Learn how to get your horse to lower his head.

By Dennis Brouse

Whether you’re working with a colt or an experienced horse, getting him to lower his head is important for both your safety and the horse’s. Horses communicate mainly through body language. When a horse lowers his head, he’s telling you he’s relaxed and comfortable. When a horse’s head is up high, he’s saying, “I’m nervous and agitated.”

Before you begin teaching your horse to lower his head, it’s important to work with him in the round pen to establish leadership, respect and communication – the three critical foundations of all training.

Once you’ve established these three foundations, I recommend using a reward system to help your horse learn to lower his head.

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A record crowd heads to Hialeah Park to see American Quarter Horse racing.

American Quarter Horses race at Hialeah Park.

A crowd of nearly 27,000 people flocked to watch the opening day of American Quarter Horse racing at the historic Hialeah Park Race Track near Miami, Florida, on November 28, and when the gates clanged open for the very first race, the standing-room-only crowd roared in appreciation. It was one of the largest opening days in American Quarter Horse racing history.

The track, which originally opened in 1925 and is the site of many legendary Thoroughbred races. For decades, it was the place for the rich and famous to see and be seen. Hialeah Park, famous for its flock of flamingoes, closed in 2001. With the summer announcement of the upcoming American Quarter Horse meet, workers began repairing the track which had fallen Read the rest of this entry »

The deadline to file Stallion Breeding Reports for 2009 or to enroll stallions in the Incentive Fund for 2010 is November 30.

The Incentive Fund deadline for stallion enrollments for the 2010 season is coming up November 30. Owners can call to enroll if they choose; or they can fax their enrollments to (806) 349-6407; or mail them to our office making sure they are postmarked by November 30.

The deadline to file 2009 stallion breeding reports is also November 30. Filing a report on-line is quick and easy. It allows stallion owners to get their pre-printed breeder’s certificates back from AQHA quickly. Tammy Canida will answer e-mails until midnight central standard time on November 30 to assist anyone having difficulties getting it done. The e-mail address for on-line stallion breeding report filing assistance is sbr@aqha.org.

Registration applications submitted on-line are processed within two working days. Go to aqhamembers.com to register your foals.

A frustrated horse owner seeks out options for her gastric ulcer-suffering horse.

Question:

I purchased a 6-year-old Quarter Horse two years ago that was treated for ulcers with Tagamet and then colicked a few months later. He was taken to Cornell University and after being scoped, was diagnosed with having a few Grade 1 ulcers with evidence of healed ulcers. He continued to colic occasionally, which I later realized was due to not getting enough of the Tagament. I consulted with my veterinarian and decided to switch him to Zantac. We also switched him to a senior feed, as recommended by Cornell, to help reduce the acid in his stomach. He continued to do well on the Zantac, gaining weight and Read the rest of this entry »

Rita Crundwell is the OKC Leading Owner for the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show.

Rita Crundwell is the 2009 Oklahoma City Leading Owner at the AQHA World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

A total of 20 horses entered in 38 amateur and open classes earned seven 2009 AQHA world championships and five reserves, all owned by Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, the 2009 Oklahoma City Leading Owner award winner at the 2009 World Show. A 20-year cumulative breeder of American Quarter Horses, Rita has won this award six times.

Her 2009 world champions were:

• Acoolest – open and amateur world champion aged stallion
• I Execute Class – open and amateur world champion yearling mare
• Good I Will Be – amateur world champion performance halter stallion
• Pizzazzy Lady – open and amateur world champion aged mare

Check out the photos below from Day 16 of the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show (click on the photo to see the captions). For more coverage of the World Show, go to www.aqha.com.

Check out the photos below from Day 15 of the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show (click on the photo to see the captions). For more coverage of the World Show, go to www.aqha.com.

Team Wrangler rides again!

The 2009 Team Wrangler members toss T-shirts to the crowd during the evening finals November 19 at the AQHA World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

The 2009 Team Wrangler competition wrapped up with Team Cowboy Cut on top. The exhibitors on that team bagged 800 credits during the 2009 show and racing season. Team Riata came in second and Team 20X finished third.

Team Wrangler is a year-long competition featuring the leading point-earning AQHA Professional Horsemen from racing and Read the rest of this entry »

Why gelding your stallion is an important part of responsible horse ownership.

The old adage is true - a good stallion makes an even better gelding.

By Dr. Thomas Lenz in The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal

Because a stallion has the potential to sire hundreds of foals, the decision to geld a colt is especially important.

My father was in the commercial cattle business, and he always said, “It takes a good bull calf to make a good steer.” We always picked out the best bull calf to castrate and show in our 4-H steer classes. I have the same opinion on horses: Generally less than 1 percent of each year’s colt crop is good enough to become breeding stallions.

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Check out the photos below from Day 14 of the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show (click on the photo to see the captions). For more coverage of the World Show, go to www.aqha.com.

