This free report teaches you old-time manners.

Paula Cole once asked the very astute question: where have all the cowboys gone? Today’s ropers, ranchers and cattle enthusiasts are more likely to be investment bankers than professional hands. As the ranching population ages and rural youth move to cities, true cowboys are becoming a rare find.

While the natural horsemanship revolution has revitalized the horse-training methods of the old west, what has become of rules for cowboy etiquette?

Cowboy etiquette is defined as proper range conduct when working livestock, with an emphasis on respect and safety. Just as it is important for a cowboy to know how to work around his horse, he must know how to work with his team.

AQHA’s Cowboy Etiquette report, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal, is the perfect guide for aspiring and professional cowboys. This fun and useful guide will help everyone learn how to manage the chaos of a working ranch.

The Cowboy Etiquette report lays out the rules of the ranch, which are generally set in stone, such as:

• When cattle are being sorted outside, hold the herd together in a group. Don’t start sorting without being asked.

• Never assume a position. The “cowboy way” is to say: “I’ll do any job that needs doing.” Be willing to do the job that needs to be done, but don’t take on a task you are not qualified for. When moving cattle, ride drag – that’s located at the back of the herd. Don’t promote yourself to wing or lead.

• Don’t criticize a man’s horse, cattle or dog.

The guide includes a special section for ropers. Learn how you can make the ground crew’s job easier and safer.

• All roper’s go through dry spells, but if you are simply not getting calves, you need to let someone else rope. And always control your temper. Too often, ropers who are not roping well will get frustrated and blame their horses.

• Keep the herd quiet. Don’t get stubborn about getting a particular calf. Rope the one that’s handy.

Download the Cowboy Etiquette report today and impress your crew with your knowledge of old-time manners.

Foal-heat diarrhea is a normal condition, but owners need to watch for signs of more serious forms of diarrhea.

Learnig the differences between diarrhea helps owners know when to take action. Journal photo.

By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz for The American Quarter Horse Journal

Foal-heat diarrhea is a term that describes diarrhea (“scours”) that occurs in newborn foals. The condition received its name because it usually occurs while the mare is experiencing her first estrous cycle (called the foal heat) after foaling. Veterinarians still are not sure what exactly causes the condition.

Originally, mare owners and veterinarians thought diarrhea resulted from hormonal changes in the mare during estrus or changes in the composition of her milk. However, orphaned foals also develop diarrhea about the same time after birth.

Other potential causes that have been investigated include the worm parasite Strongyloides westeri, which is transmitted from the mare’s udder to the foal via her milk. This parasite used to be found in about 90 percent of foals, but the increased use of new dewormers has lowered the incidence to less than 6 percent without a corresponding decrease in the incidence of foal-heat diarrhea.

Some owners believe that coprophagy (eating manure), which is common in newborn foals, is the cause, but this is a normal activity designed to help the foal populate his intestine with helpful bacteria. Horses cannot digest the cellulose portion of grass and hay without the aid of bacteria. Because foals are born without bacteria in their intestine, they must acquire them. Their mother’s manure is the best source.

Think you are ready for a new Quarter Horse? Read AQHA’s Buying and Owning Your First Horse to make educated choices.

Although the cause of foal-heat diarrhea is still not definitively known, probably the best explanation is that it is the result of rapid maturation changes in the intestinal tract of the foal that interfere with the intestine’s ability to reabsorb fluids. The result is transient, watery diarrhea.

Foal-heat diarrhea usually results in only a mildly loose or slightly watery diarrhea that resolves itself without treatment. Foals remain bright, alert and active and continue to nurse. This is in contrast to infectious (viral or bacterial) diarrhea, which causes the foal to be depressed, refuse to nurse, run a fever and experience profuse, often foul-smelling diarrhea.

Differences in Diarrhea

There are several ways to tell the difference between the two types of diarrhea. First, take the foal’s temperature to see if he has a fever. Foals with foal-heat diarrhea will have a normal temperature of 99-101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, while foals with infectious diarrhea will have an elevated temperature.

Second, make sure the foal is nursing. Foal-heat diarrhea foals will nurse, but sick foals will not. And finally, observe the character of the diarrhea. Foal-heat diarrhea usually produces a yellowish, pasty manure, while infectious diarrhea produces a more watery, yellow-brown diarrhea that is often foul-smelling.

