The Horseback Riding Program is a way for AQHA to reward members who simply enjoy riding horses.

It’s a rare scenario when you can get rewarded for doing something you actually love to do. Wouldn’t it be great if you could earn great prizes just for riding your horse? Well, with the AQHA Horseback Riding Program, you can!

The Horseback Riding Program is rewarding participants with bigger and better prizes. With the support of AQHA’s corporate partners, riders have the chance to earn Professional’s Choice products, Drysdales gift certificates, a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle and much more.

The Horseback Riding Program is a way for AQHA to reward members who simply enjoy riding, whether they own a horse, lease a horse or take lessons. The program is open to all breeds and riders of all skill levels. Once enrolled, riders simply log their hours either online or via log sheets and watch the prizes roll in. Plus, all participants have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive AQHA-logoed denim jacket.

The Horseback Riding Program is a great way for recreational riders to be rewarded for doing what they love. The majority of AQHA members already spend a lot of time in the saddle, and this is a way AQHA can reward them for their dedication to riding!

The Horseback Riding Program has two divisions, the American Quarter Horse division and an All-Breeds division. People of all ages, skill levels and riding backgrounds can participate. Rewards are based on time spent in the saddle, regardless of the number of horses ridden. AQHA members can log hours when taking riding lessons, trail riding with friends, or simply riding around the backyard; it all counts toward great prizes.

AQHA membership offers you a variety of ways to get involved with the various programs and events AQHA has to offer. Whether you thrive in the show ring or are looking for a trail buddy, AQHA membership offers something for everyone.

The AQHA Horseback Riding Program is simple:

• AQHA, AQHYA and amateur members, enroll in either the American Quarter Horse or the All-Breeds division of the Horseback Riding Program. You may enroll in both divisions.
• Pay the one-time enrollment fee.
• Log the hours spent in the saddle.
• Return the log sheets to AQHA or enter your hours online before December 31. (Hours entered after December 31 cannot be entered online.)
• Earn great prizes.

Reward List

American Quarter Horse Division

• Bumper sticker – enrollment
• Enrollment patch, Professional’s Choice bucket strap – 25 hours
• $25 Drysdales gift certificate – 50 hours
• Logoed baseball cap – 100 hours
• 250-hour patch and logoed T-shirt – 250 hours
• 500-hour patch, $25 Drysdales gift certificate, Professional’s Choice bucket strap – 500 hours
• $50 Drysdales gift certificate – 750 hours
• Professional’s Choice folding feeder – 1,000 hours
• 1,500-hour patch, $50 Drysdales gift certificate – 1,500 hours
• Professional’s Choice front saddle bag – 2,000 hours
• 2,500-hour patch, $50 Drysdales gift certificate – 2,500 hours
• Professional’s Choice back saddle bag – 3,000 hours
• 3,500-hour patch, $50 Drysdales gift certificate – 3,500 hours
• Professional’s Choice saddle pad – 4,000 hours
• 4,500-hour patch, $50 Drysdales gift certificate – 4,500 hours
• Montana Silversmiths belt buckle, certificate of completion – 5,000 hours

All-Breeds Divison

• Enrollment patch, Professional’s Choice bucket strap – 25 hours
• Logoed baseball cap – 50 hours
• 100-hour patch, logoed shirt – 100 hours
• $25 Drysdales gift certificate – 250 hours
• 500-hour patch, $25 Drysdales gift certificate – 500 hours
• 750-hour patch, $25 Drysdales gift certificate – 750 hours
• 1,000-hour patch, Professional’s Choice folding feeder – 1,000 hours
• $50 Drysdales gift certificate – 1,500 hours
• Professional’s Choice back saddle bag, certificate of completion – 2,000 hours

Participants can purchase the exclusive Horseback Riding Program denim jacket to display your achievement patches. Call the Recreational Riding department at (806) 376-4811 to order your jacket.

And to learn more about the Horseback Riding Program, be sure to visit www.aqha.com/riding or call AQHA Customer Service at (806) 376-4811.

It is important that your horse’s true coat color matches the registration papers. This horse is a cremello.

