Gunner NRHA
Ontario Racing Commision
Chinook Team Penning
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Stars Cash Hunt
Rocking W Horse Sale

Talk About Nice

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 30, 2010

The stats provide the proof – November’s top sale horse brought $8,500, followed by $8,300, and $6,500 at Billings Livestock’s “Holiday Special Catalog Sale” November 27-28.

HorsePalace Arena hosted a bang-up indoor preview – roping, barrels, poles, cutting, and saddle and ride horses – on Friday,  and – in true western winter wonderland style, horses previewed in the BLS arena on Saturday morning, too! It was seasonally snowy, looked like a Christmas card, and consignors and buyers didn’t miss a beat.

A total of 559 head came through the gates at BLS where the top five averaged $7,160, top 10 at $5,600, top 20 at $4,355, with the top 50 at $3,007 and the top 100 at $2,067.

Interesting statistic – in the BLS top 20 sellers listing for November, every horse but four was seven years old or older – that’s 80% of the top sale horses – they had age, experience, and a chosen profession. And – buyers in the seats.

He’s the #1 Barrel Horse sire in the nation, and Dash Ta Fame sired the #1 sale horse of the weekend  – Hip 65 “TMF Crazy Legs” a 2002 AQHA/APHA sorrel gelding offered by 7 Spurs Cattle Co., Quesnal, British Columbia.

Out of a a daughter of Strawfly Special, second dam “Cash Crazy” by Dash For Cash, the royally bred gelding  had been hauled and won on at jackpots and rodeos and came “rodeo ready”.

Ranch used and ridden in the mountains, the good gelding brought $8,500 and sold to Bonnie Percival, Oxford, NE.

With over $35,000 in NCHA earnings, Hip 153 “Sweet Sugar Boon” a 99 AQHA bay mare by Dualin Blue Boon and out of a Smart Little Lena daughter was consigned by Mark and Patti Blackwell, Delano, MN.

Shown in the previews by Bob Janssen, Rush City, MN, the super-talented mare brought $8,300.

This guy was something special – handsome, talented, and bonused by gentle. Rope, rein, or just look good riding around – Hip 124 “Dig The Kid” a 2000 AQHA red dun gelding owned and shown by J.R. Winter, Livingston, MT was a good one.

Sired by Brennas Kid and out of a Corona Cody daughter, this guy was solid, had NRHA earnings, had been used outside, and was a finished heel horse, too.

Gary Bales, Boulder, UT purchased the quality gelding for $6,500.

The BLS horse sale community gathered Saturday evening for a benefit for friend and customer Tom Brannon, Sheffield, IA. Over $10,000 was raised to offset his medical expenses.

Sunday’s loose horse offering saw 297 head offered as is, where is, how is – with the top selling horse on the loose bringing $1,800.

Driven by supply and demand, the loose averages show a marked increase in price over one year ago – again reflected on the top end – where the top five loose averaged $1,195 compared to $870 in 2009, top 10 at $960 versus $760 last year, top 20 brought $724 compared to $643, top 50 at $539 against $470, and top 100 averaged $430 compared to $355.

Get set for one big day of horses, tack, and more horses on Saturday, January 22 as Billings Livestock kicks of the New Year with the “Winter Special Catalog Horse Sale” and annual  “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” offering used and collectible tack.

To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

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Four Million Dollar Reiner

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 26, 2010

Just two short years ago, Shawn Flarida became the National Reining Horse Association’s first Three Million Dollar Rider with earnings accumulated at the 2008 NRHA Futurity. History repeated itself when the gates closed on the 2010 NRHA Futurity and the results were announced. With rides in the finals aboard Quistador (owned by Augustine and Gaynia Revenberg) and Shine Chic Shine (owned by Amabile & Strusiner), plus a tie for third in the $100,000 added NRHA World Championship Shootout on Wimpys Little Chic (owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA), Flarida scooped up more than $100,000 to become NRHA’s first Four Million Dollar Rider. Flarida’s official NRHA earnings are $4,023,885.