Foal-heat diarrhea is self-limiting and usually does not require treatment. In fact, antibiotic therapy is contraindicated and should never be used because antibiotics can kill the healthy bacteria and cause severe diarrhea. Because treatment with antibiotics can cause much more harm than good, consult a veterinarian.

However, infectious diarrhea can be life threatening and might require antibiotics, intravenous fluids and antiulcer medications. A veterinarian can determine if therapy is indicated and which therapy is best.

AQHA’s Buying and Owning Your First Horse gives you all the information to make educated choices about your first Quarter Horse.

Preventing Harm From Diarrhea

One side effect of foal-heat diarrhea is irritation caused by diarrhea running down the foal’s hind legs, which can cause painful scalding of the skin and result in hair loss.

Applying petroleum jelly on both hind legs once or twice a day prevents the diarrhea from contacting the foal’s skin. If the foal’s hind legs are already covered with feces, wash the hind legs and tail with mild soap, dry with a soft towel and apply petroleum jelly.

Although foal-heat diarrhea is a naturally occurring event, infectious diarrhea is not. Good farm management is key and should include the following:

• Ensure the foal receives good-quality colostrum in the first 18 hours of life.
• If rotavirus is a problem in your area, vaccinate the mare during the eight, ninth and 10th month of her gestation. She will pass on protection against the virus in her colostrum.
• Move mares to the farm where they are to foal at least six to eight weeks prior to foaling. This will give them adequate time to build up antibodies in their colostrum to local pathogens in the new environment.
• If the mare is to foal in a stall, clean the stall with phenolic disinfectants and bed it with good, clean straw.

Foal-heat diarrhea is a normal condition. However, affected foals should be monitored to ensure that infectious diarrhea or complications do not develop. Before initiating any therapy, check with a veterinarian. Foals are fragile, and unnecessary – or wrong – treatment can cause tremendous damage.

New confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus-1 raise concern.

Pfizer encourages horse owners to vaccinate regularly and quarantine when horses return from a trip to ensure a healthy stable. AVMA photo.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Pfizer

Outbreaks of diseases such as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (the neurological form of equine herpesvirus-1), eastern equine encephalomyelitis and West Nile virus have spread across the country over the past few years, raising concern among horse owners. These outbreaks have scared many into not competing at venues they may have gone to in the past. Some have stopped traveling with their horses altogether, while others have taken precautions but continue to show their horses as planned.

2012 has barely just begun, but it has not been disease-free for horses in the United States. On January 5, equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, or EHM, also referred to as neurological rhino, was confirmed in a mare in North Carolina¹. In addition, as of January 13, five horses have tested positive for EHV-1 in Orange County, California².

Many equestrians have already made their move to the warmer climates of California, Florida and Texas to compete in the winter circuits. With the help of your veterinarian and careful precautionary measures, experts suggest that there is no reason not to compete as usual.

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All horses, whether they are competing or staying on the farm, should be vaccinated against the core diseases, including tetanus, eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus and rabies. In addition, depending on the region, veterinarians may recommend vaccinating against some of the risk-based diseases, such as equine herpesvirus, equine influenza and strangles. Be sure to consult a veterinarian about which vaccines may be necessary for your horse. For horses that do a great deal of traveling, vaccinations alone may not be enough. In these instances, many veterinarians recommend adding an immunomodulator to help support and boost your horse’s immune system.

Stress from traveling may have a negative effect on a horse’s immune system. Using an immunomodulator can help stimulate and prepare a horse’s immune system to function more effectively. Immunomodulators should be administered prior to exposure to stressful situations, such as horse shows, transportation or exposure to disease. ZYLEXIS® from Pfizer Animal Health is a demonstrated safe and effective immunomodulator that helps to reduce upper respiratory disease caused by EHV-1 and EHV-4. Immunomodulators should not be used in horses with a fever or showing signs of clinical disease. Owners should discuss their options with a veterinarian.

