AQHA News "Bits"

AQHYA World Championship Show

The 2013 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show is just around the corner. This year, the show will feature exciting enhancements in and out of the show ring. Ford Youth World entries will compete for top honors in the arena in 35 classes. Youth will also compete in an array of contests outside of the arena, from judging to speech to Horse Bowl and team demonstrations. Visit www.aqha.com/youthworld for more details on the socials, college fair, clinics and other new activities at the Ford Youth World.

Adequan Select World Show 

A reminder that entries for the 2013 Adequan Select World Championship Show are to be submitted no later than August 1. As you know, the Adequan Select World is August 23-31 at the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds. For more information regarding the Adequan Select World, visit www.aqha.com/selectworld. 

 

Buffalo Soldiers
We want to hear from you! TheAmerican Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum is currently working on an exhibit honoring the Buffalo Soldiers and their horses. We are seeking photos, artifacts, stories and other items of interest to help make this exhibit, The Buffalo Soldier: An American Horseman, a fitting tribute to these men and horses. Please contact us at (806) 376-5181 with any useful information regarding these courageous soldiers and their mounts.

National Day of the Cowboy
The National Day of the Cowboy is July 27. This event is celebrated around the country and a variety of special events are scheduled at the Hall of Fame & Museum. Local groups have joined forces to teach, entertain and celebrate the eighth annual National Day of the Cowboy with the public. The celebration takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 27 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. This free event will provide entertainment for the whole family.

Not only can you look forward to a variety of activities and events during the celebration in Amarillo, but also in other cities throughout the United States.

 

The National Day of the Cowboy campaign was founded in 2004 to preserve, protect and promote the cowboy and Western heritage, and honor cowboys and cowgirls for their enduring contribution and their courageous, pioneering American spirit. 

For more information on the scope of this national event, go to www.nationaldayofthecowboy.com.

Grant Apps for STEP 

Grant applications for the AQHA STEP (Stewards for Trails, Education and Partnerships) program, which is designed to encourage good stewardship and conservation of recreational riding trails, are due by August 1.

The program's mission is to promote equestrian involvement in the restoration, repair and establishment of trails. STEP unifies horseback riders and other trail users to build and strengthen relationships between local equestrian communities, the forest service and other land managers for the long-term stewardship of trails.

Each year, AQHA encourages horse enthusiasts to volunteer their time and resources to trail maintenance and development of public and private land. This can include anything from clearing shrubs or branches on existing trails to developing new trails altogether.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of AQHA Corporate Partner Tractor Supply Co., funding is available for a variety of trail conservation activities. For more information on STEP or to apply for a grant, visit www.aqha.com/riding/step.

My Contribution  

My Contribution, a 2013 weanling by WR This Cats Smart and out of Dash Back To Me by Dash For Cash, will be sold September 7 during the Wagonhound Land & Livestock sale in Douglas, Wyoming, to benefit the American Quarter Horse Foundation. Art Nicholas of Wagonhound Land & Livestock, which owns WR This Cats Smart, and AQHA First Vice President Johnny Trotter and his wife, Jana, who own Dash Back To Me, conceptualized the idea to support the American Quarter Horse Foundation.

To read more about My Contribution, visit the AQHA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aqha1, where you can see photos and watch videos of the baby in action at the ranch.

AQHA Publications Garner Honors
AQHA Publications secured multiple editorial honors at the recent American Horse Publications Annual Awards Contest in June.

The American Quarter Horse Journal took the crown in the field of general excellence for association magazine circulation 15,000 and over, as well as first place for its coverage of the 2012 AQHA World Championship Show at www.aqha.com/worldshow in the category of online multimedia editorial event coverage. Journal Editor Christine Hamilton scored in the category of online editorial event coverage single article with "70's Show Kids," a telling of the reunion between 1970's youth competitors, which was held at the 2012 Arizona Sun Circuit; the story originally appeared on www.aqha.com/showing.

Condolences 

Chuck Lakin, AQHA honorary vice president, passed away June 29 having celebrated his 92nd birthday just two weeks prior. Chuck served on the equine research committee, as well as the youth committee. Condolences may be sent to his wife, Maxine, and their four daughters at Lakin Milling Co., 4456 S. Dysart Road, Avondale, AZ 85323-9746. 

Congratulations to the 2013-14 AQHYA officers: 

AQHYA President Austin Halvorson of Guthrie, Oklahoma 

AQHYA Vice President Kalee McCann of Walnut Grove, Mississippi 

AQHYA Secretary Lizzy Koons of Fairfield, Pennsylvania 

AQHYA Treasurer Mary Claire Cornett of Purvis, Mississippi 

AQHYA Sentinel Austin Bond of Norwalk, Iowa 

AQHYA Immediate Past President Mark Mowbray of Rhodesdale, Maryland

The new AQHYA Directors can be found here.

- 30 -