Shawn Flarida riding Wimpys Little Chic in the $100,000 added NRHA World Championship Shootout. Photo Courtesy: NRHA/Waltenberry

Flarida, of Springfield, Ohio, became the second rider in history to break the $2 million mark in 2006 at the FEI World Reining Masters in Denver, Colorado. Bill Horn was the first rider to earn in excess of $1 million. Tim McQuay, Craig Schmersal and Andrea Fappani are the only other riders to cross the $2 million earnings level. Only 13 other riders have crossed the $1 million earnings plateau in addition to Flarida.
Flarida has been showing at NRHA-approved events since 1981 competing at nearly every major Reining event in the world. Flarida has won the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity four times, and has nine All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity championship titles. In 2002 and in 2010, he earned a team Gold Medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2002, he also claimed the individual Gold.Rich Text AreaToolbarBold (Ctrl + B)Italic (Ctrl + I)Strikethrough (Alt + Shift + D)Unordered list (Alt + Shift + U)Ordered list (Alt + Shift + O)Blockquote (Alt + Shift + Q)Align Left (Alt + Shift + L)Align Center (Alt + Shift + C)Align Right (Alt + Shift + R)Insert/edit link (Alt + Shift + A)Unlink (Alt + Shift + S)Insert More Tag (Alt + Shift + T)Proofread WritingToggle fullscreen mode (Alt + Shift + G)Show/Hide Kitchen Sink (Alt + Shift + Z)Insert Poll
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Just two short years ago, Shawn Flarida became the National Reining Horse Association’s first Three Million Dollar Rider with earnings accumulated at the 2008 NRHA Futurity. History repeated itself when the gates closed on the 2010 NRHA Futurity and the results were announced. With rides in the finals aboard Quistador (owned by Augustine and Gaynia Revenberg) and Shine Chic Shine (owned by Amabile & Strusiner), plus a tie for third in the $100,000 added NRHA World Championship Shootout on Wimpys Little Chic (owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA), Flarida scooped up more than $100,000 to become NRHA’s first Four Million Dollar Rider. Flarida’s official NRHA earnings are $4,023,885.

Shawn Flarida riding Wimpys Little Chic in the $100,000 added NRHA World Championship Shootout. Photo Courtesy: NRHA/WaltenberryFlarida, of Springfield, Ohio, became the second rider in history to break the $2 million mark in 2006 at the FEI World Reining Masters in Denver, Colorado. Bill Horn was the first rider to earn in excess of $1 million. Tim McQuay, Craig Schmersal and Andrea Fappani are the only other riders to cross the $2 million earnings level. Only 13 other riders have crossed the $1 million earnings plateau in addition to Flarida.
Flarida has been showing at NRHA-approved events since 1981 competing at nearly every major Reining event in the world. Flarida has won the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity four times, and has nine All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity championship titles. In 2002 and in 2010, he earned a team Gold Medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2002, he also claimed the individual Gold.
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AQHA Rule Changes for 2011

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 23, 2010

At the 2010 American Quarter Horse Association Convention, many showing rules were voted on that will take effect January 1, 2011. Check out which rules have changed before next year’s show season starts.

More Horses
Previously, only two horses could be shown per exhibitor in classes that are worked individually. Beginning January 1, exhibitors can show three horses in individually worked classes.

“If the open classes are combined into an all-ages class at a weekend show, then it goes back to four horses total,” according to Charlie Hemphill, AQHA senior director of shows and new events.

In grouped classes, such as horsemanship, Select exhibitors can show one horse in the amateur class and a different horse in the Select.

All-Around Events
Cotton or ear plugs in horses’ ears will be legal as well as the use of slip-on easy-care boots. In the past, this decision was left up to the discretion of the judges.

“The show committee made the recommendation to allow them, and they are now legal,” Hemphill said.

Novice youth are now eligible to show any horse without filling out a novice permit. The novice and the horse’s owner can show the horse at the same event, as long as it’s not in that same youth class.

Reining
For reiners, a new pattern has been added to AQHA’s approved list.

New Class
Green jumping is a new class that will follow the rules of AQHA’s other green classes. The horses will show at lower heights.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting
The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association has teamed up with the American Quarter Horse Association to allow American Quarter Horse owners to earn points beginning in 2011. A limited number of CMSA shows will have approved AQHA-approved classes, including Battle in the Saddle, July 4-9 in Oklahoma City.

Leasing to Show
Beginning in 2011, any youth or amateur exhibitor can lease a horse to show in AQHA events. To show a leased horse, an exhibitor needs two pieces of paper: a showing lease form from AQHA and a copy of the detailed agreement or contract between the horse’s owner and the lessee.

Learn More
Members can get the Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations online at aqha.com in January.