“As a trainer and horse owner, I don’t want to do anything to put my horses in danger or risk the time and money spent to get them performance-ready,” says AQHA member Corey Cushing of Corey Cushing Performance Horses. “I trust that the barn managers and grounds official have taken biosecurity precautions. However, giving my horses ZYLEXIS gives me and my clients added peace of mind knowing I am doing everything possible to help keep my horses protected.”

Gina Miles, 2008 individual Olympic silver medalist in eventing, requires all of her horses and clients’ horses traveling to receive ZYLEXIS.

“Any time I travel long distances or fly my horses internationally, I give them the required three doses of ZYLEXIS,” Gina says. “I have incorporated ZYLEXIS into my preventative health care program for many years, and it has been shown to be very successful.”

“Traveling puts a lot of stress on all horses, from the young horse just starting (his) show career to the seasoned veteran. At my facility, we take equine herpesvirus respiratory outbreaks very seriously. However, with the aid of ZYLEXIS, we have not had to alter our show schedule,” Corey says.

Learn which membership fits your lifestyle and the benefits of becoming an AQHA member today.

Equine herpesvirus can largely be avoided by instituting and maintaining standard biosecurity measures. Some of the easiest protocols to implement include separate food and water buckets for each horse, individual tack that is not shared from horse to horse and quarantining horses returning to the facility after shows, sales and trail rides. Other items that should not be shared include twitches, lip chains, halters or other items that may touch a horse’s eyes, nose or mouth. Practice good barn hygiene when you arrive at the destination facility and daily on the farm. Disinfect stalls prior to moving your horses in and don’t forget that the trailer needs to be disinfected regularly, as well.

Infectious diseases can break out anytime and anywhere. As horse owners, if you do your part to help limit stress and boost your horses’ immune system, keep them current on their vaccinations and practice biosecurity at home and on the road, you are well on your way to a healthy, successful show season.

¹Neurologic EHV-1 Confirmed in North Carolina Horse. January 6, 2012. Available at: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19400&src=topic. Accessed on January 18, 2012.

²Larson, Erica. California EHV-1 Case Total Rises to Five. January 16, 2012. Available at: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19449&src=topic. Accessed on: January 18, 2012.

Contest is now closed!

Welcome to Guess That Horse, sponsored by Quarter Horse Outfitters.

This week's Guess That Horse is Feelum Good, a racing and halter stallion by Mr Go Devil and out of Reno Bambi.

Today’s winner will receive Showing to Win: Trail DVD.

The contest will start at 1 p.m. CST. At that time, the photo and first hint are given.

When the contest is live, 10 hints will be posted, one at a time, every few minutes on this page.

Refresh your browser periodically for new hints.

Please post your guesses into the comments box below.

The first person to correctly identify the full registered name of the American Quarter Horse pictured wins the prize.

Get help with your guesses! Consult AQHA records for pedigrees, show records and much more!

The winner will be announced after all the hints are given; participants must provide a valid e-mail address to to be eligible for the prize.

Contest is now closed! Congratulations to Katie for being the first to correctly identify Feelum Good as this week’s Guess That Horse. She will receive Showing to Win: Trail from Quarter Horse Outfitters!

Hint #1: This Quarter Horse earned 17 halter points.
Hint #2: This Quarter Horse was bay.
Hint #3: This Quarter Horse sired 34 foals.
Hint #4: This Quarter Horse was born in 1970.
Hint #5: This Quarter Horse earned a Register of Merit in 1972 for racing.
Hint #6: This Quarter Horse was born in Dallas, Oregon.
Hint #7: This Quarter Hors’s best speed index was 94.
Hint #8: This Quarter Horse won eight races out of 40 starts.
Hint #9: This Quarter Horse’s sire’s best speed index was 95, and he sired 208 foals.
Hint #10: This Quarter Horse’s dam was Reno Bambi.
Bonus Hint: This Quarter Horse’s get earned a total of $6,150 on the racetrack.

Horse Recap:
Feelum Good, by Mr Go Devil and out of Reno Bambi, was born in 1970 in Dallas, Oregon. He was first a race horse with a best speed index of 94, and he earned a Register of Merit in 1972 for his racing accomplishments. He won eight races out of 40 starts. He raced in two stakes races, and over the course of his racing career earned a total of $18,647. He sired 34 foals, which earned a total of $6,150 on the racetrack. Feelum Good also earned 17 halter points.

