtained earning totaling $250,000 or more.

2010 Inductees

• Jay Starnes

• Shane Dowdy

• Beth Case

Horse of the Year

Since 1998, the NSBA has has presented the Horse of the Year Award to the owner of the horse, which is most deserving of this prestigious award based on NSBA participation as evident by NSBA show record and most points earned in that year. Again, nominations are submitted and the horse is selected by vote of the NSBA Board of Directors.

2009 Award Winner

• Goodcowboymargarita, owned by Crosby Boyd of Leonard, Michigan

The NSBA encourages you to come join them in Tulsa for the NSBA World Championship show, August 18-22, 2010.

2010 World Show judges have been announced:

Scott Newman
Nancy Sue Ryan
Clay MacLeod
Beckey Schooler
Kelly McDowall
Patrick Trebesch
Mike Weaver
Tanya Green
Chris Kozlowski
Charlene Carter
Rod Safty
Steve Meadows

Click here to view the tentative show schedule

Breeders Championship Futurity Classes

Riders with Disabilities classes

Sponsorship Opportunities are available for the 2010 show by containing Ann Webb at [email protected].

2010 NSBA World Show qualifying dates: May 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010

Reduced Entry fees
NEW FOR 2010 Stakes Classes for Showmanship at Halter, Horsemanship and Equitation

Working Hunter and Hunter Hack classes; these are non-qualifying classes for the 2010 show.

Click here to see the newly updated 2010 NSBA Riders List and check your eligibility.  

Click here for more from NSBA.com

Special thanks to Jennifer Horton of Bar H photography for candids from The Iowa Winter Wonderland show in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  The show, managed by EMG Horse Shows, ran Feb 25-28 and the judges were Gary Roberts, Tina Kaven and Jeff Mellott. 

Click here to see the Hot Ones Only Candids from Iowa. 

The next EMG show is March 18-21 and will have four judges.