When to pick up the pieces and when to start from scratch.

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

AQHA has certain policies regarding lost or damaged Registration Certificates. And there’s a big difference between duplicating and replacing! The main difference is money. And we’re all looking for ways to save money these days! A replacement certificate requires the old certificate and a $10 fee. A duplicate certificate requires a form, pictures, current membership and a $25 fee. So when can you replace rather than duplicate?

I had a member call me a few months ago with this question. Her dog had eaten her horse’s certificate- or most of it anyways! (Yes, it’s true!) This customer needed to submit a replacement request. The steps to correct/replace a registration certificate are listed below:

• Don’t throw away what’s left of the certificate!
• Make sure you can see either the horse’s registered name or number. (if not, You’ll need to file for a duplicate)
• Mail what’s left of your old certificate-to AQHA with a $10 replacement fee. It’s also a good idea to include a note telling AQHA what needs to be done with the certificate.

It’s that easy! Now, sometimes there’s no way around it. If your pooch swallowed all but the upper right-hand corner (we heartily request that you do not follow him around with a bucket afterwards…), you just cannot find that certificate or your brother-in-law came to visit and really NEEDED kindling for the fireplace, then you need to file for a duplicate.

• Fill out an AQHA Affidavit for Duplicate Certificate
• Snap five photos of your horse
• Make sure your AQHA membership is current and mail it in with a $25 fee.

Both are just about as easy as they can be to accomplish, and help you and AQHA keep records current! Have questions or a funny story about one of your horse’s papers? Send me a comment!

As always, at your service…

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

Start using these tips to conserve trails for you and your horse to enjoy for years to come!

Tractor Supply Company has teamed with AQHA to fund groups and organizations that have a sizable impact toward community involvement and trail sustainability.

Formerly known as Trail Trotters, the STEP program has stepped up to the plate in hopes of educating and encouraging equestrian groups and horse owners to participate in trail maintenance and restoration projects.

The following tips can help you be green, not only on the trail, but at home and around the barn, too.

• Fiberglass/wood-handled tools — Fiberglass handles are up to 40-percent stronger and lighter in weight than wood handles. Wood handles are more flexible and shock absorbent, and provide a contoured gripping surface for comfort.

• Rain barrels — By saving rainwater, you’ll have plenty to use without taxing your well or municipal supply during the summer. One half-inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields approximately 300 gallons of water!

• Canning/Preserving – Canning uses mason jars, not tin cans. If you’re canning foods with high acidity, such as tomatoes, you’ll use a boiling water canner. For low-acid foods, such as green beans, use a pressure canner.

• Watering tips — Generally, the best time to water your lawn is in the early morning between 5 and 9 a.m. This allows the turf blades to dry prior to nightfall, avoiding the danger of fungus.

• Sprayers (different sprayers for different applications) — To avoid contamination, it is advisable to have two sprayers, one for herbicides and the other for pesticides and fertilizers. Label them accordingly.

• Pest control – Lady bugs, ground beetles and praying mantises are just a few of the many insects that can help you control real pests in your garden. Make them feel at home by planting nectar-producing flowers, spreading some mulch, and putting out some water for your little helpers.

Visit the STEP Web site for many more great tips for going green.

Questions? Leave a comment!

Kayla Randall
AQHA Assistant Internet Production Manager

Get your video cameras ready for the Life is a Ride video contest!

We all like to think of our animals as part of our families, and we want to show them off as much as possible.

AQHA wants to see all the reasons why you consider your horse a part of your family.

Entering the Life Is A Ride video contest couldn’t be easier!

So get some video footage of your favorite moments with your horse, fill out the entry form and send it, along with your video, to AQHA. You can also submit your video and entry form online.

Must be 18 to enter.

There are great prizes up for grabs, including a free life membership!

• Grand prize: Upgrade to an AQHA Life Membership, $100 Drysdale’s Gift Certificate, Turnover Ball certificate from B&W Trailer Hitches, a pair of boots from Justin Boots

• Runner-up prize:  Tow & Stow Hitch certificate from B&W Trailer Hitches, $50 Drysdale’s Gift Certificate, 5 bags of feed from Nutrena, Professional’s Choice Folding Feeder and Saddle Bags

• Third through 10th place prizes:  Professional’s Choice Folding Feeder, 1 bag of feed from Nutrena

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Assistant Internet Production Manager

Get insider information on one of AQHA’s most frequently asked questions!

AQHA has developed a section of its Web site specifically for members called Member Services. It is every AQHA member’s place to conduct business with AQHA, look up the most up-to-date records on any American Quarter Horse, view show leaders lists and more.

