I wonder, when they are teaching the kids about quarter-horses, will they tell them about the slaughter issue and responsible breeding? Will they tell them that over half of all horses going to slaughter are registered american quarter-horses?
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum is gearing up for summer camp for kids.
America’s Horse, March 24, 2009 – The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum invites all kids who love horses to be a part of Camp It Up! This year’s Camp It Up will feature three different learning opportunities.
In Horseology 101, campers focus on American Quarter Horse safety issues, learn stalling information and investigate careers with horses. The campers spend one week learning about horses and get to saddle up and ride on Friday. Horseology 101 will be held June 22-26 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo. The cost for Horseology 101 is $50.
To participate in Horseology 102, campers must complete Horseology 101. The second camp in the lineup, Horseology 102, is a deeper study into owning a horse including the financial responsibilities of horse ownership and showing an American Quarter Horse. Campers also learn about careers in the equine industry, hear guest speakers, create art projects and take a field trip to a horse facility. Two sessions of Horseology 102 will be presented. The first session will be July 13-17, and the second session will be July 27-31. The cost of Horseology 102 is $80.
Horseology 101 and 102 are for campers 8-11.
Career Camp, for campers 11 to 15, explores what it’s like to take care of a horse for a living or be involved in the equine industry. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a jockey, a horse trainer, or a horse museum curator? You’ll find out more about these jobs at Career Camp, August 3-7. Career Camp costs $160.
Scholarships are available through the generosity of Amarillo National Bank for qualifying applicants.
Since Camp It Up’s inception in 1999, hundreds of young people have learned about the American Quarter Horse.
Sign up your kids for this week-long camp that is full of fun and interactive learning. Let your child spend summer days playing games, making friends and learning all about American Quarter Horses! Please call (806) 376-5181 to make reservations or visit www.aqha.com/foundation/education/campitup.html for more information.
If you can’t make it to Amarillo and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum for camp, you can host your own American Quarter Horse educational event. Visit www.aqha.com/foundation/education/campitup.html for suggestions on hosting a Horseology 101 camp in your area.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.aqha.com/news/03312009campitup.html
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Oldest Quarter Horse In History to Race Sunday at Remington Park
OKLAHOMA CITY - When Silent Cash Dasher, age 16, leaves the starting gate in the 11th race on Sunday night, March 29, he’ll become the oldest Quarter Horse to ever race in the USA and obviously, the oldest horse to ever run at Remington Park.
Owned and trained by Gary Earp of Jay, Okla., jockey Denise Lambeth has been named to ride in the race, an allowance at 250 yards with a purse of $24,000. He has been assigned odds at 15-1 in the morning line for Sunday.
Silent Cash Dasher won here at age 13, in May 2006, becoming the oldest horse to ever win at Remington Park.
The Oklahoma-bred gelding won 3 races at Oklahoma tracks last year at age 15, becoming the oldest quarter horse to ever win a race in the USA. The gelded son of Dash Easy from the Silent Devil mare Barrbom Babe was bred by Carl Kirby.
Silent Cash Dasher boasts career earnings of $155,277 and has won 18 of his 81 career attempts. His racing career began in 1997 and he first competed at Remington Park as a 5-year-old in 1998.
Post time for the first of 11 races on Sunday night at Remington Park is 6:25pm
http://www.horsebackmagazine.com/breakingnews.htm
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
AQHA Debuts Greener Pastures Program
This is a good start. Its about time the AQHA did something for the horses,......of course, it is a voluntary program that wont cost the asociation anything. It will be interesting to see how many owners actually participate in this program. Meanwhile, more needs to be done in the way of funding for equine rehab and retirement.
-------------
America's Horse: Is there an American Quarter Horse in your past or present for whom you'd like to provide a forever home?
With the American Quarter Horse Associations new Greener Pastures program, you'll be able to indicate on a horse's registration certificate that should that horse ever become unwanted, unusable or simply ready for retirement, you will if possible assist in finding him or her a suitable home.
