August 25, 2011

by The American Quarter Horse Journal

The world’s largest, single-breed world championship horse show, open exclusively to amateur exhibitors age 50 and older, kicks off August 28 at the  Amarillo National Center in Amarillo, Texas. The show is free and open to the public.

The 2011 Adequan Select World will host 1,290 riders from the United States, Canada and – for the first time ever – Argentina, who have come to compete for more than $520,000 in prize money in addition to custom-designed trophies, Montana Silversmiths champion belt buckles, logoed Cripple Creek jackets and the honor of being crowned an American Quarter Horse Association world champion.

The select division is only for amateur AQHA members who are 50 years of age or older on or before August 1 of the qualifying year. Amateur exhibitors are American Quarter Horse owners who do not join the professional ranks. The Adequan Select World is open to those exhibitors who have qualified for the event by earning a predetermined number of points throughout the year to secure a spot in each of the classes.

The show features 41 classes, representing English, western and halter disciplines. The Amarillo economy will get an expected $7.1 million boost during the show’s eight-day run.

AQHA initiated a new program this year in which the top three Intermediate exhibitors in each class will be recognized at all four world championship shows. An Intermediate exhibitor is an exhibitor who has never placed in the top 10 at an AQHA world show in the particular class in which they are competing.

Just as with the championship titles, three Intermediate awards will be given – champion, reserve champion and third place. The Intermediate awards program allows more exhibitors to be recognized during AQHA world championship competition.

The American Quarter Horse Journal will provide extensive online coverage of the Adequan Select World. Be sure to catch the  live action in the arena on the Pfizer Animal Health webcam, hosted by  America’s Horse TV. A special wrap-up of the show will air on  RFD-TV at 10 p.m. EST on October 6. Complete coverage of the show will be featured in the October 2011 issue of the  Journal Plus, the digital supplement to The American Quarter Horse Journal that is free to all Journal subscribers and which can be found at  www.aqha.com. Photos of the Adequan Select World champions will be published in the November issue of the Journal.

The Adequan Select World Championship Show is made possible by AQHA Corporate Partners Adequan, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bank of America, Farnam, John Deere, Markel, Merial, Montana Silversmiths, Nutrena and SmartPak.

The excitement takes place August 28 – September 3.

For more information contact Jeannie Blancq, director of communications and special events at (806) 341-5252 or jblancq@aqha.org. For additional news, updates and special offers, become a fan of AQHA on Facebook or follow on  Twitter.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, Journal Plus, Q-Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit  AQHA Publications.

Most  horse owner’s dream of having that perfect, well-organized barn but it is can be tough to keep things clean and organized without breaking the bank. Try a few of our thrifty tips to help solve some of those pesky barn management problems without hurting the wallet.

Tackroom. When space is an issue, try using clear plastic totes, that can be found at most home goods stores for only a few bucks. They come in different sizes to fit your space and typically come with lids that help keep dust out. Use them to keep down clutter by keeping together things such as grooming and bathing supplies. Clear totes allow you to see what is inside without having to open every lid. Use dry erase maker on outside to label contents for easy identification then wipe it away and re-label later.

Dust. Even in a well organized tackroom dust is often an issue. A clear vinyl shower curtain liner (possibly re-purposed from the home) makes a great dust cover for hanging tack. Use a staple gun to secure curtain along the length of the tackroom wall above bridle racks. Vertical slits in the curtain make for easy access to tack while still protecting it from the dust.

Feed buckets. Purchasing feed buckets from your local tack store can cost as much as $10- $15 per bucket. This really adds up, especially when you are feeding multiple horses. Ask your local doughnut shop (such as Shipley’s or Crispy Cream) for their used filling buckets. Often times they sell them for cheap. And bonus, they generally come with lids that seal the contents. You can prepare several feedings at once, cutting feeding time without the worry of exposing feed to the elements.

Feeding on the road. Packing enough feed, hay and supplements for your trip can often times require a lot of preparation. And how many times have you gotten where you’re going and run out or feed or forgot that all important feed scoop? Prepare each feeding at home to ensure each horse gets exactly what they need. Gallon sized Ziplock freezer bags make perfect feed bags and can be labeled with each horse’s name. Also makes a great way to leave pre-measured rations for horsesitters taking care of the ones left at home.

Barn tools. Help keep your barn isles clutter free by providing a central location for barn tools such as manure forks and shovels. Try using over the door (or in the case, stall) hangers for a quick, no-assembly fix. Tools can be easily hung up and out of the way.

