Lower Mainland Quarter Horse Association By Cathy Glover Officers & Directors 2012 President: Michelle Charleston, mcharleston@telus.net VP: Denise Hill, denisehill@shaw.ca AQHA Region One BC Rep: Haidee Landry, hmqh@hotmail.com Website: http://bcqha.com/index.php/LMQHA
LMQHA’s West Coast Summer Classic, July 19-22, will feature cattle classes. Photo courtesy of Janice Reiter.
High fives There was a decent turnout at the Lower Mainland Quarter Horse Association’s general membership meeting in late May. The board and members seemed generally very pleased with the outcome of the Spring Circuit, noting it was well run and showed a respectable profit. It was the first membership meeting since the bazaar at Thunderbird in March and the first opportunity to publicly thank the committee, co-chaired by Pia Petersen and Terri Brown, on their success. Pia noted that it was “very, very hard work but very rewarding,” expressing her appreciation to the various committee chairs on behalf of herself and Terri. This year’s bazaar was one of the best attended in recent memory, and featured an outstanding group of vendors and clinicians. Pia and Terri have already agreed to co-chair the 2013 bazaar, and are hopeful they can mentor newcomers to take over the reins in 2014 as planning gets underway for next year. Any takers?
Incentive fund changes BCQHA director Haidee Landry reminded members that they can pay for their AQHA Incentive Fund licences at the show office. Earlier this year, AQHA announced changes to the Incentive Fund that has been rewarding AQHA horse owners with dollars for each point earned for 30 years. The fund had lost some of its initial momentum with the overall downturn in the horse industry. Now, in an effort to revitalize the program, exhibitors will pay a competition licence of $50 for the amateur division and $50 for the open division per horse in order to earn Incentive Fund payouts. The fee can be paid any time during the year and will become effective when it’s received by AQHA or by show management. Points earned prior to paying the annual licence fee will not be Incentive Fund eligible for the nominated horse.
Opportunities to get involved, improve skills Haidee also noted the BC Quarter Horse Association will be seeking three representatives from the Lower Mainland Quarter Horse Association to sit on its board in 2013, under the new bylaws passed at their meeting held during the LMQHA’s Spring Circuit. LMQHA’s Evergreen Circuit will provide the backdrop for a Ring Steward seminar on Friday, August 31, hosted by BCQHA, with support from the Horse Council of BC. “Whether you want to be a ring steward, or not,” Haidee told members, “it’s an education.” There will be a nominal fee for the clinic, and you can contact Haidee at hmqh@ hotmail.com for more information and to register. Ontario judge Joe Carter will be delivering an AQHA judge’s seminar in the Fraser Valley early next year for those considering becoming a judge or wanting to improve their skill sets. More information will be coming soon.
HCBC 2010 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Four-day circuit this month LMQHA has a four-day/four-judge show coming up later this month, July 1922, at Thunderbird. The West Coast Summer Classic will be judged by Doug Ingersoll and Jim Edwards of California on Thursday and Friday, and by Jennifer Thompson (Nevada) and Gary Hersom (Indiana) on Saturday and Sunday. Ingersoll will be judging the cattle classes on July 21-22, which will feature AQHA, BCCHA and BCRCA-approved cutting classes, AQHA Working Cow Horse and Boxing classes, AQHA Ranch Sorting and an all breed Ranch Sorting Jackpot featuring a 50% payback. There are three Jackpot buckle classes (sponsored by Hutton Performance Horses and Valour Farms) including a Hunter under Saddle All Ages, Two -Year-Old Western Pleasure Walk/Jog and an “All Novice” (Youth and Amateur) Horsemanship, as well as a full slate of AQHA and all breed classes for riders. Tracy Olny will be back designing our famous trail courses, and there will be complimentary coffee and donuts in the barns all four days of the show. Enter early to avoid post entry fees. And make sure you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding show high points! You can download the schedule, stall and entry forms from our link on BCQHA’s website (www.bcqha.com).
Last chance If a four-day show is too much of a commitment, you might be interested in something different that LMQHA is trying later this summer. The Evergreen Circuit has been organized as a two-day/ three-judge show on the Labour Day weekend, leaving the Monday free to make your way home, enjoy the final day of summer holidays, or prepare for the new school year or coming fall. Usually, Evergreen is a split/combined show over three days. As there is among any group of horse people, there are mixed feelings about whether a two, three or four-day concept is best (and most sustainable). It will be interesting to see whether this two-day show has a positive impact on entries as the season draws to a close in the Fraser Valley - that is the intent, of course. The show is on September 1 and 2, at Thunderbird, and features a Yearling Tri-Challenge, so it might be time to start putting a little polish on your youngsters! The Tri-Challenge is open to all breeds, and entries will compete in Halter, Lunge Line and In-Hand Trail. The Evergreen Circuit also has the Cathy Dumaresq Memorial Trail and a Western Pleasure Maturity (5 and over). Pyke and Buckley Performance Horses have put up a saddle for the top novice AQHA exhibitor (amateur or youth) over the two days, so there is lots of incentive to spend most of the Labour Day weekend with us! www.saddleup.ca • 59