Take a look at the most popular FREE reports on America’s Horse Daily.

America’s Horse Daily has dozens of FREE reports to help you become a better rider, training, competitor and horse owner. Download as many as you want, and print copies for your barn, home and trailer. Share them with family and friends.

1. How to Make a Rope Halter – Two experts at Columbia Basin Knot Company shared with The American Quarter Horse Journal their 34-step process for making a quality homemade rope halter.
2. Horse Color and Marking Chart – The AQHA Horse Color and Markings Chart has a world of horse markings and color information packed into just one page.
3. Quarter Horse Coat Colors – Learn all of the approved Quarter Horse colors and the possibilities for your future foals.
4. How to Tie a Rope Halter – Dennis Moreland explains a safe and effective way to tie a rope halter to communicate with your horse.
5. Halter Breaking Your Foal – Learn how Tom, Wayne and Margo Ball use patience and trust to train each foal through the steps halter breaking.
6. How to Build a Mounting Block – AQHA consulted an expert woodworker for a homemade mounting block that can become a staple of your barn aisle or arena.
7. Horse Trailer Loading Tips – Bill Van Norman gives tips on how to keep your temper while training a horse to load into a trailer.
8. Showmanship Basics – Trainers Brad and Valerie Kearns give you tips and tricks about every aspect of showmanship from basic maneuvers to picking out the right show halter for your horse.
9. Horse Clipping Tips – AQHA Professional Horseman Randy Jacobs offers his tried-and-true advice on setting yourself up for clipping success, even if that’s not what your horse has in mind.
10. Cowboy Etiquette – This guide for aspiring cowboys offers tips for how to acclimate to the western culture by improving efficiency and relations on the range.

Want more? America’s Horse Daily has many FREE reports!

Giants Charged Up and Patriots Big Game are just two American Quarter Horses with a stake in the great American game.

Two-Bits is ready for the big game. Are you?

By Megan Brincks for America’s Horse Daily

Cheers to Super Bowl XLVI, a fight of honor between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, February 5 in Indianapolis.

When you could be out riding your horses, you will instead be inside, glued to NBC, eating chips slathered in various dips and drinking 10 different kinds of beverages while decked out in your team’s colors.

For one day out of the year — OK, for some of you, one day a week for the entire football season — there is something more important than your new showing prospect, more interesting than your horse’s new shoes and more frustrating than your trusty steed deciding the rock he has seen every day of his life suddenly turned into a horse-eating demon.

Let’s face it, the Super Bowl takes precedence. It sucks out your soul and leaves a trail of heartache … or is that heartburn? You know how much the advertisement spots cost, but instead of turning away in disgust, you watch in utter rapture, as engrossed as though the good Lord himself is speaking through the television set — cough — high definition television set — cough.

The next day, with a splitting headache and worse stomach pains, you stumble blurry-eyed into work with coffee on the brain and football on the mind. You rejoice in the team that won and complain about a fumbled pass, all the while avoiding everyone to whom you owe money and hunting down the people who owe you. With a very large caffeinated drink, you sit in front of the computer and pull up the recaps from the day before — the great football triumphs and failures, the best and worst commercials and the half-time show with declarations that your 32-year-old pasture fixture horse could have done a better job singing the latest pop hit (No offense, Madonna!). At some point, you find that one person in the office who didn’t watch the game and declare him or her shunned for the foreseeable future. They are dead to you.

To football Sunday, no matter how you celebrate. May it be everything you hoped for and more.

Until then, consider these Quarter Horses named in honor of the great American sport. Sorry, baseball. I know you have the official title, but I think the Super Bowl is a little more widely watched than the World Series.

Cheers.

