InStride Edition - December 2022 Issue

Photos by Shane Rux

FEATURES

Shane

Photos by Jeff Kirkbride

They say that the best time to find the perfect horse is when you are not looking. And although, Anneene Miller, has been hoping to either raise or purchase a stallion to represent Starland Ranch, for some time now, up until recently she had not found one that checked all her boxes.

That has all changed with Right Onn, a 2019 colt by Hubba Hubba Huntin out of Miss Allocations.

“He has charisma and eye appeal plus great conformation and looks to go with his big front leg and correctness,” she said.

Anneene and her husband, James Gustafson, own Starland Ranch LLC, a 160-acre facility in El Reno, Oklahoma that includes a show barn, arena barn and lush pastures for mares and their foals. With Anneene’s 46-year background breeding American Quarter Horses (plus an additional five years raising Appaloosa horses), Starland has produced numerous successful show horses, including Cool Cruzen Lady, To Cool To Be Hot,The Batchelor, Moonrageous, Swagger Machine and Made Mighty Cool, just to name a few.

So it’s not surprising that the bar is high when it comes to selecting a stallion to represent their operation. But Annee determined fairly quickly that Right Onn could be “the one.”

Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle there as well. This year, Annee and Elton won the Level 2 Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHA World Show. They also placed fourth in the Level 1 Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle at the Quarter Horse Congress.

It was there that Right Onn first appeared on the radar. Dwayne and Amber spotted him at roughly at the same time, as Ryan Painter was riding him in one of the warm-up areas for his client.

“I saw Ryan riding this horse and liked him right away,” he recalled. “I texted Amber and she replied ‘I was just about to text you the same.’”

Both Dwayne and Amber rode the youngster and loved him. That’s when Dwayne told Anneene, who had expressed her interest in owning a stallion, that she should check him out.

Anneene said the “wow factor “was obvious from the first time she saw him, but an impromptu visit to the youngster’s stall convinced her.

“I went in the stall to have a conversation with this horse,” she explained. “I picked up all his feet, rubbed his head and ears, and asked him if he wanted a new home? Seriously, I was very impressed with his quiet and kind nature and that was rewarding being around him knowing he was a young stallion in a strange place. So, at that point our negotiations began.”

Right Onn had been entered in the 3-Year-Old Open Maiden Hunter Under Saddle class at the Championship Show in Ocala prior to its cancellation, so his experiences at horse shows is limited.

The Pickards have been hard at work molding Right Onn into their program a little better and the plan is for Amber to show him for the first time in Florida at the Gold and Gulf Coast circuits in Green Hunter Under Saddle.

For the past several years now, Michigan trainers Dwayne and Amber (Hanson) Pickard have helped Anneene with her Hunter Under Saddle show horses. Most recently they have been showing Rockstar Status (Elton) with tremendous success. When he was just a 3-year-old, Elton helped Anneene win the AQHA Level 1 Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle World Championship title and the Reserve Level 1 Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle at the Quarter Horse Congress in 2021, where he was Reserve in the Limited Open 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle with Brian Isbell in the irons. Amber also piloted him to a Reserve Congress Championship in the 3-Year-Old s

“Ryan did an amazing job training him so it has been easy to ride after him,” Dwayne explained. “He has a great topline, he’s gorgeous pretty and a good mover. As far as being a stud prospect, those attributes all factor into that as well. When you look at him, you think wow he’s got the breeding and the presence.”

Plus, the Pickards think Right Onn is a horse that Anneene will be able to ride as well.

“We are so very excited to embark on a show career with Right Onn and Amber showing him initially, then myself in the future,” she said. “We may venture into Performance Halter Stallions in the future as well. He then will go to the breeding barn to prove himself. I have no doubt he will sire fantastic off spring as he has everything going for him from genetics to movement to pass on.”

And while Anneene waits, she is also looking forward to watching how Best In The Spotlite progresses in the Pickard program. The 2020 mare by Good Better Best and out of Oh So Beautiful will make her debut soon with Amber in the irons.

Dwayne and Amber say they are fortunate to have someone as dedicated as Anneene is to her horses in their program.

“She is always about the horse,” Dwayne said. “Some people are just wanting to do whatever to win but to her, the horse comes first.”

The same is true of Starland’s western horses. Under the direction of Texas trainer Aaron Moses, Moonrageous, a 2015 black gelding by Only In The Moonlite and out of Suddenly A Cool Lady that Anneene bred and raised, has a dossier most would envy. He is an AQHA and NSBA World Champion as well as a Congress Champion. Just this year, Anneene won the Amateur Select Western Pleasure at the Quarter Horse Congress while Moses piloted him to a Championship in Senior Western Pleasure.

Anneene says she’s fortunate to have great teams - like Pickard Hanson Show Horses and Aaron Moses Show horses - supporting her in the show arena. But she gets equally excited about the Starland breeding program.

With great mares that are great producers, Starland has raised some of the best pleasure horses in the country over the years.

Their most prolific mare, in terms of show winnings, is Suddenly A Cool Lady (Venus), the Congress Masters Western Pleasure Champion in 2011 with Gil Galyean. Venus has lifetime earnings of $146,123, making her the fifth highest money earning mare, according to AQHA. With only 13 foals to date, her offspring have competed at the highest level. In 2018, with only six foals on the ground at the time, Venus offspring (sired by three different stallions and with three different trainers) earned three Congress Championships.

“We are so proud to own this mare and she is the queen of the barn of course,” Anneene said.

Starland also owns the only full sister to Cool Krymsun Lady and she has been a great producer as well.

“We also own Shes Blazing Cool who produced the Batchelor and several other show horses,” Anneene said. “We have several other great producing mares, most with very similar bloodlines as we are very high on that bottom bloodline in our breeding program.”

Starland has 10 foals coming in 2023 and Jim and An-

ttt Anneene Miller is pictured on the opposite page riding Rockstar Status at the Quarter Horse Congress and at the AQHA World Show. On this page she is shown with Moonrageous at this year’s Congress where they won the Amateur Select Western Pleasure. Inset (above right) is One Tuff Star.

neene say they are excited to see how the crosses they selected turn out.

“No matter how long or how hard you study pedigrees it is still a gamble to some degree on what you will get,” Anneene admitted.”The breeding business is tough, from getting the mare in foal, or embryo to survive in a recipient mare. Then you pray for a normal delivery and a healthy foal. You then go through the problems of health issues, or injuries on the foal or yearling until it is ready to start in training. After that, you hope all that has transpired in raising this individual it will become a star in the show pen. It is so much work and there are so many heartaches being a breeder when you have big problems. I have always said, the horse business can be the highest of highs, or lowest of lows.”

But Jim and Anneene can also not imagine anything more rewarding.

“We are very blessed to have had such great success with a small breeding program that I have immersed my life in,” Anneene said.

Her love for horses was ignited when she was just a child and she has dedicated her life to the Starland operation, which was named in honor of the 1976 AQHA World Champion Halter stallion Skipa Star.

