A look back at the thrills of reining at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Team Canada’s Duane Latimer and Hang Ten Surprize won the individual gold with a score of 228 at the 2006 WEG. Journal photo.

By Honi Roberts in The American Quarter Horse Journal

The individual gold medal for reining at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, was decided by a runoff between two of the best horses and riders on the planet. Both had scored an eye-popping 230 on their first run – a record for any major European reining competition. The arena was packed to overflowing with wildly enthusiastic Europeans who embraced a sport relatively new to them, wholeheartedly. Every square inch of standing room was taken, and the roar of the crowd made it nearly impossible to speak above the din.

Frank Costantini, the Federation Equestre Internationale reining committee chairman and president of the National Reining Horse Association’s  Reining Horse Sports Foundation, recalled the experience, “It was simply an honor to be there that day.” Read the rest of this entry »

A tribute to a horse-showing grande dame.

Maggie’s Starlet, a 1966 mare, earned her second Youth Supreme Champion title with Suzanne Leggett Miller in 1979. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Leggett Miller.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Even on the icy ground, with fingers numb from the cold, Suzanne Leggett Miller fell in love with the gray mare. The 13-year old from Danville, Virginia, knew she had found the horse to carry her into 14-18 competition.

Maggie’s Starlet had already earned one Youth Supreme Champion title with Michael Greer of Midland, Michigan, in 1974. Several people warned the Millers that the 9-year-old mare might have soured on the show ring. After all, she and Michael had accumulated more than 600 points in three years in everything from pleasure to barrels in earning their Supreme Champion award. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s almost time to shoot ’em up at the 2012 Pfizer Versatility Ranch Horse and AQHA Cowboy Mounted Shooting World Championship Show.

Chad Little and Hickorys Irish Gold

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won the first AQHA open cowboy mounted shooting world championship in 2012 at the 2011 AQHA Cowboy Mounted Shooting World Championship. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Last year was the first year cowboy mounted shooters riding American Quarter Horses had the opportunity to ride at the 2011 Pfizer Versatility Ranch Horse and AQHA Cowboy Mounted Shooting World Championship Show. This year’s Pfizer Versatility World and the Cowboy Mounted Shooting World are right around the corner. To clarify, the shows carry the previous year in their titles, as the qualifying period occurs in the prior calendar year.

The shows are February 28 to March 2 in Houston as part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The shows will consist of the most competitive versatility ranch horses and cowboy mounted shooting horses in AQHA, and they will be ridden by some of the best horsemen and -women in the industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Learn more about the AQHA Regional Championships.

With AQHA’s Regional Championships you have the chance to compete in a fun and rewarding environment.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

In 2005, AQHA launched some new shows – the AQHA Regional Experiences, which offered hands-on clinics, educational seminars and fun competition in each of the Association’s 10 regions. AQHA leaders developed these shows to lure in new-to-AQHA exhibitors, lighten up the showing atmosphere and to create a regional championship-like experience for exhibitors who might never make it to one of the AQHA world championship shows.

The unique environment brought many new faces to the arena that year, including 131 first-time exhibitors and 183 horses showing in AQHA for the first time, for a total of 7,500 entries at nine events. Read the rest of this entry »

Add your own sparkle to your horse-showing outfits.

A regular shirt can become worthy of the show pen with a few sparkles. Photo courtesy of Kendra Eckert.

By former AQHA intern Samantha Eckert in The American Quarter Horse Journal

Quality crystals are the key to beautiful show outfits. But if your show clothes budget is limited – like mine is – try blinging a nice shirt yourself. It’s surprisingly easy and fun. Here are a few of my tips:

Finding Stones

Finding the right rhinestones to complete or fix your show shirt can be a challenge.

Many craft stores sell pre-designed, press on and iron-on, “hot-fix” crystals but these will not have the same shine and sparkle as the ones you see on the big-name show-clothes designers’ tops.

There are many hidden places you can find the flatback Swarovski crystals. I usually buy them from a local dance clothes store/studio. You can also find them on eBay or Amazon and at some high-end fabric stores. Read the rest of this entry »

You can be more than a spectator. Sports psychology is mental training.

Everyone trying to improve their riding can benefit from applying sports psychology. Journal photo.

From America’s Horse

A pang of envy shoots through you when you watch your friends compete on their horses. It’s a twinge you don’t acknowledge to them, much less act upon. What’s holding you back?

Many people don’t want to look foolish, be embarrassed or not live up to their own or other’s expectations.

“These are the negative forces that keep people from competing,” explains James Millhouse, an Atlanta, Georgia-based sport psychologist. “Too often, when people think about competing, they automatically think about winning and losing. Thinking about winning feels good. Thinking about losing usually feels bad. And, thoughts about losing are the reason more people do not achieve the rewards they can from competing.” Read the rest of this entry »

What one judge was looking for in equitation over fences at the 2010 Adequan Select World.

AQHA judge Robert Tweedlie says that you should let the fence come to you. Journal photo.