Super Bowl-Worthy American Quarter Horse Registered Names

Super Bowl
Football
Super Bowl Hustle
Game Bet
Football Couch
Game Point
Super Bowl Party
Football Try Outs
Super Bowl Manning
Patriot Cheerleader
Super Bowl Six Pack
NFL Sunday Ticket
Super Bowl Sunday
Game Patriot
Super Bowl Ticket
Game Plan
Half Time Show
Super Bowl Winner
Game Player
Touchdown
Quarterback
Touchdown Baby
NFL Super Star
Touchdown Cowboy
Game Face
Touchdown Dance
Go Long
Touchdown Star
Madonnasluckyday
Touchdowncelebration
Giants Charged Up
Patriot Game
Tackle Me Two
Patriot Games
Game Over
Patriots Big Game
NFL Playboy
Madonna
Win A Bet
Game Ball
Mannings Smooth
Mannings Performance
Eli The Giant
Brady Tom
Red Zone
Redzone Dancer
Material Girl
Whos That Girl
Half Time
Fumbling Fool

Take a look at the most popular FREE reports on America’s Horse Daily.

While the snow flies outside, read some of AQHA's FREE reports.

Make a New Year’s Resolution to brush up on your equine knowledge with AQHA’s top FREE reports.

These FREE reports are full of tips and tricks for all aspects of horse riding, training, showing and care. Download as many as you want for your home, barn, trailer and office. They are easy to print and fun to share with family and friends.

Give your horses the best care this year by learning something new!

1. Horse Color and Markings Chart - The AQHA Horse Color and Markings Chart has a world of horse markings and color information packed into just one page.
2. How to Make a Rope Halter – Two experts at Columbia Basin Knot Company shared with The American Quarter Horse Journal their 34-step process for making a quality homemade rope halter.
3. Halter Breaking Your Foal – Learn how Tom, Wayne and Margo Ball use patience and trust to train each foal through the steps halter breaking.
4. How to Build a Mounting Block – AQHA consulted an expert woodworker for a homemade mounting block that can become a staple of your barn aisle or arena.
5. EPM Report – The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal explains how EPM is transmitted, prevention techniques, the symptoms and treatment options for this neurological disease.
6. Horse Training Fundamentals – In this six-part report, AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb shows you how to build a strong foundation with a young horse through fundamentals skills.
7. Horse Trailer Loading Tips – Bill Van Norman gives tips on how to keep your temper while training a horse to load into a trailer.
8. How to Tie a Rope Halter – Dennis Moreland explains a safe and effective way to tie a rope halter to communicate with your horse.
9. Showmanship Basics – Trainers Brad and Valerie Kearns give you tips and tricks about every aspect of showmanship from basic maneuvers to picking out the right show halter for your horse.
10. Horse Clipping Tips – AQHA Professional Horseman Randy Jacobs offers his tried-and-true advice on setting yourself up for clipping success, even if that’s not what your horse has in mind.

Want more? America’s Horse Daily has many FREE reports!

It’s important to keep your horse’s AQHA record as current as possible.

Is your Quarter Horse 25 or older? Update his records every year with AQHA!

On January 1 of each year, all horses turning 25 are listed as deceased in AQHA’s database unless AQHA is notified that the horse is still alive. It is important to keep your records up to date and to notify AQHA of your elderly horse’s status.

So, if your horse is 25 this year, simply e-mail dupcorr@aqha.org with a current photo of the horse, its registered name and your contact information.

Because the average life span of a horse is 25 years, horses over the age of 25 are listed as deceased to help AQHA keep a current and accurate count of the population of horses.

Because the inventory of horses in each state determines the number of AQHA directors allotted for that state, it is important for the Association to have the most accurate total population of horses, says Tammy Canida, director of registration operations.

To make sure that your senior horse’s status stays active, send a note and current picture of the horse, along with his registered name, to AQHA’s Registration Department. You can do this at any time.

Whether your horse is a youngster or a senior, their health is important to you. Learn more about stem-cell therapy for tendon and ligament injuries with our FREE Stem-Cell Therapy report.

When Your Horse Passes Away

Once your Quarter Horse passes away, we urge you to send in his certificate with a statement that tells us the horse is deceased. AQHA will update your horse’s record and stamp the certificate as deceased, free of charge, and send it back to you.

If you plan to frame your horse’s certificate, you can specify in your statement for us to stamp the back of the certificate.