It’s a common scenario: You welcome your new American Quarter Horse foal into the world at the first of the year and use the AQHA Coat Color Chart to chose the most logical color and get him registered with AQHA. Come spring, he loses his foal coat and appears to be a color very different from what his registration papers reflect.

Fear not!

It’s important to get your horse’s papers corrected, and we’re here to help every step of the way.

AQHA equine color specialist Lisa Covey is one of several people at AQHA who specialize in Quarter Horse color genetics. Here, she takes some time to answer your important questions regarding your horse’s coat color.

Why is it important for your Quarter Horse’s coat color to be correct on his registration certificate?

Identification of a horse is one important reason the color should be correct on his papers. Whether you’re purchasing a horse or trying to identify horses in various situations, being able to verify the correct color and markings is important.

Other reasons include accurate pedigrees and historical records of horses. In those cases, it’s important that the color is correct to assist horse owners or horse enthusiasts who like to research horse pedigrees. A horse’s pedigree is important when breeding horses for color or for predicting the color of offspring. Also, having the color correct on the papers of the sire and dam can help prevent questions about color when registering the offspring at AQHA.

How do I know if the wrong color is listed on my horse’s papers?

Horses are usually registered as a weanling. Foal color can change considerably during the first year — even during the following spring. Horses tend to be born lighter in color and shed off darker when losing the foal coat. Other changes include horses that shed off roan or turn gray when losing the foal coat.

How well do you know horse colors? Learn the difference between a buckskin and a dun, a red roan and a blue roan, a cremello and a perlino and many more. Download AQHA’s free Coat Color Genetics report today.

The AQHA panel test for color is a great tool to help determine the correct color of your horse, and at $85, it is a good deal, too. Color testing is very helpful, especially for horses who inherited more than one modifier, such as a buckskin carrying the cream dilution and dun dilution.

If you have any questions about the color of a specific horse, contact AQHA and request the assistance of one of the color specialists.

How often is the wrong color declared on a horse’s registration papers?

Many of our members are experienced in knowing the foal coat colors and what changes to expect. However, there are always foals born with a questionable color, or other foals who go through many color changes before they reach maturity.

I recommend that you don’t wait to register a foal, even if you are not sure of the color. In most cases, it is much cheaper to register a horse the color you believe it will be, then you can change it later, if necessary, for a $15 fee. Waiting too long to register the foal can cost much more.

How do you get a horse’s color changed with AQHA?

Owners have six months from the date AQHA registers the foal — or a year from the foaling date — to request a free correction. The foal’s first shed in spring will often fall within that time limit. If your correction falls within this time frame, simply give us a call, and we’ll walk you through sending in your correction in a written statement.

If your correction falls outside of this time frame, AQHA’s Affidavit for Correction form is available for $15 (for AQHA members) on AQHA’s website and includes instructions. The original certificate of registration must be sent to AQHA, along with photographs.

When should I contact AQHA about a horse’s color change?

Most horses exhibit their true color when they shed in the spring. Later in the summer and fall, horses tend to become faded or sunburned if outside all the time. Also, winter coats can be very different, especially on roans. When dealing with foals, contact AQHA after the foal has shed the foal coat, usually at 3-4 months of age.

Why wait for the foal to get here, when you can know what color your new foal might be today? Download AQHA’s free Coat Color Genetics report to learn more about your horse’s color genes. This robust, 20-page report is helpful when determining a new foal’s color, and it’s great for science projects and school reports. Full-color photos of horses with all 17 AQHA recognized colors will help you train your eye and become a coat-color expert.

In colder climates, many foals are born in the summer and may grow their winter coat before losing the foal coat. In those cases, the color might need to be reviewed after they shed the first time in their yearling year.

How are color specialists involved in the process?

AQHA’s color specialists are always happy to answer questions and visit with members about the color of their horses. When a foal’s registration is received in the office, a color specialist is often asked to review the registration if photos were submitted and there is a question about the color.