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2011 Reining Alberta Event Schedule

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 22, 2010

Shawna Sapergia at the 2010 Spring Classic Show

Just in: these important Reining Alberta dates:

• 2011 Open Rider Clinic with Brent Wright February 12 &13 at Prairie Mountain Ranch

Reining Alberta is pleased to announce Million Dollar Reiner Brent Wright as the 2011 Open Rider Clinician. The Clinic will be held at Prairie Mountain Ranch on February 12 and 13,  2011. With over $1,058,000 in NRHA earnings, Brent Wright has been garnering titles since he first ventured into the NRHA show pen in 1989.Please call the Reining Alberta Office (780) 372- 2183 to pre purchase  your ticket, or go to the RA website www.reiningalberta.net for more information. Come out and watch open riders, who have donated their time and knowledge to RA members, riding with Brent Wright.

• 2010 Year End Awards Banquet – Saturday evening February 12  2011 at the Prairie Mountain Ranch, following the Open Rider Clinic. For directions to Prairie Mountain Ranch go to prairiemountainranch.com or call the RA office.

• 2011 Spring Classic  June 9- 12, Westerner Park, Red Deer, AB
• 2011 Summer Classic,  July 1- 3, Westerner Park, Red Deer, AB
• 2011 Fall Classic,  September 1-4, Westerner Park, Red Deer, AB

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New AQHA Executive Director of Shows

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 21, 2010

As part of an effort to foster and guide the American Quarter Horse show industry in a direction that will ensure its continued success and longevity, the American Quarter Horse Association is excited to announce that Patti Carter-Pratt of St. George, Ontario, has been named to the new position of AQHA executive director of shows.

“When I was tapped to manage and oversee AQHA’s multifaceted competition and breed integrity division, I was charged with ensuring that the AQHA show segment is on the right track. That involved getting the right people in the right places to guide those efforts,” said Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity.

“We needed someone who knows the AQHA show industry and the people in it from the inside out and is widely respected. We interviewed candidates, and Patti has accepted the job. She is aggressive and progressive in her thinking with regard to the AQHA show industry and the direction it needs to go.”

Patti is an exhibitor and AQHA Professional Horseman; she was the 2005 AQHA Professional’s Choice Horsewoman of the Year. An AQHA judge, Patti has judged the AQHA World Championship Show, she spearheaded the 2008 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup in Ontario, and she is the chairwoman of the AQHA Professional Horseman’s Committee and the Professional Horseman’s Council. Additionally, she comes from a family with a long history with AQHA. Her father, AQHA Professional Horseman, judge and AQHA Director-at-Large Joe Carter, assists with monitoring at the AQHA World Show.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me to help an industry that is very near and dear to my family and me,” said Carter-Pratt.

“I took this job to help make sure that the American Quarter Horse show industry is viable for years to come, especially for my daughter, Paige, and all of the other youth that show American Quarter Horses and even the children they might one day have.”

In 2007, several demographic research projects identified three types of show participants: entry-level, midlevel and top-level. The research proved that the midlevel show participant is the most vulnerable, as these show enthusiasts seldom win classes, earn points or receive other forms of recognition. These midlevel show participants often leave AQHA after sampling the Association’s approved shows.

Carter-Pratt joins the rest of AQHA’s competition and breed integrity staff: Charlie Hemphill, Alex Ross, Rajeana Thompson, David Avery, Ward Stutz, Trey Buck and a team of support staff that is committed to seeing these efforts through and meeting the needs of AQHA’s members.

Carter-Pratt and her husband, AQHA Professional Horseman Doug Pratt, will relocate from Ontario to Amarillo, and she will begin her new duties around the first of the year.

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Feed Better Hay

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 21, 2010

With higher amounts of lower quality feed this year, Les Burwash, manager of horse programs for Alberta Agriculture and Food, emphasizes the importance of feed selection.