Healthy Older Horses

Here are a few strategies to keep your senior citizen healthy and happy:

• Provide a safe, comfortable environment, free of hazards and with adequate shelter from wind, rain, snow, sun and biting insects.
• Arrange for routine dental care at least once a year to keep his teeth and mouth in good working order.
• Watch your horse for changes in body condition, behavior and attitude. Address problems, even seemingly minor ones, right away.
• Feed a high-quality diet. Avoid dusty and moldy feeds.
• Feed your older horse away from younger, more aggressive horses so he won’t have to compete for feed.
• For troubled chewers, wet the feed to soften it or add water to make a thick, soup-like ration that he can drink.
• Feed at more frequent intervals so as not to upset the digestive system. Two or three times a day is best.
• Provide plenty of fresh, clean, tepid water. Excessively cold water reduces consumption, which can lead to colic and other problems.
• Adjust rations to maintain proper body condition. A good rule of thumb is to be able to feel the ribs, but not see them.
• Provide adequate, appropriate exercise to maintain muscle tone, flexibility and mobility.
• Be vigilant in controlling pests and parasites. Deworm at regular intervals. Consult your veterinarian to establish a schedule.
• Manage pastures and facilities to reduce pest infestations.
• Provide regular hoof care. Your farrier should trim or shoe the horse, whether or not you ride, to maintain proper hoof shape and movement. This will help prevent lameness and injury.
• Groom your horse frequently to promote circulation and skin health.
• Older horses are prone to tumors. Look for any unusual lumps or growths from head to tail, as well as beneath the tail, especially on gray horses.

Do you need information on how to help a horse with tendon and/or ligament injuries? Find out about research on stem-cell therapy as a possible treatment for your horse with our FREE Stem-Cell Therapy report.

• Provide adequate ventilation in barns. Keep pastures mowed and weed-free to reduce allergens. Reduce dust in paddocks as much as possible to prevent respiratory disease.
• Schedule routine checkups with your vet. Call immediately if you suspect a problem.

Tips courtesy of AQHA corporate partner Bayer Animal Health and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

This Canadian TV series features wholesome drama and lots of Quarter Horses.

Editor’s Note: As the January-February issue of America’s Horse hits mailboxes, we thought we’d give our online readers a peek between the pages as we feature American Quarter Horses who are taking a prominent place on the small screen in the family drama “Heartland.” If you’re not an AQHA member, join now so you won’t miss future issues of America’s Horse, which goes exclusively to AQHA members. Each issue is packed full of Quarter Horses who are stars in entertainment, rodeos, shows, trail rides – or just their owners’ hearts. The magazine is just one of the great benefits of belonging to the world’s largest equine breed registry!

By Tom Moates in America’s Horse

Actress Amber Marshall and Top Moon Cuttabar share top billing with the expansive scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Photo by Andrew Bako.

Ever wish you could turn on network television and enjoy a family drama set in the ranchlands? That instead of a full menu of urban crime dramas and silly suburban comedies, you could find a show where the characters ride horses, move cattle, rodeo and live where vast open land unfurls against the Rockies?

It exists.

“Heartland” is a contemporary family drama produced for Canadian television (CBC) now in its fifth season that offers all of that and more. Even better, the series is chock full of registered American Quarter Horses.

The show is a family drama that centers on the Heartland Ranch, owned by the Bartlett family in fictitious Hudson, located in the Alberta Rockies. The series is based on the popular book series of the same name by British writer Lauren Brooke, who set the books in Virginia. The first “Heartland” book appeared in 2000, and more than 20 have been published since.

The series gets going when “Grandpa” Jack Bartlett loses his daughter in a car accident and is left to run the ranch alone with his two granddaughters, Amy and Lou.

Several other regular characters frequent the ranch, and the result is a multi-generational saga set in the present day. You’ll see cell phones and home-schooled high-schoolers doing class work on their laptops. The series’ fitting tag line is: “Even on the open range, life can be complicated.”

The lead character, Amy Fleming (played by AQHA member Amber Marshall), is in her late teens, and it is her special touch with troubled or sick horses that produces the central story line for many episodes.

The horse-heavy script calls for a seasoned wrangler with capable horses, and “Heartland” boasts them both. The livestock coordinator is celebrated Hollywood horseman John Scott (featured in America’s Horse in 2003). And the horses are nearly all registered American Quarter Horses from his outfit.

