MD BARNS SILVER SPUR AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN

America’s Horse, August 1, 2007 – Celebrate your American Quarter Horse by nominating him or her for the MD Barns Silver Spur Award. Nominations for one of the American Quarter Horse Association’s most unforgettable awards close September 28, 2007. This special award honors American Quarter Horses that positively affect the lives of humans through outstanding training, contribution or accomplishment.
The nominee must be a living, registered American Quarter Horse, and AQHA ownership records must be current at time of entry. In addition, the owner of the nominated horse must have a current AQHA membership.

Visit www.aqha.com/association/benefits/awards.html to download nomination forms and contest rules. Along with the entry form, please send one clear photo of the horse and an essay limited to 250 words to AQHA. No binders, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs or letters of recommendation will be accepted.

The top five finalists will be placed on AQHA’s Web site November 1, where AQHA members who have an AQHA online personal identification number (PIN) will be allowed one vote. Voting will continue through December 31. This year’s award presentation will take place at the 2008 AQHA Convention in San Francisco in March.
The owner of the Silver Spur Award winner will receive a specially designed Montana Silversmiths belt buckle and a $25,000 MD Barns gift certificate. The first and second runners-up will receive a specially designed Montana Silversmiths belt buckle as well as other AQHA Corporate Partner products.

The 2006 MD Barns Silver Spur Award winner was Smokin On A Star, a.k.a. “Smoky.” At 18 months of age, the sorrel came into the Frank Green family. From the beginning, Frank and Smoky developed a special bond that has strengthened as the years have passed. Prior to her arrival, Frank proudly served the United States in the Vietnam War. He came home to face very serious health problems. Frank “blacks out” or has seizures on a regular basis. As his health problems worsened, he turned to Smoky for companionship. Smoky considers it her duty to protect Frank.

Frank and Smoky love to go on trail rides, and friends have seen Smokey work to balance Frank on her back when she feels him having a seizure. When he collapses in the saddle, she is still until he regains his consciousness and asks her to walk. When he does fall, she stands patiently at his side until he can remount to continue their ride.

Smokin On A Star epitomizes the spirit of the MD Barns Silver Spur Award.
For additional information on the MD Barns Silver Spur Award, visit www.aqha.com or contact AQHA Director of Media Relations and Communications Specialist Jennifer Hancock by calling (806) 376-4811 or e-mail jhancock@aqha.org.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications.

For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.