A history of the horse whose offspring have become legends in the show ring.

Buy this photo of Three Bars (TB).

In an age of hot-blooded, hair-triggered racehorses, Three Bars’ easygoing disposition was something of an anomaly. His temperament was one of the reasons he succeeded as a sire.

Walter Merrick of Oklahoma knew he’d hit the jackpot when he started breeding mares to Three Bars. He persuaded owner Sidney H. Vail to let him lease the stallion for three breeding seasons, 1952-54. Instead of breeding 12 or 15 mares a year, suddenly Three Bars was breeding 70. After the lease was up, Merrick hauled his best mares to wherever Three Bars was standing. Read the rest of this entry »

AQHA Professional Horseman Bennie Sargent shows you how to achieve power steering.

Your reins should create a straight line from your elbow to your horse’s mouth.

When the reins get too long, your hands are either too low or they get up way too high. You lose your leverage, your guide and effectiveness.

Your reins are a steering wheel. A horse carries most of his weight in his front end, so most of your guide and your balance is in the front. Read the rest of this entry »

You and your horse need to be ready long before you leave town for a trail ride.

Janice Tramel and Ghost One Gray at Yellowstone National Park

A veteran of more than 50 AQHA trail rides, Janice Tramel of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, speaks from experience when she advises trail riders on preparedness.

Long before you leave home, “you need to prepare you and your horse,” Janice says. “You need to ride every day, to get you both physically fit.”

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Racing American Quarter Horses are born to run.

Race workouts are a fun spectator sport.

Before an American Quarter Horse is allowed to race, it must be registered with AQHA and must be given a permanent identifying tattoo on its upper lip.

The tattoo is a combination of numbers and letters unique to that horse and is applied prior to the horse’s first race.

Before each race, the number on the lip is checked with the official record to be sure they match.
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As winter approaches, be prepared to keep your horse cozy.

Visit Weatherbeeta for help selecting a horse blanket.

If your horse is snuggling into a blanket this winter, make sure it fits him properly. Read the rest of this entry »

It can be tricky to breed for a specific horse color.

We all have our favorite horse colors and markings. Often, our favorites are the least common, such as roans and palominos. Many breeders strive for a unique nitche – top-quality horses displaying those fun, less-common AQHA colors and markings we love to see in action.

Here are some coat-color thoughts to keep in mind:

• The genetics of coat color are complicated, and the science of color is an ongoing process. Researchers do not know everything yet.

• All white markings are superimposed over a base body color. This includes gray horses. Thus, when discussing color inheritance, the base color must be considered and understood. Read the rest of this entry »

Help your horse avoid this painful ailment.

Avoid tummy trouble.

Management plays a key role in the prevention of colic.

The following tips can reduce the risk of colic in your horse:

• Stick to a daily routine, including feeding and exercise schedules.

• Feed a high-quality diet of free-choice roughage.

• Avoid feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements.

• Read the rest of this entry »

A good mentor will help you achieve success in the show ring.

The best mentors are often people who've spent time in the show ring.

A mentor helps you learn the ropes, establish goals and outline a plan of action.

Your horse-show mentor can be anyone from your mom to a fellow competitor, an experienced horseman to your 4-H leader – anyone who is willing to dedicate time and effort and has the expertise to push you to succeed.

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