“The show is unique in the fact that it is a touch of ‘Bonanza,’ a touch of ‘Big Valley,’ and things like that,” John says. “It is set in a ranch location and shows a lot of good scenery and some action and a lot of work with horses. My job is to get all those horses in front of the camera and then make them all work. Every episode is different; there’s always a new challenge.”

John runs John Scott Productions and John Scott Motion Picture Animals and is based in Alberta, about an hour’s drive from the “Heartland” set. He has been in business since 1969, when he worked on his first picture, “Little Big Man.” Television work quickly followed, and he learned that end of the business working on the TV Westerns “Alias Smith and Jones” and “The Big Valley.”

“I’d clean out the trucks and brush the horses just to get on the sets to learn the business,” John says. “Then I came back home because my grandfather farmed with horses right ’til 1959, so I had a lot of his harness and his wagons, and that’s what gave me a start. And then I’ve just been collecting wagons and horses ever since. I’ve got one of the bigger outfits in Canada to supply to the motion picture industry. We have over a hundred wagons and buggies, and we keep around 160 head of horses (mostly registered Quarter Horses) to service the film industry. We’ve done five Academy Award-winning pictures: ‘Days of Heaven,’ ‘Unforgiven,’ ‘Legends of the Fall,’ ‘Jesse James,’ and I went to New Zealand on ‘Lord of the Rings.’

“I still enjoy the business,” he says. “I enjoy the animals. There’s a bay Quarter Horse (called ‘Harley’ on the show but registered as EJ Doc Tivio Frost) that goes with the love interest of Amy, Ty, played by Graham Wardle. And then the father, Tim, he’s on a palomino Quarter Horse (Als Dun Driftin) that appears in the show fairly often.

“It’s always a new challenge pretty well every day, especially on this ‘Heartland’ show because you’ve got four or five different writers that write a lot of different things. Some are hard for horses to do that are not trained horses – sometimes, they’ll see a horse doing something, but that horse has been trained for two years … and they want to duplicate that kind of situation, and we really only have about a week to get that horse tuned to do that.

“We had the birthing of a colt in one show. (It was September), so I had to find a mare that was pregnant. Then once she had her foal, we had to be ready to film two days later. That was a major challenge.”

Amber Marshall and "Stormy." Photo by Andrew Bako

Amber’s horse in the show is called “Spartan.” Like his human counterparts, that stage name isn’t his real name. The main horse that plays the role is a Quarter Horse known as “Stormy” (registered as Top Moon Cuttabar). Also as with the humans, Stormy has doubles and stunt doubles.

“He has got about two doubles that are registered Quarter Horses,” John says. “Sometimes we’re up to five horses to do what that black horse has to do. His (main) double is ‘Rocky’ (registered as Black Sapphire San).

“We’re very fortunate that Amy – or Amber Marshall – had some horse experience before she came to the show. She was a very good rider, and that helped a lot. What kills us is when they cast actors that can’t ride. They come in one day before they’re going to shoot, and they expect us to make riders out of them. There again, it’s the horse that carries them through the scene.

“So you have to have the right horse that’s going to keep them safe and get them from Point A to Point B to get the shot. That’s the reason I have so many Quarter Horses, because of the disposition. They’ve got to have the right attitude that things like smoke and gunfire and big white screens around them and lights are not going to bother them that much.

“We try them out on the ranch, and if they do good there, we give them to a wrangler to ride on a movie set, and if they do good there, then we move them up to the act situation. Our horses are very well tuned and screened before they really get to a movie set with an actor.”

Amber, like John, came to “Heartland” already with a strong appreciation for Quarter Horses. Working on the show for the past five years has only increased their esteem for the breed.

“I own two Quarter Horses,” Amber says. “I’ve always had Quarter Horses. I love them. I love their minds. I’ve just always been drawn toward them. I love working on set with all the horses. You’ve got some fantastic actors – I guess you can call them actors – because they do know their roles, and they do become very familiar with the on-set procedures.

