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 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 Randal

Find out a little more about AQHA records and how to get one for free!

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 any time, anywhere.

Non-members have always been able to contact AQHA Customer Service and request records, but today’s fast-paced, hi-tech world called for something without business-hour restrictions. With the debut of Next Generation Records, AQHA has added another choice to the ever-growing pile of options available to all customers and horse enthusiasts.

If you are like me, you want what you want, when you want it, and if you happen to get an itch to know who Dash For Cash’s great-grandsire is after hours, you don’t have to wait overnight to give us a call.

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.

Although Next Generation Records was created so both AQHA members and non-members 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. AQHA members still receive $10 each month toward the purchase of records in Member Services.

In response to customer feedback, we’re going to let you try out Next Generation records for free! Whether you are a member, an established records purchaser or new to AQHA records, use promotion code HS3GEM5 to receive a free Horse Performance Summary Record. Just enter the code at checkout in the Next Generation Records system to receive your free record!

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall

Part 1 in a bimonthly feature of AQHA’s corporate partners.

One of AQHA’s biggest FAQs is, “What comes with my AQHA membership?”

AQHA's Kayla Randall

AQHA’s corporate partners provide many discounts and awesome freebies, such as America’s Horse magazine, plus support for some of AQHA’s most popular programs and events.

I’ve listed the discounts AQHA members receive.

Ford
Along with sponsoring the Ford AQHYA World Championship Show, Ford Motor Co. gives every AQHA member a chance to save big on a new car. Each member receives a $500 rebate toward the purchase of a new Ford or Lincoln Mercury. And not only that, but you receive up to four of these rebate certificates each year — two for Ford, and two for Lincoln Mercury. So, if you are a member of AQHA and are thinking about purchasing a new Ford, give customer service a call, and we’ll help you with the details of your rebate!

Members Plus
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 our 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.

Featherlite
Looking for a new trailer? Look no farther than your AQHA membership card! Get your horse’s trailer wish list and access Featherlite’s Web Site to download your discount coupon.

MD Barns
Want a new barn to go with that awesome new trailer? How about a new garage? Even better. A shed? (That makes my husband happy; he’s all about a new house for his tool collection!) AQHA members receive a $500 discount. Flash your membership card at your local MD Barns dealer to get it!

FedEx
It’s nice to know that you do have some control in your world. Tracking numbers equal control, and that’s why FedEx is just about one of my favorite AQHA corporate partners! Enroll with Passcode 8CL9P313 and receive as much as 20 percent off the services FedEx provides.

SmartPak
SmartPak is the newest addition to your member benefits. This company offers a huge range of supplements for your horse! Save 5 percent on all purchases of SmartPak products. No codes or accounts to set up here, just input your AQHA membership ID at checkout online or let the SmartPak representative know you are a member when you order via phone.

EquiPass
AQHA members receive a discount on EquiPass roadside assistance and equestrian concierge services.

Stay tuned as this bimonthly series continues.

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall

Feel more confident when purchasing an American Quarter Horse with the security features on our new certificate!

Change isn’t always easy, but it’s usually for the better.

Last Fall, in response to member feedback, AQHA released the newest version of the certificate of registration. The new cert sports easy-to-spot security features and a better display of your horse’s program enrollments and the markings, brands and other physical characteristics that make him unique.

Your horse’s certificate is verification of his authenticity as an American Quarter Horse. To ensure your certificate is as versatile as your American Quarter Horse, AQHA requested feedback from members of all walks of the equine lifestyle. The input we received was phenomenal and helped us come up with some pretty awesome features on the new certificate. Read on to see an example and a feature-by-feature explanation.

As technology advances, security features had to advance as well. The new AQHA certificate of registration contains two distinctive characteristics that will tell you if you are receiving a copy or the real thing.

• Heat-reactive seal: In the bottom right-hand corner of the certificate, the AQHA seal will fade if exposed to mild heat. For instance, if you hold the seal between the palms of your hands, it will fade, then re-appear when it reaches room temperature. The seal will not be heat reactive when photo copied.

• Micro-printed borders: In each corner of the certificate, there is decorative box. If you look at the border of the box, AQHA is micro-printed around the border. This feature is visible with a magnifying glass. If photo copied, the border appears as a blurred line when magnified.

Front of the certificate:

• There is no longer a color differential for the Appendix and Quarter Horse registries. “Appendix Registered” will appear at the top of the certificate in blue for horses listed in the Appendix registry.

• If the horse is enrolled in any programs such as the Bank of America Racing Challenge or Incentive Fund, the emblems for these programs are printed across the bottom of the front side of the certificate.

• The breeder and current owner of the horse are listed on the front. Their name, city and state of residence is the only information included. AQHA will provide the current mailing address of a member if requested. Member phone numbers and e-mail addresses are confidential.

• The parentage verification seal appears at the bottom of the certificate alongside the program logos if the horse has been parentage verified.

The front of the certificate also features a three-generation pedigree, foaling date, color of the horse and, if applicable, indication that the horse was conceived via embryo transfer or other extraordinary methods.

