Tag Archives: AQHA

Associations/Breeds, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Racing, Racing Sources

Spit Curl Diva Honored as Supreme Race Horse

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The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 9, 2010 – With her victory in the November 19 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1), Spit Curl Diva became the 24th racing American Quarter Horse since 1983 to earn the distinction of an American Quarter Horse Association Supreme Race Horse.

The honor is given by AQHA to a horse which during its racing career earns $500,000 or more and wins at least 10 races, including two or more open Grade 1 stakes races.

Owned by the Lepic-Morgan Partnership of Iowa City, Iowa, Spit Curl Diva has won 16 of 29 starts, including nine stakes, and earned $695,938. She won the Refrigerator Handicap (G1) on October 2, then earned her second Grade 1 victory in the Merial Distaff Challenge Championship.

Spit Curl Diva is a nine-time stakes winner, and her other stakes wins include the Speedhorse Gold & Silver Cup Futurity (RG1), Blue Ribbon Futurity (G2), Bob Moore Memorial Stakes (G2), Oklahoma Derby (G3), Decketta Handicap (G3), Keokuk Stakes (G3) and Merial Arapahoe Distaff Challenge.

Spit Curl Diva is by Spit Curl Jess out of the Some Dasher mare Some Kinda Diva. She was bred in Oklahoma by Little Deer Creek Quarter Horses of Thomas, Oklahoma.

Prior to 1983, there were 71 Supreme Race Horses that were retroactively given the award.

There have been two other Supreme Race Horses named in 2010, including world champion Freaky and champion Stylish Jess BR.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications: The American Quarter Horse Journal and America’s Horse.

American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104

Breeds, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Racing, Racing Sources

Freaky Chases Second World Title in Champion of Champions

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The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 9, 2010 – Armando Aguirre’s Freaky, the unanimous No. 1-ranked American Quarter Horse in the AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com poll, races to enhance his prospects for a second-straight world championship when he heads the $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos on Saturday night.

The Adan Farias-trained Freaky (TR Dasher-Chickasecret by Raise A Secret) won the 2009 Champion of Champions and was rewarded as the 2009 world champion, champion aged horse and champion aged gelding. He would be the prime contender to retain each of those titles with a win in the 440-yard Champion of Champions.

If Freaky is honored as the 2010 world champion, he would be the first back-to-back world champion since SLM Big Daddy earned the 1997 and 1998 world titles.

The 2010 champions will be announced in mid-January.

Continue reading Freaky Chases Second World Title in Champion of Champions →

Associations/Breeds, Breeds, Conferences, Contributors/Press, Racing, Racing Sources

AQHA Studies Clenbuterol Abuse, Recommends Action

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The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 3, 2010 – Veterinary medical professionals and horsemen gathered at the American Quarter Horse Association’s annual racing conference on November 18 in New Orleans to consider the use – and misuse – of drugs and medications in racehorses. Topics included laboratory testing and procedures, out-of-competition and pre-race examinations, therapeutic and illegal medications, joint injections, acceptable threshold levels and withdrawal time, zero-tolerance policies, public education and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

Once the panelists and attendees started talking, the discussion focused primarily – indeed, almost exclusively – on clenbuterol.

Approved for veterinary use in horses with allergic respiratory disease and for medical use in humans with asthma, clenbuterol acts as a bronchodilator. The problem, however, is how the drug is being misused – both in horses and humans: While it is not an anabolic steroid, clenbuterol has some of the same effects, increasing muscle mass and enhancing performance.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12657

Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Racing, Racing Sources

First Down Dash Dies at Age 26

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The American Quarter Horse Journal – American Quarter Horse racing’s most prolific stallion, First Down Dash, died on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California. He was 26.

“He lay down and went to sleep peacefully. He was missing Scoop and his sunflower seeds,” said Bonnie Vessels, referring to her late husband, Frank “Scoop” Vessels.

Dr. Ed Allred, the sport’s all-time leading breeder, released the following statement: “First Down Dash is unquestionably the greatest stallion of all time. No horse has had the influence of the great First Down Dash. He was an amazing horse. He was a sire of sires. What an incredible and great career… he was in one word ‘amazing.’”

The stallion was laid to rest at Vessels Stallion Farm on November 26. Bonnie Vessels said that First Down Dash was quietly eating hay in his stall when observed by ranch manager Kevin Dickson at 1 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. Three hours later, the night man observed First Down Dash taking his last breath.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12652

Associations/Breeds, Awards, Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Racing Sources, Western/Reining

AQHA: World Show Wrap-Up

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The American Quarter Horse Journal – The American Quarter Horse Association crowned 94 world champions in Oklahoma City during the Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open World Championship Show November 6-20.

AQHA world champions received a prize package that included a Montana Silversmiths sterling-silver buckle with 14-karat gold overlay, a neck wreath, custom-designed gold-tone trophy, specially designed and logoed Cripple Creek jacket, medallion, a pair of smooth ostrich Techno Crepe Justin Boots, Professional’s Choice products, 100 pounds of Nutrena feed as well as a cash prize.

Meet each of our newly crowned AQHA world champions, and learn more about their accomplishments at www.aqha.com/worldshow.

AQHA also recognized some of the top competitors at the World Show, including the Farnam Superhorse, the Oklahoma Leading Owner and the Farnam All-Around Amateur.

Continue reading AQHA: World Show Wrap-Up →

Associations/Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Racing Sources, Show Jumping, Western/Reining

Farnam All-Around Amateur Is Crowned at World Show

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Adelaide Moncrief of Fort Worth, Texas, takes the top honor and more than $15,000 in prizes.