“Our lead horse, Stormy, he knows his job inside and out, to the point now that if we put a big red mark down where he’s supposed to land, I can ride in and not even look, and he’ll stop on that red mark. He’ll just wait there quietly until I get off. And if we’re in the barn doing a scene where he’s just supposed to be tied to his stall, he’ll be standing there, and he’ll have his head down, and as soon as ‘Action’ is called, he puts his head up, he perks his ears up, he looks alive … he knows his job. It’s incredible. We take it for granted how good they are.

“We can have three cameras right around him and 50 people standing in a semi-circle around his back end while he’s up on a close-up, and he doesn’t care. He says, ‘Yep, this is my job, I’m supposed to do this.’ And he knows as soon as they call ‘Cut,’ he can go back to sleep or whatever else he was doing. He’s quite incredible.

“He is one of the faces of the show. We did a signing a couple weeks back at a very elite jumping show. He was there, and he was in his own little stall beside our signing booth, and the amount of people that gathered around him to have their picture taken with him probably outnumbered the people that gathered around us. He’s definitely a hit. He’s just as much a part of the show as any of us.”

The show is in production from around April to late December each year, John says. A typical day of filming requires about 10 horses, although there are times where the wranglers haul in as many as two trailer loads of horses and the occasional load of cattle.

“The show is moving so fast,” John says of its production, “that you’re shooting two episodes at once. And the day you start shooting them, the next episodes are starting up. So you’ve got one crew going and shooting with a set of horses, and then you try to prepare horses for the next episode almost immediately. So it’s kind of like a machine. There’s not a lot of time for training. You have to do different things, and a lot of it is what I call ‘adverse horse work.’

“We train horses to jump in a trailer and load real quick. Well, people will bring a horse to Amy (the character) to fix because it doesn’t load in a trailer. Then you have to figure a way to cheat this horse and make him spook back from not loading in the trailer. We use everything from air hoses to a guy in a trailer with an umbrella, things like that, to do it. So that’s why I say that’s ‘adverse’ horse training, because you’re kind of screwing the horse up, and then you’ve got to spend time to rectify him out of it. It’s very painful, because we work so hard to get these horses foolproof to do the job around a movie set, and then the whole premise of this story is that Amy’s a horse whisperer, and people are always bringing her these horses that are screwed up for her to fix. So it might be a bucking horse or it might be a rearing horse or it might be a horse with an attitude, all different things like that.”

Each Sunday evening, Canadians enjoy a new episode of “Heartland,” the top-watched drama north of the U.S. border. There’s little doubt some of the credit for that success goes to the sprawling landscape of Alberta and majestic American Quarter Horses that share the screen with the human actors. They both clearly count as full-fledged cast members in this show.

The first two seasons of “Heartland” are now available in the United States through syndication over network television and over the GMC cable and satellite channel, and as a Netflix and Amazon “watch instantly” option. The series DVDs are available through the Heartland USA website, www.theheartlandranch.com, which also provides a listing of local stations and times where the show is broadcast each week.

Some horses, no sleigh, Merry Christmas any way!

By Samantha Eckert for America’s Horse Daily

Pulling on my coveralls and climbing aboard my horse with all her blankets on to go walk around in the snow, mosey around the property and feel the snowflakes on my face.

Going for that first ride in fresh snow is my favorite part of the holiday season.

Of course, opening presents comes in a close second. But sometimes it can be hard for my non-horsey family and friends to know what to get me.

If you have a friend, family member or child who is horse crazy, here are some great gift ideas!

Horse stocking stuffers:

• Candy canes
• Apples
• Horse treats
• Hoof picks
• Combs
• Travel size detangler, shampoo or conditioner
• Lead rope
• Name plates for halters or stall fronts
• Tail bag
• Nutrena feed coupons

Stocking stuffers for horse showers:

• Tractor Supply Company and Quarter Horse Outfitters gift card
• Bobby pins, safety pins, travel size hair spray and makeup
• Boot cleaning kit
• Hat cleaning brush or sponge
• Subscription to The American Quarter Horse Journal
• Lifetime AQHA membership
• Horse bands for banding or braiding
• Yarn and a puller for braiding

If you’re planning on throwing a party for your barn friends, here are some homemade healthy horse treats to try!

