America\u2019s Horse, February 4, 2009 – The registration of more than 2 million of the now more than 5 million horses in the American Quarter Horse Association registry and a growth in membership numbers from 276,500 to more than 350,000 are examples of the success of the customer service-driven management model that Bill Brewer implemented during his 17-year tenure as AQHA Executive Vice President.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believed that by increasing the opportunities for people to enjoy their horses through member-based programs, the industry would grow because these programs would generate more members, which would increase the demand for our horses,\u201d Bill says.<\/p>\n
Now after 37 years of days, nights and weekends in a position that he never once considered a J-O-B, Bill has decided to step down.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time,\u201d he says matter of factly. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t \u2013 and still is not \u2013 a decision that was easy, but in the long run, it is the right thing to do, and this is the right time, difficult as that might be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Difficult is right. AQHA and the American Quarter Horse have been Bill\u2019s passion for most of his adult life.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s why Bill\u2019s decision to step down as executive vice president has been more than a year in the works \u2013 because someone who has guided the day-to-day inner workings of AQHA like Bill has since 1992 doesn\u2019t just announce such a decision and walk out the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not something that I or the (AQHA) Executive Committee have taken lightly,\u201d Bill told AQHA members at the 2008 convention. \u201cWe have had hours of discussions focusing on the questions of who, how and when. We have hired a management consultant to help us work though this process. The Executive Committee and I have done our best to do this thoughtfully and proactively.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he became executive vice president, Bill, the Executive Committee and the staff expanded AQHA\u2019s business model from being primarily a breed registry to including a long-term initiative to grow membership.<\/p>\n
AQHA developed the trail ride program, which features more than 100 rides each year all over the world; marketing alliances with reining, cutting, palomino, buckskin, snaffle bit, equine veterinary associations and even dude ranchers; the Bayer Best Remuda Award, which recognizes the American Quarter Horse breeding programs of ranches all over North America; and breeder recognition and legacy awards for longtime American Quarter Horse breeders; the Bank of America Racing Challenge Program, which provides more racing opportunities for older American Quarter Horses; the development of America\u2019s Horse as the official member publication of AQHA; and a project Bill\u2019s very proud of \u2013 the remodeling and grand re-opening of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, which puts the Hall of Fame members \u2013 horses and humans \u2013 front and center.<\/p>\n
It has been rewarding for Bill to sit in the grandstands of some of the industry\u2019s premier events, knowing that he provided the impetus to help them grow and prosper over the years. That includes the Ford Youth World Championship Show and the Youth World Cup, and, of course, the Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open AQHA World Championship Show, which he managed for several years, and this year offered more than $2 million in purse and prize money.<\/p>\n
One thing on Bill\u2019s to-do list that he hasn\u2019t gotten accomplished is making reining the first western equestrian discipline to be adopted as an Olympic event.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody said it could never be done,\u201d says horseman, fellow reining advocate and AQHA Past President Don Burt. \u201cBill Brewer never took no for an answer, and with AQHA behind it, it has moved forward. I think he deserves a lot of credit for that foresight.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the biggest change Bill has seen in the industry?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe continued specialization of the American Quarter Horse,\u201d he says. \u201cShows were started to evaluate the horse. Who would have thought we\u2019d evolve into cowboy mounted shooting competitions and an affiliation with that organization?\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the fact that American Quarter Horses are used in a variety of ways that Bill says \u2013 along with soundness and disposition \u2013 makes the American Quarter Horse timeless.<\/p>\n
As March 9, Bill\u2019s official final day as executive vice president, is looming, he knows the future of AQHA also includes him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI plan to continue doing work connected to AQHA in various areas,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
And get his health back on track.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn July 2008, I got sick \u2013 really sick \u2013 with acute pancreatitis. I lost more than 70 pounds and spent more than a month in the hospital. I\u2019m getting better, but I still have one and possibly two more surgeries ahead of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He plans to play golf, spend time with his wife, Sue, and his son and his family, which includes two grandchildren \u2013 Grady, who is 6, and Holland Rae, who is 3.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I\u2019d like to learn to ride a cutting horse, but at the World Show, I became an advocate of performance halter,\u201d Bill says. \u201cI was so impressed by these classes that I really want a performance halter horse.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think performance halter exemplifies the American Quarter Horse and its versatility; almost every discipline had horses showing in the class \u2013 horses with ROMs in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, working hunter, roping, cow horse, reining, speed events and racing,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt indicates that AQHA can still have a competitive, versatile horse that has proper conformation. I would really enjoy showing in performance halter at one of the AQHA World Shows.\u201d<\/p>\n