But there’s a catch! You have to have your AQHA ID and PIN to log in. This week, I want to share with you the procedure for sending PINs to our members.

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

The way you sign up for your AQHA membership – by phone, mail, fax or online – determines whether or not you need to request your PIN from AQHA.

If you:

• Sign up online, a letter will be automatically mailed to you.

• Sign up by phone, mail or fax, then you need to request a letter from AQHA. You can do this  yourself by clicking on the “Get a PIN” link on the AQHA home page. You can also contact AQHA Customer Service.

The PIN letter you receive will contain an alpha-numeric PIN and the last three digits of your AQHA ID number. Don’t let this fool you! You need to use your entire, seven-digit ID number when you sign on!

But you wonder, “Do I have to wait for a letter every single time I lose my PIN?” Not at all. Once you log in with your ID and PIN, you will be immediately stopped and prompted to set up a secret question and answer so that you may receive your PIN by e-mail if it ever changes or is lost in the future. If you have a secret question set up and need to have your PIN e-mailed to you, click on the “Forgot Your PIN” link on the AQHA home page. This is a huge reason why we are always pestering you for your e-mail address whenever you call! If we don’t have the correct e-mail on file, you can’t get your PIN!

That is the basic AQHA PIN procedure. I know in these technologically advanced days, there is a password or PIN, ID number or secret handshake to get into everything, but it’s worth it to get what you need fast!

A few other fun facts about your AQHA PIN:

• It cannot be given to you over the phone.

• It can be customized (click on ‘member action’ at the top of the screen after logging in).

• If you have a secret question set up, but forget the answer, call us and we’ll send it to you by mail.

• You can try to answer your secret question/log in unlimited times. There is no feature in place that will lock you out of the system.

• You must answer your secret question in the same format each time (ex: if your answer is a date, and you put in the format mm/dd/yyyy the first time you answered, you must do this each time).

• At a show/event with AQHA OnSite Services? Stop by in person, and an AQHA staff member will give you your PIN on the spot!

Remember, this is all for your security! You can do so much business online, and AQHA wants your information to stay secure! If you’re having trouble with your PIN, send me a comment and I’ll be glad to help you out!

A new way to gain showing experience in AQHA’s Novice Division.

Previously, novice exhibitors needed to acquire a permit to show a horse not owned by them or an eligible family member, and each exhibitor was limited to 10 permits per year. With a new rule change, novice exhibitors can exhibit any horse in novice youth or novice amateur competition, regardless of ownership.

There are exceptions to the new rule. Certain shows may not allow permits or leases in the novice classes, such as The All American Quarter Horse Congress. Shows that do not allow permit or lease competition require that Novice exhibitors show a horse owned by themselves or an eligible family member.

The top 10 circuit shows of the year also require permits for novice exhibitors to show a horse that is not owned by the exhibitor or an eligible family member. The top 10 shows are determined by the total number of entries the previous year and can change from year to year. The top 10 shows of 2010 are listed below.

• Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association Redbud Spectacular, Oklahoma City
• Texas Classic, Fort Worth, Texas
• South Florida Quarter Horse Association Gold Coast, Tampa, Florida
• Arizona Sun Country Circuit, Scottsdale, Arizona
• Dixie National Quarter Horse Show, Jackson, Mississippi
• Big A Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
• Florida Quarter Horse Association Gulf Coast Circuit, Tampa, Florida
• Oregon Quarter Horse Association Summer Classic, Central Point, Oregon
• The Stars and Strips Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
• Western Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association, Harlansburg, Pennsylvania

This rule change opens up many more opportunities for people to continue to expand their knowledge and abilities with an American Quarter Horse.

Questions? Leave a comment!

Kayla Randall
AQHA Assistant Internet Production Manager

The skinny on the newest addition to AQHA records research.

AQHA's Kayla Randall

Early in 2009, AQHA announced the debut of a new records research program. The Next Generation of AQHA Records was created so that, whether you are an AQHA member or not, you can still have access to official AQHA records anytime, anywhere. Since this is a new system, read on to find out how to access and use AQHA’s Next Generation records.

If you are an AQHA member, you can access Next Generation Records with your AQHA ID number and PIN. If you are not a current member, you can set up an account utilizing your e-mail address. You will be e-mailed a password when you register.