• Rolled Carrot Nibbles
• Stuffed Molasses Apples
• Christmas Salad
• Foxi’s Horse Croutons

Cold Weather Tips

The cold weather can do horrible things to your tack. AQHA Professional Horseman Julie Goodnight suggests keeping a Crock-Pot with saddle oil in your tack room. The Crock-Pot keeps your oil nice and warm before cleaning time. The warmed oil will absorb more easily and help keep your tack protected against the cold winter wind.

I also like to keep a Crock-Pot with water in the tack room to dip my bits in and warm them up before I put them in my horse’s mouth. You can add some antiseptic mouth wash to the water to kill the germs that could cross between horses. It also gives you tack room a fresh minty smell!

This Christmas I will be heading out to see my 3-year-old filly, Lexi, with my mom. After we give Lexi her stocking and a good brushing, we’ll probably take her out for a ride in the snow. This will be the first winter I get to ride our homebred and trained filly through the fresh snow. Having a Quarter Horse and great family to share this holiday with, is my greatest blessing this Christmas.

We would love to hear your favorite horse gifts and winter weather tips!

The Christmas story of “The Nutcracker” gets told with American Quarter Horses.

Rich Costa, a star performer, jumping American Quarter Horse, "Rusty," through a ring of fire. Photo courtesy of The Noble Horse Theatre.

There are very few people who haven’t heard of Clara and the dreams of sugar plums dancing through her head.

The Mouse King and the toy solider army are all brought to life in the lovely tale “The Nutcracker.”

But you might not know that the famous story was originally performed by equestrians until 1892, when Tchaikovsky turned the short story into a full-length ballet.

The Noble Horse Theatre in Chicago is the only theater in North America that performs “The Nutcracker” in its historic form. They take pride in this exciting rendition of the classical holiday tale.

During the “Nutcracker on Horseback” performance, horses and riders from around the world come together to help bring the story to life.

“Two of our star riders from Kazakhstan, Omar Chinibekov and Sergey Latokhin, perform breathtaking acrobatics on horseback as a part of the story,” The Noble Horse website says. Here, from its website, is more about the production:

The performers use a wide variety of horses to perform this spectacular show, including American Quarter Horses. They also use Andalusians, Lipizzans, Arabians, Thoroughbreds and Belgians.

The Noble Horse has more than 70 horses that begin their training at 5 years old. It takes about six years to finish their training as performance horses. Their draft horses also work double-time as carriage horses in the city for The Noble Horse Carriage Company. The carriage horses are stalled on the first floor and performing show horses on the second.

The riding hall where they perform “Nutcracker on Horseback” was built in 1872 and was renovated in 1999-2002. This made the facility climate controlled, handicap accessible and one of Chicago’s favorite destinations. It also houses Chicago’s only horse museum. The arena now seats 300 people and was restored to look like it did when it was first built.

Dan Sampson, the owner, producer and director of The Noble Horse and “Nutcracker on Horseback” has spent his entire life around horses. He grew up on a farm with his family raising horses and participating in rodeos. The head horse trainer, Laura Steffee, graduated from Salem College with a bachelor’s degree in equestrian studies. She has trained around the world and specializes in dressage.

At the closing of every show, all of the performing horses and riders line up to meet spectators.

The Noble Horse also performs “Quadrille: The Mystique of the Horse” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

For more information on the Noble Horse and show times, visit the Noble Horse Theatre website.

Take a look at the most popular FREE reports on Daily right now.

Curl up and read some of AQHA's FREE reports when it's too cold to go riding.

Winter is the perfect time to curl up next to the fire and read some of AQHA’s top FREE reports.

Check out these top-10 FREE reports to get some new ideas of what you could be working on with your horse in your off season.

These FREE reports are full of tips and tricks for all aspects of riding, training and horse care. Download as many as you want and keep them at the barn, in your trailer, or in your saddle bag for handy use!

They’re quick to download, easy to print and fun to share with your friends.