“I loved him dearly and even had many horses sired by him including a stallion, One Tuff Star, who I stood by myself from 1989 until his death in 2011.

Starland always has several great prospects for sale at home or in Texas with Moses. You can contact Anneene at (405) 8505055 if you are looking for a special individual.

And, hopefully, in a few years, Starland will have some top quality Hunter Under Saddle prospects by Right Onn to offer to the public, if Anneene and Jim have anything to say about it.

The Pickards have a lot of faith in the plan and in Anneene and Jim.

“Anneene has a lot of grit and is very witty with a fun sense of humor,” Amber explained. “She is always playing practical jokes on Dwayne. And Jim, he is a saint. He always wants to make sure Anneene is happy.”

Amber said Anneene’s strength is that she’s truly addicted to horses.

“She is a true horsewoman so she understands every aspect of this business the good, the bad even the ugly,” Amber revealed. “She’s a very determined rider and always trying to push her self to be better.”

Capital Quarter Horses in Pilot Point, Texas had plenty to celebrate at this year’s American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show.

Hillary Timchak collected a gold globe in the Level 3 Amateur Western Pleasure riding The Cooki Monster, a 2018 sorrel mare by Machine Made out of Capital’s own broodmare, A Cooki For Certain. In addition, JR Cook, of Cypress, Texas claimed Reserve in the class aboard Line Up Behind, also bred by Capital Quarter Horses. The 2017 bay gelding is sired by VS Flatline out of Shez Immortal.

“We’re very proud of our breeding program,” said Hillary’s mother, Susan Roberts, who herself won a World Championship title in Level 3 Amateur Select Western Pleasure with Start Ur Engines, a 2018 gelding sired by Machine Made and out of Momma Knows Best.

Competitors from all over the globe competed

at the American Quarter Horse Association’s 2022 World Championship Show, Oct. 27 to Nov. 19, in Oklahoma City.

The event drew more than 7,500 entries and 281 first-time exhibitors competed for 268 championship titles, 104 Farnam AQHA world championships, 44 Select world championships, 106 Level 2 championships and 14 Level 1 Champion of Champion titles, plus, more than $2 million in purse, prizes and the coveted gold globes.

The most anticipated awards of the event were presented to the Farnam AQHA Superhorse, AQHA All-Around Amateur, AQHA Select All-Around Amateur, OKC Leading Owner, The American Quarter Horse Journal Reserve Leading Owner and the top AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses at the show. This year’s show also featured a variety of exciting events and extra added money including:

Text Staff & AQHA reports Photos Shane Rux

• $30,000 Cimarron award certificate presented by Cimarron Trailers to the 2022 Farnam AQHA Superhorse;

• $50,000 in purse and prizes for the Pleasure Versatility Challenge, presented by Super Sires;

• $50,000-added Level 3 barrel racing classes, courtesy of AQHA, the OKC Convention & Visitors Bureau, Shiner Beer and Succeed;

• $25,000-added working western rail, $10,000-added two-part All American Quarter Horse Congress working western rail series and two ranch-style Harris Leather saddles, courtesy of Headley Quarter Horses;

• $20,000-added 3-year-old stakes classes;

• $10,000 cash and a Lisa Perry bronze to the AQHA All-Around Amateur;

• $10,000 cash and Lisa Perry bronze to the AQHA Select AllAround Amateur;

Free Ride the Pattern Clinics

AQHA Professional Horsemen volunteered their time to give 10 free Ride the Pattern clinics, presented by Nutrena.

These clinics gave exhibitors and spectators the perfect opportunity to learn how AQHA Professional Horsemen would approach a specific class or pattern at the show. You can watch the previously recorded clinics on AQHA’s Facebook page. Thanks in part to Nutrena’s generosity to match

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On the opposite page (top) Hillary Timchak congratulates JR Cook as they are named World and Reserve World Champions in Level 3 Amateur Western Pleasure at the 2022 AQHA World Show. Inset is Susan Roberts, who won the Level 3 Amateur Select Western Pleasure there. On this page (top) a sample of the gold globes presented at the show; and Jason Martin riding Hez Blazin Trouble to a win in Senior Western Riding to help him capture the 2022 Superhorse title.

the amount donated at the Ride the Pattern clinics, the Professional Horsemen’s Endowment Fund a total of over $4,200. The AQHA Professional Horsemen also hosted an online auction, which raised more than $46,000 to assist professionals in crisis and will provide business education through the Professional Horsemen Academy.

You can still be a part of supporting AQHA Professional Horsemen by donating online at the AQHA Professional Horseman donations page. Your contribution to the American Quarter Horse Foundation is tax deductible, learn more today at www.aqha.com/give-to-the-foundationoverview.

Oklahoma City Leading Owner

The Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau Leading Owner is awarded to the owner who has the highest number of points accumulated for their horses entered at the Farnam AQHA World in both Level 3 and Level 2 classes across the amateur and open divisions. The owner must have three horses entered at the show to be eligible. This year’s Oklahoma City Leading Owner is Dan Fox of Chino, California. Fox earned 122 points with 11 American Quarter Horses during the show. The American Quarter Horse Journal Reserve Leading Owner is Josh Weakly of Shelbyville, Illinois, who earned 95 points with six American Quarter Horses.

Farnam AQHA Superhorse

The 2022 Farnam AQHA Superhorse is Hez Blazin Trouble owned by Bonnie Sheren of Studio City, California. The 2015 sorrel gelding, by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Troubles A Blazin, was bred by Stanley and Susan Scott of Ocala, Florida. In the Superhorse race, Hez Blazin Trouble earned 44 points and was shown by AQHA Professional Horsemen Jason Martin of Pilot Point, Texas; Ross Roark of Andrews, Texas; and Sarah Hauer of Pilot Point, Texas. Hez Blazin Trouble won the World Champion titles in Senior Western Riding and Performance Halter Geldings, the bronze in Senior Trail and was a finalist in Senior Hunter Under Saddle. Hez Blazin Trouble received an original Lisa Perry bronze and a $30,000 Cimarron award certificate, good toward the purchase of a Cimarron trailer.

Farnam All-Around Amateur

Morgan Ratkowski of Pleasant View, Tennessee, showing Better Buy The Minit earned the 2022 Amateur All Around title. The 2005 bay gelding by Do You Have A Minute and out of Tickle My Asset, was bred by Kramer/Davis of Reddick, Florida. Ratkowski and Better Buy The Minit earned 51 points in the All-Around Amateur competition. The team earned the Amateur World Champion titles in Working Hunter, Hunter Hack and s

Equitation Over Fences, fourth in the Equitation, sixth Jumping and placed ninth in Performance Halter Geldings. Ratkowski received a prize package that included a neck wreath, $10,000 and a Lisa Perry Bronze.

