How the AQHA Incentive Fund made showing more lucrative for one member.

Submitted by Beth Ann Conrad

Photograph courtesy of Harold Campton Photography

The AQHA Incentive Fund is a well-established program to help you increase the returns you get from exhibiting or breeding your American Quarter Horse. Beth Ann Conrad has been an AQHA member since 1990. Here, she shares the story of how her Incentive Fund horse, Atta Dirty Dancer (aka “Juice”), made her a fan of the Incentive Fund for life.

“My horse, Atta Dirty Dancer, was my first homebred horse. He ended up being a show horse by default. I never showed until I had him. I was just breeding for another horse to trail ride, as my grade trail horse was getting up in age, and I figured when this one was old enough, the other one could retire. I paid him up in the Incentive Fund since it was a reasonable amount.

“A friend of mine had this big gray mare named Happyatta that was the smoothest horse to ride, though not much to look at. I wanted a gray horse that moved like her, but wanted something a little prettier. I found a stud I thought she’d cross well with. Read the rest of this entry »

Knowing what type of vaccination to use and when to use it could save your horse’s life.

From America’s Horse

Keeping track of all the vaccinations your horse needs and when you’re supposed to give them can be mind-boggling.

Let us help you make it a little easier. It is important to understand that not all vaccinations need to be given to all classes of horses in all locales. However, there are core vaccines that should be administered at least once yearly to all horses because the diseases are found throughout the United States.The core vaccines include tetanus, eastern/western equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus encephalomyelitis and rabies.Today’s article covers vaccinations typically administered to pleasure or recreational horses and competition horses.

The vaccinations you need, and when you need them, can vary based on whether you are vaccinating a broodmare, a yearling or weanling. Read the rest of this entry »

The last two days of the 2009 Region Three Experience competition flew by.

Team penning and ranch sorting were some of the Saturday fun at the 2009 Region Three Experience. Bar H Photography

The show started early on Saturday, July 18, at 7 a.m. with the western pleasure classes. The lead-line classes might have been the most popular for the spectators as young riders paraded their partners through the arena. It might also have been the toughest for the three judges.

The Region Three Experience AQHA Foundation Benefit Walk Trot offered non pro exhibitors a chance to show for money. The entry fees were jack-potted, with 50 percent of the total paid to the class winner and 50 percent donated to the American Quarter Horse Foundation in the name of the class winner, to the Foundation program of their choice.

Roy Schwab of Plymouth, Wisconsin, was the 2009 benefit winner. Roy has been an active member of the Wisconsin Quarter Horse Association for many years, and has served as youth adviser for that affiliate.

Saturday concluded with team penning and ranch sorting competition, along with a taco party dinner sponsored by longtime amateur exhibitor Rita Crundwell of Beloit, Wisconsin.

The weather seemed to finally turn back to normal for summer for Region Three’s last day, Sunday, July 19. At least exhibitors were able to wear their Region Three T-shirts and be comfortable.

Read the rest of this entry »

More highlights from the fun 2009 Region Three Experience in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Show managers like Ron Miller of Region Three never know what their duties could be. Bar H Photography

Thursday, July 16, welcomed in the over fences classes at AQHA’s 2009 Region Three. They showed a huge growth in entry numbers over last year.

Jenny Welhouse of Poynette, Wisconsin, was chosen as having the “Best Smile of the Show” for her expression as she rode the fence courses (look for more on that later). She rode Beyond Captivating to two regional championships in the green working hunter and working hunter for owner, Kaitlyn York also of Poynette. Kaitlyn was sidelined from showing following shoulder surgery so she cheered her horse on from the stands.

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Fewer youth have been entering the ring lately.

By Christine Hamilton of The American Quarter Horse Journal

That’s what husband and wife Ted Wilson and Brenda Cedarblade-Wilson were starting to notice in their tack store, Tack Warehouse, in Woodland, California.

So they took matters into their own hands.

Ted and Brenda also own and operate the Historic Nelson Ranch and Cattle Co., a well-known boarding, training and horse-event facility in Woodland. They decided to create some local showing opportunities for young people and people new to competition. Read the rest of this entry »

How to be more effective in your communication with your horse.

From America’s Horse

AQHA Professional Horseman Curt Pate is a well-known and trusted clinician and trainer. Here, he shares tips for improving your communication with your horse.

Never think “predator-prey relationship”

“Predator-prey” has become a buzzword among many clinicians, and it’s true that horses are prey animals. But we as humans have a choice to act like predators or not. Read the rest of this entry »

The show starts with trail and horsemanship.