Go ahead, stuff some into everyone’s Christmas stockings!

Here are the top-10 most popular reports on Daily right now:

1. Horse Color and Markings Chart – The AQHA Horse Color and Markings Chart has a world of horse markings and color information packed into just one page.
2. How To Make A Rope Halter – Two experts at Columbia Basin Knot Company shared with The American Quarter Horse Journal their 34-step process for making a quality homemade rope halter.
3. Quarter Horse Coat Colors -Learn all of the approved American Quarter Horse colors and the infinite possibilities for your future foals.
4. How to Tie a Lead Rope- Learn to tie your horse safely.
5. Horse Trailer Loading Tips – Bill Van Norman gives tips on how to keep your temper while training a horse to load into a trailer.
6. How to Build A Mounting Block – AQHA consulted an expert woodworker for a homemade mounting block that can become a staple of your barn aisle or arena.
7. Guide to Registering an American Quarter Horse- Registering a Quarter Horse is easy with this free report.
8. HYPP Survival Guide – Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is a serious dominant genetic muscle deficiency in horses that causes muscle twitching, weakness and more.
9. Laminitis Treatment - Laminitis is a medical emergency that, unfortunately, many horses are subjected to and the wooden rocking horseshoe is helping many horses survive laminitis.
10. Rainy Day Rewards – Wet, chilly winter days don’t always provide the most advantageous riding time, but don’t just stay inside and veg; get some training time in – inside the barn with AQHA Professional Horseman Brent Graef.

AQHA honors the 50-year cumulative and Legacy breeders who have dedicated their livelihoods to maintaining the integrity of the American Quarter Horse.

Be sure to check out "Inside Look" every month in The American Quarter Horse Journal.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Twenty-six breeders from across the United States and Canada were honored by the American Quarter Horses Association as 50-year cumulative and Legacy breeders at a ceremony October 3 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo.

Each year, AQHA honors breeders who have dedicated their livelihoods to maintaining the integrity of the American Quarter Horse. These horsemen and families see their biggest accomplishments and proudest moments in the horses they breed.

This year, the honorees included 14 who received the cumulative award and 12 who received the Legacy award. Cumulative breeders are those who have registered at least one foal for 50 years cumulatively. Legacy breeders are those who have registered at least one foal for 50 consecutive years.

Honorees ranged from people who have bred Quarter Horses for cutting, ranch and rodeo use to breeders of racehorses. Recipients were also geographically dispersed, hailing from Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Canada. All have dedicated 50 years or more to taking their best and making it better.

“It’s our honor to recognize the effort and time these breeders have spent in pushing the development of the American Quarter Horse,” says Don Treadway Jr., AQHA executive vice president.

The American Quarter Horse Journal focuses on the issues that matter most including training, breeding, health, racing, show activities and sale calendars. Order your copy today!

The cumulative award honorees were:

• S.A. Baxter of Bend, Texas
• Merle and Marlene Flinn of Saint George, Kansas
• Burdette L. Johnson of Shell Rock, Iowa
• Robert L. McIlhattan of Bozeman, Montana
• Mississippi State University of Mississippi Station, Mississippi
• Palmer Quarter Horses of Durango, Colorado
• TS Herefords and Quarter Horse Ranch of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
• C.F. Vititow of Emory, Texas
• Keith Zimmerman of Harrison, Nebraska
• Jake E. Braun and Sons of Beechy, Saskatchewan
• Jerry and Joan Wynne of Bethany, Missouri
• Lightning Seven Horse Co. of Quanah, Texas
• Jake M. Dial of Livingston, Alabama
• Robert W. Apperson of Welch, Oklahoma

As a subscriber to The American Quarter Horse Journal you’ll receive benefits such as exclusive access to the Journal article archives, expanded leaders lists, online show results and much more.