Select All-Around Amateur

The 2022 Select AllAround Amateur is Laina Banks of Schulenburg, Texas. Banks showed Strawberri Wine. The 2008 red roan mare by Openrange and out of Buddys Buffalo Gal was bred by Katie Green of Ocala, Florida. Banks and Strawberri Wine earned 36 points and the Reserve World champion titles in Select Horsemanship and Select Western Riding. They were fourth in Select Showmanship and showed in Select Performance Halter Mares.

Banks received a prize package that included an original Lisa Perry Bronze and $10,000.

Gene Graves Super-Select Special Recognition

The 2022 Gene Graves Super-Select Recognition Award recipient is Linda Ball Sargent of Eustis, Florida. Sargent showed The Whoo, a 2017 sorrel gelding by The Lopin Machine and out of Whos Cheating Who. He was bred by Scott and Linda Berwick of Clarence Creek, Ontario. Sargent and The Whoo earned the title with 11 points. They were crowned reserve world champions in Select Western Pleasure.

Pleasure Versatility Challenge Winner

RV Not For Hire is the winner of the 2022 Pleasure Versatility Challenge, presented by Super Sires. “Teddy” was shown in all three classes by AQHA Professional Horseman Blake Weis, who picked up his third PVC win. Teddy is a 2019 bay gelding by Machine Made and out of I Will Be A Good RV by Good I Will Be.

“It feels good, actually,” Weis said. “It was nerve wracking … it was a little tight. The top three horses were really, really good horses.”

Second place went to VS The Fireman and AQHA Professional Horseman Aaron Moses, and third went to crowd favorite Xxtreme and Kyra Ley.

“I rode the horse last year at the World Show and really liked him,” Weis said. “I love him, but I didn’t have anyone (a customer) for him. Then early this year, my customer, Evon Werner, was looking for a horse and I knew Teddy was the one. So, I called Clay (Arrington) and asked him to bring the horse to Texas from Florida. Clay drove the horse to Texas the very next day.”

Now that Weis has won the PVC three times, does he have a good feel for the type of horse that it takes to win the event?

“I’m very big on the ‘look’ of the horse,” Weis said. “They have to be pretty. They have to Halter. Obviously, I don’t go buy versatility horses, but when I look at one, I take into consideration whether they would be a fit for this competition.”

Weis described Teddy as easy to train.

“R.J. King helps me with all my pleasure stuff. He’s my go-to when I feel like something doesn’t feel right,” he said.

Weis said the plan for Teddy is to “start adding Trail, Western Riding, all the classes. That’s what I like about this event. When you get to the World Show, you have about a week and a half to work with the horse and they just learn so much. So by the time you get home, they’re about ready to go.”

Horses competing in the Pleasure Versatility Challenge are shown sequentially in three classes in the Jim Norick Arena: a pattern class, sponsored by Cimarron Trailers, consisting of a blending of simplified trail and western riding maneuvers, which counts 40 percent; a Western Pleasure class, which counts 40 percent; and a Conformation Class, which counts 20 percent.

Horses cannot have been shown astride in any western riding, trail or in any similar Pleasure Versatility Challenge

event prior to the Farnam AQHA and Select World official entry deadline. There are no eligibility restrictions for the Western Pleasure or Conformation classes.

Previous winners were:

• 2018 KM Flat Out The Best, shown by Deanna Searles

• 2019 Snap It Send It, shown by Blake Weis

• 2020 Hot Lopin Lily, shown by Blake Weis

• 2021

Wellthereyougo

shown by Robert King

The American Quarter Horse receives wide acclamation as the most versatile breed in the world. Undeniably, two of the most important disciplines of the American Quarter Horse are conformation and western pleasure. Two highly sought after talents of an all-around horse are the ability to change leads and navigate trail poles. Blend these four components into an event, and you have the Pleasure Versatility Challenge. The event highlighted a well-conformed, athletic horse that is a pleasure to ride. With a solid base of proper training, that horse can go on to become world-caliber in a number of classes – eventually reaching the level of the highest performing AQHA all-around horses.

The objectives of the event were to:

1. Promote superior American Quarter Horses that demonstrate form to function, quality forward movement and trainability.

2. Promote two fundamental AQHA classes, conformation and western pleasure, that serve as the foundation of the American Quarter Horse breed, as well as a pattern class that demonstrates some of the most basic desirable aspects of the AQHA all-around horse.

3. Promote a Lucas Oil AQHA World Championship Show entertainment value event for spectators.

4. Promote a showcase for potential private-treaty sale opportunities as an AQHA all-around horse.

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On the opposite page (top) Morgan Ratowski and Better Buy The Minit jump their way to a World Championship title in Amateur Working Hunter, helping them to earn the All Around Amateur Award at this year’s AQHA World Show. Below that a customer shops at the trade show (left) and Linda Ball Sargent carries out the silver globe she won in Amateur Select Western Pleasure riding The Whoo. At the bottom Blake Weis shows Invite Me Some More to a win in Level 3 Senior Trail. On this page (top left) a bird’s eye view of the Pleasure Versatility in action and Blake Weis with RV Not For Hire, winners of the 2022 event.

5. Promote an event that is beneficial to the horse industry.

About the Show

The Farnam AQHA World, Select World and Level 2 Championships are the premier events in the equine industry for amateur, Select Amateur and Open exhibitors. The show includes Level 3 and Level 2 classes, as well as Level 1 Champion of Champions classes. The shows featured over three weeks of exciting competition, educational opportunities and a bountiful trade show.

For more information, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.

Text Corrine S. Borton & Bianna Huggins Photos Jeff Kirkbride

There were many times throughout Amy Brosch’s journey to the 2022 Color Breed Congress that she came close to backing out. There’s the distance to travel from her Florida home to consider, especially with a yearling. Costs and the time away from home are always factors.

“Long and short of it – I’m a chicken,” Brosch said. “With having only done a couple shows in a few years, I lost my confidence. I was afraid I would be wasting all the time, money and effort.”

But Brosch has a strong support system, which includes her husband, Jon, and the rest of her family; Texas trainer Anthony Leier; her friends and many people who have encouraged her on Facebook.

And she had something else very special - iBlonde (Pearl), a full double, AQHA/APHA yearling filly by iStyle out of Double Platinum.

Luckily, Brosch pushed through all those doubts because when she packed up and left the 2022 Color Breed Congress, a show exhibiting four separate horse breeds simultaneously, Nov. 4-12, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she took back home with her plenty of hardware.

Exhibitors at the Color Breed Congress, sponsored by the the Pinto Horse Association (PtHA), compete in classes for PtHA, Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA), Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), American Buckskin Registry Association (ABRA) , National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), Ranch Horse Congress and Long Ear Congress.

Brosch and Pearl won the PtHA Non-Pro Yearling Longe Line, Stock Type and the corresponding NSBA honor. Leier was also Reserve Champion in the PtHA Open Longe Line Stock Type, claiming Reserve NSBA

honors as well. They also placed fourth in the Cash Challenge Yearling Longe Line, Stock Horse Type.

