AQHA Foundation announces relaunch of Historical Marker Program

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES RELAUNCH OF HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM

Amarillo , Texas , July 6, 2006 – The American Quarter Horse Foundation is proud to announce the relaunch of its popular program, the American Quarter Horse Historical Marker Program.

American Quarter Horse Historical Markers commemorate people and events historically important to the development of the American Quarter Horse breed or the American Quarter Horse Association. The program boasts 23 permanent Historical Markers throughout the United States and Canada . The first marker was dedicated in 1995 at the site of the first AQHA-approved horse show – at the Texas Cowboy Rodeo & Reunion Grounds in Stamford , Texas .

As part of the program’s relaunch, the Foundation welcomes applications for future Historical Marker sites that will perpetuate and promote the history of the American Quarter Horse, helping current and future generations understand and experience the breed’s rich history. The Foundation encourages applications for locations anywhere in the world, as long as they meet the program’s criteria.

“The American Quarter Horse Historical Marker Program is vital to the Foundation’s goal of preserving our precious American Quarter Horse history,” said Foundation Executive Director Gary Carpenter. “When travelers take a moment to stop and view these signs, they gain an appreciation for our American Quarter Horse industry’s exciting past – and the people and horses that have brought us to where we are today.”

The next Historical Marker is set to be dedicated July 28 at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show/New Jersey State Fair in Augusta , New Jersey . The show served a pivotal role in the growth of AQHA in the 1950s and 1960s and strengthened the American Quarter Horse influence in New Jersey and the surrounding areas. The show was also key in the establishment of the New Jersey Quarter Horse Association in 1961.

Be Part of Preserving History

If you’d like to submit an application for a Historical Marker site, please visit aqha.com/foundation or call (806) 378-5000.

Applicants are responsible for proving historical significance through written documentation. Historical Markers commemorate only horses or persons that have been deceased at least 25 years or events that occurred at least 25 years prior to application.

The Historical Marker program is administered by the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum and is a project of the American Quarter Horse Foundation. Visit aqha.com/foundation for information on all 23 Historical Markers and an application to submit a location for a future Historical Marker site.