The program is free, completely voluntary, does not imply that a buy back or exchange of money will occur, or that a horse is guaranteed a home, because sometimes situations can and do change. It simply allows members who can and want to an opportunity to provide for the long-term care of horses they've bred or owned. You must be an AQHA member to sign up for or enroll a horse in the program.
AQHA wants to help responsible horse owners, says Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of marketing. We believe we can better serve the equine industry and help ensure the long-term care of horses we register with this program. By implementing Greener Pastures, we begin to fill a void.
AQHA believes that being green means more than reducing one's carbon footprint; it's actually a much a larger issue of social responsibility to the earth and all of its creatures.
Essentially, the Association will act as a clearinghouse by tracking Greener Pastures-enrolled horses and AQHA members who have indicated the desire to help.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or Americas Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
Source: www.aqha.com
-------------
America's Horse: Is there an American Quarter Horse in your past or present for whom you'd like to provide a forever home?
With the American Quarter Horse Associations new Greener Pastures program, you'll be able to indicate on a horse's registration certificate that should that horse ever become unwanted, unusable or simply ready for retirement, you will if possible assist in finding him or her a suitable home.
The program is free, completely voluntary, does not imply that a buy back or exchange of money will occur, or that a horse is guaranteed a home, because sometimes situations can and do change. It simply allows members who can and want to an opportunity to provide for the long-term care of horses they've bred or owned. You must be an AQHA member to sign up for or enroll a horse in the program.
AQHA wants to help responsible horse owners, says Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of marketing. We believe we can better serve the equine industry and help ensure the long-term care of horses we register with this program. By implementing Greener Pastures, we begin to fill a void.
AQHA believes that being green means more than reducing one's carbon footprint; it's actually a much a larger issue of social responsibility to the earth and all of its creatures.
Essentially, the Association will act as a clearinghouse by tracking Greener Pastures-enrolled horses and AQHA members who have indicated the desire to help.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or Americas Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
Source: www.aqha.com
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Quarter horse breeding continues apace
horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/03/001
March 1, 2009
The number of new quarter horse registrations in North America dropped by 30,000 horses last year from 2005 figures, but the breed still accounts for more foals on the ground than all other breeds recorded by the US Jockey Club put together.
The Jockey Club's figures, released this week in the organisation's Fact Book, shows that 135,924 quarter horse foals were registered in 2008. This is a drop from the 2005 figures of 165,057, the highest noted in the factbook since the 1960s. The figures show quarter horse registrations decreasing 6.9% since 2000.
The American Quarter Horse Association has received criticism in recent years for its registrtation policies which welfare groups say fuel the slaughter industry, which exports horse meat to Europe.
The second most prolific breed was the thoroughbred, with an estimated 36,600 registrations on the ground in 2008. This represents a drop of about 1500 foals from the 2005 figure of 38,191.
Registrations of paint horses, which nearly quadrupled between 1990 and 2000, have since declined 52.8% through 2008, with 29,534 registrations, down from 42,557 in 2005. The breed is a derivative of the quarter horse.
Appaloosa and arabian registrations fell 46.6% and 36.6%, respectively.
Other breeds shown in the Jockey Club's figures include miniatures, morgans, paso fino, saddlebreds, and standardbreds.
The Jockey Club Fact Book is published annually as a statistical and informational guide to the North American Thoroughbred industry; the 19th edition of the printed version will be published and distributed in early May.
Pari-mutuel handle on thoroughbred racing in North America declined 7.2% to $14,331,781,748 in 2008, as the worsening economy and continued discord concerning rights fees for advance deposit wagering contributed to the decrease. A more modest decline of 1.3% in North American gross purses to $1,310,838,852 is indicative of the positive impact of alternative gaming recently implemented at racetracks in several states. Pennsylvania, for example, offered nearly $34 million more in purse money in 2008 than in 2007.
In the sales section, total auction receipts in 2008 fell 21.2% to $972,889,922 as turmoil in credit and equity markets in the fall particularly affected gross sales of broodmares and weanlings, which were down 40.1% and 34.1%, respectively.