A leveling system for AQHA shows is under consideration.

The American Quarter Horse Journal
July 12, 2011

A level playing field for all competitors is one of the hallmarks of fair competition. AQHA has been working for nearly a year on making that happen for its shows.“A lot of sports – horse racing, barrel racing, car racing and boxing, just to name a few – offer numerous competition levels based on skill; physical characteristics like weight, age and type (or breed when it comes to animals); or career earnings,” said Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity. “It’s time that the American Quarter Horse show industry broadened its offerings and followed the suit of many of our alliance partners like the National Cutting Horse, National Reining Horse, National Snaffle Bit and National Reined Cow Horse associations and developed multiple opportunities for new people to enter the arena at a level where they’re comfortable competing.

“It’s all done to create fairness in competition, as well as to attract the widest group of competitors and to grow our sport.”

At press time, the AQHA Executive Committee was scheduled to will review the proposed leveling program at its quarterly meeting, July 18-20, to set show points and fine-tune other guidelines in making AQHA competition as fair as possible for exhibitors at every level.

The proposed leveling system includes more and different divisions, including new Rookie and Intermediate showing levels for exhibitors, as well as Green and Progressive levels for horses; more and different awards; and a proposed Novice championship show. A final announcement is expected around the conclusion of the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

“Our goal has been to help American Quarter Horse owners make that step to showing their horses at our shows,” said Patti Carter-Pratt, AQHA executive director of shows. “We know that our horse owners are proud of the work they have done with their horses, and we want to give them a place to show where they won’t feel intimidated. A fair and level playing field is a good way for us to start.”

A Blue-Ribbon Process

Through its 70-year existence, AQHA has continually reviewed and improved its competition to reflect the changing needs of its competitors – from the initial inclusion of amateur competition to developing Novice, Limited, Select and Green divisions. Today, many members and staff felt it was important to take a more in-depth look at decreasing exhibitor and horse numbers competing at AQHA-approved shows. However, it’s important to remember that no major changes to an industry as successful as AQHA shows can occur without in-depth input and review by multiple committees and members.

In 2009, the AQHA Blue-Ribbon Task Force was appointed by the Executive Committee to review all aspects of AQHA competition and make suggestions for improvement. The task force has met multiple times in the past two years to review volumes of statistics on AQHA shows, determine trends and brainstorm ways to improve – all the while seeking input from members on the best ways to improve AQHA competition without harming the success of high-point or world show competition.

The task force then made recommendations to the show council and show committee. The council and committee then made recommendations to the membership and board of directors at this year’s convention. All along the way, the Executive Committee has been monitoring the progress of the various task forces and committees. At its meeting in July, the Executive Committee was scheduled to make the final review of the various programs.

Want to know more about leveling, read the complete article about the AQHA leveling program.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications.

DOING BETTER

Seems as if I write the same thing over and over.  The Christian writer, Phillip Yancey once said, “All writers have just one theme.  All writers are trying to get one thought out.  They say the same thing over and over.”  I certainly didn’t think that was true of me.  I have written several books, but I “knew” they were all different.  After all, one was for teachers, one about a horse that helped a troubled youth, one about a frog and his family who dealt with a tragedy (his daddy got gigged), another about a disturbed horse and so on.  Then one day years later, I looked at all the books sitting on a table and realized, “Oh my goodness, they’re all about the same thing!” Yancey was right.

My favorite subject – my favorite question – is “How is it that we do better?”  What are the things we can do to improve our chances for personal success?  And perhaps even more importantly, how can we help those we love?  Maybe more than anything, we want those we care about to be successful, whether they are our children, grandchildren, students, employees, and in my case – and many of yours as well – how do we get our horse to do better?  How do we get our horse to be the best of all things…a willing partner?

Some years ago, I began to notice certain people in my life who were really good at this “improvement” thing.  They were also effective at helping others around them.  While they came from different walks of life – some were professors, some coaches and teachers, some bronc riders – they possessed one common theme.  They shared one bright thing.  They all treated people – and horses – in a certain way.  I’ve been trying to learn more about those behaviors since.

It begins from the moment you meet them.  When you first encounter these people, they look at you and they smile.  They seem genuinely glad to meet you.  They say your name and ask you about you.  That doesn’t seem to be much, but you find yourself liking this person…and you don’t even know them.  Most “important” people have little time for the rest of us.  These folks I’m talking about make you feel like you are important.  Whenever I talk about this, sooner or later you can bet someone will say, “I don’t like people like that – people who always seem to be running for office.”  I don’t like people like that either.  None of us do.  But you know who we do like?  We like people who are authentic, genuine, and sincere.