“ It was all her,” Amy said. “I was exceptionally nervous. It had been so long since I’ve shown and I’ve never actually shown her before. She is just so exceptional that she won us our class despite her mom being rusty. She has a front leg like I’ve never seen, and can jog a hole in the ground.”

Brosch purchased Pearl from then owner Geni Addicott, after Leier claimed a Reserve Championship in Open Western Yearling Longe Line at the Palomino World Show in July.

Brosch has shown horses all of her life but for the last few years she has been sidelined for a variety of reasons, including the purchase and renovation of a new farm in Howey In The Hills, Florida.

But she has had a penchant for golden horses ever since she was a child.

“My first Quarter Horse was a Palomino,” she explained. “We bought her as a yearling and I grew up with her. She is still alive and kicking at 28 years old.”

Brosch is always attracted to talented horses with color and Pearl is a full

Exhibitors travel to Tulsa to compete in variety of events

double AQHA/APHA and is registered with the PHBA as well as the PtHA.

“Combine that with her amazing legs, looks and a great mind, and I think she is an extremely rare find,” she said. “I haven’t been this excited about one since I won the Quarter Horse Congress with Pretty Assets in the Hunter Longe Line in 2014. I think she has the potential to be a similar kind of horse, color edition.”

Brosch says Pearl has a big personality and she’s never owned a horse who loved people as much as she does.

“She will leave her feed or anything she’s doing to come give you a kiss or cuddle,” Brosch explained. “She’ll run up to you in the pasture. She can be so lazy the majority of the time, have to drag her around to do anything, but very occasionally she will get the zoomies, like the first day at horse shows. But the majority of the time, she is a push to

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Pictured on the opposite page (top) is Amy Brosch and iBlonde winning the PtHA Non-Pro Yearling Longe Line, Stock Horse Type and (below that) Anthony Leier showing the filly in the PtHA Open Yearling Longe Line, Stock Horse Type. On this page, Shane Christensen shows Radically Deputized to a win in the Cash Challenge Trail and Jordan Jones and Bigtime Fancy complete their Showmanship pattern.

go sort. She isn’t afraid of anything and has the most wonderful ground manners.”

Brosch has had Pearl home with her since just after the Palomino World Show and has put a whole lot of work into her since, one reason she says she was so intimidated to show.

“Anthony put a great foundation on her and he trusted me to take her home and have her ready for this,” she explained. “He helped me out at this show and we wouldn’t be here without him. Heck, I never would have made it into the pen. Pearl is on her way back home with me for the winter and now it’s time to decide what to do for her 2-year-old year. I am extremely excited for her future.”

Jordan Jones, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma didn’t travel as far to attend the 2022 Color Breed Congress, but she and her show partner, Bigtime Fancy, made the trip count. Together they won the PtHA Amateur Junior English Showmanship Class with 16 entries.

Jones says Bigtime Fancy is a horse who has lots of personality. He wants to please, but things do have to be his idea most of the time.

“He’s a quirky one, and it’s taken some time to figure those things out,” Jones said. “He loves being the center of attention and loves to be loved. He’s always giving us a good laugh with his shenanigans. He gives a really sassy side eye too.”

Jones first attended a Color Bred Congress in 2010 and has competed off and on ever since.

“I love seeing friends from different breeds,” she explained. “I grew up showing PHBA, so it’s fun to catch up with everyone, as well as, see new Pinto friends we’ve made across the U.S. It’s just a fun show all around. It’s pretty relaxed for a big show too, which makes it really enjoyable. It’s a great group of people and everyone’s always willing to jump in and help each other whenever needed.”

Texas trainer Shane Christensen also describes Radically Deputized (Daniel) as “quirky” too, but that didn’t stop the blue roan gelding by Radicalized from winning the PtHA Open Trail 6 & Over and the Cash Challenge TrailAll Ages All Divisions.

“I have been training Daniel for three years now. If he trusts you which he does me, he is great,” Christensen said. “He is amazing at Trail. I won the Pinto World Championship title on him this year and we have won the Color the past two years.”

Christensen has been attending the Color Breed Congress for several years now. He says it’s a fun show with lots of classes and the staff is great. s

Christopher Dennis, of Jones, Oklahoma, has been showing Frozen Highnee, a liver chestnut ApHC mare by Gunner On Ice (AQHA) and out of Spotted Highnee (ApHC), in Ranch events, including Ranch Riding and Ranch Trail, since 2019 and he says since then she has earned the nickname “Ricky Bobby” because she’s either first or last.

“She likes to be very dynamic and allows you to really attack all the maneuvers, but sometimes we go too big and take ourselves out of running,” Dennis said.

But at the 2022 Color Breed Congress Frozen Hignee, owned by Christopher’s wife, Grace Owne, DVM, was all business, winning the Cash Challange Ranch Riding All Ages class with 22 entries.

Dennis has been attending the Color Breed Congress since 2019.

“We love the shows put on by the Pinto Association,” he said. “Darrell Bilke and his staff do an amazing job. Everyone is very welcoming and the atmosphere is more relaxed and fun.”

Angel Baer, of Aubrey, Texas, says her show partner, Back Fleet Boy (AQHA and PtHA) is always ready and willing to go out and show and he proved that by helping Baer win the PtHA Youth Junior Hunt Seat Equitation with 12 entries.

Baer has owned the sorrel gelding by Fleet Machine and out of Zippos Fancy Playgirl for two years now and she says he is sweet, loves attention and treats.

“He’s very athletic and his ability to do patters is awesome,” she said.

Baer has been attending the Color Breed Congress for the past seven years now.

“I love that I get to see all the friends I have made while showing horses,” she said.

Sarah Konig, of Lowell, Michigan, showed Ultimate Fancy Now (Dolce) to a win in the PtHA Amateur Performance Halter Mares class with 19 entries. The APHA/PtHA bay overo mare is sired by All Time Fancy and is out of Ultimately Fancy.

Konig decided she wanted Dolce even before she was born.

“She was bred by a good friend and I was showing her-full brother six years ago at the Paint World Show. He is my heart horse and I just wanted to own another one just like him so I asked his breeder if I could have the baby. When she was born I got pictures and instantly agreed to buying her. She was a gorgeous baby.”

Konig describes Dolce’s full brother as having a heart of gold and the same is true of his sister.

“I just knew she would be special,” Konig said. “She was the first of many that I have owned from this same cross and we now own their mother as well and are raising full siblings of our own.”

Although she is very attractive and has turned out to be an outstanding show horse, Kornig says Dolce’s personality is what sets her apart.

“She is very kind and loving,” she said.

“We have two small children (ages 5 and 3) that she grew up with and she adores them. She is a big girl and will put her head way down for them.”

Kornig’s family has been attending the Color Breed Congress off and on for many years now.