In the breeding section, the decline in mares bred in recent years is expected to result in moderate decreases in the annual registered thoroughbred foal crop in 2008 and 2009. Among the top 10 foal-producing states in 2007, New Mexico and Louisiana have more than doubled the size of their annual registered foal crop since 1997. Four others - Kentucky, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania - also experienced gains.
Click on title above to see breed registration figures with graphs and charts.
March 1, 2009
The number of new quarter horse registrations in North America dropped by 30,000 horses last year from 2005 figures, but the breed still accounts for more foals on the ground than all other breeds recorded by the US Jockey Club put together.
The Jockey Club's figures, released this week in the organisation's Fact Book, shows that 135,924 quarter horse foals were registered in 2008. This is a drop from the 2005 figures of 165,057, the highest noted in the factbook since the 1960s. The figures show quarter horse registrations decreasing 6.9% since 2000.
The American Quarter Horse Association has received criticism in recent years for its registrtation policies which welfare groups say fuel the slaughter industry, which exports horse meat to Europe.
The second most prolific breed was the thoroughbred, with an estimated 36,600 registrations on the ground in 2008. This represents a drop of about 1500 foals from the 2005 figure of 38,191.
Registrations of paint horses, which nearly quadrupled between 1990 and 2000, have since declined 52.8% through 2008, with 29,534 registrations, down from 42,557 in 2005. The breed is a derivative of the quarter horse.
Appaloosa and arabian registrations fell 46.6% and 36.6%, respectively.
Other breeds shown in the Jockey Club's figures include miniatures, morgans, paso fino, saddlebreds, and standardbreds.
The Jockey Club Fact Book is published annually as a statistical and informational guide to the North American Thoroughbred industry; the 19th edition of the printed version will be published and distributed in early May.
Pari-mutuel handle on thoroughbred racing in North America declined 7.2% to $14,331,781,748 in 2008, as the worsening economy and continued discord concerning rights fees for advance deposit wagering contributed to the decrease. A more modest decline of 1.3% in North American gross purses to $1,310,838,852 is indicative of the positive impact of alternative gaming recently implemented at racetracks in several states. Pennsylvania, for example, offered nearly $34 million more in purse money in 2008 than in 2007.
In the sales section, total auction receipts in 2008 fell 21.2% to $972,889,922 as turmoil in credit and equity markets in the fall particularly affected gross sales of broodmares and weanlings, which were down 40.1% and 34.1%, respectively.
In the breeding section, the decline in mares bred in recent years is expected to result in moderate decreases in the annual registered thoroughbred foal crop in 2008 and 2009. Among the top 10 foal-producing states in 2007, New Mexico and Louisiana have more than doubled the size of their annual registered foal crop since 1997. Four others - Kentucky, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania - also experienced gains.
Click on title above to see breed registration figures with graphs and charts.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
AQHA to Register Clones?
...Sure they will. Why not? It would mean Mo' Money for the ASSociation,....and it wont be long before cloned AQHA registered horses start showing up at foreign-slaughter houses to be consumed as a delicacy by wealthy europeans.
Send in the Clones: Forum on American Quarter Horse Clone Registration Rule Change Will Be Available via Webcast
One of the biggest changes in the history of American horse breeding has been set in motion, but you don't have to travel to San Antonio, Texas on March 6 to be part of it.
American Quarter Horse Association members who can’t make it to the equine cloning forum at the 2009 AQHA Annual Convention will be able to watch the event online in the members section of www.aqha.com. The forum Webcast will begin at 2 p.m. March 6.
You must be an AQHA member and have a Personal Identification Number to log in at the site and access the Webcast.
Under Rule 227(a) of the AQHA official handbook, a rule that became effective in 2004, American Quarter Horses produced by any cloning process are not eligible for registration. Clones are currently not being bred for performance use, but rather for breeding, so the offspring of a clone would not be able to registered.
All that may change in March.
The AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee (SBRC) first considered a proposed change to Rule 227(a) at the 2008 AQHA Convention. That proposed change would allow a live foal produced via a particular type of cloning to be registered if its DNA matches that of a registered American Quarter Horse. Voting on that rule change was postponed to 2009 while more information was gathered.
The proposed change to Rule 227(a) will again be on the SBRC agenda at the 2009 AQHA Convention but only after a public forum where members will be able to learn more about cloning and to express their opinions. This forum is open to all interested AQHA members.
Confirmed forum panelists include Katrin Hinrichs, a veterinarian involved in equine cloning at Texas A&M University; Sharon Spier, an epidemiologist at the University of California-Davis; George Seidel, a professor specializing in biomedical sciences at Colorado State University; and Blake Russell of ViaGen, a commercial cloning lab.
Following the forum, AQHA members watching the webcast will have the opportunity to leave online comments on the information presented. Comments will be limited to 100 words and need to be related to the topics presented during the forum.
For more information on cloning, see the February issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal, the March issue of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal and the March-April issue of America’s Horse.
Blogger's Note: My copy of the Journal came in the mail today and contained an eight-page article called "Pure Genetics", which covers many aspects of the cloning issue.
In 2008, the National Cutting Horse Association passed a rule allowing clones to compete. Champion cutting horse Smart Little Lena was cloned five times in 2006 by Texas A&M University, according to the AQHA article. Offspring sired by any of the five would currently not be eligible for registration with the AQHA, but would be able to compete in NCHA events. Might clones become part of a distinct new breed association?
After the AQHA convention in March, they might be welcome in the AQHA for the first time. Other breed associations would then need to decide whether to follow the AQHA's lead; currenty no breed associations register clones.
http://special.equisearch.com/blog/horsehealth/2009/02/send-in-clones-forum-on-american.html
Send in the Clones: Forum on American Quarter Horse Clone Registration Rule Change Will Be Available via Webcast
One of the biggest changes in the history of American horse breeding has been set in motion, but you don't have to travel to San Antonio, Texas on March 6 to be part of it.
American Quarter Horse Association members who can’t make it to the equine cloning forum at the 2009 AQHA Annual Convention will be able to watch the event online in the members section of www.aqha.com. The forum Webcast will begin at 2 p.m. March 6.
You must be an AQHA member and have a Personal Identification Number to log in at the site and access the Webcast.
Under Rule 227(a) of the AQHA official handbook, a rule that became effective in 2004, American Quarter Horses produced by any cloning process are not eligible for registration. Clones are currently not being bred for performance use, but rather for breeding, so the offspring of a clone would not be able to registered.
All that may change in March.
The AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee (SBRC) first considered a proposed change to Rule 227(a) at the 2008 AQHA Convention. That proposed change would allow a live foal produced via a particular type of cloning to be registered if its DNA matches that of a registered American Quarter Horse. Voting on that rule change was postponed to 2009 while more information was gathered.
The proposed change to Rule 227(a) will again be on the SBRC agenda at the 2009 AQHA Convention but only after a public forum where members will be able to learn more about cloning and to express their opinions. This forum is open to all interested AQHA members.
Confirmed forum panelists include Katrin Hinrichs, a veterinarian involved in equine cloning at Texas A&M University; Sharon Spier, an epidemiologist at the University of California-Davis; George Seidel, a professor specializing in biomedical sciences at Colorado State University; and Blake Russell of ViaGen, a commercial cloning lab.
Following the forum, AQHA members watching the webcast will have the opportunity to leave online comments on the information presented. Comments will be limited to 100 words and need to be related to the topics presented during the forum.
For more information on cloning, see the February issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal, the March issue of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal and the March-April issue of America’s Horse.
Blogger's Note: My copy of the Journal came in the mail today and contained an eight-page article called "Pure Genetics", which covers many aspects of the cloning issue.
