Category: AQHA

The American Quarter Horse Journal – Due to the recent outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1, many horse shows have experienced reduced exhibitor numbers and some shows – particularly National Cutting Horse Association events – have been canceled. As a result, the AQHA Executive Committee has extended to June 26 the Adequan Select World Championship Show qualifying period, which was to end May 31. This step is in addition to lowering the Adequan Select World qualifying points, which the Executive Committee announced on May 18. Additionally, due to the cancellations of all cutting events through June 5, qualifying points

The American Quarter Horse Journal – To better utilize the talents of the professionals within the American Quarter Horse show industry, two American Quarter Horse Association standing committees have been replaced with a new committee: the AQHA Shows and Professional Horsemen Committee. “This is a great integration of professional horsemen,” said AQHA President Peter J. Cofrancesco III. “It’s a forward-thinking recommendation that was considered and approved at the 2011 AQHA Convention and allows professionals on the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Committee to have input into the programs, events and areas of the show industry where they can have the

New Exhibitor Recognition The American Quarter Horse Journal — The American Quarter Horse Association will be recognizing a new level of exhibitors at four of its world championship shows this year. At the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA, Adequan Select, Bank of America Amateur and Fedex Open world championship shows, AQHA will recognize the top three Intermediate exhibitors in each youth, amateur, Select and open class. “This is a great way to introduce some of the show or competition-leveling concepts that AQHA has been exploring over the last couple of years,” said AQHA President Peter J. Cofrancesco

To help ease AQHA Select exhibitors’ minds and proactively help professionals and exhibitors make educated decisions, the AQHA Executive Committee today opted to lower qualifying points for the Adequan Select World Championship Show. The decision to lower the points was a result of the timing of the May 31 qualifying deadline for the Adequan Select and the recently reported cases of equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy in the western United States. The Adequan Select is August 28 – September 3 in Amarillo. Since first learning of the recent cases of EHV-1, AQHA has received numerous phone calls from trainers,

Mark your calendars for the 2011 Battle in the Saddle, open free to the public July 5-9 in Oklahoma City. Spectators can catch all the action of this historic, all-breed event featuring barrel racing, working cow horse, roping, cutting, versatility ranch horse, ranch remuda and cowboy mounted shooting. Don’t miss out on the excitement as competitors battle it out for more than $145,000 in added money. All events are dual-approved with AQHA alliance-partners American Rope Horse Futurity Association, Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, National Cutting Horse Association, Ranch Horse Association of America and National Reined Cow Horse Association, and

The American Quarter Horse Youth Association invites local kids to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum for its annual Camp It Up! summer program. Camp It Up! has three sessions this summer. Horseology 101 is June 6-10 from 8 a.m. to noon for kids ages 8 to 11. The cost for this session is $60. This session will teach basic facts about horses, such as care, feeding and riding, through the use of exciting educational tools. The kids will have the opportunity to watch a farrier work with a real American Quarter Horse, learn about

AQHA releases the standing committee reports reviewed by the AQHA Executive Committee and approved by the AQHA Board of Directors in March 2011. The American Quarter Horse Journal — In many cases, AQHA rule changes are the result of recommendations from AQHA members or the various AQHA standing committees. Once approved at convention by the respective AQHA standing committees, the rule changes are then reviewed by the AQHA Executive Committee and approved by the AQHA Board of Directors. The Executive Committee has the final word on all rule changes except changes to the Association’s bylaws and any rules

AQHA is offering new pilot rookie classes at nine shows this year. The American Quarter Horse Journal – This year, the American Quarter Horse Association is introducing a trial run of rookie classes created by the AQHA Blue-Ribbon Task Force to make the transition from 4-H, open showing or no show experience at all less intimidating and more comfortable for exhibitors. The goal of these classes is to reach AQHA members of all ages and riding levels. By developing true entry-level classes, AQHA plans to introduce new AQHA members, as well as members who have never shown, to

Read the May issue of America’s Horse online for free. The digital edition of The American Quarter Horse Journal, Journal Plus, debuted earlier this month as a supplement to the printed magazine, and now AQHA members can receive their America’s Horse magazine online, as well. Starting in May, the AQHA member publication can be read online anytime, anywhere. As a special offer for the month of May only, all horse enthusiasts can access the digital version of the May America’s Horse. The May issue is a special recreational riding tribute, with tons of tips and tricks for enjoying your summer horseback. We’re confident you’ll

Learn about this horse disease and how to prevent it. The American Quarter Horse Journal — It is a disease that lurks in a horse’s blood, with tiny protozoa attacking red blood cells. Equine piroplasmosis is common in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, including parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, but is considered a foreign disease in the United States, and efforts are underway to keep it that way. Currently racetracks in 11 states require negative piroplasmosis tests before horses are allowed onto the backside. Beginning

The American Quarter Horse Journal — The American Quarter Horse Association is proud to sponsor the National Cutting Horse Association’s biggest event of the year, NCHA Weekend, June 3-5, in 25 cities throughout the United States and Canada. NCHA Weekend is cutting’s biggest celebration of its grassroots participants, and this year, all of the shows are dual-approved. For the first time, points earned in designated classes will count toward qualification for the youth, amateur, select and open AQHA world championship shows. “We are excited to partner with NCHA on this full weekend of cutting in June,” said Tom Persechino,

A popular TV doctor and show host is now on America’s Horse TV. The American Quarter Horse Journal — The American Quarter Horse Association is teaming with The Weather Channel’s Dr. Anna Marie to provide equine content on America’s Horse TV. A lover of all animals, Dr. Anna Marie is a medical correspondent for The Weather Channel and the host of “Your Life” with Dr. Anna Marie. Her show provides tips and inspirational stories on how to live life to the fullest and improve the health of your family, your pets and your home. Each “Your Life” episode ends with a

At the 2011 AQHA Convention, March 4-7 in Grapevine, Texas, AQHA announced the release of a digital version of the AQHA Official Handbook. The AQHA 2011 Rules digital tool is available through iTunes to download to the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and is free for everyone. The digital handbook is a useful tool for any AQHA member. For instance, if you are at a show and forget your AQHA Handbook, all the information you need is on your device. You’ll find everything from proper attire to reining patterns, registration requirements, color and marking definitions, and more. AQHA

Open exhibitor Mozaun McKibben and amateur exhibitor Holly Major took top honors March 10 at the Pfizer AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show in Houston. The American Quarter Horse Journal – Edging out 14 other open exhibitors, Mozaun McKibben and his 2006 stallion, Lil Ruf Catalyst, took home the open world championship at the 2011 Pfizer AQHA Versatility World Championship March 10 in Houston. Lil Ruf Catalyst is by Lil Ruf Peppy and out of Foxy Catalyst by Taris Catalyst. He was bred by Werner Hermus of Valley View, Texas, and is owned by M. McKibben and H.

Peter J. Cofrancesco III of Sparta, New Jersey, was elected president of the American Quarter Horse Association Monday, March 7, during the 2011 AQHA Convention in Grapevine, Texas. Cofrancesco, the second-youngest AQHA member to serve as AQHA president, and the only past president of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association to serve on the AQHA Executive Committee, is realizing his lifelong dream to serve as AQHA’s president. Cofrancesco has a long heritage in the American Quarter Horse business. Cofrancesco is chair of the Grinnell Group of Companies, which includes several entities, including solid waste and recycling, real estate and