Who would you rather meet: a famous name or an incredible horseman?

Here, Bill Van Norman takes his horse down a hill, something he said helped a horse learn to naturally get his hindquarters up underneath himself. Journal photo.

I’ve been asked a few times: Who’s the coolest person you’ve ever interviewed?

And I’m sure the people expected me to rattle off some celebrity’s name, because I’ve interviewed a few famous names (all very gracious people).

But reflecting on it, the person I usually name is Bill Van Norman. He wasn’t a household name but probably should have been. He came from a long line of horsemen, and he married into another one, becoming Ray Hunt’s son-in-law. I only got to visit with him a couple of times, but what impressed me most was the way his horses acted around him. As he trained them in the vaquero tradition, they relaxed in his hands and seemed to draw confidence from him, as if they knew they were in the presence of someone who spoke their language. (That, my friends, is way, way more impressive than someone who can memorize lines for a camera!)

I wish I’d gotten to know him better, but he died much too young in 2006. It saddens me to see the list of esteemed horsemen shrinking. Ray died in 2009, and I had always meant to get to one of his clinics. I missed my chance.

But as with anything in life, you can’t go back and ask for a re-do; you only learn your lessons and keep moving forward. In this case, I’m trying not to miss any more chances. One such chance comes this weekend, with A Legacy of Legends clinic, which is a tribute to Ray and his mentor, Tom Dorrance. Ray’s wife, Carolyn, together with Buck Brannaman and Martin Black, wanted to honor the men and keep their training methods alive.

Both Buck and Martin will be doing presentations, as well as Peter Campbell, dressage rider Betty Staley, show jumper Melanie Smith-Taylor and the Hunts’ grandson Jaton Lord — all horsemen and women who studied with Ray and/or Tom and who continue the tradition of finding a better deal for the horse. Proceeds from the event go toward scholarships for serious students to spend time with some of Ray and Tom’s proteges.

To me, people like these presenters — down to earth, real-deal horsemen and women — are better than rock stars. Hands down, I’ll take a seat at a Buck Brannaman clinic over any concert you could name!

Watch America’s Horse Daily for an online report from the clinic, and stay tuned to America’s Horse for stories with some of the clinicians. The chances — for all of us horse people — are limited, constrained by time, finances and the competing demands we all have to juggle. But I hope to share my opportunities with you, so that all of our horses can benefit. And I’d love it if you did the same. Use the comments below to let us know about the best clinic you’ve ever been to and how it helped you in your horsemanship journey.

Happy riding!

Holly Clanahan
Editor, America's Horse magazine

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

Equine events coordinator Nancy Easton tells how to prevent accidents at shows.

Always be on the lookout for potential mental triggers for your horse. Journal illustration.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Picture an average horse show: spectators in bleachers and folding chairs, babies in strollers, tractors, rakes, shovels, tack and other equipment in aisles. Now add a panicked, loose horse.

Looks pretty dangerous inside your head, doesn’t it?

At a horse show, exhibitors and show management must work together to make sure stabling areas are safe for everyone, events coordinator Nancy Easton says.

“Safety is an easy thing to take care of,” she says, “if people stay aware and are considerate of everything that’s going on around them.”

At a horse show, she says, “the horse and exhibitor have a very tight bubble around them. Any noise or movement pushes into their bubble and causes them to react.”

Accidents Waiting to Happen

Many accidents happen because of a horse’s unexpected panic reaction.

“There is a reason for everything a horse does,” Nancy says. “So whether an exhibitor is in the saddle or on the ground, he or she must be aware of the horse every second. And it’s important to see what’s going on around you – what the noises are, the visual triggers and other horses going by.”

New to showing? Get the Beginner’s Guide to Showing and learn what to expect.

What’s going on in the horse’s head can be another trigger.

“What a horse does might be a reaction to something that the handler has done at some other time,” she explains. “The horse might hear a noise and associate it with a time when the handler jerked him or whipped on him, so he gets frightened, jumps and lunges forward.”

The leap is so instantaneous that a group of people in the way won’t have time to get clear.