The American Quarter Horse Journal, Oklahoma City – The American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show offers exciting competition for American Quarter Horse Association members November 6-20 at State Fair Park.

The Farnam All-Around Amateur award is the top honor at the Bank of America Amateur World Championship Show. It is awarded to the exhibitor who earns the most points in three or more events in two categories during the show. The winner receives $15,000 plus $1,000 in Farnam product, an original Lisa Perry bronze and a WeatherBeeta blanket.

This year’s Farnam All-Around Amateur Award was presented November 12 to Adelaide Moncrief of Forth Worth, Texas, who showed her 1996 bay gelding, Steady Spirit, in four events.

Continue reading Farnam All-Around Amateur Is Crowned at World Show →

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Equestrian Assistance, Racing Sources, Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Dennis Moreland shows the one-buckle leather curb strap commonly used on snaffle bits.

Curb straps and chains are an integral part of the bridle.

Curb straps or chains send very important signals to the horse. When a rider picks up on the reins, a shank bit will begin to rotate in the horse’s mouth. Then the curb will come up against the horse’s chin and stop the bit action. It says “Whoa.”

Whatever kind of curb you use, it’s important to have it adjusted correctly. If you’re using a curb chain, make sure the links are laying flat. And you’ll want to adjust it so you can get a couple of fingers underneath it. If it’s too loose, the bit shanks will be able to come all the way back before the curb ever touches the horse. And if it’s too tight, it can pull the bit shanks forward.

  1. There are a variety of curbs on the market. The most popular is a two-buckle curb chain with leather on each side. A basic curb chain has stainless-steel buckles and a stainless-steel chain. It’s a good all-around piece of tack and is very easy on the horse.
  2. The “dog chain curb” is also very popular. It’s a small chain with nylon tie strings. It is more severe than the flat curb chain. You’ll fasten these onto the bit with bowline knots, just like you use to tie a rope halter. There is a safety issue with these curb chains; when you put one on your bridle, be sure to check it the first few times you ride. Once the knots are pulled down good, they will be set, but sometimes they’ll slip at first.
  3. The two-buckle leather curb strap is very mild, and a lot of times, people use these on young horses who are just being introduced to a shank bit.
  4. The one-buckle leather curb strap is used on snaffle bits. It actually doesn’t have any curb action and never touches the horse’s chin. Its only purpose is to keep the snaffle-bit rings from being pulled through the horse’s mouth. Make sure the curb strap is put on the bit below the reins. (Note the pieces of garden hose on the reins. I use these as martingale stops.)

By Dennis Moreland in America’s Horse

American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Racing Sources, Western/Reining

America’s Horse Daily: It’s in the Drag, Part 2

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Paying special attention to your arena will help your horse perform his best.

Arena care is important for horse health and show success.

This is the second in a two-part series. Need to review Part 1?

Indoor vs. Outdoor Care

One of the main differences Jim Kiser of Kiser Arena Specialists compensates for between an outdoor and an indoor arena is moisture content.

“If I use 500 gallons of water in (an indoor arena) a day, that probably keeps this ground about where I want it,” Jim says. “At this time of year, outside in an arena this size, 500 gallons wouldn’t even be close to enough.”

AQHA Professional Horseman Brad Jewett of San Antonio cites watering techniques as one of the few changes he makes to compensate in an outdoor arena as well.

Continue reading America’s Horse Daily: It’s in the Drag, Part 2 →

Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Racing Sources, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Individual Reining Gold Goes to McCutcheon

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At the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, reining’s individual gold goes to U.S.A.’s Tom McCutcheon.

The American Quarter Horse Journal — All week, U.S. reiner Tom McCutcheon has been trying to keep his mount, Gunners Special Nite, fresh and happy. Thursday afternoon, the 6-year-old American Quarter Horse stallion returned the favor by turning in a score of 228 in the individual finals at the FEI Reining World Championship, presented by John Deere, held as part of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. It was enough to earn the gold medal by a margin of five points.

“I knew he was pretty special tonight,” McCutcheon said. “I felt pressure, for sure, because (I) wanted to do him justice. He’s a great little horse.”

Earlier in the week, McCutcheon and his horse helped the U.S. team to a gold medal in the team reining competition. Gunners Special Nite is by Colonels Smoking Gun and is out of Mifs Doll by Mifillena. He is the 2007 National Reining Horse Association Futurity intermediate open champion and has $194,237 in NRHA lifetime earnings

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Associations/Breeds, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Racing, Racing Sources

Stolis Winner after All-Time Earnings Record

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The American Quarter Horse Journal, September 30, 2010 – World champion Stolis Winner takes dead aim on world champion Refrigerator’s all-time earnings record when he starts in the race named after the record holder, the $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap (G1) Saturday night at Lone Star Park.

Jerry Windham’s Stolis Winner (Stoli-Veva Jean by Runaway Winner) has earned $2,097,731 while Refrigerator earned $2,126,309. If Stolis Winner takes the $55,000 first-place check then his career earnings would rise to a new-record $2,131,611.

The 4-year-old Stolis Winner started the year with two strong efforts and then couldn’t quite get the job done in his most recent start. He started the year by qualifying for the Bank of America Sam Houston Championship Challenge (G1) and came back to take the final for his fifth career stakes win. Then he finished sixth – beaten by only a neck – in the Sam Houston Classic (G2) as the 4-5 favorite.

Continue reading Stolis Winner after All-Time Earnings Record →