In 2008, the National Cutting Horse Association passed a rule allowing clones to compete. Champion cutting horse Smart Little Lena was cloned five times in 2006 by Texas A&M University, according to the AQHA article. Offspring sired by any of the five would currently not be eligible for registration with the AQHA, but would be able to compete in NCHA events. Might clones become part of a distinct new breed association?
After the AQHA convention in March, they might be welcome in the AQHA for the first time. Other breed associations would then need to decide whether to follow the AQHA's lead; currenty no breed associations register clones.
http://special.equisearch.com/blog/horsehealth/2009/02/send-in-clones-forum-on-american.html
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Horse Slaughter: Not the Answer to Overbreeding
Equestrian News Release
February 3, 2009 -- Loxahatchee, FL -- It hasn't even been two weeks since the inauguration of President Obama, and it seems as if some of our elected representatives have missed the forward movement of transparency and accountability regarding lobbyists and ethics. Maybe that is where the rub is: it's not a lobbyist who is attempting to steer taxpayers' dollars for a personal agenda, it is a state representative who touts an elected seat.
North Dakota State Representative Rod Froelich and State Senator Joe Miller have introduced a bill to the state's legislative assembly proposing to spend $100,000 on a study to determine the feasibility of a horse slaughter house in North Dakota. There are some startling coincidences worthy of mention. Representative Froelich's family are longtime quarterhorse breeders, and according to their website at http://www.froelichranch.com they specialize in breeding horses of outstanding color and disposition.
Quote from the site: "Welcome to our 38th annual production sale. The five Froelich brothers, along with our mother, Barbara, and our nephew, Lance, are excited to again bring you a consistent group of foals with 'disposition, color, & conformation ranch-raised in big country'."
Whether Representative Froelich has sent horses to slaughter is a question only he can answer. Unfortunately, in our country, breeders send horses to slaughter because of their color; yes, this does exist. For example, two QH babies named Abercrombie and Fitch arrived at Pure Thoughts Horse & Foal Rescue. They came with AQHA papers so we called the previous owner, a breeder in Minnesota who selects for color: "palomino to be exact." According to the breeder, the two babies were sold to Simon Horse Company in Minnesota owned by Joe and Ryon Simon who are known killbuyers for horse slaughter. Both horses were sold because they were red in color, and Fitch's mother was sent to slaughter because that was her third red baby. This almost takes us back many years ago to a situation which was referred to as "cleansing."
How many times are we going to look into the pro-slaughter bowl of cherries and see that the pit is usually someone who stands to gain personally or financially, whether on the sale of horsemeat or the act of slaughter itself?
Here is an idea for Rep. Froelich: rather than ask the taxpayers to pay for a study on the feasibility of opening a slaughterhouse in North Dakota (creating a dumping ground for quarterhorses that do not have the most perfect conformation, sought after color or greatest disposition), ask the AQHA to designate funds for genetic studies and education. Even the horse novice understands the homozygous genes and the possibilities of perfecting color choices. Another thought would be to take that $100,000 and donate it to a rescue that saves slaughter-bound horses, and we will take all your not-so-perfect babies and mares that do not produce foals of the "right" color and place them in loving homes. It is so redundant to have yet another attempt at promoting horse slaughter stem from the AQHA arena.
How unfortunate that the AQHA is one of the wealthiest equine organizations in the US and yet continues to support horse slaughter. Even while the thoroughbred associations are stepping up to develop solutions to help our equine athletes retire safely and with dignity, the AQHA (with four times the annual foal registration of the TB industry) refuses to present and incorporate a plan for their horses. In addition, the AQHA allows for artificial insemination, embryo transplant and cloning (their latest endeavor) while the thoroughbred industry requires live cover. As stated earlier, a major consideration should be researching methods of successfully producing the most sought-after foals.
Consider these numbers related to the AQHA (2007 US data):
-Quarter horse population: 2,859,851 (Estimated 2007 all-breed population: 9.2 million)
-AQHA new foals/registrations: 117,830
-AQHA membership: 305,000
-Total owners: 902,453
-AQHA total assets: $111,154,925
-Revenues from registrations, transfers, membership, breeding fees: $19,288,000
-AQHA 2008 new foals/registrations: 140,000 (this should be 140,000, right?)