“I have seen stall fronts pulled down and dragged through the alleyway,” Nancy says. “Then all the other horses, both in stalls and out, also panic.”

Dangerous Clutter

When managing horse events at California’s state fair, Nancy does not allow exhibitors to leave objects in the alleys of the stable area. With thousands of spectators passing through during the fair, this reduces risks to both visitors and horses.

She cautions exhibitors at any show to avoid filling aisles with such things as wheelbarrows, gear, tables, chairs, bales of hay or coolers. These objects are better left in a tack or feed stall.

Grooming and tacking up horse in the aisleways can also court disaster.

Many people coming through the barn areas have never been close to a horse and might assume since it is tied in a “public area,” that it is as safe to be around as a statue, she says.

If you decide to groom a horse in the alley, be aware of any foot traffic or other horses approaching. It is certainly not impolite to ask people to stay back or take another route through the barn, Nancy says. The same holds true for riders or handlers.

“Always ask the person who has the horse in the alleyway if it is safe for you to lead or ride by,” Nancy says.

Create a Visual Barrier

To keep foot traffic from going through a barn aisle, curtains at the end of the row are often effective. Even cones can provide a visual signal that this is not a public area.

“When I’m at the Congress or World Show and curtains are blocking off the alleyway, I don’t feel welcome to pass through there,” she says as an example.

She says the blockage doesn’t give her the feeling that the exhibitors using those stalls are unfriendly but rather that they are trying to create a safe environment for themselves and their horses. This is especially true when stallions are involved.

Use the Beginner’s Guide to Showing for more tips on showing etiquette and procedures.

Caution! Stallion in the Stall!

Housing stallions at shows can be risky, especially if the horse is unruly. And even if the stallion isn’t normally a problem, things can become dangerous if a rider on a mare, for instance, comes down the alley and stops in front of the stallion’s stall.

Nancy says if management knows someone is bringing an unruly stallion, an end stall that is not in a high traffic area can be assigned. And, she says, care must be taken not to stable stallions next to each other.

“It’s never an easy situation to handle, but a lot of the safety certainly does depend on show management,” Nancy says.

For example, the stallion’s owner or trainer might be able to secure a stall between two tack rooms. If there is a mare in the stall behind him, this might also be changed with other exhibitors switching horses around.

With a stallion, the practice of keeping the top stall door closed enhances the safety factor. It might also be advisable to post a sign on the door – “Please do not open” – to fend off curious passersby.

Slick Dangers

One sight that makes Nancy cringe is a rider trotting a horse on concrete to get back to the stabling area.

Trotting through a stable area is risky enough, but concrete increases the chance for disaster, especially if the horse and rider wind up on a wet surface from the wash racks or because someone just dragged a hose through the area.

Nancy recalls when she was about 5 years old and her father warned, “Never gallop or even lead a horse fast over any ground that is not safe for it, especially when it has shoes on.”

He instilled in her the danger of the horse slipping and falling. She is thankful for that early lesson in safety and encourages parents and trainers to educate young riders at home before they ever go to their first show.

“If a program focuses on teaching safety to kids at home,” Nancy says, “a lot of accidents would never happen at the shows.”

One of the strengths that The American Quarter Horse Journal has is its contacts with American Quarter Horse breeders, and we pack each issue with those contacts.

Let’s face it – American Quarter Horse breeders are the lifeblood of this Association. If it wasn’t for a breeder, you wouldn’t be sitting tall and proud aboard that American Quarter Horse you love so much.

The breeders are the horse folks out there making the tough decisions, putting great horseflesh underneath you. Who knows, maybe you’re a breeder, too. Whatever’s the case, The American Quarter Horse Journal loves to introduce these breeders to you.

When you look at horses produced by leading breeders like Rita Crundwell or Carol Rose, do you wonder what the secret is to their success? You’ll find insight to questions like that in the pages of the Journal.

A Blue Hen

For a lot of breeders, the winning ingredient is the mare.

“I look at the mare first as an individual,” says Donna Davis of Uniontown, Alabama, breeder of Raise Your Weapons and Friendswithbenefits, the weanling colt and filly winners of the inaugural Breeders Cup Halter Futurity in Des Moines, Iowa. “ ‘Where would I like to change her and make her better in her conformation?’ And then I try to pick stallions that I think are strong in that area. My main goal is to produce a foal that is better than the mare I intend to breed.