Say what? The world champion T-shirts say something different for each class.

AQHA Professional Horseman Rusty Green tosses his signed world champion T-shirts to the crowd during his victory lap on Certainly Inspired - they won the 2009 2-year-old western pleasure world championship (Journal photo)

As part of the awards presentation, each new world champion signs four T-shirts and throws them to the crowd during the victory lap. Who catches them depends on the champ’s throwing arm and how loud the crowd cheers and waves to get the thrower’s attention. They are unique: The only place you get them is after an AQHA world championship.

They also have sayings that change with the class. Here are a few of them:

Hunt seat equitation – “Best seat in the house”

Working hunter – “Glad I’m working”

Trail – “Put your left hoof in; take your left hoof out” or “Don’t tick this”

Jumping – “Just get over it”

Tie-down roping – “I followed that cow on Twitter”

Ranch sorting – “It takes all sorts”

Pole bending – “No, Officer, I haven’t been drinking”

Working cow horse – “Will work for cow”

Western pleasure – “If you can read this, you’re too close”

Halter – “Stud muffin” or “As the hot walker turns”

Performance halter – “I’m not really a halter horse, I just play one on T.V.”

Reining – “Dirt surfing”

Pleasure driving – “I’m just here for the hats”

Featherlite All-Around Amateur and Featherlite Superhorse – “One horse to rule them ALL”

Legendary Hialeah Park will reopen its doors November 28, 2009.

The doors of legendary Hialeah Park Race Track are preparing to once again swing open to welcome horsemen and patrons for the first time in eight years. The inaugural American Quarter Horse meet at the track near Miami, Florida, begins November 28.

Hialeah Park, hailed as one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world and home to a legendary flock of flamingos, opened in 1925 and hosted some of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred racing history, such as Seabiscuit, Citation, Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid. It was also the backdrop for a number of movies, such as the 1989 Richard Dreyfuss comedy “Let It Ride,” and has a cameo in the television show “Miami Vice’s” opening credits.

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Protect your horse against infectious diseases.

From the American Association of Equine Practitioners, an AQHA educational marketing alliance partner

Few things will protect your horse from the ravages of disease as easily and effectively as immunizations. The vaccines administered by your veterinarian to your horse place a protective barrier between the animal and a whole list of problems: tetanus, encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness), influenza, rhinopneumonitis, rabies, strangles, West Nile virus and Potomac horse fever, to name the most common.

Vaccinations are a vital part of proper equine management. If incorporated into a program that includes regular deworming, an ample supply of clean water, a good nutrition program and a safe environment, you and your horse will be all set to enjoy many happy, healthy, productive years together. Read the rest of this entry »

Check out the photos below from Day 13 of the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show (click on the photo to see the captions). For more coverage of the World Show, go to www.aqha.com.

It was a slew of firsts for the 2009 trail finals on the morning of November 18.

Murray Griggs and McZippo won their first world title in senior trail on Wednesday, November 18.

In the junior trail, AQHA Professional Horseman Bruce Vickery of Plain City, Ohio, – a multiple trail world champion trainer – piloted 4-year-old Chex Me Im Cute to her first world championship. And it was a first for her owners, Curtis and Priscilla Barnes, too. From Galatia, Illinois, the Barnes have had champion Appaloosas.

“In fact, we won the 2-year-old western pleasure (Appaloosa) world championship with a filly we raised,” Curtis said. “But this is our only Quarter Horse show horse.” Priscilla added that it was “unbelievable” that they could have won a gold trophy.

“We were on pins and needles,” Curtis said. “I thought about not even watching.”

The senior trail followed, and AQHA Professional Horseman Murray Griggs of Fayetteville, Arkansas, rode McZippo sixth in the draw. The crowd’s cheers indicated they thought it was a good go. The look on Murray’s face was priceless as Tami McAllister and So Much Potential were called for the reserve, leaving him and McZippo last in the arena to take the world championship.

It was a first for Murray, a 30-year horse industry veteran, a first for the 16-year-old gelding, and a first for the horse’s owner, 16-year-old Wren Myers, also of Fayetteville.

“This is a very special horse,” Murray said. “He tries every single time we show. He’s always close to winning, and he finally did.”

A girl finds peace after saying goodbye to her best friend.

Kathryn and Country.

By Hailey Harroun

He wasn’t supposed to compete. He wasn’t even supposed to live.

Principle N Style was born with a deformed knee. Shortly after surgery, he was kicked, and the knee never healed correctly. The veterinarians told the owners to put the horse down, but Kathryn Dunham had other ideas for her colt.

“Everybody always said he shouldn’t do this and he shouldn’t do that,” said trainer Shane Young. “The only one they didn’t tell that to was the horse. His knee never got in the way of his attitude or his desire to want to come out and do his job. He never quit trying.”

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