The Rider July 2012

JULY 2012 THE RIDER /25

AQHA Director’s Report INSIDE

AQHA Director’s Report....25 Straight Talk

with Patti Carter-Pratt......25 OQHA News.......................26 Teen Ranch....................26-27 Tausha Hellyer....................27 Essex County Racing..........28

AREA 3 News ....................28 EOQHA News....................29 Diana Amlin .......................29 QROOI News .....................30 Fort Erie Racetrack.............31 My Ontario Includes Horse Racing..........................31

From Kathy Patterson

This year’s Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Champi- onship Show, August 3-11, in Oklahoma city will give con- tenders, ranging from the new- comers to the seasoned competi- tors, a chance to be recognized for their accomplishments. So, I would like to shine the spotlight on the five very talented young ladies and their horses that will make up the team representing Ontario at this prestigious event and wish them all the best of luck.

Kennedy Almas

“ We work as a team, we win as a team and we lose as a team”, is a saying that Kennedy Almas has always lived by. Kennedy is from Hagersville, Ontario and has been showing her 12-year-old Palomino geld- ing Gramas Inheritance, aka Shamrock, from the day she started riding. Gramas Inheri- tance was born and raised at her aunt’s farm until the day Kennedy debuted in walk jog with Shamrock when he was a three year old. The pair won almost every class they entered. Knowing that they were a per- fect pair, her aunt signed the papers over into Kennedy’s name for her birthday. They have since gone from local sad- dle club shows, to the Quarter Horse circuit, to The All Ameri- can Quarter Horse Congress, and now the AQHYA World show. Kennedy shows Sham- rock in Trail, Showmanship and Horsemanship. The pair has

earned numerous OQHA cham- pionships and have been final- ists at Congress. They enjoy showing pattern classes, with trail being their forte. Kennedy has dreamed of showing at the World Show ever since she started competing and now this dream is coming true. All she hopes for is to have good rides and to enjoy her last year of youth. Being a finalist or even placing would be icing on the cake.

Siica Denhartog Siica Denhartog is from Brittany Lauzon

Arthur Ontario. For the 19 year old this will be her first and last time showing at the Youth World Show. The horse that she will show is Always Bar Time, also known as George, her eight-year-old gelding. They will be competing in Per- formance Halter Geldings, Hunter under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunter Hack. Siica has been riding for 11 years and showing quarter hors- es for 7 years. When not show- ing she spends time at the barn, playing with her dog Bella and hanging with friends, swimming or relaxing. Last year was a busy show season and she is very proud of accomplishing many personal bests. They were 2011 OQHA Champion Youth 14-18 Hunt Seat Equi- tation, Champion Youth and Open Hunter Hack, Champion Youth Performance Halter Gelding, Champion Novice Youth Horsemanship and Reserve Champion Youth 14-18

Straight Talk

The first year of AQHA Rookie classes has been a hit

By Patti Carter-Pratt June 19, 2012

The American Quarter Horse Journal

From January 1 to April 30, we’ve had 2,630 entries in Rookie level classes at AQHA- approved shows.

Rookie level in 2011, we want- ed to see just how well Ameri- can Quarter Horse owners would respond to a true intro- ductory level. We expected a good response, but we were absolutely tickled by the partici- pation we saw at the pilot shows.

The success of the pro- gram’s pilot year pales in com- parison to the fantastic feedback that we’ve heard in 2012, now that the Rookie level is in full- swing.

From January 1 to April 30, we’ve had 2,630 entries in Rookie level classes at AQHA- approved shows. Here’s a breakdown of class entries for the first four months:

When AQHA tested the

Mares (all ages) – 68 Geldings (all ages) – 56 Showmanship – 519 Working cow horse – 6 Reining – 186 Western riding – 5 Trail – 278

Hunt seat equitation – 216 The best thing about the Rookie level is that it’s bringing in entry-level competitors. These are also the competitors who we might be seeing in the future at an AQHA Novice championship show!