These revenues and assets are not comparable with any other breed association, The AQHA charges owners for foal registrations and annual dues. The majority of QH owners do register their horses as it adds market value to the horse, and it's required in order to enter the horse in AQHA-sanctioned racing, shows and events. More foals equal more revenue for the AQHA.
These figures show that annual breeding means huge financial gain for the AQHA. Excess stock would negatively impact market values, so unsalable quarter horses go to slaughter to make room on farms for next year's foals. The AQHA also contributed $9,000 to Senator Larry Craig, who filed a notice of intent to object on a federal bill aimed towards ending horse slaughter; subsequently, the bill saw no action in the Senate.
No other breed of horse is sent more frequently to slaughter than the American Quarterhorse, the real victims of greed in the American horse industry.
If we trace the historical path of this issue in the political arena, the continuation of horse slaughter has always stemmed from personal agendas or personal gain. This year, let's try to have humanity as the agenda, do what is right, and represent the voice of the people.
Author
Pure Thoughts Inc.
National Horse Welfare Organization
Jennifer Swanson
Cheryl Hanna
http://www.PTHR.org
http://www.equestrianmag.com/news/horse-slaughter-overbreeding-02-09.html
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
AQHA "Welfare Group" Studies Everything Horse Welfare Related but Horse Slaughter
Important to remember here that over half of all horses going to slaughter are REGISTERED AMERICAN QUARTER HORSES....
AQHA Welfare Group Releases Plans for Racing, Breeding, Shows by: Edited Press Release
January 19 2009, Article # 13475
The American Quarter Horse Association's Executive Committee has
approved recommendations from the Animal Welfare Assurance Task
Force, and the association is moving forward to implement the
suggestions.
The association's main objectives are to educate members and the
general public on animal welfare issues and identify and eliminate
any inhumane training practices that might currently be perceived as
acceptable, while strengthening sanctions for noncompliance.
AQHA's Animal Welfare Assurance Task Force met in the fall in
Amarillo to discuss issues facing the industry and ways to continue
protecting the American Quarter Horse and other equines. Gathering
members from all aspects of the industry brought a wealth of
knowledge and experience together to ensure many views were
represented. See below for a list of members.
"The welfare of American Quarter Horses has always been of paramount
importance to AQHA," said Bill Brewer, AQHA executive vice
president. "In 2009, we are renewing our commitment to American
Quarter Horses and all other animal welfare issues as they relate to
American Quarter Horses. Our horses deserve our best. The
responsibility of caring for the American Quarter Horse should always
be a top priority."
Educational efforts on animal welfare have already begun and include
the following:
A link to AQHA's animal welfare policy statement is featured on the
aqha.com home page.
An article on AQHA's animal welfare efforts, task force
recommendations and a request for a concerted effort from AQHA
Professional Horsemen to ensure the humane treatment of horses and
acceptable training practices will be in the January 2009
Professional Horsemen's newsletter.
A rules committee met in conjunction with the December Judges'
Conference in Irving, Texas, to review and make recommendations on
roping, working cow horse, and reining rules in relation to
acceptable training and class procedures. The group also made
recommendations on excessive or abusive treatment rules related to
other disciplines, which will be sent to the Show Committee for
consideration at the annual Convention.
New judging cards have been printed to include space for the judge to
indicate any disqualifications for abusive practices in the show
arena.
----------------------------------------------------------
----------
The following has been approved by the AQHA Executive Committee:
Action Plan for Racing:
1. Maintain existing relationships with National Thoroughbred Racing
Association, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, Jockey Club
Welfare and Safety Summit, Association of Racing Commissioners
International Model Rules Program, etc., providing AQHA has a seat at
the table to ensure consistency in animal welfare policies and
regulations.
2. Communicate via AQHA publications, e-newsletters, racetrack daily
programs, in-house TV and Web sites about racing's continued efforts
to ensure the welfare of horses is paramount. Work through AQHA
Public Policy Committee, state affiliates, state legislative
initiatives, and specialists to influence public opinion.