Once you are set up and logged in, click on “purchase reports.” The feature of Next Generation Records I find most appealing is the choice to order a record for multiple horses. So, if you need “get” records for 50 sires, it’s at your fingertips. No calls, no waiting, just enter your horse or horses and choose your record. Once the record is complete, it is e-mailed to you. Where AQHA’s previous method of online records research only gave you access to a record for 72 hours, Next Generation packages it, e-mails it, and it’s yours to peruse at your leisure! If you are new to the system and would like to see it in action, click on the Help link. A video walk-through will begin playing.

Even though Next Generation Records was created so that both members and non-members of AQHA could access our stellar reports, becoming an AQHA member gains you a discount — not only with many of our wonderful Corporate Partners, but on the records you order as well. Give Customer Service a call at (806) 376-4811 or leave me a comment if you would like a walk-through or need help accessing AQHA’s Next Generation of Records Research.

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall

Your AQHA membership provides a new level of security with EquiPass.

Confidence and security make traveling a lot more fun. AQHA has recently teamed up with Coach-Net to provide yet another discounted benefit to AQHA members.

EquiPass is the newest service offered to AQHA members. It’s an all-inclusive road-side assistance and concierge service. EquiPass is unique in that it covers and cares for the horses and trailers you are hauling as well as the vehicle. AQHA members pay a low yearly fee of $169 or $447 for three years of coverage from EquiPass. Benefits currently cover travelers in the United States and Canada.

What can you expect from EquiPass?

You and your family are covered with this service, as well as ANY vehicle, RV or horse trailer you may be hauling. The following benefits are included.

• 24/7 Road service coverage includes unlimited towing, tire assistance, fuel delivery and emergency fluids, locksmith service, jumpstarts, mobile mechanic (a mechanic comes to you if you can’t get to one) and service appointment assistance (EquiPass will contact the nearest qualified service technician and set up a service appointment for you).

• Equestrian Concierge Services include veterinary referral services, stabling and boarding, farrier referral services, hotel and lodging reservations, restaurant referrals and reservations, feed and tack services, horse show information and requirements and riding lesson and trainer referral.

• 24/7 RV and horse trailer technicians stand ready to help you troubleshoot any issue you have with your RV or trailer.

As you can see, EquiPass offers more extensive coverage for the price than most other road side assistance services available. And EquiPass is unique in the fact that your horses are cared for and covered. If you are ever stranded and need assistance, your EquiPass representative will ensure that your horses are comfortable and cared for.

The only requirement to take advantage of this amazing service is an AQHA membership! Already an AQHA member? Sign up for EquiPass today!

Questions? Leave a coment.

Kayla Randall
AQHA Assistant Internet Production Manager

In this part of the AQHA Corporate Partner Spotlight series, let’s learn more about Justin Boot Co.

The saying goes that a cowboy is only as good as his horse. But a good pair of boots is definitely a close second. Fundamentally, cowboy boots were designed to ensure the safety and comfort of the working cowboy.

Justin Boot Company has been the official western boot manufacturer of AQHA since 1985. Justin Boot Co. is dedicated to producing boots from the best quality material and with the highest quality of workmanship, following its lasting tradition of boot manufacturing.

The Justin AQHA Lifestyle Collection combines innovative performance and comfort technology to enhance the connection between rider and horse. These boots are available in Remuda, Foundation and Q-Crepe lines.

Justin also awards a free pair of boots to the youth and amateur winners of the Justin/AQHA Rookie of the Year. The amateur and youth competitor with the highest point totals will be recognized as respective Justin Rookies of the Year for each state/province. To be eligible for the award, the exhibitor cannot have won any AQHA points (in open, youth or amateur) prior to the year of the award.

We encourage you to check out Justin Boots the next time you’re shopping for boots!

Questions? Leave a comment!

Kayla Randall
AQHA Assistant Internet Production Manager

Bring your American Quarter Horse to your Regional Championship event and compete for more than $135,000 in prizes!

The 2010 AQHA Regional Championships (formerly known as Regional Experiences) are under way! Region Ten kicked off the season in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 13.

AQHA also sends staff to each Regional Championship show to provide onsite services. Check out the schedule below to find a Regional Championship near you!