He says, “The most important thing to realize is good quality forage is the basis of all horse rations.”
Horses require a minimum of one per cent of body weight of long forage. This means a 1,000 pound horse will need a minimum of ten pounds of hay per day. Overall, in winter they require feed of about two-and-a-half per cent body weight which amounts to 25 pounds of hay per day. For most idle horses Burwash feels the daily ration can be supplied by good quality hay, alone.
“Look for hay that is free of dust and mould. Primarily, mould is what we’re concerned about,” cautions Burwash. Hay should be free of weeds. He also recommends hay that has a high leaf to stem ratio with soft stems and is packaged in a form that can readily be handled.
Feeding programs should be adjusted according to body condition. He says body condition scores of less than five on the Henneke (pro. Hen-ah-key) nine-point scale need increased calories. This can be done by increasing the amount of hay or adding one to two pounds of hay per head per day. Those with a body score of five or greater should be fed to maintain body weight.
Burwash explains that, when using the Henneke nine-point scale, horses with a body condition score of five are flat over the back, ribs cannot be visually seen even when they have their summer hair coat but the ribs can be felt very easily. Fat around the tail-head will start to feel spongy. The neck and the shoulders will blend smoothly in the body.

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APHA Breeder’s Trust Select Sale

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 15, 2010

Photo Courtesy: APHA

A horse sale returned to the schedule during the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA) recent Fall World Championship Paint Horse Show, held November 3-14 in Fort Worth. The Breeders’ Trust Select Sale was held on November 6th in conjunction with the Association’s second installment of their annual World Show series.

All horses consigned to the sale had to be either nominated to the APHA’s Breeders’ Trust incentive program or in foal to a Breeders’ Trust subscribed stallion. Horses were previewed prior to the sale, which was held in the West Sale Arena of Will Rogers Memorial Center. Bruce McCarty of Weatherford, Texas, was the auctioneer while Frank Holmes of Ramah, Colorado, read pedigrees.

Of the initial 48 Breeders’ Trust horses consigned, 43 went through the ring while 35 (81%) actually sold. The 2010 APHA Breeders’ Trust Select Sale grossed $130,700 with an average successful bid of $3,734.

The high-selling horse was Hip No. 48—Zippos Last Dream. The 13-year-old Quarter Horse mare in foal to APHA Breeders’ Trust stallion Scenic Rio Krymsun was consigned by Richard Estling of Reddick, Florida, and purchased for $17,500 by Spencer & Tina Wooddell of Flemington, West Virginia.

The sale catalog and complete sale results can be viewed at aphaworldshow.com/fall/.

More about APHA Breeders’ Trust and the World Show series
APHA’s Breeders’ Trust program was created to help offset the cost of showing and to add value to American Paint Horses. The program pays cash dividends for points earned by nominated horses at APHA-approved events, and is designed so that everyone responsible for the success of an outstanding foal is rewarded financially: the stallion subscriber, foal nominator and horse’s owner. In 2009, the APHA Breeders’ Trust program paid out $1,140,086 to Paint Horses with performance records.

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APHA’s Fall World Show

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 14, 2010

The second installment of the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA) Fall World Championship Show is now complete. Thanks in part to adding new classes and to being able to repeat the split format introduced last year, entry numbers for the Open & Amateur show were up to 2,013 with 956 horses. Forty-two states plus Canada, Australia and Mexico were represented during the course of the show, held November 4-13 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Photo Courtesy: APHA

New Classes
APHA added thirteen Amateur Solid Paint-Bred classes to the Fall World Show lineup, which created momentum for increased participation in those classes going forward. Other new classes included 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure and 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle. The Breeders’ Futurity program added 15 classes for 2010, and APHA offered a jackpot for all entries in the barrel racing classes that was well supported and paid out $2,025.

Photo Courtesy: APHA

Big Winners
Over 10 days, APHA named 139 World Champions and awarded over $450,000 in cash and prizes. Large payouts drew entries in the slot and Breeders’ Futurity classes. Sixty-five entries competed for $134,000 in 13 slot classes; 75 entries competed for $36,500 in the Sweepstakes and Challenge classes; while 101 entries vied for $95,400 in the 29 Breeders’ Futurity classes. In total, APHA paid out $267,925 in cash at the Fall World Championship Show.

Photo Courtesy: APHA

Amateur All-Around awards were presented on the evening of November 9th following the second annual Hart Non-Pro Versatility Challenge sponsored by Hart Trailers.