By Robert F. Tweedlie in The American Quarter Horse Journal

Editor’s Note: Bob Tweedlie has been a rider and trainer for more than 35 years. In addition to riding, training and coaching students, he is an “R” United States Equestrian Federation judge and holds a specialized AQHA judges card for over-fences classes.

The equitation over fences course at the 2010 Adequan Select World Championship Show was a basic, straightforward course that asked specific questions for the riders and horses. It was a good example of what riders can expect to see at many AQHA and USEF shows.

When judging equitation classes at these shows, I am looking for four things: first impression, basic position, harmony of horse and rider, and riding the course and answering the questions that it asks. Read the rest of this entry »

This horse-showing requisite can trip up some halter exhibitors. Learn more about properly tracking  your horse to the judge.

Tracking makes a huge impression on the judge. It allows them to evaluate your horse’s movement. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Tracking your horse to the judge is a major part of a halter class – it allows the judge to evaluate your horse’s movement. However, AQHA judge and halter trainer Tim Finkenbinder suspects “it’s the one thing that’s the least-practiced among exhibitors.”

He adds: “(Tracking in a halter class) is the simplest pattern done at a horse show. But it makes a huge impression on the judge when an exhibitor comes in. It shows how prepared you are and how broke your horse is.

“Movement and manners are part of judging halter, and your tracking shows that to the judge. It has surely broken ties on my card.” Read the rest of this entry »

How to make the perfect hair bun for horsemanship.

Carey Nowacek creates the perfect horsemanship look with a tight bun. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

There are a few things that are essential to a stellar horsemanship ensemble. While style doesn’t top good horsemanship itself, it does send a message to the judge. A fitted shirt, a tight hat and a tight bun all complete a professional look that tells the judge, “I’m here, I’m ready to compete.”

“A tight bun just finishes off the look,” says Carey Nowacek of San Antonio. “If you had really tight clothes, a tight shaped hat and a sloppy bun, it just doesn’t look right. Having a tight bun, tight hat and tight clothes just pulls the look together.”

Carey knows a thing or two about being a horsemanship fashion trendsetter. Her plain black button-down shirt made quite a splash at the 2010 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show when Carey was crowned the horsemanship world champion. She also won the inaugural Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge at the 2012 AQHA World Championship Show utilizing the same look.

Through years of showing American Quarter Horses, the senior at Texas A&M University has perfected the art of building a tight bun. Carey has even been dubbed the designated bun-stylist for her teammates on the Texas A&M University women’s equestrian team. Read the rest of this entry »

Make your horse-showing trailer a home away from home.

There are several ways to make traveling with your living-quarters trailer a pleasant experience. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Jennifer Horton and her husband, Bill, own and operate Bar H Photography. Between showing at horse shows and photographing horse shows, they spend an average of 100 nights a year in the second home they call the “Exiss Inn.”

Here are Jennifer’s 10 tips for a successful stay in your own trailer at your next horse show. Read the rest of this entry »

The basic setup- the routine every horse-showing pro uses.

You can have a great halter showing experience with these tips from AQHA Professional Horseman Jack Brizendine. Journal photo.

By AQHA Professional Horseman Jack Brizendine with Christine Hamilton in The American Quarter Horse Journal

When you hear how a pro approaches the basics of a class, you often hear tips you would have never thought of otherwise. And what’s more basic in halter than the setup?

“All good halter trainers, every one of us, sets a horse the same,” says AQHA Professional Horseman and Team Wrangler member Jack Brizendine. “It’s uniform among all the halter trainers – with slight variations – because it’s the easiest way to set those hocks and front feet.”

Jack talks through his set up:

Coming In

At a show with no order of go, I always try to go in first or last, because that will get you the longest look from the judge, and you get to pick your ground. The ground in all arenas is not even; they have low spots and high spots from being raked and worked on.

You want your horse to either be on level ground or coming slightly up out of a low spot, with his hind legs in the hole, which will show off his topline the best. Read the rest of this entry »

AQHA introductory shows offer exhibitors a great chance to test the waters of showing American Quarter Horses.

AQHA offers introductory shows for those that may want to try out showing for the first time. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

AQHA features a special format of shows – introductory shows – to allow exhibitors to get their feet wet in AQHA competition.

At an AQHA introductory show, AQHA classes are offered at any open or 4-H horse show; sometimes these classes are held within other classes at the show. For instance, AQHA members exhibiting in the open show’s western pleasure class can also receive points based off their placings against other AQHA members in that class.

Introductory shows are Rookie- and Novice-level driven, but show management can choose to offer open, amateur and youth classes, as well. Exhibitors will be able to earn AQHA points at introductory shows, as is the case for all other AQHA shows, and all classes will be judged by AQHA judges. Introductory shows are also a great opportunity for exhibitors to qualify for the AQHA Novice championship shows. However, AQHA Incentive Fund money will not be paid on points earned at these shows and points earned at introductory shows do not count toward AQHA world championship show qualifying.

Take a look at upcoming AQHA introductory shows across the country: Read the rest of this entry »