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 III. “Recognizing the Intermediate exhibitor is a way to shine the spotlight on exhibitors who have worked hard to qualify for our world shows and are tough competitors at our world shows year after year, but don’t make it into the top 10.”
The American Quarter Horse Journal, May 12, 2011 — Beginning in July, AQHA will begin publication of a brand-new digital magazine, the Q-Racing Journal, targeting the Association’s racing owners, breeders and fans. The digital magazine will be available at www.aqharacing.com, and its inaugural issues will be open to everyone, not just subscribers.
Q-Racing Journal will be a monthly digital publication dedicated to coverage of the American Quarter Horse racing industry. It will feature news, history, industry topics and race statistics.
“We believe that with the mobility of the racing community, a digital racing publication makes the most sense, then our American Quarter Horse racing enthusiasts can access the information they need from where they are – from Fort Erie to Los Alamitos,” said AQHA Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Jim Bret Campbell. “Eliminating the expenses of paper, printing and postage allows us to provide a beefier racing-oriented publication that contains the stories, information and statistics that our readers have told us they want, as well as affordable advertising for the racing industry.”
Another advantage to producing a digital racing publication is that AQHA will be able to better tie each issue of the magazine to the events – races and sales – that are going on at the time of publication.
The American Quarter Horse Journal has featured American Quarter Horse racing since its inception. In 1988, the Quarter Racing Journal was launched as a stand-alone publication. Later renamed The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, the award-winning magazine returned to the Journal in 2010.
For advertising opportunities, contact Racing Account Executive Jim Persinger at (806) 378-4386 or email at jpersinger@aqha.org.
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Balance over your horse’s center of gravity in the two-point position.
By AQHA Professional Horseman Shane George with Christine Hamilton for The American Quarter Horse Journal
The red shaded areas in this photo show common problems riders have with the half seat: hands and arms too far back, poorly positioned or swinging lower leg, and rounded shoulders and back. Journal illustration.
There are two basic seats for a hunter rider: full seat and half seat. For the hunters and jumpers, it’s important to have the ability to use both.
In a “full seat,” you have contact with your seat in the saddle. You sit on the horse’s back, riding each stride in a collected manner. It’s the seat you use in rail work.
In a “half seat,” you get up off your seat, out of the saddle and find a balance that’s a little more forward. It allows you to get your balance up and over your lower leg and over the horse’s center of gravity in his shoulder and wither. It’s a dynamic position, giving the rider more flexibility in how he moves with the horse.
How much your seat is out of the saddle depends on what you’re doing at the moment. If you’re in between jumps in a course, you might ride with your seat up but closer to the saddle, almost hovering over it. But if you’re going over a jump, your seat will be clearly up out of the saddle.
The American Quarter Horse Journal, May 11, 2011 – American Quarter Horse Racing’s all-time leading money earner Stolis Winner got back to the winner’s circle Saturday at Remington Park and back into the AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com National Top 10 poll this week. Winner of Sunday’s Bank of America Remington Championship Challenge (G2), Stolis Winner improved his bankroll to $2,221,911 and vaults to No. 6 in the 2011 balloting.
Louisiana Senator and Good Reason SA remain 1-2 in the rankings for 3-year-olds and older this week. Meanwhile, Freighttrain B ran Sunday in the Heritage Place Derby (G2) trials and posted the third-fastest qualifying time to solidify his spot at No. 3 in the national poll. Sam Houston Classic (G2) winner The Louisiana Cartel won his third-straight race of the year Saturday and moves up two spots to No. 4.
Meanwhile, Mighty B Valiant leap-frogs Valiant War Hero to top this week’s national rankings for 2-year-olds. Unbeaten in three career starts, Mighty B Valiant dominated his Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trial on Sunday. Also among the juveniles, Fast Prize Jordan debuts in the poll at No. 9 this week after a sharp trial win for the Heritage Place Futurity.
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 and regulations pertaining to the registration of horses.
AQHA members are invited to nominate an equine veterinarian’s selfless service in AAEP’s Good Works Campaign.
Do you know a commendable veterinarian?