“We like the show,” she said. “It’s a fun group of people and a very well-run show. We breed and raise Paints and Quarter Horses and came to show some of the kids.”

For additional information on the Color Breed Congress, presented by the Pinto Horse Association of America, including complete results from this year’s event, visit www.pinto.org.

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Christopher Dennis is pictured on the opposite page (top) riding Frozen Highnee to a win in the Cash Challenge Ranch Riding All Ages class at this year’s Color Breed Congress. Clockwise from that are: Sarah Kornig, showing Ultimate Fancy Now in the PtHA Amateur Performance Mares class; Angel Baer and Back Fleet Boy completing their pattern in the PtHA Youth Junior Equitation class; and a sample of the prizes at this year’s show. On this page (top) Jeffrey Gibbs showing Partylikeyoumeanit in the PtHA Open Western Pleasure, along with some candid photographs from this year’s show.

PERFORMANCE ALTERATION by Katherine Jarve

New testing procedures are intended to help protect the health, welfare of the horse

A couple of months ago, I discussed the unfortunate and chronic problem of equine drug use and abuse within the industry and the potential legal ramifications of such practice. Apparently, I am not the only one who has been interested in the subject.

My guess is that most, if not all, of you reading this article have heard of the new testing procedures being set forth by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). The new testing program comes in the wake of a recent trend wherein horses’ necks have been altered to prevent head bobbing. It is no secret that some have used injectables, including those routinely used for human cosmetic procedures (i.e. Botox), to “fix” the necks of horses.

In the wake of this practice, AQHA announced a new performance alteration testing program, which uses thermographic imaging, palpation and neck flexion to determine if a horse’s neck has abnormal characteristics or functionality. The new testing procedures are intended to help protect the health and well-being of the American Quarter Horse by detecting minute differences in a horse’s thermal and neural condition. Thermographic imaging combined with objective palpation and flexion testing allows licensed veterinarians to quickly and efficiently identify trauma in the horse’s neck (and also other body parts).

World Shows. 2022 AQHA Guidelines Regarding the AQHA Equine Drugs and Medication Rule 7.

The new performance alteration testing program is evidence of AQHA’s most recent step toward aggressively protecting the welfare of horses that compete in its sanctioned events. The immediate effect of the testing program at the World Shows was to disqualify exhibitors and horses with abnormal characteristics or functionality from competing in the finals; however, there may be additional consequences down the road for those whose horses may have failed the testing.

Since AQHA prohibits the use of drugs and medications “that can affect a horse’s performance, disposition or appearance,” disqualified exhibitors may be subject to additional disciplinary sanctions beyond simply being disqualified from the finals. 2022 AQHA Guidelines Regarding the AQHA Equine

Thermographic imaging combined with objective palpation and flexion testing allows licensed veterinarians to quickly and efficiently identify trauma in the horse’s neck.

Drugs and Medication Rule 2. Depending on a variety of factors, sanctions are likely to include fines, probation and/or suspension.

The new performance alteration testing program was first implemented at the 2022 Farnam AQHA and Adequan Select World Championship Show this past November. According to the official press release from AQHA, all exhibitors qualified for finals in designated classes were required to have thermographic images taken of both sides of their horses’ neck prior to competing in the finals and finalists were tested at least one hour before their finals class in order to qualify for the competition. Refusal or failure to test would have resulted in the horse and exhibitor being disqualified from the finals. Additionally, following the finals, all horses sent for drug and tail testing were subject to having their necks palpated, flexed and thermographically imaged for the second time by an AQHA approved and American Association of Equine Practitioners member licensed veterinarian. This means that horses competing in the finals were tested a second time following the conclusion of the class.

Although AQHA’s rules regarding drugs and medications permit any horses on show grounds to be randomly selected for testing, the new testing program was a significant departure from the traditional practice of testing class winners at the

The AQHA drug and medication rules are applicable to anyone who enters, shows, owns, trainer, cares for or delivers a horse to an AQHA-approved show and also permit disciplinary sanctions whether or not you had actual knowledge of the presence of or directly participated in the administration of the drug or altering activity. 2022 AQHA Guidelines Regarding the AQHA Equine Drugs and Medication Rule 8. Consequently, you could be subject to discipline whether or not you knew your horse was given an illegal substance or had its neck “fixed” to eliminate head bobbing.

Katherine Jarve is a partner at the Marlton, New Jersey law firm of Jarve Kaplan Granato Starr, LLC. She is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and maintains a practice in personal injury and civil litigation, including equine related issues. Katherine spent her childhood competing on the national AQHA show circuit. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. If you have a specific legal question or problem, consult with an experienced equine law attorney. Questions, comments or suggestions can be e-mailed to kjarve@nj-triallawyers.com.

ASSISTED REPRODUCTION

by Katherine Unger Baillie

Successful equine in vitro fertilization remains stubbornly hard to achieve

Assisted reproduction has become an invaluable technique for horse owners hoping to pass on to another generation the characteristics of cherished and successful animals. But for decades, one of the most common methods used in assisted reproduction in humans and other animals - standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) – has been stubbornly difficult to achieve.

“It’s a frustrating thing,” said Katrin Hinrichs, professor of reproduction at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, who, alongside her other research programs, has tried for more than three decades to tackle conventional equine IVF, in essence, convincing a sperm to fertilize an egg in a Petri dish. “When we put horse sperm with eggs, they don’t even try to penetrate them. They just swim happily about ignoring the egg, leaving us with a zero-fertilization rate.”

Hinrichs and others have developed techniques to produce embryos using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a method of fertilization that requires the technically challenging injection of a single sperm into a single oocyte, or egg, aided by a high-power microscope and manipulation equipment. However, supporting sperm to achieve “true” IVF – in which sperm incubated in a Petri dish fertilize an oocyte without further manipulation, as they would naturally inside a mare – proved elusive.

merous awards, including the honor of being inducted into the Equine Research Hall of Fame recently.

Her interest dates back to her training at Penn Vet, where she earned a Ph.D. in 1988, studying early equine pregnancy. Only a handful of years before, at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center, the first calf produced by IVF had been born.

“I worked with Virgil, the first IVF calf, when I was doing my residency here. There was a culture at Penn around studying IVF,” Hinrichs said. Toward the end of her doctoral studies, Hinrichs began working with unfertilized oocytes in horses, to

In one strategy, used for valuable mares unable to produce embryos, clinicians could extract an oocyte from the mare, surgically place it in the oviduct of a recipient mare, and then inseminate the recipient mare.

determine how they influenced the outcome of IVF.

Until now. Hinrichs and colleagues report in the journal Biology of Reproduction a major achievement in equine reproduction: a conventional IVF technique with a 90% fertilization rate, with 74% of the fertilized eggs giving rise to blastocysts, the rapidly dividing ball of cells that develops into the embryo and placenta. The three mares into which resultant embryos were transferred each carried healthy foals to term.