The AQHA database is programmed to know what colors are normal from the cross of two parents based on their colors. If the foal’s listed color falls outside that programmed range, the entry clerk (not a color specialist) sends a letter to the foal’s owner asking for photos. This does not mean AQHA considers the foal’s listed color to be impossible; it means the color needs further review.

When photos are received, a color specialist reviews the foal’s registration and the pedigrees/offspring of the sire and dam to help determine the color.  Sometimes, additional photos may be requested of the foal’s parents, because either the sire or dam may require a color change, as well.

Continue the Conversation

Got a Quarter Horse coat color question for Lisa that isn’t addressed above? Comment below, and we’ll work hard to get you an answer.

Find an AQHA show near you, no matter what your competition level may be. Journal photo.

AQHA designed a show program that’s enjoyable for every level of rider and their American Quarter Horse, from Rookie competitors to weekend warriors. With fun and exciting new classes like ranch pleasure and boxing, an AQHA show is the perfect venue to test your skills with your American Quarter Horse.

But before you can pack your polo wraps, chaps and shined-up steed, you first need to find an AQHA show near you.

The American Quarter Horse Journal focuses each month on the issues that matter most, including training, breeding, health, racing, show activities and sale calendars.

AQHA’s online show calendar is a great resource to find upcoming AQHA shows. Here’s how to use it:

• Visit www.aqha.com/showschedule.
• Choose a month.
• Search by state, province or country for upcoming shows.
• Shows will be listed by location and broken down into the following categories: regular, split/combined, double judged/double points, special events, all-Novice, alliance events, Versatility Ranch Horse, AQHA regional championships, Equestrians With Disabilities and dressage.
• Introductory shows will also be denoted on the show schedule.
• A list of shows offering Rookie classes can also be found at www.aqha.com/showschedule.

For a list of all upcoming AQHA shows, check out the AQHA Show Calendar at www.aqha.com/showschedule.

When it’s time to register your foal, you need to ask yourself a few questions, such as “Does my foal need to be parentage verified?” (Journal photo)

Everyone loves American Quarter Horse babies.

But it takes a lot more than a sire and dam to get a foal registration in the works. One of our most frequently asked questions by AQHA members is, ‘How do I register my foal?’

Every year, AQHA mails out a pre-printed registration application (also called a breeder’s certificate) to every stallion owner who files a stallion breeding report. This application will contain pertinent information such as the sire and dam’s information, mare and stallion owner’s name and address and the breeding dates. It’s up to you, the proud owner of a new foal, to fill in the rest.

But what if you don’t have your pre-printed application? AQHA has a registration application available for download. This is the same form, but you have to fill in all the information that would come ready for you in the pre-printed version.

Now you need to ask yourself a few questions:

• Is my name choice available?
• Does my foal need to be parentage verified or HYPP tested?
• Do I have the proper photos of the foal?
• Do I have all the signatures I need to get my foal registered?

Once you have all of these basic things covered, you can get your markings drawn in and ship it off to AQHA with the peace of mind that it will probably go off without a hitch!

You need to be an AQHA member to register your foal. AQHA membership comes with hundreds of dollars in savings each year, plus America’s Horse magazine, free records, access to AQHA

programs and events and much more. Join AQHA or renew your membership today!

If an AQHA foal registration isn’t something you do every day, it can get a little confusing. And there are a lot of scenarios that can come into play when registering your foal. Not all registrations are the same, and depending on several factors, there are some additional things you may need to do.

Read up on AQHA registration rules in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

Online Registration

Maybe snail mail isn’t the medium for you – here is a quick list of the information you will need to register your foal online.

• Date foaled
• Breeding method
• Embryo transfer date & number
• Dam’s name and/or registration number
• Current breeding reports
• Markings description, including 5 photos
• Six foal name choices
• Other foal information
• For transfers: date
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  of sale, buyer’s name, AQHA ID number, address, phone number, and e-mail address

If you’ve gelded your horse, follow this easy process to get his information updated.

There are many certificate corrections AQHA will make for customers at no charge, including brands and scars. Another common correction AQHA makes is changing your horse’s status from stallion to gelding.