Some educators say, “It’s not my job to teach kids that.  That is the parent’s role.”  I agree.  Problem is even successful, well-to-do people sometimes have a lack of knowledge of the power of interpersonal skills – not phony glad-handing, but real skill in dealing with others.  One of my favorite quotes from an old John Wayne movie is when the Duke says, “Big mouth don’t make a big man.”  (Then naturally he knocks the loud mouth over a water trough.)  To paraphrase my point, “Just ‘cause you got money don’t mean you got manners.”  But those rich people are missing something vital by not teaching their kids manners.  Manners can get you money.  You can give your kid thousands of dollars, but if he’s still a jerk, chances are he will lose it all.  If, on the other hand, he has style, genuine grace and charm…the kid can make his own money.

On a couple of occasions, I have been criticized by some who say, “You’re teaching people what con men do.”  That is precisely correct.  That is exactly what I am trying to do.  “Grifters” – as they are called – know the power of charm.  They can actually relieve others of their money with a smile and some guile.  But those people have something dark in their hearts.  What if you combined powerful people skills with something light in your heart?  You would have something that could really help you.  And I have seen so many who did just that.  I will never forget watching one woman do something so wonderful…

Her name was Sally Field.  Sally worked at the Pentagon, and at the time, Sally held the distinction of being the highest-ranking civilian female in the federal service.  One day, as she walked into the conference room to conduct a meeting, a general officer – not knowing who she was – turned to her and said, “Get me a cup of coffee, honey.”  Without missing a beat, Sally turned on her heel and said, “Certainly, I’ll be glad to.”  She went down the hall and retrieved this fellow coffee.  After placing it in front of him, she said, “There you go.  Made you a fresh pot.”

She then took her position at the head of the long mahogany table and said, “I’m here today to request some twenty-million dollars in funding for our troops who are fighting in the field.  I need this money to keep those brave young people alive.  I may not get everything I ask for, but I am certain of one thing…”  She paused and smiled down at this general whose mouth was now really wide open, ‘cause this fool had realized he had just told his boss to get him coffee, and she said…

“I won’t have any trouble out of you, will I?”

General “Coffee” hung his head, cleared his throat, and said, “No Ma’am, you will not.  And if I have anything to do with it, you will get every penny.”

Sally got all her money.

That little story could have gone so many ways.  Sally could have snapped back at that man.  She could have said, “I’m not a secretary.”  She could have stormed off in a huff – and justifiably so.  Instead she treated that fellow with the kindness of Jesus, and Sally won the day and Sally saved lives.  Just goes to show you -

It’s nice to be important…but it’s more important to be nice.

– Michael Johnson

In these trying economic times, it is tempting to cut corners in horsekeeping costs. $200 vet visit, $150 for new shoes, $100 for feed – they all add up. However, you should never cut costs when it comes to your horses health.
Try out money-saving tips for equine upkeep in a tough economy.

• Prevention. Save on costly vet visits by vaccinating your horse. Vaccinations prevent disease and though it may seem costly to administer routine inoculations, it is much cheaper than treating the resulting illness. If you are comfortable doing so, save money by vaccinating yourself. There will be some vaccines which you will need to obtain from your vet, like Rabies, but vaccines are a generally simple procedure that many horse owners are comfortable administering. Work with your vet on a sensible vaccination schedule to fit you and your horses.
• Feeding Forage. Good, quality forage is the most important thing for your horse. High quality hay is the healthiest and cheapest diet. Evaluate your horse’s maintenance and energy needs. Feed as much forage as you can and cut back on the grain. You may be able to decrease or eliminate grain altogether. Feed representatives or your vet will be able to assess nutritional needs and guide you towards a feed program to fit your budget.
  