REGION ONE
Thunderbird Park
Langley, British Columbia – July 21-25, 2010
http://www.region1experience.com
Contact Tracy Adams – (206) 383-6679 or
(206) 842-1047

REGION TWO
Central States Fairgrounds
Rapid City, South Dakota – September 23-26, 2010
http://www.region2experience.com
Contact Debbi Holmes – (605) 883-4259

REGION THREE
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
St. Paul, Minnesota – July 14-18, 2010
http://www.region3experience.com
Contact  Bill Horton – (319) 240-3520

REGION FOUR
Ohio Expo Center
Columbus, Ohio – July 15-18, 2010
http://www.oqha.com/regional/
Contact Ohio Quarter Horse Association -
(740) 943-2346

REGION FIVE
Virginia Horse Center
Lexington, Virginia – July 22-25, 2010
http://www.regionfiveexperience.com
Contact Rick Shiffler – (717) 269-8611

REGION SIX
Eastern States Exposition
Springfield, Massachusetts – July 8-11, 2010
http://www.r6aqha.com
Contact Donna Rosciti – (401) 647-5588

REGION SEVEN
Black Hawk Arena
Salina, Utah – August 13-15, 2010
http://www.aqharegion7.org
Contact Tiffany Montgomery – (801) 638-0546

REGION EIGHT
Kansas Coliseum
Wichita, Kansas – June 25-27, 2010
http://www.region8experience.com
Contact Carol Moore – (719) 384-4980

REGION NINE
Tennessee Miller Coliseum
Murfreesboro, Tennessee – August 12-15, 2010
http://www.mqha.org
Contact  Ann Brzezicki

REGION TEN
American Quarter Horse Journal photos and stories from the event!
North Carolina State Fairgrounds
Raleigh, North Carolina – May 13-16, 2010
http://www.region10experience.com
Contact Randy Ratliff – (336) 282-5235

REGION ELEVEN
Luxembourg – July 1-4, 2010
http://www.europeanexperience.eu
http://www.qhal.com
Contact Marco Stors

Not sure what region you’re in? Click here to find out!

Questions? Requests? Leave a comment!

As Always, at Your Service …

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

Your FREE online resource for AQHA supplies and brochures!

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

The introduction of AQHA’s Downloads page has made a big difference in the amount of informational material AQHA has available to everyone. With the economy so scary right now, it has been difficult for some businesses to keep up the same quality of service to consumers. AQHA hopes to close that gap a little with AQHA Downloads. It’s free, it’s convenient, it’s fast! Now you can view and/or print brochures and booklets with the click of a mouse instead of calling in and waiting for your brochures to arrive in the mail.

To access the AQHA Downloads page, all you have to do is fill out a little information page – this helps AQHA know how many people are using the service. You can then save the page to your favorites, and there you have it! A wealth of information at your fingertips!

How do you access AQHA Downloads? It’s easy! Just go to www.aqha.com, click on forms on the left-hand side of the page, and click on the big, red AQHA DOWNLOADS link. Fill out the survey and save the resulting page to your favorites in your browser.

Some examples of free reports you have access to from AQHA Downloads:

• Color Coat Genetics Book
• Amateur Membership Brochure
• AQHA Introductory Guide to Wagering
• Horseback Riding Program Brochure
• Judges Application Form

The best part is that you don’t have to wait for any of these resources. They’re all free, and you can print as many copies as you wish – a plus for horse clubs and 4-H groups. And if the “green” side of every situation appeals to you, think of how much postage, paper, even oil and gasoline you are saving by using your computer to view AQHA brochures!

Questions, requests? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service…

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

In this installment of the Corporate Partner Spotlight series, let’s learn more about Members Plus.

One of the many discounted items included with your AQHA Membership!

What’s a ranch, or a farm for that matter, without a Deere in the barn? Actually, what is a suburban garden shed without one, too? Add a new laptop and an itch to paint something, and you have AQHA’s Members Plus Program. AQHA has teamed with John Deere, Sherwin Williams and Toshiba through the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to keep the discounts coming!

• John Deere — Eligible members receive as much as 23 percent off of select John Deere equipment.

• Sherwin Williams — Receive preferred pricing by opening your AQHA member account at Sherwin Williams!

• Toshiba — With the newest addition to the Members Plus program, you’ll receive as much as 25 percent off when you purchase from Toshiba Direct with promo code EPQH. Access Toshiba Direct’s Web site or call (800) 405-3704 to purchase.

Questions? Leave a comment!

Kayla Randall
AQHA Assistant Internet Production Manager

Check out the new address change feature for AQHA!

AQHA has recently created a new way to update your address. Moving is enough of a hassle; getting all of your contact information updated should be easy!

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

Don’t have time to call AQHA during business hours? No problem. Send your new address or other question to AQHA and we’ll handle it for you. Don’t forget to include your e-mail address!

AQHA sends a lot of valuable information via e-mail about Corporate Partner updates, sales in your area and don’t forget about your America’s Horse Daily e-mail updates!

Including your e-mail can also provide AQHA a way to notify you of information needed to complete your foal registration, transfers and other work you’ve submitted. Click here to get your information updated today!

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service