No matter what age your horse is gelded, it’s important to keep his records accurate.  You want a correct certificate in the event you show the horse, sell the horse or, heaven forbid, he gets lost or stolen.

The process of updating your horse’s record to gelded is simple.

Simply send to AQHA:

1. The horse’s original certificate of registration
2. A signed statement denoting the sex change and the date gelded (if unknown, please give an approximate date)

After receiving your information, AQHA records will be updated and your

horse’s cialis online certificate will be stamped “gelding” and returned to you at no charge.

Learn more about other corrections/additions you can make to your horse’s certificate for free or for a nominal fee.

Got a question for us? Comment below!

Jody Reynolds
AQHA Director of Online and Interactive Communications

Parentage verification compares a horse’s genetic marker to that of the sire and dam recorded for that

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horse. (Journal photo)

Since AQHA’s inception back in 1940, science and information technology have advanced by leaps and bounds, making it easier than ever to verify an American Quarter Horse’s identity. Utilizing these advancements, AQHA has certain DNA testing and parentage verification requirements in place to protect owners and breeders of American Quarter Horses.

A common question that we hear from AQHA members is, “What is the difference between DNA typing and parentage verification?” The truth is there isn’t much of a difference. A DNA test will derive the genetic markers of an individual horse. Think of it like a fingerprint. Each horse has its own unique genetic marker. Parentage verification still obtains that genetic marker, but it also compares it to the sire and dam recorded for that horse. Basically, parentage verification makes sure the dam is the horse’s mother and the sire is the horse’s father. AQHA has made genetic testing a requirement in some instances. Check out the list below to see if your horse needs to be DNA typed or parentage verified.

DNA typing is required if:

• Your horse is a stallion that is breeding mares.
• Your horse is a mare that is being bred and was born in 1989 or later.

Parentage verification is required if:

• Your horse’s sire or dam was under the age of 2 at the time a foal was conceived.
• Your horse was the result of embryo/oocyte transfer.
• Your horse was conceived by the use of frozen semen or cooled semen that was transported.
• Your horse is more than 48 months of age at the time the application for registration is received by AQHA.
• Your horse’s dam was exposed to more than one stallion within a 30-day time period.
• Your horse has excessive white markings, as specified in Rule REG109.8.
• Your horse is foaled after January 1, 2007, and is a descendant of the stallion Impressive 0767246 (see Rule REG109.3.3).
• Your horse is going to be raced.
• Your weanling is going to be entered into an AQHA world championship show.
• The AQHA Executive Committee deems parentage verification is necessary.

If your horse qualifies under one of the stipulations listed above, or if you just plain want to have the DNA test done, click here for an order form or contact AQHA Customer Service to order a kit by phone with a debit or credit card. Current fees for genetic testing are $50 for a registered horse and $40 for a test that is ordered on a registration application for a foal.

Genetic testing only needs to be performed once in a horse’s lifetime. Another genetic testing fact is that a horse cannot be parentage verified if his sire and dam are not both DNA typed. AQHA automatically parentage verifies horses that are eligible and reprints the certificate of registration once parentage verification is complete.

So, if you think about the opportunity science has given us, you’ll see us coming to a road where

all American Quarter Horses are verified and all American Quarter Horses have been genetically tested and have their ‘fingerprints’ on file. The next time you purchase an American Quarter Horse and notice that the markings don’t quite match the certificate, think of what DNA testing can do to resolve your fear and worries about the true identity of that horse.

Updating the ownership of an American Quarter Horse represents a vital part of AQHA’s mission statement: protecting the integrity of the American Quarter Horse breed.

As stated in my post AQHA Transfers, Cheap and Painless, it’s important to make sure the horse you’re purchasing has an updated ownership record. Even then, there are a few bumps you might hit along the way. Read on for the three most common issues we see when completing ownership transfers.

Need to transfer your horse? Find transfer forms and other paperwork on AQHA’s Forms page.

Question:

Why did I get charged for a new membership? I already had one!

Answer: When filling out the buyer’s line of the AQHA transfer report, your name must read exactly as it does on your AQHA membership card. If what you wrote doesn’t match anything in our records, we think it’s a new

owner and therefore create – and bill for – a new membership for that person. To correct this issue, AQHA requires a signed statement if the ID number was not included on the transfer report. When in doubt, contact AQHA Customer Service for that information.

