Join me in welcoming our new AQHA Executive Committee.

Johannes and wife, Astrid, with Fritz Power, the leading sire of the German Quarter Horse Association.

On March 8, at the 2010 AQHA Convention, we welcomed the first international AQHA President, Johannes Orgeldinger of Grosswallstadt, Germany.

Johannes has been involved with American Quarter Horses for more than a quarter of a century and has volunteered his time and talents to the  the AQHA Executive Committee for the past four years. He was first elected to the AQHA Executive Committee in 2006. He divides his time between Germany and a ranch in the United States. As the international registry of the American Quarter Horse, AQHA is a world-wide organization, and Germany is the ninth-largest AQHA affiliate with 6,675 AQHA members — only seven other states and Alberta, Canada, have more members.  Kansas is ranked 10th with 6,567 members in 2009. After the United States and Canada, Germany ranks third on the list of countries by American Quarter Horse population.

AQHA is proud to be an international breed registry for the American Quarter Horse. The breed was developed in the United States, but its versatility has made American Quarter Horses popular around the world. Johannes is a perfect testament to this reach, having bred American Quarter Horses for more than 25 years. AQHA has many affiliate branches across the globe, and the total international population of American Quarter Horses is a whopping 136,198. Right now the National Reining Horse Association is hosting the 2010 NRHA European Futurity & NRHA Show in Kreuth, Germany. Reining continues to gain in popularity in Europe, and this year, 48 horses were entered in the $1,000 added Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 at the NRHA Show. That’s twice the number of horses entered at the show last year in that division.

Johannes has been very involved with AQHA. He has served on the affiliate council as well as the stud book and registration and nomination and credentials committees. Johannes also served as the discipline manager of reining for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

He and his wife, Astrid, own and operate a gravel and stone company and JOMM Ranches in Grosswallstadt as well as Main River Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas.

Peter Cofrancesco III of Sparta, New Jersey, was named first vice president. Cofrancesco is chair of the Grinnell Group of Companies, which includes several entities, including solid waste and recycling, real estate and concrete products manufacturing. Cofrancesco was American Quarter Horse Youth Association president in 1991 and is the first youth president to serve on AQHA’s Executive Committee.

Gene Graves of Grand Island, Nebraska, was elected second vice president. Graves is auctioneer of Diamond G Auction Company and is a Realtor for Century 21.

New members were also named to the AQHA Executive Committee. Johne Dobbs of Champaign, Illinois, and Johnny Trotter of Hereford, Texas, were elected. Dobbs, a director from Illinois, owns Johne Dobbs Equine Insurance. She becomes the second woman to serve on the AQHA Executive Committee. Trotter, a director from Texas, is president and chief executive officer of Livestock Investors Ltd.

It’s important to note that these individuals all volunteer their time to serve on the Executive Committee. I would like to thank them for spending a significant portion of their time working for your Association.

How Convention Works

Here’s a little bit more about AQHA’s annual Convention:

The AQHA Convention is a chance for breeders, trainers, owners and horse lovers of all kinds to get together to talk about issues affecting the industry and discuss proposed changes to the way AQHA does business.

• Committee Agenda Items – to be eligible for consideration by a standing committee, a member’s proposed agenda item must be submitted using the rule change proposal form. All proposals were due by December 31, 2009. Proposals for the 2011 Convention, which is scheduled to be held in Texas near Dallas/Fort Worth, are due by the end of 2010.
• All AQHA members (having a membership for at least 60 days prior to the first day of convention) have voting rights at the AQHA Convention.
• All standing committee meetings were open to the general membership. The only exceptions to this rule are meetings denoted as being closed in the convention program, or portions of meetings that are conducted in closed session because of personnel, legal or other sensitive material.

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

Remember that you, as a member, are always welcome to share your views and comments regarding issues that affect or pertain to AQHA with AQHA directors. The list of directors is available at AQHA Member Services. An important aspect of Convention is the election of AQHA directors. So make your vote count, and help mold your Association into what you want it to be.

The AQHA Executive Committee will meet in April to finalize the committee reports. At that time, all the rule changes that were approved at the 2010 Convention will be available on the internet.

Congratulations to the 2010-11 AQHA Executive Committee. The AQHA staff looks forward to working with each of you to make the organization that represents the world’s most versatile horse even better.

Happy trails,

Don Treadway
AQHA Executive Vice President