“A common mistake I’ve seen people make is to breed to a stallion simply because it is a ‘good deal,’ someone gives you a stud fee or you buy a leftover auction breeding, or you have a rebreed on another mare,” Donna says. “Those are fine, as long as that stallion also happens to be what you think will be the best match for your mare.”

Donna’s is a story of a small-time breeder finding success in one mare.

Donna bought Mcskip Me, a 1992 mare by Cool Mcskip and out of MBJ Spot Me by Mr Impressive, bred by Sonny Thomison and Ray Logan.

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“Everyone told me that you could not do it with one mare,” she recalls. “You cannot raise babies that go to futurities and the World Show with one mare. Some people will have 50 mares and maybe raise four or five they can show.”

But one mare was all Donna could afford. She bred her mare to Touchdown Kid his first year at stud for a 1999 filly she named Wont Touch Me.

“I took her to every futurity I could, and I won every one.” Donna says. “I went to the World Show and won the amateur mares, and she was reserve in the open.”

Donna and AQHA 20-year breeder James Kifer of Hartselle, Alabama, offer great insight in “Futurity Parents” on Page 94 of the February Journal.

“There are a lot of people who will keep breeding a mare when they really might need to sell her and get a better broodmare,” says James, who is the all-time leading breeder of halter winners.

“I don’t know how to say it politely, but people will hang on to and keep breeding a mare because they showed her or they raised her, when she’s not producing,” James says. “They often just keep trying to make her work, and she may never work. Look at her babies: If you’ve got two or three of them out there and you don’t like any of them, it might not be the stallion’s fault!”

From the halter ring to the ranchlands of South Dakota, choosing a good broodmare is a tried and true breeding practice.

“We have tried to put together certain genetics, certain bloodlines that work with our program,” says Joni Hunt. Joni and her husband, Jim, own and operate Open Box Rafter Ranch near Faith, South Dakota. “(We breed for) horses that we would like to ride and horses that our kids want to ride. In the past, especially, we would seek out particular mares that would complement what we were trying to do.”

“The things we look for in a stallion are the same things breeders looked for 50 years ago: That’s soundness, good mind, versatility, and we pretty much have been raising most of our own stallions,” Jim adds. “You start at the feet and work your way up. Good bone, good feet and then the last thing you should look at as far as a riding horse is the head.

“A lot of old timers, the horse breeders with wisdom, they’ll say that a mare is 75 percent of what you get as far as the offspring,” Jim says. “So we’ve concentrated very hard on our broodmares.”

Looking Out

In economic times like these, it’s not just exhibitors who are feeling the monetary crunch; it’s the breeders, too.

“Coming in to 2011, me and Daddy were pretty worried,” says Ryan Robicheaux, manager of Robicheaux Ranch, in “Making Runners” on Page 186 of the February Journal. “Three years ago, we bred right at 800 mares. But that’s kind of dwindled down. Last year – this same time a year ago – we were worried; 2011 wasn’t our best year, but it turned out better than we thought it was going to be. This year, we kind of have the same feeling. We had a lot of owners that had one or two mares, and some of those people have sold their mares and don’t have any more. It’s like everything else these days: It costs too much. We’re losing some of those other owners with one or two mares in their backyards at home, and their numbers can hurt you the most. I hate to lose them, but I understand when they have to get out.”

The Journal is the magazine that beginners pick up and longtime AQHA members still get. Are you a subscriber?

However, AQHA and stallion owners try to find ways to encourage growth and give back.

When Diane Chilton-Harper of Pilot Point, Texas, purchased her AQHA stallion, Radical Rodder, she says there was never any question that her stallion would participate in the AQHA Incentive Fund.

“There was no decision whatsoever,” Diane says. “If you want to have show horses at the national level, they need to be in the Incentive Fund. I nominate my stallions to whatever programs are available, because I want those foals to be as positioned as possible. You have to do the most you can for the mare owners who do business with you.”

Before she started breeding Radical Rodder, Diane sought out show horses to purchase that were enrolled in the Incentive Fund.