“The demand for assisted reproductive technologies like IVF is getting larger and larger in the horse breeding community,” Hinrichs said. “The approach we’ve developed would allow more veterinary practices to offer IVF, as it doesn’t require the expensive equipment and training needed to do it the way it’s done now, by injecting each sperm into each egg. But for me the fun part is just nailing this down. I’ve been a horse person all my life, and for decades we have tried to figure out why this doesn’t work in horses. And now we have a repeatable method that does work, so we can explore the ‘why.’”

Threads of progress

Assisted reproduction in horses has been a focus of Hinrichs’ career. Her contributions to the field have earned her nu-

In 1990, a group in France led by Eric Palmer reported the first live foal born from IVF. The researchers produced one additional foal the next year, then gave up working with the technique as they could not make it efficient or repeatable. Many other groups tried to develop equine IVF procedures and failed, also unable to establish something replicable.

Other methods for assisted reproduction, producing foals from an unfertilized oocyte recovered from a donor mare, met with more success but were laborious. In one strategy, used for valuable mares unable to produce embryos, clinicians could extract an oocyte from the mare, surgically place it in the oviduct of a recipient mare, and then inseminate the recipient mare.

While a faculty member at Tufts University, Hinrichs completed the first of these procedures for clinical use.

“We were able to get pregnancies from isolated oocytes,” she said, “but the techniques involved were ponderous and invasive.”

Another approach, which has been the most successful form of IVF in horses to date, is ICSI, using a tiny needle to pick up a sole sperm and inject it into an oocyte. In the early 2000s, Hinrichs, then at Texas A&M University, increased the efficiency of that procedure and developed methods to culture the resulting embryo in the laboratory until it could be easily transferred without surgery to a recipient mare. By around 2009, Hinrichs’ clinic offered this, and specialized facilities

ASSISTED REPRODUCTION (continued)

around the world continue to do so.

Still, Hinrichs kept pursuing the development of a simplified, conventional IVF procedure. After her lab had devoted considerable energy to studying oocytes, around 2011 she turned attention to the other party involved: sperm. For sperm to fertilize an egg they must undergo a series of physiological changes in a process known as capacitation. In 2019, a researcher in Hinrichs’ lab, Matheus Felix, now chief embryologist in the Penn Equine Assisted Reproduction Laboratory, began investigating how long it takes for horse sperm to capacitate and what conditions support that process.

Tying it together

The team had gathered clues that sperm from horses might need more time than that of other species, such as mice, to fertilize eggs. So they tried a longer-than-normal incubation. “Horse sperm are finicky and like to die in culture,” Hinrichs says, “but we had done some previous work that suggested factors that could prolong their life during incubation.”

When Felix employed a complex medium for incubating them, which contains the compounds penicillamine, hypotaurine, and epinephrine (PHE), the team finally found a way to keep sperm alive in culture for more than a few hours.

“He tried to culture the sperm overnight under these conditions, and by gosh it worked,” Hinrichs said. “The sperm were alive the next day, which is a triumph.”

When Felix tried again, incubating the sperm overnight and then adding an oocyte, he documented signs of fertilization. “Because typical results in the horse are zero, this one fertilized oocyte was a sign that the process could work, and we were off on our journey to develop the procedure,” Hinrichs said.

“This work was really the result of an intersection of Matheus’ ideas on the time needed for capacitation and all of these little bits of information that had come through unsuccessful trials that we had done dating back all the way to the 1990s,” Hinrichs said. “Matheus’

dedication to getting it right was the vital factor in the final success of the project.”

Using the fledgling procedure as the basis for optimizing equine IVF, the research team found that pre-incubating the sperm for 22 hours in the PHE medium, then co-incubating it with oocytes for 3 hours, led to the greatest efficiency, including a 74% rate of production of blastocysts, three of which were transferred to mares that are part of the Penn Vet research herd. Three healthy foals were born as a result.

There is still room to improve on the methods, Hinrichs says. The approach only worked well with fresh sperm; frozen sperm, which is the most practical method for clinical IVF, did not result in impressive fertilization rates. And the PHE medium is cumbersome to make, meaning slight variations could compromise the procedure’s success.

“For the first time, we have a method that works, and we can use it as a basis to explore what it is that makes it work and what variations are possible: how to make the procedure simpler and more applicable to practice,” Hinrichs said.

Indeed, as satisfying as it is to have solved this decades-long puzzle, what excites Hinrichs most are the new questions it enables her and her group to interrogate.

“What’s been driving me for 30 years are these physiological questions that we don’t know the answer to,” she said. “What happens in a mare during fertilization? Why are equine sperm so resistant to procedures that work in other species? What do equine sperm need to capacitate? Do they have the same changes as do sperm of other species? These are the questions I find fascinating.”

Katherine Unger Baillie is a science news office at the University of Pennsylvania where she covers the School of Veterinary Medicine. You can email her at kbaillie@upenn.edu.

J�sica Duffy

After years of working for others, couple launches their own program in Texas

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos Kirstie Marie, Shane Rux, Cody Parmenter & Ace Photography

For years now Garrett Streit and Jessica Duffy have been working as assistant trainers, building their skill sets and learning all they could about the show horse industry. Now they say, it’s time to venture off on their own and try to build a business together.

Duffy, 25, grew up in Toogoolawah, a small town in the Brisbane Valley of Queensland in Australia. Both her parents competed very successfully in rodeo events, including Breakaway and Calf Roping, winning numerous Australian titles. Her mother, Vicky, also bred and showed Paint Horses at a very high level.

Streit was born in Kansas and grew up in Missouri. His parents also showed as youth, but it wasn’t until his sister, Rylee, started showing that Garrett became interested.

“My parents bought two Paint horses from Colorado and it grew from there,” he explained.

As a youth competitor, Jessica spent a lot of time working with Kane Skopp, Holly Johnson and Carolyn Johnson in Australia and they were the ones who brought her to America for the first time, to work for Mark Shaffer.

“Mark then continued to fly me back for a few months at a time to work for him among other trainers that he used,” she explained.

In 2014 Jessica spent some time with Chris and Melissa Jones in Indiana and early in 2017 she started working for Aaron Moses in Pilot Point, Texas.

It was there that she had the opportunity to help train Rascal Flatts, a 2-year-old stallion that Aaron won the Congress Sale Stakes Class on in 2018. In 2019 she

trained and showed Don Flatter Yourself for Caitlin and Wendy Dunsmore, winning the Limited Division of the Tom Powers Sale Stakes Class and the 2-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure at the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) World Championship Show.

In 2020 Jessica trained and showed I’ve Be Mooned for Taylor Kungle. They started the year by winning the Limited Davison of the Virginia Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Western Pleasure class held at the Tar Heel Summer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina that year. From there they claimed victory in the 3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure at the Big A Circuit and later that year they were Reserve Champions in the $2,500 Horse and Rider Western Pleasure at the NSBA World Show.

