20/ JUNE 2020 THE RIDER


INSIDE AQHA News ..........................20 CQHA News..........................20 OQHA News..........................21 EOQHA News........................22 QROOI News.........................23


AQHA


Director’s Report


By Kathy M. Patterson AQHA Director


AQHA Registry Hits Milestone – 6 Million Registered Horses The American Quarter


Horse Association is proud to an- nounce that it has surpassed reg- istering 6 million horses in the Association’s 80-year history. AQHA officially reached 6 mil- lion registered horses on May 19, 2020. “Since 1940, AQHA has been paving the way for passion- ate horsemen and -women to come together in the name of the American Quarter Horse for the


breed’s preservation, celebration and advancement,” said Craig Huffhines, AQHA executive vice president. “Today, we are fortu- nate to celebrate our breed with this historical milestone.” The previous milestone was reached on December 26, 2007, when AQHA hit 5 million registered horses. AQHA will partner with the American Quarter Horse Foundation to auction Registra- tion No. 6000000 at the 2021 AQHA Convention in San Anto- nio. The Foundation will pay the full and current registration fee for registration and required DNA testing at the time the reg- istration is enacted by the win- ning bidder from the auction proceeds. The winning bidder will receive a gift receipt for the remainder of the auction price, and these funds will be applied to the charitable programs imple- mented by the Foundation. More details about the auction will be available at www.aqha.com/con- vention at a later date.


Trail and VRH Ranch Trail Modifications Due to COVID- 19


AQHA Executive Com-


mittee approved modifications to frequently touched surfaces, until further notice to protect the safety of exhibitors due to the coronavirus pandemic. By elimi- nating these as mandatory obsta- cles until the spread of the virus


ceases, the Association will be better able to protect AQHA ex- hibitors as shows resume and also be in compliance with exist- ing CDC recommendations. The AQHA Executive Committee and AQHA leadership are cur- rently evaluating protocols and recommendations to implement when local, state and federal mandates are lifted and the im- pact of any new guidelines on AQHA shows and programs. The Executive Committee recently approved waiving the gate as a mandatory obstacle in trail, AQHA Rule SHW 466.1, and Versatility Ranch Horse trail, in addition to the obstacle drag in open, cowboy and amateur VRH ranch trail, AQHA Rule SHW561.7. “The AQHA Show Depart-


ment recommended granting a waiver until further notice for both the gate and obstacle drag as mandatory obstacles due to the current safety concerns related to COVID-19 and the potential spread of the virus through fre- quently touched surfaces,” said Justin Billings, AQHA chief show officer. “We also received feedback from AQHA trail course designer Tim Kimura, the AQHA return to competition working group of industry stake- holders and the AQHA Profes- sional Horsemen and Show councils. They shared our con- cerns and feel it is necessary to


CQHA Announces National Spokes Kitty


By Laurie Haughton.


Allow us to introduce you to the 2020 #CQHAbarncat & national spokes kitty! Fergus is an experienced #barncat that works hard to keep things in order at the farm and


riding center, he calls home in On- tario.


As national


spokes kitty, for the hard working #barncats of Canada, not only will he be report- ing monthly on what’s going on at his barn, but he also has big plans to chat “barn cat to barn cat” to others just like him across Canada!!! The CQHA


media team is happy to welcome Fergus, as an hon- orary media team member, and can’t wait till Fer- gus files his first “report” towards the end of June!!!


implement measures to protect exhibitors, knowing these obsta- cles are frequently touched dur- ing competition and practice leading up to the classes.” “The safety of our members and staff is our top priority,” said Billings. “We are greatly anticipating the reopening of the country so our members can continue to do what they love – show their American Quarter Horses. In the meantime, our team is working diligently with other associations and al- liance partners to determine cer- tain


protocols and


recommendations that must be in place to safely do so.” More in- formation will be shared at a later date regarding recommendations for a return to shows, pending government mandates. Once AQHA deems it safe to reinstate the requirement for the manda- tory obstacles, a statement will be posted on AQHA.com.