Back of the certificate:

• One of the biggest changes to the certificate is the allocation of photos and markings diagram. There can be up to five photos of the horse cropped and printed on the back of the certificate, or if no photos were provided at the time of registration, the actual markings diagram from the application can be cropped and printed in place of the photos. This, along with the markings description, helps you be more confident the horse you are buying matches the certificate you receive.

• The lab case number for the horse’s DNA type is listed on the back of the certificate.

• All identifying characteristics belonging to the horse are listed on the back beneath the photo section.

• The name, city and state of three previous owners are listed on the bottom, above AQHA’s mailing address and contact information. The names of any other existing previous owners of the horse can be acquired by contacting AQHA Customer Service or by purchasing a Master Ownership Record from AQHA’s online record research system.

• The mailing address on the top of the backside is the address the certificate was mailed to. This is printed on the certificate to enable quick mailing via a window envelope. Printing this information on the certificate helps ensure the certificate is being mailed to the proper recipient.

• The two bar codes on the back of the certificate help AQHA quickly enter the horse and owner’s information into the computer system when the certificate is returned for transfer or correction. The certificate issue date is listed in the upper-right-hand corner of the backside.

The transfer report was removed from the certificate to allow more room for AQHA to focus on the horse, as well as help owners feel more secure. If your horse goes to a sale and is not purchased, you do not have an open transfer attached to the certificate. As with the previous version, the certificate is re-printed each time it is submitted to the office for transfer or correction.

Want a New Certificate?

If you currently have an older-style certificate and want to upgrade, you don’t have to wait until you have work to submit on the horse or a transfer. Send the certificate to AQHA with a written request and a $10 replacement fee, and AQHA will re-print the certificate for you and replace it with a new one. You can also submit current photos with your request to have them added to the certificate.

Questions? Leave a comment!

Kayla Randall

Learn how to start earning AQHA dressage points.

Here at AQHA, we’ve expanded our show class repertoire to include dressage.

This is an exciting move for many of our exhibitors, who have been waiting for their dressage points to be included in their American Quarter Horse’s performance record.

AQHA will begin including Dressage points at Training Level 4. AQHA shows are not being revamped to include dressage classes; AQHA will include results from the United States Dressage Federation and United States Equestrian Federation shows. USDF and USEF judges will preside over classes, but they are required to be AQHA members.

Make Your Points Count

Exhibitors showing their American Quarter Horses in dressage classes who wish to have their scores added to AQHA records must be AQHA members.

AQHA requires a competition license fee to be paid for each horse. The $85 fee is good for the life of the horse. Once the fee is paid to the AQHA Competition Department, a competition license is issued to the horse’s owner — much like a membership card. The competition license follows the horse, AQHA reviews the exhibitor information when the show results are submitted to verify Division and eligability for recording and year end award purposes.  If the card is misplaced, contact AQHA at (806) 376-4811 and ask for the Competition Department. There is a $5 replacement fee.

AQHA will recognize the three high-point American Quarter Horses at each of the nine Regional Championship shows in 2010 and has also created a high-point recognition program for the open, amateur and youth divisions. Exhibitors must follow AQHA rules for each division to be eligible for the award.

Questions? Leave a comment!

Kayla Randall

Complete your AQHA convention registration today!

AQHA is an organization that works for our  members. Each spring, AQHA holds a convention to review AQHA rules and policies.

AQHA members have the ability to submit rule change suggestions as topics to be discussed at convention each year. The Rule Change Proposal form is available on the Web site and is due each year by December 31 to be reviewed at the current year’s convention.

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

Each topic up for discussion is sent to the appropriate committee. Check out this year’s committee agendas.

AQHA convention 2010 registration is currently open. Print the registration form and return it to AQHA by January 31 to receive the cheapest registration fees.

This year’s convention is March 5-8  in Kissimmee, Florida, at the Gaylord Palms Resort.

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

Get your tickets and join us in Murfreesboro to celebrate the American Quarter Horse!

AQHA is pulling out all the stops once again, April 30-May 2,  in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. QuarterFest 2010 is packed with clinics, shopping and fun, all centered around celebrating the versatility of America’s Horse. Tickets went on sale January 4, 2010, and the clinic spots are filling up fast! Read on to see what AQHA has in store for you at QuarterFest!

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

AQHA is bringing in several clinicians, including Curt Pate, Bo Winslow, Tammy Pate, Stacy Westfall, Mike Major, Julie Goodnight, Christy Landwehr, Mike Major and Ken McNabb.

They will be sharing their expertise in everything from colt starting to horsemanship.

You can be guaranteed there is a clinic for you! If the clinic you wanted to attend is full, you can still come see these expert horsemen in action. General admission to QuarterFest will get you an all-access pass to watch the clinics, enjoy the entertainment and shop at all the great vendor booths!

AQHA members receive special ticket pricing on top of all the other great benefits of membership, so sign up today!