3. Correspond with state racing commissions and NTRA communicating
the objectives listed below with regard to animal welfare:
Advocate the use of safe equipment;
Conduct American Quarter Horse-specific research on toe grabs;
Conduct further American Quarter Horse-specific research on track
surfaces regarding type of surface vs. type of injuries;
Develop a certification program for starters, assistant starters,
jockeys, grooms, security personnel and other necessary designees as
deemed necessary;
Support implementing an equine injury database at all racetracks for
all breeds;
Endorse out-of-competition testing and support the continued testing
for anabolic steroids at sale companies as a condition of
consignment;
Endorse mandatory testing of claimed horses for anabolic steroids;
and
Endorse and consolidate testing at accredited laboratories.
Action Plan for Breeding/Genetic Defects:
1. Have a breeders' summit and videotape to develop an educational
DVD and/or power point presentation that could be used at Affiliate
Workshop, World Show, All-American Quarter Horse Congress, alliance
partner conventions, and other locations by AQHA members.
2. A "Welfare Link" for "America's Horse" weekly newsletter and the
AQHA Web site has been created. It includes an animal welfare
statement and links to welfare information in the AQHA rulebook and
will also provide access to welfare articles covering different
topics involving racing, showing, breeding, etc., as they become
available.
3. Conduct breeders' seminar during AQHA Annual Convention
4. Expand current breeder referral program by establishing a "premium
level" for those breeders who agree to test for genetic and
infectious diseases (where applicable).
Action Plan for Shows:
1. Change Professional Horsemen's application for both race and show
professionals to add a section to include an agreement to monitor
humane treatment. Change the current policy for Professional Horsemen
to have two members (increased from one) to discuss unacceptable
training or inhumane treatment with offenders on site.
2. Judges must report disqualifications for inhumane treatment in
show arena and list reason for disqualification on judge's card
returned to AQHA.
3. Track horse injuries that occur at AQHA-approved shows, and create
a form for a veterinary statement detailing injury.
----------------------------------------------------------
----------
Members of the task force included veterinarians, industry leaders,
trainers, representatives from equine organizations, and individuals
representing racing, showing, and recreational riding. They include:
Clark Bradley;
Dave Brian;
Joe Carter;
Doug Corey, DVM;
Eleanor Green, DVM, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ABVP;
Jim Helzer;
Connie Hill;
Bill Horton;
Paul Jones;
Nancy Goodman McIlwraith, DVM.;
Scott Myers, DVM.;
Tammy Pate;
Carol Rose;
Bennie Sargent;
Dorvan Solberg;
Johnny Trotter;
Sandy Vaughn; and
Rick Weaver.
AQHA Welfare Group Releases Plans for Racing, Breeding, Shows by: Edited Press Release
January 19 2009, Article # 13475
The American Quarter Horse Association's Executive Committee has
approved recommendations from the Animal Welfare Assurance Task
Force, and the association is moving forward to implement the
suggestions.
The association's main objectives are to educate members and the
general public on animal welfare issues and identify and eliminate
any inhumane training practices that might currently be perceived as
acceptable, while strengthening sanctions for noncompliance.
AQHA's Animal Welfare Assurance Task Force met in the fall in
Amarillo to discuss issues facing the industry and ways to continue
protecting the American Quarter Horse and other equines. Gathering
members from all aspects of the industry brought a wealth of
knowledge and experience together to ensure many views were
represented. See below for a list of members.
"The welfare of American Quarter Horses has always been of paramount
importance to AQHA," said Bill Brewer, AQHA executive vice
president. "In 2009, we are renewing our commitment to American
Quarter Horses and all other animal welfare issues as they relate to
American Quarter Horses. Our horses deserve our best. The
responsibility of caring for the American Quarter Horse should always
be a top priority."
Educational efforts on animal welfare have already begun and include
the following:
A link to AQHA's animal welfare policy statement is featured on the
aqha.com home page.