More than likely you do. According to a 2009 equine welfare survey by The American Association of Equine Practitioners, 71 percent of its members had donated resources or services to assist the equine community in the past year.
Now there’s an opportunity to recognize these veterinarians. AAEP has invited American Quarter Horse members, owners and organizations to nominate veterinarians for the AAEP Good Works Campaign. This campaign celebrates the “good work” of veterinarians who devote time and expertise beyond the scope of their everyday practice to help horses and the equine community.
Throughout 2011, the AAEP Good Works Campaign will spotlight AAEP-member practitioners whose volunteer efforts are improving the health and welfare of horses. Each month, AAEP will select a veterinarian nominated by a horse owner or organization for special recognition.
Monthly honorees will be considered for the 2011 Good Works Award, to be presented during the 57th Annual Convention in San Antonio. The nomination form is available online.
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 July 1, all horses entering the grounds for any AQHA world championship show will also be required to present a negative certificate dated within six months.
“As the industry leader, AQHA needs to be vigilant and establish testing requirements to ensure any case of equine piroplasmosis can’t be traced back to an AQHA event,” said Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity. “We’re encouraging all exhibitors to contact their veterinarians to schedule these tests. If the tests are completed around the second week of July, that horse will be eligible to show at the youth, select and open/amateur world without requiring another test.”
HERDA – Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia – Buyer Beware! Check the bloodline of any AQHA, APHA, ApHC and cross-bred horses of these breeds before you buy! Check your horses’ bloodlines before you breed, too! This is a heart-wrenching story from a woman whose mare was diagnosed with HERDA.
By Tara Flanagan and Robin Davison, March 2011: From across the paddock, Penelope (registered name, Quality Sensation) is a striking four year-old paint mare who has nothing but potential. Her athletic build, to-die-for lope and easy disposition indicate that she inherited all the right things.
Robin's horse, Quality Sensation. Click on image for larger view.
But get a little closer and you’ll notice the discoloration on her back from saddle sores. The skin around her withers feels corrugated. It’s easily manipulated and doesn’t snap back into place –almost as if the horse is severely dehydrated.
I bought my mare in November 2009 and had her hauled from Florida to Colorado. Penelope had an injury on her right hind leg from the trip that required a vet’s attention, and which was unusually slow to heal. Mostly, I was filled with the excitement that came with getting the horse I had dreamed about – Penelope and I were going to show at the National Western Stock Show someday.
Typical of many horses who are afflicted by HERDA, or hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia, Penelope started to show signs of the disorder when she developed saddle sores that did not heal in March 2010, about two months after she was started under saddle. A DNA test from UC-Davis revealed that Penelope is HRD/HRD – affected – meaning that she has two copies of the HERDA gene.
Robin's horse, Quality Sensation, showing the skin not popping back into place. Click on image for larger view.
Affected horses develop severe lacerations, hematomas, and seromas from minor trauma, frequently resulting in disfiguring scars. Due to their persistent wounds, most horses cannot be ridden or shown competitively and are humanely euthanized. Many horses affected with HERDA are often not diagnosed until they are 1-2 years of age, but severely affected horses may develop signs shortly after birth. Symptoms include stretchy skin that feels “mushy” or “doughy” to the touch. Penelope’s mane, for example, has that doughy feel. Contrary to what the name implies, the disease affects tissues throughout the horse’s body. The proportion of carrier horses is high in certain Quarter Horse disciplines such as cutting, where 28.3% of elite cutting horses are carriers. Therefore, cutting horses that carry HERDA are more prevalent than halter horses that carry HYPP. In fact, 14 of the top 100 cutting sires are carriers whose offspring have earnings in excess of 116 million dollars. The performance traits of these select carriers bloodlines are highly desired, likely increasing the prevalence of HERDA. Although cutting horses have been the subject of most of the study and press about HERDA, the incidence of HERDA in pleasure and reining horses is on the rise. (information provided by Dr. Ann Rashmir)
HERDA is found in some descendants of the AQHA sire Poco Bueno. Researchers have named four deceased Quarter Horse stallions that were carriers and produced at least one affected HERDA foal. They are: Dry Doc, Doc O’Lena, Great Pine, and Zippo Pine Bar. These stallions all trace to Poco Bueno through his son and daughter, Poco Pine and Poco Lena. Other breeds affected are the American Paint Horse (APHA), the Appaloosa (ApHC) and any other breed registry that allows out-crossing to AQHA horses. (this information found on http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/ment2befarms/herda.html).