“We bought horses to show specifically with the Incentive Fund in mind,” she says in “A Bigger Incentive” on Page 68, which provides an in-depth look at the Incentive Fund program. “The way I looked at it was, it was free money, so why not take advantage of it?”

Sentimental Value

Candace Jussen is a horsewoman who has a lot to be thankful for. In an amateur spotlight on Page 100, the Pilot Point, Texas, breeder remembers one unforgettable year, when her homebred stallion, Mister GQ, had five foals perform outstandingly at the AQHA World Championship Show: two won championships, one earned a reserve championship, and the others were third and fifth on judges’ cards

Of all of her success, Candace says that the achievement she’s most proud of is Mister GQ .

“He’s the best example of generations of my breeding program and exemplifies what I’ve tried to accomplish in looks, temperament and attitude,” she says.

Just to prove that she and Mister GQ can do more than produce halter horses, Candace and her stallion paired up in non-pro western pleasure at the Solid Gold Show. “He was 3 years old and had won AQHA World Championships in halter, and everyone thought I was crazy to ride him in competition. It was rare for a halter horse, but it was something I did on my own that I’m proud of. And a couple of years later, he was the AQHA world champion aged stallion.”

Not to mention, Candace and Mister GQ won that western pleasure class.

Tara Christiansen
AQHA Internet Editor

Register today for the 2012 AQHA Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada!

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 convention 2012 registration is currently open. Print the registration form or fill it out online to attend the 2012 AQHA Convention before January 31 to avoid late fees!

Send completed registration forms to:
AQHA
Attn: Crystal Latham
P.O. Box 200
Amarillo, TX 79168

You can also fax completed forms to: (806) 349-6403 (attn: Crystal Latham)

This year’s AQHA Convention is March 9-12  in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the South Point Hotel and Casino.

Questions? Leave a comment!

As Always, At Your Service,

Kayla Randall
AQHA Assistant Internet Production Manager

Use these expert tips to calm your young show horse at home and at the show.

Question:

I don’t show personally, but I know a couple of people who show 2-year-olds in halter classes. One particular colt, new to the game, has a really annoying habit of getting hyped up before entering the show ring, and he tries to go into a trot when his handler walks him around. If the handler manages to keep him in a walk, he tosses his head about and tries to pull his head up, trying to get away so he can go gallop around.

How can he be kept calm before his class, and how do we deal with him if he gets jumpy in the show ring?

Answer:

You need to spend a little more time with a horse like that, both at the show and at home.

At home, spend more time with that horse than you maybe have to with your other horses and treat him like a showmanship horse. Practice basic showmanship maneuvers like 180- and 360-degree pivots and backing to get more control over the horse, both mentally and physically.

Improve your horse’s showmanship skills from AQHA’s 2008 showmanship world champion Nicole Barnes in Showmanship Basics, a FREE report from AQHA.

Next, haul the horse in the trailer whenever you can. Haul him to the vet, to town and to shows so that he gets used to the routine and doesn’t get excited about what might happen away from home.

When you go to the show, take him the night before and get him in the arena for awhile. This will get him used to the atmosphere and the idea of being in the arena calmly.

If the horse still has problems, change up the routine at home even more. Pony him on trail rides or saddle break him. He might just be bored and need something else to think about.

If he continues to be unruly in the show pen, contact a trainer who can work with the horse in person or offer more advice.

I’ve had horses like that, and it’s no walk in the park. It is frustrating, and it is time consuming, but more time and work will help him turn into a more manageable halter horse.

- AQHA Professional Horseman Ross Roark

If your horse-racing resolution comes with a memorable reminder, like truck tires, fires or lipstick, you’re less likely to forget about it.

This year, set realistic goals, and use a trick from Reid McLellan to help you remember them all year long.

By C. Reid McLellan

What are we going to do this year?

New Year’s resolutions are talked about a lot in December and early January each year. It seems to me that people have gradually begun to disregard this time-honored tradition.

I remember a New Year’s youth party at my home church way back when I was a teenager. We roasted marshmallows and wieners and enjoyed a good time like teenagers will do. Around 11:30 p.m., we gathered around the fire for a devotional from our youth leader. He had us write down something we did the past year that we were not proud of – more than one would be OK, but no more than three.