• Pasture Board. Allowing your horse 24 hour access to pasture can benefit your horse’s health and your wallet. Many boarding facilities offer reduced prices for pasture boarding. You can also save on bedding and stall repairs. It is healthier for a horse to be turned out constantly. The horse is able to breathe fresh air, which reduces health risks such as Recurrent Airway Obstruction. The increased room to move may help prevent legs from stocking up or any stiffness which may occur when the horse is stalled up. Just be sure there is access to some type of shelter (stall, lean to, etc…) for the horse to escape inclement weather.
• Water. Water is the cheapest and most important nutrient you can provide for your horse. If you are concerned your horse may not consume enough, try adding a tablespoon or two of salt to his grain ration to entice drinking.
• Tend to Minor Issues. Correct minor problems before they escalate into major ones. Teeth floating, proper shoeing and farrier work, colics and wound treatment can be handled in early stages before they turn into full blown problems. Haul your horse to the clinic to avoid a farm call charge.
• Deworming. Help your horse ward off parasites with a routine deworming schedule. Deworming every eight weeks just to deworm can be a costly venture. Rather, have your vet perform a fecal egg count which will aid in targeting treatment for specific parasites.
• Making the Tough Decision. If you can’t bear to sell, you might consider options such as leasing your horse or removing your horse from the trainers. Therapeutic riding programs and university equestrian teams often take horses on a loan basis, allowing you to maintain ownership of your horse while ensuring your horse has a long-term home and purpose. If, after cutting back, you find you still cannot afford to keep your horse it may be time to make the difficult decision to sell. When the time comes, MyHorseForSale.com offers ads for every budget. We can help you find your horse a new home.

Horses are expensive to purchase and upkeep. By evaluating your program as a whole, a budget can be created and implemented to keep expenditures at a minimum. There are certain areas where corners should not but cut, but by eliminating unnecessary expenses, horse owners will find there are plenty of ways to cut costs without compromising horse health and happiness.

Online marketing is key for promoting your equine facilities but it can often be difficult to sort through what works for you and your farm. Try our quick tips to help get you started.

• Website. Your website’s homepage is often the critical first impression. A clean, professional, and branded look can make all the difference. A simple content management system can help you keep things updated and organized.
• Social Media. Everyone’s doing it! Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are free and simple to use. They offer a great outlet to interact with clients by making real-time posts and sharing current photos. Promote you farm in a fun and easy way. Visit the MyHorseForSale.com Facebook page for a little inspiration.

Online Classifieds. Personal farm websites are a must but they only receive a handful of hits/ unique viewers per month. Advertising your farm with online classifieds takes it to the people and gives you that added boost. MyHorseforSale.com farm packages provide farm pages detailing your business and horses. It allows you a full year of advertising on 18 affiliate sites for one low price. Our site serves buyers across the globe with horses sold to international buyers in South Africa, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Germany and beyond.

The 2011 Congress will run from October 7-30, 2011.
Trade Show: October 11-30, 2011

The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the World’s Largest Single-Breed Horse Show. The show receives more than 17,000 horse show entries and will house more than 8,500 registered American Quarter Horses during its three-week schedule. The Congress attracts more than 650,000 people to the Columbus area, bringing more than $110 million to the central Ohio economy.

EQUINE PIROPLASMOSIS TEST REQUIRED FOR 2011
Beginning in 2011, the Ohio Quarter Horse Association will require certification of a negative blood test for equine piroplasmosis for all horses entering the Ohio Expo Center for the All American Quarter Horse Congress, EXCLUDING horses travelling from Canada. The test must have been completed within one year prior to entry onto the show grounds. Click here for more information .
USEFUL LINKS
2011 Congress Entry Book
2011 Congress Entry Form
2011 Congress Credit Card Form
2011 Congress Cutting Entry Book
2011 Congress Cutting Entry Form
2011 Congress Freestyle Ticket Order Form
2011 Congress Cutting Event Ticket Order Form
2011 Futurity & Sweepstakes Book
2011 Futurity & Sweepstakes Entry Form
2011 Reining Futurity Entry Form

AUGUST 10, 2011  AHC WASHINGTON UPDATE
Copyright © 2011 American Horse Council

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed its Animal Disease Traceability rule.  USDA stated there will be a 90 day period for public comment, which will close on November 9, 2011.

The announcement has been anticipated by animal livestock groups across the country after USDA replaced the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) with the Animal Disease Traceability Program (ADTP) in early 2010.  The former NAIS program was not fully embraced by the livestock community and generated numerous concerns surrounding confidentiality, liability, cost, and privacy.

Rather than attempting to identify every animal, every premise and every animal movement to achieve traceback within 48 hours of a disease outbreak, the proposed ADTP rule is aimed at designing a simplified program to achieve basic traceability with simplified identification means, including branding, to respond to a disease outbreak.