Here’s how it works: To compete in a Rookie-level class, the horse and rider must each have earned fewer than 10 points in that particular class. Once a horse or rider has earned 10 points at the Rookie level in a class, they will receive a cer- tificate, congratulating them on their graduation out of the Rookie level of that class. Want to learn more about the Rookie

Horsemanship – 340 Hunter under saddle – 410 Western pleasure – 545 Hunter hack – 1

level? Rule No. 505 of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations covers the Rookie level; an online ver- sion of the AQHA Handbook can be found at www.aqha.com/handbook. You can also learn more about the new leveling program at www.aqha.com/leveling. If you think that a Rookie class is your next stop in the show pen, you can find a list of upcoming shows offering Rookie-level classes here. From the beginning of the year until September, our data shows that 261 shows have or will offer Rookie classes. We hope to see you there!

Brittany Lauzon is 18 this

year. She has been riding since the age of five and showing quarter horses for about 12 years. The recent grade 12 graduate is from Timmons, Ontario and is looking forward to taking business courses at college, as she will possibly be running the family business in the future. Brittany is very pas- sionate about riding, loves music, reading, 4 wheeling and sea dooing at the cottage. Kirby (One Hot Idea) is the only man in her life besides her Dad. She has done extremely well with Kirby, winning East- ern Ontario and all Ontario in Hunter Under Saddle and Per- formance geldings. Kirby won the maturity class at the Tom Powers last year and she is hop- ing for a repeat this season. Brittany also has her Superior in Youth Hunter Under Saddle.

Lindsay Leahmann A 19 year old from Bur-

Hunt Seat Equitation. They were also 2011 Region 4 Cham- pion Novice Youth Hunter Hack, Reserve Champion Youth 14-18 Hunt Seat Equitation and made it to the finals at the 2011 Congress. Siica wants to thank her coach, Lindy Hallman, for everything she has done to make her a better rider, and her par- ents, Henk and Jenny, for sup- porting her and taking her to all the horse shows. She believes “follow your heart and reach for the stars”.

ford, Ontario, Lindsay has been riding since the age of six and competing on the Quarter Horse circuit since the age of thirteen. She has been very successful in both English and Western events. Lindsay has been a champion at both the Tom Pow- ers Futurity and the Reichert Celebration, Reserve Champion at the Southern Belle Futurity as well as a semi-finalist at the AQHA Ford Youth World Show with her gelding, An Obvious Sixpack. She has been a finalist at the Congress and has achieved her AQHA Youth Championship, earning a Supe- rior in Open Western Pleasure and receiving many AQHA, OQHA and MQHA year-end high point awards with her mare, A Sweet Version. When not showing, Lindsay enjoys working with young horses at her family farm, boating, snow- mobiling and hanging out with friends. She will be going into her second year at the Universi- ty of Guelph for Animal Biolo- gy. She is a member of the IHSA Western Team at the Uni- versity of Guelph and competes in reining and horsemanship against Schools throughout New York. This year at the AQHA Youth World Show, Lindsay hopes to succeed in the Western Pleasure class with her horse A Sweet Version.

Stephanie Willsey

Stephanie Willsey has been showing quarter horses ever since she can remember starting with walk-jog on the Ontario circuit. A proud mem-

The Canadian Quarter Horse Association is an affiliate of the AQHA. Annual membership is free to current members of AQHA. To enroll on-line, visit the CQHA web site: www.cqha.ca, and choose

“Membership” section. Choose “Affiliates” to link to provincial Quarter Horse & Racing Association sites. Contact: Marnie Somers, President (204) 834-2479 or email: marnie@horsescoops.com

ber of OQHYA she has held various position of their Board of Directors and has represented Ontario on the NYATT team at the Congress. She started out showing at Kelly Simpson Training Centre, where Kelly, Pat and Josh coached her as a showman, horseman and per- son. Kelly, with help from Patti Carter, found her ‘Billy’ (A Krymsun Missle). They placed in the top five at the Congress their first year together. From there, Kelly and Patti introduced her to Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point Texas so that she could continue on and compete at the majors and the Youth World show where she will be striving for perfection. Excited to be showing her geld- ing, Must Be A Detail, in Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Riding, Hunter Hack, Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences, she is looking forward to a fun Youth World as it is her last and she wishes all competitors the best of luck.

