There are many factors to consider when breeding  your mare.

By Tena Bastian in The Foal is the Goal

Once you’ve found a few stallion prospects for your mare, there are a still a few things you should do before you choose your foal’s sire and breed your mare.

Visit the Breeding Facility

Once you have narrowed your field to three or four prospective stallions, it is time to check each breeding facility, preferably in person, which should pass your inspection before you sign any contract. In order to get a good idea of how well your mare will be cared for while on the stallion owner’s premises, you need to see how he cares for his own horses. Ask for references from previous clients and talk to them first-hand, if possible. Read the rest of this entry »

A simple procedure could be the answer to your horse’s hock pain.

Cutting is one event that can be tough on a horse's hocks.

By AQHA Professional Horsewoman Gerrie Barnes

I was having a pre-purchase examination done on “Badger,” a cutting horse that my husband and I were interested in buying. The veterinarian said that the horse was experiencing hock pain, not uncommon in horses that use their hocks in competitive situations that require quick turns or jumping. That description applies to many English and western events. Read the rest of this entry »

Using makeup right is the cheapest, easiest way to add to your showing style.

Using the right tones of makeup can enhance your show style.

By Christine Hamilton in The American Quarter Horse Journal

“If you’re spending $100 to $1,000 on a nice show jacket or outfit, why wouldn’t you spend $15 to $150 on your glamour look to complement that outfit?”

Amateur Lisa Mays often poses that question to her horse show friends. Based in Reno, Nevada, she has been a Mary Kay consultant for years and has easy tips on how to add no-fuss glamour to your show look without breaking your pocketbook.

“If you had to have just one item to coordinate your show outfit, lipstick is it,” she says. Here are some other tips from Lisa: Read the rest of this entry »

A whole herd of Quarter Horse enthusiasts rode into the recent United States Dressage Federation convention.

Carla Wennberg riding Larks Chaos.

Stereotypes are never a good thing, but it can be easy to fall prey to them. For instance, when I conjure up an image of a typical dressage horse, I visualize an elegant 17-hand warmblood with a name and pedigree that I can hardly pronounce. I expect that many people think of American Quarter Horses as wearing nothing but western saddles. In reality, both of those ideas deserve a good stick of dynamite.

This past weekend, my friend and co-worker Andrea Caudill and I attended the United States Dressage Federation convention in Austin, Texas. Both of us ride dressage (on our Quarter Horses) and were excited about the chance to learn more about it through the educational offerings at the convention. Plus, we were taking with us some educational materials of our own, about the new AQHA program that allows Quarter Horse riders at USDF/United States Equestrian Federation shows to earn AQHA points and other awards. Read the rest of this entry »

Using correct form is extremely important to communication with your horse.

By AQHA Professional Horsewoman Lynn Palm

This is the third in a three-part series by Lynn. Click on the links to view Part I and Part II.

The importance of correct form and how it relates to communication with your horse cannot be emphasized enough. If your horse is not performing up to expectations, the first question you ask should be, “How is my position?” Correct something in your position and see if that improves your horse’s performance. If it doesn’t, then slightly change something in your communication and see if that works. Read the rest of this entry »

Know the signs, symptoms and treatments of hoof abscesses and learn how to keep your horse pain free.

Question:

What are the signs, symptoms and treatments for hoof abscesses?

Answer:

Daily turned to AQHA Educational Alliance Partner American Association of Equine Practitioners for an explanation.

The scenario is all too familiar for many horse owners … yesterday your horse was sound, but today you find him crippled, with no apparent injury! What could have happened? Odds are this horse has a hoof abscess. Sooner or later, nearly all horse owners will encounter this problem. Fortunately, most horses make Read the rest of this entry »

Learn a little more about the history and importance of the horse wrangler.

By Jim Bret Campbell in The American Quarter Horse Journal

Along the cattle trails, a good wrangler was as important as the cook. Legendary writer J. Frank Dobie talked about the wrangler’s job in the December 1954 issues of the Journal.

In the border country, a band of saddle horses is still called a remuda – the Spanish term, the man in charge of them being the remudero. On the Plains and to the North, range people took over another Spanish word, “caballada,” and corrupted it into “cavyyard” or “cavy.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The end of the year brings in congratulations for work well done by youth all over the nation.

First-place piece "Wildfire," by Juan Carlos Morales of Bowie Middle School

The Two Bits for Your Brain/AQHYA Youth Art Show is on display at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, starting today through January.  More than 100 works of art from Amarillo area students and beyond are on display.  The response to the contest this year was a welcome one, with 188 pieces flooding in by the due date.  The show has been judged, and the results are in. Exhibiting students will be honored at a reception held at the Hall of Fame on December 10, 2009, at 7 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »

Stallion owners and managers share their tips for success for marketing a stallion in today’s economy.

By Honi Roberts in The American Quarter Horse Journal

Is your glass half-full or half-empty? Attitude – as well as the reality on the ground – shapes and creates the environment in which we live and operate.

Take the venerable Jerry Vawter, for example. Having bred and trained Quarter Horses for nearly 50 years, Jerry described the current downturn as one of several slumps he has negotiated, “a little bump in the road … the perfect opportunity to build up an incredible broodmare band.” Breeders who do this, he said, should be ready when buyers come knocking at the door.

You won’t find Jerry crying in his beer. Read the rest of this entry »

Special care and nutrition are important for chubby horses.

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

Feeding is one of the most rewarding chores of horse ownership. But many horses, given the opportunity, will eat far more than they need, tipping the scale to an unhealthy balance. No matter how much your horse enjoys eating, you do him a disservice by overfeeding. Excess pounds put a strain on virtually every body system. A far kinder strategy is to supply food and exercise in proper amounts to keep your horse fit and healthy.

Maintaining the ideal weight is not always easy, however. Some horses are what we call “easy keepers.” They require minimal calories to maintain optimal body condition. Many adult horses – especially those in their middle years – begin to retain unneeded body weight due to reduced activity and a slowdown in metabolism. When weight gain becomes extreme, we classify the horse as obese. Read the rest of this entry »

AQHA members have opportunity to shape the world’s largest equine association.

AQHA members are vital to the Association and have been influential in shaping the organization since its founding in 1940. The opportunity to propose new rules or changes allows members to voice their ideas and help continue to improve AQHA. If you are an AQHA member, you can submit a suggestion for a rule change for the AQHA Official Handbook. All proposals are due by December 31, 2009. Constructive rule change proposals will then be assigned to Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s how to create a basic AQHA versatility ranch horse competition.

By AQHA Professional Horsewoman Gerrie Barnes

Putting on a versatility ranch horse competition can be a daunting task if you look at the complexity of the event. Two cattle classes and three drywork classes mean that in addition to cattle, the facility and judges need to accommodate a wide range of needs.

Planning and a checklist will assist you in having a smooth-running, quality competition. Here are some of the important basics to get your started:

Check the AQHA Handbook

You need AQHA’s approval for an AQHA show. There are two processes for a previously approved show and for new show approval, so make sure you read the AQHA handbook.

Read the rest of this entry »