Question: I made a mistake on my transfer, marked through it and corrected it. Why am I being asked for verification?

Answer: Information such as the date of sale and the buyer’s name can affect several things outside of the transfer. AQHA uses these dates to determine things such as stallion breeding reports, foal registration documentation and foal ownership. Alterations to the date of sale and the buyer’s name will always require verification from both the buyer and seller. This is one way AQHA prevents fraud. If I got your transfer, marked out your name and put mine in place, and AQHA didn’t check out the situation, that horse would belong to me on AQHA’s record.

Question: What’s the big deal about the date of sale?

Answer: Especially when dealing with breeding mares and stallions, the date of sale is probably the most vital piece of information on the transfer report. AQHA goes by those dates to determine the breeders and owners of those horses’ offspring. Mistakes on the date of sale can also determine the validation of points earned in the show ring. It’s important to be accurate when filling out this section of the transfer report, and to either start over if you make a mistake, or provide AQHA with the necessary verification.

Check out our transfer video tutorial for a visual walk-through of the transfer report. Again, you can find the transfer report form at aqha.com/forms. And of course, don’t hesitate to comment below if you have questions!

As Always, At Your Service

Kayla Randall

In today’s economy, AQHA members are making great efforts to spend their money wisely.

Many of you have made sacrifices: You’re carefully selecting the horse shows and trail rides closest to home. You’re

holding off on that new saddle you want. You’re packing your lunches and banding your own manes.

AQHA understands that your pocketbooks are being strained, so we’ve built a membership site dedicated to helping our members understand the dozens of ways they can save money.

AQHA membership is a wise investment, and our new website shows you why:

• You’ll save hundreds each year on the products you need to support your horse lifestyle: John Deere, SmartPak, Ford and even Sherwin Williams paint.
• You’ll get exclusive deals on financial products
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  and insurance, including major medical.

• You’ll save on hotels and car rentals through our Travel Center.
• You’ll get discounts on AQHA business, such as transfers and genetic testing.
• You’ll receive $10 in records research each month, including pedigrees.
• You gain access to all of AQHA’s great programs, like shows, the Horseback Riding Program, trail rides and trail conservation.
• And, of course, you get the award-winning America’s Horse magazine 10 times a year.

Check out our new membership site dedicated to helping you save money and enjoy your Quarter Horses to the fullest.

We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the savings you’ll find.

Jody Reynolds
AQHA Director of Online and Interactive Communications

Find out how to change your horse’s registered name. Journal photo.

Have you purchased an American Quarter Horse but aren’t too thrilled with his registered name? AQHA Customer Service gets many requests for changing a

horse’s name. The process is simple, as long as your horse meets certain criteria.

To change your horse’s name, submit via mail an acceptable name choice, his registration certificate and the $55 name change fee ($95 for non-members).

However, you may only change your horse’s name as long as he or she has not:

1. Competed in an AQHA show or special event
2. Started in a recognized race
3. Earned a special achievement recognition award as per AQHA Rule 440
4. Earned any money or awards with an AQHA affiliate, as shown on AQHA records
5. Appeared on any breeding document submitted to AQHA.

Not sure if your horse has a show or race record or has been bred? Use AQHA’s Online Records Research system to check. AQHA members get $10 free each month in records research.

If your horse qualifies for a name change, please submit a written statement with your new name choice, the registration certificate and the $55 fee for members or $95 for non-members to:

AQHA
P.O.

Box 200
Amarillo, TX 79168

If you have any questions about the name-change process, please contact AQHA Customer Service at (806) 376-4811, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.

Good luck!

Jody Reynolds
AQHA Director of Online and Interactive Communications

AQHA Transfer Report Video Tutorial

AQHA

Customer Service gets asked for help filling out our forms a lot. We’re creating a series of video tutorials that will help you complete our forms anytime, anywhere! Watch the video for a step-by-step guide to completing an AQHA transfer report. Be sure to read the rest of this post for some extra pointers on doing your homework before you buy.