“All three of these horses were very different and taught me a lot about the training process and being able to work with the horse and what works best on them as an individual,” she said.

Jessica gives credit to Aaron and Courtney Moses for teaching her and helping establish herself as a trainer.

“They have become like family for me in America,” she said.

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Garrett Streit and Jessica Duffy are pictured on the page (top) and at far right on the opposite page. On this page, Jessica is also pictured with Ive Been Mooned at the 2020 Virginia Maiden and Garrett is pictured riding Made To Ride at the 2021 NSBA World Show. On the oppposite page Garrett and Jessica at a Texas Rangers game against the Astros game during some down time.

Garrett started taking lessons from Merle Arbo when he was just eight years old and later worked for him until he left to attend college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami. In 2020 Garrett moved to California and began working for Stacy Huls in 2020 then moved to Texas in 2021 and worked for King Show Horses (RJ King and Blair Townsend) for the next two years.

While showing with Arbo Garrett showed Invite Me Im Good to back to back Youth Western Pleasure Championships at the Palomino World Show in addition to many other titles

“She was a great show mare,” he said.

While working for King Show Horses, Garrett had the opportunity to show Made To Ride, sired by Machine Made and out of Huntin For A Cowboy, winning several 3Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure futurities in 2021 and finishing the year as the NSBA High Point Limited Open Western Pleasure Champion. Garrett also won the NSBA High Point $2,500 Rider title.

“Both of those programs taught me a lot about training and showing at the top level and I am very grateful to have gotten to spend time with them,” he said.

In 2020 while Garrett was working for Huls and Jessica for Moses they met while showing at the Fall Championship Show in Scottsdale Arizona, the year the Quarter Horse Congress was cancelled s

due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They have been dating ever since.

Last month they moved to Pilot Point, Texas and leased a 15-stall barn where they will operate Streit Show Horses, a training operation specializing in preparing Western Pleasure contenders primarily but also starting youngsters and marketing sale horses, both yearlings and already established show horses.

“We hope to have a good group of show horses in the future to take down the road but also want to assist in starting and selling prospects,” Duffy said.

Garrett said starting their own program was a natural progression.

Both Garrett and Jessica believe in letting the individual horse guide the way in the training process.

“I believe in working with the horse rather than against it to achieve the goals you are setting in your training program,” Garrett explained. “Horses also need to learn to enjoy their job, which may not always be in Western Pleasure – it may be better suited to an all-around career.

Jessica believes in the power of individuality.

“Every horse is different and to reach their full potential you need to be able to work with the horse rather than against it,” she explained. “Every horse is going to come along at their own pace, and it’s important not to rush the process or skip steps in the hope of them making it sooner. It’s essential for them to learn a good natural rhythm and cadence before anything else.”

And each has different aspects of the business that they enjoy most.

Garrett thrives on starting colts.

“I really enjoy being able to put my own solid foundations on young horses to get the best out of them,” he said. “I like being able to go through all the steps and take my time in starting them with good, solid fundamentals that will serve them throughout their ridden career.”

Jessica, on the other hand, really enjoys finishing out a show horse.

“It’s where you get down to the final details and teaching that horse to carry itself around with the slightest cues,” she explained. “I love working on different ways that will bring out the best in the horse – as it is probably going to be different from the last.”

Coaching will also be a big part of the Streit Show Horses program.

“I love to coach and teach, it’s one of my favorite parts to the job,” Jessica said. “I think being able to teach our customers how to ride their own horse, if that is something they would like to do, is a big part of our business, and I really enjoy giving them that experience.”

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Jessica Duffy is pictured (top) with her parents, Vicky Gough and Mich Duffy in Australia, where they still live. Below that, Jessica is pictured (right) as a child with one of the many miniature horses she worked with as a child and riding an imported mare by the name of Man What A Diva at National Pleasure Horse Association of Australia event.

Both Garrett and Jessica say every step along the way to where they are at this point in their career has helped mold them into the trainers they are today. Garrett counts his 2020 Kansas City Chiefs Superbowl ring as his most treasured possession and says his experience working with the team’s APHA mascot was invaluable. And they both are appreciative of the opportunities they have had while working with and for every trainer they have met along the way.

You can contact Garrett by calling (816) 345-0850 or Jessica at (940) 440-0196. You can also email them at streitshowhorses@gmail.com or connect with them via the Streit Show Horses Facebook page.

Open Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for a professional profile email Corrine Borton, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.

Robin LaB�

Amateur competitor Robin LaBar, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, has the right idea.

At 68 she’s at a point in life where she’s already completed a taxing but rewarding career, raised two children and supported a family business. These days, she says, she’s just thankful that she is still healthy enough to be able to work, do what she loves, go where she wants and do whatever she decides to do at the time.

“When I get the chance, I sit back, smell the coffee and give thanks for what is still good.” LaBar said. “My goal is to continue to enjoy the little and big things in life.”

And that goes for showing horses as well.

“My focus has been to create the best ride that I can, and to enjoy the journey,” LaBar explained. “I try not to sweat the end result. At the end of the day, two living, breathing entities do their best to become one and deliver the best performance they mutually can, subject another’s subjective opinion.”

Since joining the Ty Hornick Quarter Horses program, located in Jamestown, Ohio, a few years back, LaBar’s focus has been on Western Pleasure.

Karen Hornick found RL Sudden Melody (Perry) for LaBar at the 2015 AQHA World Show and brought the 2013 bay gelding by RL Best Of Sudden out of Potential Melody, back to Ohio.

“I fell in love immediately,” LaBar said. “Perry was a special horse who appropriately earned the nickname, ‘Perfect Perry’ around the show barn.”

In 2028 Robin and Perry won the Amateur Select Western Pleasure at the American Quarter Horse Association’s Level 1 East Championship.

“We took a wonderful journey in the world of Western Pleasure,” LaBar said. “He brought me and my show family, Karen and Ty Hornick and assistant, Lauren Louw, many ribbons, prizes, trophies and money.”

While the success was great, LaBar says the most special gift Perry gave her was his wonderful, can-do attitude and sweet and cheery nature.

“I will always cherish our special journey together,” she said.

Early in 2020 LaBar purchased her current show partner, KM BestNTheMoonlite (Louie), a 2017 bay gelding by RL Best Of Sudden out of Golden Moonlite,

“Louie has taught me so much about being correct in the saddle,” LaBar explained. “I am really enjoying my time with him and I am impressed with how he has become such a great competitor in the Western Pleasure arena.”

LaBar’s passion for horses goes back to when she was just a child.

“My aunt, who is six years older than me, received a horse for her birthday when she was a teenager,” LaBar said. “Her interest soon changed to boys, but my passion for horses was born.”

Sonny Boy became the object of Robin’s affection and she spent many

Pennsylvania competitor keeps the focus on enjoying all the little and big things in life, including horses

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos RG Photo & Shane Rux

happy days on her mother’s family farm, feeding and caring for him.