As far as the odds go, if you breed a carrier to another carrier you have a 25 percent chance of producing an affected horse (HRD/HRD), 50 percent chance of producing another carrier (N/HRD) and a 25 percent chance of producing a normal horse (N/N). When a normal horse (N/N) is crossed with a carrier (N/HRD), 50 percent of the offspring may be carriers (N/HRD) and 50 percent may be normal (N/N); none of the offspring will be affected (HRD/HRD).
I now board Penelope at a local farm, where she enjoys a shady enclosure. It’s too risky to turn Penelope out with most horses, but we have found a few equine companions for occasional turnout. For now, Penelope is doing well. I have learned that these horses can live many comfortable years with the disorder – provided they aren’t ridden and are kept in a very safe environment.
From the HERDA document from Dr. Ann Rashmir showing an affected horse. Click on image for larger view.
So, what can you do? If you plan to buy a quarter horse, paint or appaloosa 4 years old or younger that has several crosses to Poco Bueno, it’s wise to get him/her tested. Require a HERDA test as part of a pre-purchase exam if the horse has Poco Bueno as far back as seven or eight generations. Just looking at the pedigree on registration papers might not be adequate to determine if the horse is at risk. The test only costs $40 (here is the link: http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/horse.php). And it stands to reason that you can’t produce a HERDA affected horse if you don’t breed two carriers.
For more information please contact Dr. Ann Rashmir at the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University G209 Veterinary Medical Center, East Lansing, MI 48824-1314, Office (517) 355-1866.
A few quick facts:
HERDA/hyperelastosis cutis was first reported by Lerner and McCracken in 1978. The DNA test at UC-Davis has been available for 4 years.
2% of all Quarter Horses are carriers of the HERDA gene. (August 1, 2010 issue of Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association)
AQHA has a ruling on HERDA currently up for review:
I got this HERDA information from a colleague, Lisa Kemp, who is a multi-award winning writer and marketing consultant for the equine industry. She blogs about equestrian business marketing at http://NoBizLikeHorseBiz.com. She has included HorsesintheSouth.com in many of her articles, one of which was the award winning article about Gabrielle Boiselle that was a featured calendar promotion on my blog. We have more Gabrielle articles on my blog, too – she has her own category http://horsesinthesouth.com/blog/?cat=872. Lisa wrote a 3-part article for TheHorse.com for this HERDA issue. You will need a login to TheHorse.com to read these articles (it’s free; you will just have to sign up). Here is the first article: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17175
The 2011 AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations is available for download on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
The AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations is now available at the touch of a button.
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 will soon add additional features, with the possibility of including access to records, show dates and other important AQHA announcements.
The American Quarter Horse Journal — Beginning July 1, 2011, all horses entering the grounds for any AQHA world championship show – in Oklahoma City, Amarillo or Houston – will be required to present a certificate of a negative blood test for equine piroplasmosis. The tests must have been completed within the previous six months and will cost exhibitors $30-$40 per horse.
Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of horses, donkeys, mules and zebras that is caused by two parasitic organisms, Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. Although, equine piroplasmosis is primarily transmitted to horses by ticks, this bloodborne disease has been spread mechanically from animal to animal by contaminated needles.
Currently, racetracks in 11 states have testing requirements for Equine Piroplasmosis and that number will increase. With the potential of an infected racehorse retiring to the show pen, the show industry is vulnerable.
“As the industry leader, AQHA needs to be vigilant and establish testing requirements to ensure any case of equine piroplasmosis can’t be traced back to an AQHA event,” said Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity. “We’re encouraging all exhibitors to contact their veterinarians to schedule these tests. If the tests are completed around the second week of July, that horse will be eligible to show at the youth, select and open/amateur world without requiring another test.”
