This past year, AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway announced his intention to retire in 2015 after forty years with the American Quarter Horse Association. Mr. Treadway has seen AQHA grow from a few thousand horses in America to the largest equine breed registry and membership organization in the world. The growth and popularity of America’s horse has been phenomenal until recently.
Continue reading …Last month, we gained some insight into what veteran horse professionals find to be the most important aspects of being a successful horse trainer. Dedicated to passing this knowledge forward, they make it a daily practice to help, share, coach, critique, and comfort the younger trainers following in their path.
Continue reading …I was a former eye-roller. You know that conversation, when you’re sharing your opinion about a judge’s results and someone says that everyone should have to stand inside the ring, just once, to see what it’s really like? Cue the eye-roll. Admittedly, I wasn’t blessed with a poker face. Oddly enough, I have found the cure and it came while standing inside the ring.
Continue reading …Boarding contracts are very important documents. Among their many elements, these documents can establish payment schedules, confirm services that will be provided, address additional services and fees, identify late payment fees and interest on unpaid balances, explain health requirements for incoming horses, discuss stable-wide vaccination and de-worming programs, address how either party can terminate the contract, and many other elements. One very important clause, which boarding contracts sometimes miss, explains how the stable may handle veterinary emergencies when the owner cannot be reached.
Continue reading …Oh my goodness? It is October and we are approaching the end of the year. We are still in a dilemma with regard to our leadership. We haven’t heard anything regarding Don Treadway’s successor but we have hired a new staff member. He is Pete Kyle, a likeable horseman who I hear has thoughts about reorganization. We have either fired or shuffled around 14 members of our staff for reasons only known by those who AQHA feel necessary. It shouldn’t surprise any of you to hear that AQHA is still discussing more ‘levels’ of competition to further confuse our exhibitors and our show managers.
Continue reading …Olivia Hoecker is the founder and owner of Pine Meadow Quarter Horses. Through hard work and dedication she has created one of the premier American Quarter Horse breeding programs the breed has to offer. Her stallion roster reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Quarter Horse bloodlines, and the horses produced through her breeding program are consistently at the top of today’s level of elite competition. She is living every horsewoman’s fantasy, but she has worked long and hard to reach this personal goal of making her lifelong dream into a reality.
Continue reading …Marilyn Masterson and her five year-old mare, Suddenly Its Time, aka “Suzie,” are busily wrapping up an impressive show season. Recently, the pair was named the Reserve NSBA World Champions in Amateur 50 and Over Western Pleasure and fourth place in Western Pleasure at the AQHA Select World Show.
Continue reading …You’ve practiced your spins and gait changes daily. You’ve cleaned your show clothes and polished your silver. Your horse is perfectly banded and shimmering from nose to tail. You’re ready for the show pen.
Continue reading …Lindsey James is a busy and focused entrepreneur who owns a custom show apparel business, a horse boarding facility, a new purse collection, and a new wine company. This ambitious and highly accomplished equestrian thrives on challenge, creativity, and unlimited sparkle.
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