Before you purchase your American Quarter Horse, it’s always a good idea to ensure that the seller has the original registration certificate as well as a transfer report. You can call AQHA Customer Service to make sure that the person you’re purchasing the horse from is the owner on record or authorized to sign paperwork for the owner, or you can purchase an ownership record for the horse online.

If you’re not buying a horse from the owner on record, check with your seller to ensure they have a transfer report putting the horse into their name before you complete your purchase. AQHA does not knowingly allow skipped transfers, but you can send multiple transfers in at the same time and we’ll update the horse’s record and put the horse in your name.

Got a horse who’s 3 or older and has never been registered? Hurry before the end of 2012 to get him registered — and increase his value — for a special price!

Because registration fees will be changing at the first of 2013, we’re running an older horse registration special until December 31, 2012. This special is good for any horse of Quarter Horse bloodlines that is 36 months old or older and unregistered. We’ll get him registered for just $300 if you submit registration paperwork by December 31, 2012. That’s hundreds of dollars in savings!

Here’s a

guide to registering your Quarter Horse, including all the information you’ll need on hand to complete the registration process. You can complete your horse’s registration online through AQHA Member Services, or download a registration application to mail in.

If your horse is 4 years old or older, please note that AQHA requires parentage verification (a $40 service), which also requires the sire and dam to be DNA tested. AQHA Customer Service can help you understand this process.

Why register your older horse? The reasons are numerous, but the biggest reasons are increased value and ability to register any future offspring with AQHA.

Effective January 1, 2013, AQHA registration fees will be increased as follows.

2013 AQHA Registration Fees

• Weanlings: $30
• Late weanlings: $60
• Yearlings: $150
• 2 year olds: $300
• 3 year olds: $400
• 4 year olds: $500

Current Registration Fees Until January 1, 2013

• Foaling date up to 7 months: $25
• 7-month birthday to 12 months: $50
• Yearlings: $125
• 2 year olds: 300
• 3 year olds: 550
• 4 year olds: $1000

More Registration Information

Visit AQHA’s Resources page for links to all the forms you might need to register your horse plus helpful guides on taking photographs and drawing markings.

AQHA Mailing Address:

1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo TX 79104

For questions about the registration process, call AQHA Customer Service: (806) 376-4811.

Jody Reynolds
AQHA Director of Online and Interactive Communications

There’s a great way to earn renumeration for earning AQHA points – it’s called the AQHA Incentive Fund. (Journal photo)

Between training, shoeing, feeding, grooming and hauling, the costs all add up before you even get to an AQHA show. But what if there was a way to receive remuneration for every AQHA point earned? Wait – there is a way! It’s called the AQHA Incentive Fund, and when it was created in the early 1980s, putting money in owners’ and breeders’ pockets was exactly what the founders had in mind.

Thirty years later, a few changes were needed to keep the Incentive Fund viable. Ushered in January 1, 2012, one of those changes was the instatement of an annual competition license.

Here’s how it works: For the owner of an Incentive Fund-nominated horse to receive payment for any point earned that year, the owner must file a competition license prior to earning points. Let’s take a look at the competition license facts:

• Incentive Fund competition licenses expire December 31 every year.
• A $50 fee must be paid per division – $50 for amateur and $50 for open – per horse to earn Incentive Fund payouts.
• The license fee may be paid at any time during the year.
• The annual license must be paid and filed prior to earning points to earn Incentive Fund money.

The AQHA Incentive Fund utilizes the most familiar and proven concept in the American Quarter Horse Show industry: points won at AQHA shows. Learn how to navigate the program’s waters with the free AQHA Incentive Fund brochure.

If you’d like to take part the Incentive Fund and start earning money for your AQHA points, the place to begin is with Incentive Fund nomination. For owners who already have nomination crossed off their list, the next step is to download and complete the annual competition license. Forms can even be found and completed at AQHA shows.

Should you need assistance, AQHA Customer Service is always here to help at (806) 376-4811, and license fees may be paid over the phone to expedite the process.