The Legacy honorees were:

• Donald S. Gardner Jr. of Opelousas, Louisiana
• Beryl and Darrell Wagner of Padroni, Colorado
• John R. Anderson of Gail, Texas
• Billy Cook of Greenville, Texas
• Stanley Glover of Avondale, Colorado
• Marian W. Hanson of Ashland, Montana
• R.J. Henderson of Bloomfield, New Mexico
• Robert C. Norris of Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Donald O’Brien of Pineville, Missouri
• Pennsylvania State University of University Park, Pennsylvania
• Phipps Land and Livestock Inc. of Whitman, Nebraska
• B.A. Sipes Family of Norman, Oklahoma

When commenting on breeding Quarter Horses, Marcia Bailey of TS Herefords and Quarter Horse Ranch said, “The ideal horse is the versatile horse. Regardless of one’s choice of discipline, the versatile horse can compete at a high level, while also satisfying every rider’s needs.”

Looks for profiles on each of the cumulative and Legacy breeders in the January 2012 issue of the The American Quarter Horse Journal.

The American Quarter Horse Journal and Racing Journal are cleaning out the vault.

Take home a copy of one of the Journal or Racing Journal's archived issues to complete your library.

Want to hold history in your hands? The American Quarter Horse Journal and Racing Journal are cleaning out the vault. If your collection of Journals is missing a copy or two, we are making available for a limited-time only the chance to buy single copies at a special price. Many of these single copies – including mint editions from the 1940s and 1950s for the Journal – have not been available for sale for years.

They won’t last long, so get your Journal archive issues now. Editions of the Racing Journal are available from 1988 to 2010.

The American Quarter Horse Journal:

• September 1948 – December 1969: $25 each

• January 1970 – Present: $6 each

The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal:

• 1988-2010: $6 each

AQHA will not charge your card until we verify inventory for your request. Magazines will ship within two weeks of receipt of order. Shipping and handling charges of $5 will be added to each order mailing outside the U.S.

Order your issues today while supplies last!

Please contact the AQHA Circulation Department at (800)291-7323 or circ@aqha.org if you need assistance.

Join us on Facebook each day through December 12 for great offers to celebrate Christmas!

Get every item on your Christmas shopping list checked off December 1 through 12 just by visiting AQHA’s Facebook page! Each day through the 12 days of Christmas, we’ll feature a special offer that’s sure to please someone on your list this year.

Like us on Facebook to get access to our special offers from AQHA and Quarter Horse Outfitters.

Happy shopping, and Merry Christmas!

Include your American Quarter Horse in your Thanksgiving traditions.

By Samantha Eckert for America’s Horse Daily

Every year I am very excited for Thanksgiving day to roll around.

Not only is it a time for great food, family and friends, but a time for me to reflect on how lucky I have been for my American Quarter Horses.

I have been lucky enough to be blessed with five terrific Quarter Horses that have impacted my life. Every year when Thanksgiving day comes, my mom and I get to include them into our favorite traditions.

The first thing we do for our horses is feed them a warm bran mash with carrots and apples on the cold Thanksgiving morning.

Then, after we give the horses a nice long brushing, my mom and I take a ride around our property. It is a great way for us to remember what having horses in our lives means.

I have been blessed with a great family who understands what horses mean to me and including them in our family Thanksgiving traditions is my favorite part of the holiday.

America’s Horse Daily and AQHA wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We hope you’ll take a moment out of your busy schedule and tell us what you’re grateful for this year.

We are grateful for all of our fans and readers who follow and comment on our posts.

I’m thankful for a healthy family and healthy horses, and I’m thankful that I get to live life on horseback, plus give back to the breed and Association who have given me so much.
-Tara Christiansen
Internet editor

I’m thankful for dedicated coworkers and a healthy family.
-Becky Newell
Director of editorial content

I’m thankful year-round for the opportunity to work with people who I consider great friends, who have all come together through a mutual love of the magnificent American Quarter Horse. But during the holidays, I’m especially thankful for a loving, healthy family and our many, many blessings.
-Jody Reynolds
Director of internet communications

I’m thankful to work in an industry that I love for a horse, people and Association worth my time, commitment and dedication and for a family that I cherish.
-Jim Bret Campbell
Senior director of marketing and publications

I’m thankful for all of the American Quarter Horses I have had the honor to ride, show and experience. And the internship that has allowed me to become a part of the AQHA family.
-Samantha Eckert
Publications intern, fall 2011