Ontario can be proud to have these fine young women representing it at this major competition.

AQHA has recently released some encouraging statistics indicating an industry wide increase in show participa- tion during the first quarter of 2012 (January 1 to April 30). They show that the total number of shows and special events have increased by 5.34 percent; open entries by 9.87 percent; amateur entries are up 13 percent with youth entries

Kathy Patterson

increasing by 8.89 percent. The largest increases were in Novice amateur entries (up 29.2 percent) and Novice youth (up 22.11 percent). Figures that indicate a growth in new people taking part in showing at AQHA events.

The increases are being attributed to newer AQHA pro- grams such as the revamped Incentive Fund and the New AQHA Novice Championships. All in all positive evidence that the Quarter Horse industry is continuing to thrive.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge and share in the sadness of the sudden passing of Diana Amlin from Blenheim, Ontario. Diana was a past OQHA director from Area 1 and chaired the Queen Commit- tee for many years. Her enthu- siasm and dedication to the quarter horse family will be greatly missed. Our condo- lences go out to her family and many friends.

As the show season pro- gresses I wish continued success to all exhibitors and if I can be of any assistance, please contact me at: Phone : (519) 345-2861, Fax: (519) 345-2742 or by e- mail at tbrkathy@hsfx.ca.

AQHA Show Industry on the Rise!

The American Quarter Horse Journal, June 25, 2012 - American Quarter Horse show statistics for 2012 depict an industry-wide increase in partic- ipation. These figures, from Jan- uary 1 to April 30, represent increases across the board, and particularly large increases in Novice amateur and Novice youth entries.

The total number of shows and special events is up 5.34 percent, with 842 shows. Open entries are up 9.87 percent, with 99,142 entries; amateur entries are up 13 percent, with 81,849 entries; and youth are up 8.89 percent, with 48,451 entries. “These are some very encouraging statistics that we are seeing in AQHA shows,” said Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competi- tion and breed integrity. “I hope people are eager to get out and show their horses at an AQHA event.

“We have really been working hard on improving shows and bringing more pro- grams and enhancements to our various shows,” Persechino added. “With the changes to the

AQHA Incentive Fund this year, owners of enrolled horses have the chance to win more money per point this year. AQHA has also been testing the AQHA leveling program, which will go into effect January 1, 2013, and we had great partici- pation at this spring’s two pro- gram pilot shows.”

The largest increases in show statistics were in Novice amateur entries, up 29.21 per- cent with 27,600 entries, and Novice youth entries, up 22.11 percent with 26,195 entries. “The AQHA Novice championships have played a huge role in increasing both our Novice, amateur and youth entries,” Persechino continued. “To

nationally qualify for the 2012 show, the exhibitor could either show at 20 shows, or the exhibitor could place in the top 10 at an AQHA regional cham- pionship show in a Novice class. And competitors are also hitting the road to vie for affili- ate qualifying spots for this year’s inaugural Novice cham- pionships.”

To learn more about the

AQHA Novice championship shows, visit www.aqha.com/novicechampi- onships.

Rookie, the entry level of the leveling program, was tested in 2011 and went into effect January 1, 2012. From the beginning of the year until September, data shows that 261 shows have or will offer Rookie classes. Of the 2,630 total Rookie class entries that were calculated from January 1 to April 30, the most heavily attended Rookie classes have been western pleasure, with 545 entries, and showmanship with 519.

To compete in a Rookie- level class, the horse and rider much each have earned fewer than 10 points in that particular class. To learn more about the new leveling program, visit www.aqha.com/leveling. AQHA news and informa- tion is a service of AQHA pub- lications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications.

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