2020 Virtual YES Registration is Open and Free to All Youth The American Quarter


Horse Youth Association is ex- cited to be able to host the 2020 Bank of America Youth Excel- lence Seminar June 29 - July 1 in a virtual format. The digital con- tent, including online leadership videos and sessions, from the vir- tual YES will be available at no cost to viewers. Go to www.aqha.com/yes to register. All AQHYA members and non- members, ages 10 to 18, are in- vited to attend the virtual seminar. Parents and adult lead- ers are also encouraged to attend. Participants will have access to both live and pre-recorded lead- ership sessions, and AQHYA del- egates will elect the 2020-21 AQHYA officer and director leadership team. Officer and di- rector candidate bios will be available


at


www.aqha.com/youth. For more information on AQHYA gover- nance and this year’s digital elec- tion process, check out the AQHYA Guide to Campaigning. YES kicks off with youth leader- ship candidate-specific events June 29, then all attendees can


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


Choose “Affiliates” to link to provincial Quarter Horse & Racing Association sites. Contact: CQHA President,


Gilles Seguin, ph: 613-293-6176, email: president@cqha.ca


join sessions on June 30 and July 1. Attendees will be able to ac- cess content at their own pace during these dates. Upon comple- tion of the virtual seminar, regis- trants will also receive a promo code for a buy one, get one free online pair of Wrangler jeans from Cavender’s Boot City. If you have additional questions, contact the AQHA Youth Depart- ment at 806-376-4811 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday,


email


youth@aqha.org or visit www.aqha.com/yes.


New AQHA Classes The American Quarter


Horse Association has continued to diligently improve the AQHA exhibitor experience even during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The AQHA Show, IT and Project Management depart- ments focused on implementing classes that were member-driven initiatives voted on at past AQHA conventions and were on hold pending computer program- ming.


“We are excited to share


the news that six new classes are currently in the testing phase at AQHA,” said Justin Billings, chief show officer. “The addi- tional classes will allow ex- hibitors from English, western and ranch-horse disciplines new options to compete with their American Quarter Horses. After the programming for the classes is completed in the next few weeks, the classes can be offered at AQHA-sanctioned events, once shows resume as local, state and federal mandates are lifted.” The new classes are:


Working hunter under saddle, Western dressage, Ranch trail, Ranching Heritage Challenge Cutting, Ranching Heritage Challenge Working Ranch Horse ages 7-&-Up, and Timed Trail. (only available in China) Each class was designed to enhance the showing experience by pro- viding more opportunities for skill development and to build on other classes already offered at shows. The six new classes will


also be eligible for year-end high-point awards in 2021. Class descriptions and


rules are available at www.aqha.com/rulebook as a supplement to the 2020 Official AQHA Handbook of Rules and Regulations. The rules will be published in the 2021 AQHA rulebook. “The Association noti- fied show managers and secre- taries, judges, stewards and AQHA Professional Horsemen about the classes and will con- tinue to share additional updates about the implementation of these classes,” said Billings. “We encourage exhibitors to familiar- ize themselves with the class de- scriptions and rules to be prepared for when the classes will be officially launched for shows in the coming weeks.” Once testing is completed and the new classes are available at AQHA-approved shows, AQHA will notify members at AQHA.com.


OQHA Virtual Show Series The Ontario Quarter Horse


Association is hosting a virtual show series in June and July. Show from your own barn


with prizes and payback for each class. Open to everyone. Test out AQHA style competition in an affordable way and help support Ontario Quarter Horse fundrais- ing initiatives. There will be Se- ries End Hi Point Awards for OQHA Members. The rules and regulation procedures and the en- tire show will be hosted on the virtual show website. Don’t hes- itate to reach out to our Show M a n a g e r oqhasherrill@gmail.com if you have any further questions and information. https://oqhavirtual- showseries.com/


Till next time, remember


to visit the OQHA, AQHA, and CQHA websites for Quarter Horse news! If I can be of assistance, please contact me at: Ph: (519) 345- 2861 or by e-mail at: tbrkathy@hsfx.ca.


“Membership” section.


Call Orange aPEEL at (905) 387-1900


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