Erin Tuil of Adel, Iowa, shares a smile with the crowd; she won the first time exhibitor youth horsemanship showing No Scotchin Chips. (Bar H Photography)

On July 15, AQHA’s 2009 Region Three Experience kicked off its fifth year in St. Paul, Minnesota, with trail and horsemanship classes. The entry numbers in these classes were outstanding, making the show run into late night hours. AQHA Professional Horseman Lance Treptow presented a clinic to novice youth and amateur exhibitors on Tuesday night with the course, offering helpful suggestions on negotiating the obstacles. The clinics were limited to novice participants, but everyone was welcome to watch as well.

Here’s a little of what else went on:

• Region Three hosted an ice cream social on Wednesday Read the rest of this entry »

Hello, all!

We have completed the first camp in Sweden, July 14-17, at the Kansli Ridskola in Sala. With the beautiful weather and large arenas, we were able to accomplish a great deal, both outside and inside. The camp consisted of 12 participants and several auditors. They were divided into two groups.

During the first day, A&M team members Cassidy Kurtz, Derrick Caddell, Teresa Meier and Brittanie Wells worked on phases 1 through 3 of their program. Phase 1, following the nose, uses the direct rein to work on flexion and giving to pressure. Phase 2 combines Phase 1 with the use of the indirect rein to gain control of the shoulders. Finally, Phase 3 incorporates both phases 1 and 2 to gain collection at the walk, trot and lope.

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What do you do when your veterinarian is too far away to check out the horse you’re thinking of buying?

Question:

I am in the market for two horses for my daughters, and have found two candidates that are outside of the travel range for my veterinarian. I was wondering if you have any advice as to what to look for since I can’t have my vet out to perform the exam.

Answer:

Your veterinarian may be the best person to answer this question, as he may know other colleagues in the area where the horses are located and may refer you to them. Otherwise, you have two choices: as long as the seller agrees, you can bring the horses to your area for your vet to examine them; or you can look up an AAEP member in the area online.

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Stan Immenschuh has lived the kind of life many only dream about.

By Richard Chamberlain of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal

Stan Immenschuh worked with many horses during his lifetime. When he reflects on horses he has known, one that he recalls fondly was Make It Do, also known as “Peanuts.” Make It Do was induced into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame on March 8, 2009, and in 1979, the gelding was named a ProRodeo Hall of Fame horse. In 1966, he earned an AQHA Register of Merit for his racing achievements. Here, Stan shares memories of his time with “Peanuts.” This piece was first printed for the May 14, 1980, issue of ProRodeo Sports News.

“Peanuts first came into my life in January 1966, when I arrived at the Shamel Ranch in Murrieta, California. Early one morning, I was there to load up a bunch of running horses to go to Bay Meadows Race Track at San Mateo. Read the rest of this entry »

An all-around good time: Meet one of the divisional high-points from the Region Four Experience.

LuAnne Coleman and HF Pure Charlie

Walking back to the stall barn at the Region Four Experience, LuAnne Coleman and her horse, HF Pure Charlie, ran into All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen Jessica West. “Chucky” had to stop and say hello, on the off chance that Jessica might have some peppermints in her pockets.

“He’s very social,” LuAnne says, laughing. The 6-year-old son of Dont Skip Charlie is also very talented. He and his rider captured the Select all-around title at the Regional Experience, earning them a TexTan work saddle. They racked up points by winning the regional championship in Select hunt seat equitation, and taking second-places in hunter under saddle and horsemanship and Read the rest of this entry »

Show me how to do showmanship.

It's important to keep your shoulders back and to stand up straight in showmanship, Darla Lee says.

QHA member Darla Lee of Utica, Ohio, teamed up with one of her students, Kimberly Hill, to conduct a showmanship clinic on Saturday. While Darla offered tips and instructions, Kimberly demonstrated the points. And really, you couldn’t have asked for a more perfect model, since Kimberly and her horse, Dont Miss A Step, won the 14-18 youth showmanship at the Region Four Experience. Nothin’ like learning from the best!

Here’s some of Darla’s advice:

• Showmanship is something any horse can do, at any age. If you work with a horse that is 2 or younger, just remember to keep the sessions short, 20 minutes or less at a time.

• Proper position for the handler is between the horse’s throatlatch and shoulder. “It’s more about your horse being in the right position (keeping pace with you) than you being in the right position.”

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