If you have questions about QuarterFest, visit the Web site or call the QuarterFest Hotline at (866) 424-7433. You can also leave me a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

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.

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

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.

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

Check off your AQHA to-do list today!

The end of yet another year is closing in, and everyone is in a mad rush to meet deadlines and complete paperwork. In the midst of holiday travels, those deadlines can be hard to keep track of! Read below to see a few of the most-common yearend deadlines and a few others that are coming up.

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

Horseback Riding Hours
2009 hours are due on December 31. Horseback Riding Hours can be submitted online, by fax or mail. If you are mailing your hours to AQHA, a post mark is acceptable to meet the deadline. You’ll need your PIN to submit hours online.

Incentive Fund
The deadline to nominate your stallion for the AQHA Incentive Fund was November 30, and a late fee will be attached to nominations received currently, but the late fee changes on January 31 of each year. From now until January 31, you can submit your nominations at one and a half times the original nomination fee. After January 31, the fee is double.

Foal Registration
If you have a spring foal, it’s probably time to get the paperwork ready to submit to AQHA to receive the cheapest fee schedule for the foal. The first age deadline for foals is at 7 months from the day of birth. If you had a foal born in May, the fee will go up on the 7-month birth day in December. June foals are due in January. You can mail or fax your registration applications to AQHA even if you are missing information. AQHA locks in the registration fee from the time the application is received, and the fee won’t change no matter how long it takes to complete the process. The fee goes from $25 for a birth- to 7-month-old up to $50 until the foal is 1 year of age. The fee increases each year thereafter.

QuarterFest
If you are looking to attend QuarterFest this year, tickets go on sale January 4, 2010. Get more information about QuarterFest 2010 online.

Don’t forget to renew your membership! AQHA members receive awesome Corporate Partner discounts and special pricing on events like QuarterFest! Join or renew today.

AQHA Mailing Address
P. O. Box 200
Amarillo, TX 79168

AQHA Customer Service Fax Number
806-349-6411

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

Rules and qualifications for the AQHA Rookie of the Year award.

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

AQHA has several award programs that benefit new exhibitors. The Justin Rookie of the Year award is a favorite of mine.

The Justin Rookie of the Year award program requires a little strategy. You only get one shot at it, so if you are new at showing AQHA, read on to see how you can get your hands on the prize!

The Justin Rookie of the Year Award is available to amateur and youth competitors, and is split into the following divisions, according to age, and split again by state/province.

Youth Divisions
11 and under
12-14
15-18

Amateur Divisions
30 and under
31-49
50 and over

To be eligible for the award, the exhibitor cannot have won any AQHA points prior to the year of the award. Upon earning your first .5 point, AQHA sends you a letter letting you know you are eligible for the Justin Rookie of the Year competition. This is where the strategy comes into play. If you are new to AQHA showing and wish to compete in this award program, getting your first .5 point in January gives you a slight advantage – more time to rack up more points!

More opportunity to win! The competition has been split into age and state/province divisions, and there are winners selected for each category! One winner is awarded for each age division, and another one for overall youth and overall amateur in each state/province. If you are the age-group winner, and the state/province winner, you’ve just received two awards!

So, what do you get if you win? In the youth age divisions, each winner receives a scholarship, belt buckle and a certificate for a free pair of Justin boots. Amateur age division winners receive a cash prize, belt buckle and a certificate for a free pair of Justin boots. Each state/province winner receives a belt buckle and a certificate for a free pair of Justin boots.

Want to start showing in 2010? Find a show near you to qualify!

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

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

What you need to know to get your specially bred foal registered.

With modern advances in science, we can now breed a mare to a stallion without them ever being in the same pasture. They don’t even have to be on the same continent! Semen can be cooled or frozen and shipped virtually anywhere. Read on for AQHA’s rules regarding mares bred by cooled transported and frozen semen.

In the instance that either breeding method is utilized, a form called the Collection/Insemination Certificate is required by AQHA. This form can be printed off of the AQHA Web site or AQHA can mail the form as requested. The form needs to be completed in triplicate and starts with the stallion owner. Upon shipping the semen, the stallion owner is required to complete the collection/insemination certificate and send it to the mare owner with the semen. Upon inseminating the mare, the mare owner completes their part of the form, keeps a copy, and returns a copy to AQHA. The mare owner must return the form to AQHA within 15 days of inseminating the mare. A transported or frozen semen breeder’s certificate is also required by AQHA from the stallion owner. Neither of these forms will serve to replace the stallion or mare owner’s signatures on the breeder’s certificate on the foal’s registration application.

When reporting the breeding to AQHA, stallion owners must distinguish each mare bred and the breeding method on their stallion breeding report. A common source of confusion is mares bred via artificial insemination. AQHA considers this breeding method “live cover.” Since the stallion and mare are at the same place, there’s not much room for confusion.

When registering a foal produced by cooled transported or frozen semen, the foal must be parentage verified. Other than this requirement, no other foal registration proceedure changes. Once registered, the foal’s certficate will denote the breeding method that produced it.

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service