We folded the paper and wrote NPO (“not proud of”) on the outside. We were the only ones who were going to see those NPO notes, so “be honest with yourself,” the leader advised. He then asked us to write on another piece of paper one main goal we would accomplish in the new year. At 11:55 p.m., we observed a quiet time, a time of silent prayer, reflection or even a brief nap for those who didn’t want to participate.

We were asked to think about what we put on our NPO page. What were the circumstances? What will you do differently next time? At 11:59 p.m., we put that NPO page in the campfire. As we watched the papers go up in smoke, we were told to let it go. At midnight, we shared Happy New Year greetings, somewhat subdued compared to most celebrations, but with smiles, tears and what appeared to be relief on some faces. We were told that “Auld Lang Syne” was about remembering old friends and good times, not NPO events.

Then, as we sang those familiar lyrics, we put our goal page into the fire.

“Giving up on my goals already?” I wondered.

No, I learned that whenever I saw smoke — from a trash fire, a chimney or even a grill — I was reminded of that one goal.

I still remember what I wrote on those slips of paper, yet I can’t remember what goals I set last year.

Yes, this is still a racing blog! The take-home message for 2012 is that each of us can make resolutions, not keep any of them and do it all over again in December. Or, we can reflect on our wagering or other actions we were not proud of in 2011, and resolve to do things differently in 2012.

I encourage you to write down one, two or no more than three things you were not proud of in 2011. Write down each NPO event and below it write a positive, declarative sentence that starts with “In 2012, I will …”

For example:

NPO: Changed wager because a friend gave me inside information about another horse.

STATEMENT: In 2012, I will follow my own handicapping to make wagering decisions. If I choose to use inside information, I will make that as an additional  wager.

After spending quiet time considering your NPO list, destroy it in a way meaningful to you. Most importantly, do not keep your NPO list! Turn it loose and let it go! Write down one major goal that is specific and attainable. “Make a profit every time I go to the race track” is too general. “Make an average profit of $100 per visit to the race track” is more specific and attainable. This will be our playing goal for this blog and, in addition to some training and horse talk, I will blog about wagering plans that can help us attain that goal in 2012. Do something creative so that you will have a daily reminder. You can do the fire and smoke reminder or something that works for you. Some life coaches have clients write down goals on sticky notes and stick them on their bathroom mirror. Some like to place notes on the fridge with a magnet. To be different, write your goal in lipstick. Then when you see a lipstick commercial, an ad in a magazine or pass a lipstick display at a store, you will be reminded of your goal.

Speaking of goals, R.D. Hubbard set — and achieved — countless business goals in the horse-racing industry. Get the FREE Hubbard: Success in Business report today, and learn the secrets to his success.

So, what did I write on my blog goal piece of paper for 2012?

“Submit one blog for each month in 2012.” How will I remember? I rolled over my piece of paper with my truck and put a big tire print on it. Keep track of how many months this blog appears to judge the success of this reminder!

As executive director of The Elite Program, C. Reid McLellan organizes and teaches Groom, Owner and Trainer Elite classes around the country. Find out about the next available class here!

As owner and agent of Purple Power Equine Services, Reid helps people buy and sell race and show prospects and provides guidance and assistance with training, breeding and other equine services.

Harvesting semen after a stallion’s death.

Question:

Is there any way to save semen after a stallion has died?

Answer:

Traditionally, the breeding potential of a stallion is lost with his death, but collection and freezing of semen has made it possible to store genetic material indefinitely.

Freezing semen while the stallion is healthy makes sense. Stallions can be collected in the off season and the frozen semen stockpiled for future use. The frozen semen can be used as needed during the breeding season if the stallion cannot be collected or does not have sufficient semen for all the mares scheduled to be bred.

Semen can also be harvested and cryopreserved after a stallion’s death.

Contact your American Association of Equine Practitioners-member veterinarian to find out whether there are facilities in your area to handle this collection and freezing.

– Dr. Patrick McCue
Equine Reproduction Laboratory at Colorado State University, Reproductive Specialist

Read more in Dr. McCue’s regular column in The American Quarter Horse Journal. Look for “Breeding Shed: Salvaging Sperm” in the December 2011 Journal.