An article on AQHA's animal welfare efforts, task force
recommendations and a request for a concerted effort from AQHA
Professional Horsemen to ensure the humane treatment of horses and
acceptable training practices will be in the January 2009
Professional Horsemen's newsletter.
A rules committee met in conjunction with the December Judges'
Conference in Irving, Texas, to review and make recommendations on
roping, working cow horse, and reining rules in relation to
acceptable training and class procedures. The group also made
recommendations on excessive or abusive treatment rules related to
other disciplines, which will be sent to the Show Committee for
consideration at the annual Convention.
New judging cards have been printed to include space for the judge to
indicate any disqualifications for abusive practices in the show
arena.
----------------------------------------------------------
----------
The following has been approved by the AQHA Executive Committee:
Action Plan for Racing:
1. Maintain existing relationships with National Thoroughbred Racing
Association, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, Jockey Club
Welfare and Safety Summit, Association of Racing Commissioners
International Model Rules Program, etc., providing AQHA has a seat at
the table to ensure consistency in animal welfare policies and
regulations.
2. Communicate via AQHA publications, e-newsletters, racetrack daily
programs, in-house TV and Web sites about racing's continued efforts
to ensure the welfare of horses is paramount. Work through AQHA
Public Policy Committee, state affiliates, state legislative
initiatives, and specialists to influence public opinion.
3. Correspond with state racing commissions and NTRA communicating
the objectives listed below with regard to animal welfare:
Advocate the use of safe equipment;
Conduct American Quarter Horse-specific research on toe grabs;
Conduct further American Quarter Horse-specific research on track
surfaces regarding type of surface vs. type of injuries;
Develop a certification program for starters, assistant starters,
jockeys, grooms, security personnel and other necessary designees as
deemed necessary;
Support implementing an equine injury database at all racetracks for
all breeds;
Endorse out-of-competition testing and support the continued testing
for anabolic steroids at sale companies as a condition of
consignment;
Endorse mandatory testing of claimed horses for anabolic steroids;
and
Endorse and consolidate testing at accredited laboratories.
Action Plan for Breeding/Genetic Defects:
1. Have a breeders' summit and videotape to develop an educational
DVD and/or power point presentation that could be used at Affiliate
Workshop, World Show, All-American Quarter Horse Congress, alliance
partner conventions, and other locations by AQHA members.
2. A "Welfare Link" for "America's Horse" weekly newsletter and the
AQHA Web site has been created. It includes an animal welfare
statement and links to welfare information in the AQHA rulebook and
will also provide access to welfare articles covering different
topics involving racing, showing, breeding, etc., as they become
available.
3. Conduct breeders' seminar during AQHA Annual Convention
4. Expand current breeder referral program by establishing a "premium
level" for those breeders who agree to test for genetic and
infectious diseases (where applicable).
Action Plan for Shows:
1. Change Professional Horsemen's application for both race and show
professionals to add a section to include an agreement to monitor
humane treatment. Change the current policy for Professional Horsemen
to have two members (increased from one) to discuss unacceptable
training or inhumane treatment with offenders on site.
2. Judges must report disqualifications for inhumane treatment in
show arena and list reason for disqualification on judge's card
returned to AQHA.
3. Track horse injuries that occur at AQHA-approved shows, and create
a form for a veterinary statement detailing injury.
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Members of the task force included veterinarians, industry leaders,
trainers, representatives from equine organizations, and individuals
representing racing, showing, and recreational riding. They include:
Clark Bradley;
Dave Brian;
Joe Carter;
Doug Corey, DVM;
Eleanor Green, DVM, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ABVP;
Jim Helzer;
Connie Hill;
Bill Horton;
Paul Jones;
Nancy Goodman McIlwraith, DVM.;
Scott Myers, DVM.;
Tammy Pate;
Carol Rose;
Bennie Sargent;
Dorvan Solberg;
Johnny Trotter;
Sandy Vaughn; and
Rick Weaver.
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