AQHA members have opportunity to shape the world’s largest equine association.

AQHA members are vital to the Association and have been influential in shaping the organization since its founding in 1940. The opportunity to propose new rules or changes allows members to voice their ideas and help continue to improve AQHA. If you are an AQHA member, you can submit a suggestion for a rule change for the AQHA Official Handbook. All proposals are due by December 31, 2009. Constructive rule change proposals will then be assigned to Read the rest of this entry »

Exciting matchups on the racetrack aren’t the only things happening during the Challenge weekend.

Snowbound Superstar. Photo by Scott Martinez.

Fall is here, which means a cornucopia of events featuring the best and the brightest American Quarter Horses. Sandwiched between Congress and World Show, I will be looking forward to watching the fastest horses on earth compete at the Bank of America Challenge Championships over Halloween weekend at Los Alamitos in California.

The Orange County racetrack has a storied history, opening in 1951 under the care of Frank Vessels Sr., and today Read the rest of this entry »

The 2009 Ford Youth World Show featured great American Quarter Horses and talented AQHYA members.

It’s always fun to spend time with our AQHYA members and see the future of our association in action. Last week, I witnessed some top competition at the Built Ford Tough American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City.

There were 883 youth exhibitors from 45 states, four Canadian provinces, France, Germany and the United Kingdom who competed for 33 world championship titles. This year’s theme was “Rock Your World” and the AQHYA members did just that from the talent show, the contests and the show arena.

For nine full days the competition kept State Fair Park in Oklahoma City hopping. Oklahoma City rolled out the welcome mat for our exhibitors. It’s no wonder given the fact that the show provides an estimated $10.9 million boost Read the rest of this entry »

Charlie Hemphill answers questions about Incentive Fund changes in 2010.

We’ve had a few questions that have arisen after my recent post on AQHA’s introductory shows. The following is from AQHA’s Senior Director of Shows Charlie Hemphill:

The introductory shows are not intended to qualify people for the World Show but instead, as the name implies, be an introduction to AQHA classes. The AQHA show department has reviewed the entries at the introductory shows and at this time has not found anyone abusing these shows to get qualified for the World Shows. Show Management has the Read the rest of this entry »

Let freedom ride!

If ever there was a symbol of independence, the American Quarter Horse would fit that mold near perfectly.

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day here in the United States, I’m reminded of the many great freedoms that we enjoy. With our recent signed memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forest Service, I hope that we will be able to offer even more opportunities to American Quarter Horse owners to enjoy some of the breath-taking scenery in the United States of America.One of my Read the rest of this entry »

AQHA is increasing its efforts to give all AQHA members more opportunities to enjoy their horses in the great outdoors.

This week the exuberance of youth has hit Amarillo as the AQHYA Convention and Youth Excellence Seminar is being held June 25-27.

About 200 AQHYA members have convened in Amarillo, and they will be electing their directors and new officer team.

It is always refreshing to be around these young horse enthusiasts and see their excitement for the future of AQHA. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the family, Connor!

I’m a new grandpa! My son Jeff and his wife, Melissa, welcomed Connor Dean Treadway into the family this morning. Connor was born at 12:22 a.m. on Friday, June 19 and weighed 9.5 pounds. Everyone is doing great. This is an exciting time for our family.

I am looking forward to introducing Connor into the AQHA family. He’s AQHA’s newsest AQHYA Life Member.  

I can’t wait to get him horseback, but his mom says we have to wait a little while. I’ll keep you posted.

Happy trails,

Don Treadway Jr.
AQHA Executive Vice President

Learn the many reasons you should be a member of the world’s largest equine breed registry. Join AQHA today!

AQHA is working on ways to introduce new people to AQHA shows.

It has been a busy few weeks at AQHA. In May, the AQHA Executive Committee and the Executive Directors met in Utopia, Texas, for a planning session.

During the three-day meeting, we examined AQHA’s standing committees, international growth, membership growth, new revenue sources and creating a user-friendly handbook. AQHA staff will be working on plans for these areas.

Read the rest of this entry »

AQHA’s governance is patterned off of our country’s foundation.

The 2009 committee reports from the AQHA Convention in San Antonio, Texas, have been finalized by the AQHA Executive Committee. The rule changes will take place in 2010 and will be listed in bold in the 2010 AQHA Official Handbook or Rules and Regulations.

Rules passed at the 2009 Convention will take effect in 2010.

Some items such as approval of dressage represent more than nine years of work, research, discussions and task force meetings. There have been some questions about why we chose to do things the way we did concerning dressage.

I can assure you that after nine years of working to make dressage recognized Read the rest of this entry »

In 2010, American Quarter Horses will have one more event in which to shine — dressage.

Rugged Lark paved the way for American Quarter Horses in dressage.

I would like to thank everyone for all your comments on the blog. I’ve enjoyed reading the comments and appreciate you taking time to offer encouragement and ideas. I’ve been busy since my last post. I’ll give you a quick update before I share some big news.

On official AQHA business, I traveled to Waco, Texas, to the Read the rest of this entry »

AQHA is committed to making sure AQHA members have every opportunity to enjoy their American Quarter Horses.

Welcome to my new blog, Quarter’s Worth. I’m Don Treadway Jr., AQHA’s new executive vice president, and I plan to use this blog to open the communication lines with AQHA members. Let me begin by telling you a little bit about myself.

I have been an AQHA employee for nearly 35 years and been part of the AQHA family for even longer.

I was born in Arkansas City, Kansas, and raised on a small farm and ranch east of Newkirk, Oklahoma, in Kay County. I attended Consolidated 106 – a rural, two-room school. There were 30 students in the first through eighth grades. I actually rode my Read the rest of this entry »