December 17, 2009
2009 Youth Officers
It’s on everyone’s mind right now — resolutions! AQHYA has them, too.
This year, the list of goals from the youth officers puts focus on scholarship, education and much, much more.
We’ll keep you posted as we mark accomplishments off our list. Then, you can help us make new goals! Read the rest of this entry »
December 16, 2009
Pam and "Bippy."
By Pamela Britton-Baer in The American Quarter Horse Journal
Everything I know about Quarter Horse shows I learn on YouTube.
Seriously.
If you’ve ever posted a horse showing video on YouTube, chances are I’ve studied it. There’s a wealth of information to be found on the Internet, and I like to surf with the best of them.
But I know enough about showing to realize YouTube can’t give you polish. A trainer needs to teach you those tiny little details that can mean the difference between winning a class and leaving the arena with your tail tucked between your legs. More importantly, a trainer knows the answer to questions like: should my boots match the color of my showmanship pants? Should I go with the sand-colored chaps or the buff? Aren’t sand and buff the same color? Read the rest of this entry »
December 15, 2009
Sharla Stadstad's winning piece, "Use Your Head"
This year’s art show contains all kinds of paintings, sculptures and drawings all depicting the theme “Heads or Tails.” In the coming weeks, we will be spotlighting some of the winning pieces. Today’s piece is the AQHYA first place winner, Use Your Head, by Sharla Stadstad from Manvel, ND. Sharla told us some interesting facts about her piece and her creative process as well. Read the rest of this entry »
December 15, 2009
It’s getting cold outside, and you might not be able to ride as often. That doesn’t mean you have to quit learning!
Download some of our FREE reports, print them out and relax in your favorite chair while you learn more about your favorite animal – the American Quarter Horse.
Here are the top-10 most downloaded reports on Daily:
America’s Horse Daily has many more free reports, so be sure to collect them all.
Be sure to use the comments feature on any page to let us know what you think about our free reports. We’re working hard to give you more great information to help you enjoy your horse!
Don’t forget to share your free reports with your friends.
December 15, 2009
Amount of house-cleaning done this weekend: Zilch.
Number of holiday errands crossed off my list this weekend: Zero.
Amount of training put in on the young horse (in beautiful riding weather, I might add): Zip.
Regrets: Nada.
Our place was bombarded this weekend by three small children – my nieces and nephew, ages 4, 6 and 7. The middle child, in particular, is a horse kid.
If the weather’s not cooperative when she comes to visit, we usually hole up in the house and watch horse movies. Anybody out there need to know a line from “Flicka” or “Virgina’s Run” (the two current favorites)? Just ask; I’ve got most of them memorized.
“Flicka” is such a fave, in fact, that one of my horses has been tagged with that nickname. Never mind that Junior is a tall gray gelding, rather than a wild black mustang mare. Mere details.
December 15, 2009
Correct lope departures are important in classes such as western pleasure, western riding and western horsemanship.
By AQHA Professional Horseman Leonard Berryhill
In horsemanship or equitation, a good lope or canter departure will lead to a better execution of your maneuver. A good lope departure is when a horse responds to a minimal cue from the rider with willingness and collection.
It’s important in every AQHA event. In western riding, it’s scored. In western pleasure, a lope departure sets up your lope. It’s much easier for a horse to carry himself after he has departed correctly than it is to have a bad departure and try to correct it as you go down the pen.
As a judge, when I see a horse depart to a lope from a jog, I consider it a bad departure if a horse increases his cadence of step at the jog and trots into the lope. But it is all right for that horse to take a step, collect himself and then depart. Read the rest of this entry »
December 14, 2009
A four-horse team pulled a wagon carrying the men and women who were honored by induction into NCHA's Hall of Fame. NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper, left, gives Pat Earnheart his plaque.
On December 11, Kelle Earnheart and her mare, Badgers Perscription, won the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity non-pro competition with a 219.
“She’s a very smart mare,” Kelle said after the win in Fort Worth, Texas. “I purchased her from Darren Simpkins about a month ago. She has a lot of cow to her and she’s very athletic. I couldn’t ask for any more. She always gives her best.”
Most Futurity-bound 3-year-olds have been with their riders for a year or more, but Kelle had only a few weeks to get to know “Missy.”
December 14, 2009
Question:How successful is the “screws and wire” procedure that is so commonly performed on yearlings as it relates to preventing soundness issues? Why is this procedure so necessary and recommended by vets? How can you tell if the surgery was a success?
Daily turned to the American Association of Equine Practitioners for advice.
Abnormal angle of the limb starting at the knee can lead to abnormal weight bearing during exercise. This can result in joint and foot problems that cause lameness later in life due the unequal load transmitted up one side of the limb.
If a foal, weanling or yearling has an abnormal limb deviation (the lower part of the limb angles in or out from a straight line from the shoulder to the ground), which does not respond to normal foot trimming and Read the rest of this entry »
December 14, 2009
From the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Riding the trails with your horse, enjoying nature, can be a very rewarding experience. While it’s important to enjoy your trail ride, it’s also important to reduce the impact you and your horse have on the trail.
Here are some practices that will help ensure the trails will be around and enjoyed for generations to come:
Educate Yourself
Learn how to Leave No Trace wherever you go. Start by asking about local ecology and local minimum-impact practices and guidelines. Know the regulations and special concerns for the place you plan to visit. Read the rest of this entry »
December 14, 2009
Catch the Challenge Championships October 31!
The excitement of the 2009 Bank of America Challenge Championships takes place Saturday, October 31, at Los Alamitos Race Course in Los Alamitos, California.
The Bank of America Racing Challenge is the richest and most successful program in American Quarter Horse racing today – a championship series developed for the “World’s Fastest Horse.”
Downlaod the Challenge Championships wagering guide!
The Bank of America Racing Challenge program provides Read the rest of this entry »
December 11, 2009
1st place middle school winner, Wildfire, by Juan Carlos Morales
This year’s art show contains all kinds of paintings, sculptures, and drawings all depicting the theme “Heads or Tails.” In the coming weeks, we will be spotlighting some of the winning pieces. Today’s pieces is are from two middle school students from Bowie Middle School in Amarillo, TX. 1st place winner Juan Carlos Morales and 2nd place winner Adrian Maldonado talk a little about how they felt about thier art pieces. Read the rest of this entry »
December 11, 2009
Two Bits takes a walk back through his family's history.
It’s getting close to Christmas, folks, and that gets me to thinking about my family! I thought it would be fun this year to get out my pedigree and see exactly where I come from. It’s interesting to see not only who my great-grandsires are, but to also see how my name came about. Read the rest of this entry »