·       All-Around Classic (19-44) Amateur
Chelsea Bain of Scottsdale, Arizona, showing
Sensational Blonde—8-year-old sorrel overo mare (Breeders’ Trust nominated)
·       Reserve All-Around Classic (19-44) Amateur
Heather Lynn Meyer of Tucson, Arizona, showing
Real Fancy Footwork—7-year-old bay overo mare (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

·       All-Around Masters (45+) Amateur
Kelli Foster of Mount Pleasant, Utah, showing
Fleets Serenity—12-year-old sorrel overo gelding
·       Reserve All-Around Masters (45+) Amateur
Jo Ann Niffenegger of San Dimas, California, showing
Loots Encore—13-year-old sorrel overo gelding

·       All-Around Novice Amateur
Jennifer Schexnayder of New Roads, Louisiana, showing
Sexy And Sensational—4-year-old sorrel overo mare (Breeders’ Trust nominated)
·       Reserve All-Around Novice Amateur
Lisa Seccomb of Ferndale, Washington, showing
Hot Zippity Spot—5-year-old bay tovero gelding (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

·       Hart Non-Pro Versatility Challenge
Heather Lynn Meyer of Tucson, Arizona, showing Im Original

The Open awards ceremony, held November 13th, marked the conclusion of World Championship classes at the Fall World Show.

·       All-Around Open Horse & High-Point English Horse
The Big Sensation—7-year-old sorrel overo stallion (Breeders’ Trust nominated & subscribed)
Owned by Merritt Equine Ventures LLC of Kilgore, Texas

·       Reserve All-Around Open Horse & Super Gelding
The Sensational Copy—3-year-old sorrel overo gelding (Breeders’ Trust nominated)
Owned by Sharnai Thompson of Pilot Point, Texas

·       High-Point Western Horse
Calicos Top Gun Star—6-year-old bay tobiano mare
Owned by Woody & Madeline Hickman of Dallas, Texas

·       High-Point Exhibitor
Sara Beth Simons of Aubrey, Texas

Socials, Shopping & Sponsors
Exhibitors at the Fall World Show were treated to complimentary food and beverages by four groups during the course of the show: the Amateur Welcome Reception was sponsored by Ron & JoAnna Shelly; and exhibitor socials were sponsored by corporate sponsor Purina Mills; World Show sponsor Platinum Performance; and Rodrock Ranches, home of A Scenic Impulse. The socials, which were held on the John Justin Arena concourse, were fun for everyone in attendance and offered a variety of food selections prepared by Coburn’s Catering.

Photo Courtesy: APHA

The Colors of the Season Gift Show was open daily in the Brown-Lupton exhibit hall with approximately 50 vendors and a wide assortment of items ranging from art to tack to jewelry and as large as tractors and trailers.

Photo Courtesy: APHA

The Fall World Championship Show was made possible in large part from the support of APHA sponsors. Corporate: Gist Silversmiths, Hart Trailers, Markel Insurance Company, New Holland, Purina Mills and Superpages.com. Event: Alliance by Lynn Palm Saddles, Arena Werks, Big D, Blue Ribbon Custom Tack, Hodges Badge Company, Metro Golf Cars, Montgomery Photographics, Paint Horse Journal, Paint Horse Racing, Platinum Performance, and Western Horseman Magazine.

Photo Courtesy: APHA

Overall, the 2010 World Championship Paint Horse Show series hosted 4,048 entries by 1,535 registered American Paint Horses. The APHA World Shows are non-qualifying events through 2011. All registered American Paint Horses are welcome. In 2011, the Summer World Championship Show will become the Youth World Championship Show; and all Open & Amateur classes will take place during the Fall World Championship Show.

Full results, class entry listings, daily news highlights, and winner photos can be found at aphaworldshow.com/fall/.

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Steroid Misuse in Racing

BREED & SPORT NEWS December 6, 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.

The consensus was that something has to be done to control the use of clenbuterol and other drugs. The AQHA Racing Committee and Racing Council voted on a number of recommendations, each of which would then go for final approval to the AQHA Executive Committee for final approval. Final regulations and rules will be based on facts supported by research and science, though the studies could take several months or even years. In addition, the Racing Committee will take input from the newly formed Equine Health, Welfare, Integrity and Research Committee.

Among other recommendations sent to the AQHA Executive Committee, the Racing Committee requested that the American Association of Equine Practitioners and RMTC adopt a priority status on therapeutic use of clenbuterol and that the two groups provide information, if possible, on the appropriate levels in accordance with approved recommended dosages.

“Solving this issue is a top priority, and by working with AAEP and RMTC, we hope to come to a swift resolution,” stated AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway Jr.  “AQHA must always keep the welfare of its horses at the forefront, while insuring the integrity of the sport.”

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