The purpose of the proposed rule is to improve the ability to trace livestock, including horses, in the event of a disease outbreak.  The proposed rule establishes minimum national identification requirements to trace livestock that move interstate. Under the proposed rule, livestock that are moved interstate would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation.

Under the proposed rule, horses would have to be identified by one of the following methods:

• A description of the individual horse, such as: name, age, breed, color, gender, distinctive markings, and unique and permanent forms of identification when present (e.g., brands, tattoos, scars, cowlicks, or blemishes); or
• Electronic identification, such as certain microchips; or
• Digital photographs that identify the individual horse; or
• A USDA backtag for horses being commercially transported for slaughter.

The ADTP will be administered by the states with federal support and will only apply to animals, including horses, moving interstate.  The new program will encourage the use of lower-cost technology and ensure the traceability data is owned and maintained by the states and tribal nations.  USDA indicated it will share the costs of the new program with the states.

You can view the complete proposed rule at:

http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-20281_PI.pdf

The following documents are now available on the USDA-APHIS web site:

USDA Seeks Comments on Animal Disease Traceability Rule

http://usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2011/08/0343.xml&contentidonly=true

General Questions and Answers:  Animal Disease Traceability Proposed Rule

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2011/08/pdf/QAtraceabil.VS.pdf

Questions and Answers for Producers of Different Species Groups

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/materials.shtml

Summary of Traceability Economic Analysis

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2011/08/pdf/Traceability%20Summary%20of%20Economic%20Analysis.pdf

TULSA, Okla. – The Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc. announces the lineup for its annual fall horse show. The 2011 Color Breed Congress has yet again extended its show roster to include even more color. This format will offer classes for horses registered with the PtHA, as well as, the Palomino Horse Breeders of America, International Buckskin Horse Association, American Buckskin Registry Association, Appaloosa Horse Club and Pony of the Americas Club. We are excited to welcome the ApHC and the POAC, which are both new to the Color Breed Congress. Adding the two additional breed association classes will bring new horses and colors to this year’s fall show. The Color Breed Congress is set for November 2-6, 2011, at The Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla.

Presented by the Pinto Horse Association of America Inc., the 5-day competition will showcase colorful and talented horses and their exhibitors in a variety of disciplines including English, western, barrel racing, and halter

“The Color Breed Congress was a success last year,” said Darrell Bilke, Show manager and PtHA Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer. “We are excited to share that success with the other associations and look forward to providing a stage for high quality competition.”

Special events at the Color Breed Congress will include a Color Breed Cash Challenge that allows any horse registered with PtHA, IBHA, ABRA, PHBA, ApHC, POAC and the American Paint Horse Association to show and includes: Breeding Stock Pinto, Solid Paint-Bred and Palomino Bred. The Champion of Champions classes will be a definite highlight of the show, bringing back the top three places from certain classes in each breed to compete in one colorful arena.

A crowd and exhibitor favorite of the show, the Hula Hoop Hoedown, will return offering the opportunity for the top six from various classes to swing their hips for prizes, sponsored by the Equine Chronicle. The annual cookout, where exhibitors and Congress visitors can come and mingle with friends and enjoy great food provided by PtHA will take place Saturday, November 5, 2011.

For those that need to stock up on the latest products, plenty of vendors will occupy the Color Breed Congress Trade Show throughout the five days. The vendors offer everything a horse lover could want or need and the trade show is a great place to start Christmas shopping. Tack, supplies, clothing, jewelry, furniture, trucks, trailers and much more merchandise will be available for purchase.

Incorporated in 1956, the Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc. was formed to encourage the promotion of quality horses, ponies and miniatures with color and to establish a registry for maintaining their pedigrees and records. Currently, the association serves approximately 12,000 members and boasts more than 140,000 registered Pintos.

For more information about the 2011 Color Breed Congress, please visit www.colorbreedcongress.com. All the highlights and up to date information can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/pintohorseassociation or on Twitter at twitter.com/pintohorseassoc.

Registration is mandatory in one of the approved associations to be eligible to compete in the Color Breed Congress. To find out about registering your horse, visit the following websites: Pinto Horse Association of America Inc. at www.pinto.org, Palomino Horse Breeders of America at www.palominohba.com, International Buckskin Horse Association at www.ibha.net, American Buckskin Registry Association at www.americanbuckskin.org, American Paint Horse Association at www.apha.com, Appaloosa Horse Club at www.appaloosa.com, and the Pony of the Americas Club at www.poac.org.

Need a horse for the Color Breed Congress, find it at MyHorseForSale.com.