“Although I wasn’t allowed to ride him alone, my great grandfather would lead me around and we’d have great conversations,” LaBar said. “I was that girl who saved my allowance to buy model horses and dream about having my own some day.”

Robin grew up in Bangor, Pennsylvania and attended school there. Music was always an important aspect of her life and she began taking clarinet lessons in third grade.

“Space for the music program was limited in those days, so my lessons were in the local firehouse down the street form the elementary school,” she explained. “I began thinking of music as a career and added saxophone and piano as I entered secondary school. I participated in concert and

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Robin LaBar is pictured on the opposite page (top) with RL Sudden Melody at the AQHA Level 1 East Championship Show in 2018 and with her current show partmer, KM BestNTheMoonlite. On this page she is pictured (top) with her family and winning a trophy at the Tom Powers Futurity with RL Sudden Melody.

marching band from seventh to 12th grade, and assumed the role of student director as a senior. I also participated in choir during my high school years and joined the journalism club in my junior and senior years.

After high school LaBar attended West Chester University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education in 1975.

“Music was a very intense course of study, and much of my time was devoted to learning new instruments, performing in various performing groups and generally learning my craft,” she said. “In my sophomore year, I joined the Epsilon Kappa chapter of Alpha Phi, an international women’s fraternity. I became president in my senior year, and we worked very hard to transform an ailing chapter into a robust club. It was a wonderful leadership opportunity for us all.”

After graduation LaBar returned to Bangor, where she was hired as an elementary general music teacher and choir director and earned a Masters Equivalency by taking courses pertinent to her degree and profession from various universities. It was there that she met her husband, Brad, through a friend.

“We were married in 1978 and raised two beautiful children,” she said. “He passed away five years ago.”

LaBar retired from teaching in 2012 but continues to work as a receptionist in the family’s fuel delivery business, started by her grandfather and great uncles 80-plus years ago.

When she is not showing, LaBar enjoys spending time with her family. Her oldest daughter, Kelli and her husband, John Johnson live in North Carolina and Kelli is still active in the horse industry, previously showing AQHA events, and currently in the Appaloosa Club.

Robin’s son, David, lives near her with his wife, Amber and they have a daughter, Annabel Grace, who is a year old now.

“I work with my son and siblings, as well as cousins. We are all very close and support each other,” she said. “We share a sense of humor that gets us through our day.”

Robin’s life is busy but she makes sure to take the time to enjoy the journey, much of which comes from horses.

“I am always working to improve my riding skills and to achieve unity with my horse,” she said. “I enjoy my lessons with my trainers, Karen and Ty Hornick, and Rob Fowler, their assistant. Showing gives me the opportunity to apply my learned skills and to compete against my peers.”

Amateur Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for an amateur profile email Corrine Borton, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.

E�n Duque�e

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos Amanda Hampel & Cody Parmenter

Fourteen-year-old Erin Duquette loves just being at a horse show. It’s where her family members have built succesful careers and it’s where most all her friends can be found.

Erin is the daughter of Glencoe, Ontario Canada trainers Jason and Suzanne Duquette and the granddaughter of Texas trainers Dwayne and Amber (Hanson) Pickard. So, she was technically born into horses.

Erin got her start showing a pony named Ernie in Halter classes at the Alvinston Fair and then in Lead Line classes at American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) shows. From there, she graduated into the Small Fry division and then into Youth competition. Over the years she has had the opportunity to

show such nice horses as Gentlemens Club , Kauai Coastline, Ur Gunna Love Me This Girls Hot and Lazy N Happy.

In 2020 she teamed with Lazy N Happy (Happy), a 2015 black AQHA gelding, sired by Lazy Loper and out of Zips Fancy Fashion, to show in Western Pleasure and Horsemanship. They quickly became a great team, winning classes and circuit championships at major AQHA events. They recently earned Top 10 honors at the All American Quarter Horse Congress and Top 5 placings at the AQHA Level 1 Championships.

While she says she doesn’t really have a “favorite” show, she really enjoys the Harbor Classic in Luddington, Michigan and, of course, the Congress.

For this Ontario youth contender, family and friends are the driving force behind happiness in the show pen

Erin loves watching 2-yearold classes because she says it’s fun to watch talent develop.

“You get to see horses that have their future ahead of them,” she explained. “And, you might get to watch a future famous horse.”

The class she most enjoys competing in is Hunter Under Saddle.

“It’s so much fun” she said. “It has always been my favorite.”

She’s looking forward to next year when she will begin showing her new

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Erin Duquette is pictured on the opposite page with Lazy N Happy (top) and showing (inset) in Western Pleasure and in Horsemanship. On this page she is pictured (clockwise from top) with her show partners for next year, Lazy N Happy (left) and Itsa Afterhoursthing; at the 2022 Quarter Horse Congress; at her parents’ wedding in Cancun; with Amber Hanson Pickard at the AQHA World Show and with her dog, Celeste, at a show.

horse, Itsa Afterhoursething, a 2020 bay gelding sired by Itsa Southern Thing and out of Good After Hours, in 3-YearOld Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle and Youth Hunter Under Saddle classes.

“Hopefully, I will also get the chance to show in some Equitation as well,” she said.

Although Erin spends a lot of time at horse shows, she is also busy with her studies at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute, where she is a freshman.

But she also likes to ride at home.

“I have a large pony named Patrick that I love to take on trail rides and training my dogs is also a big part of my life,” she said. “I bring my bernadoodle, Celeste, to all the shows with us.”

And while she’s out longing her horse in preparation for a class, Erin says she likes to try and get the perfect picture of her horse loping on the lounge line.

Some people might be supersized to learn that Erin has two birds.

“Rango is a Sun Conure and Zoro is a Quaker Parrot,” she explained.

Erin says her favorite movie is Secretariat and she loves country music.

Although she has traveled extensively in the United States and Canada for horse shows and recently visited Cancun, Mexico, for her parents’ wedding, Erin says her dream vacation would be a trip to Tokyo.

Youth Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for a youth profile email Corrine Borton, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.

ON THE WEB

(www.instrideedition.com)

(IN) LIFE

AQHA competitor Jessica Merritt Hartwell and her husband, Travis, of Ocala, Florida, welcomed their second child, on Nov. 18. The new arrival, named Hyatt Lee, weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20-inches at birth. He joins a brother, Hayes Cooper

(IN) DEATH

AQHA Past President and American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Dr. Glenn Paul Blodgett, passed away on Nov. 20, due to a complication from surgery, leaving behind a legacy that helped write the history books for the Four Sixes Ranch and the American Quarter Horse. Born in Texas, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and completed veterinary school at Texas A & M University in 1974 and began working at the Spur Veterinary Hospital in Spur, Texas. Two years later, he returned to his Spearman, Texas, roots to open Hansford County Veterinary Hospital with Dr. Tom Latta. In 1982, Anne Marion of Burnett Ranches was looking for a good businessman, horseman and veterinarian, so she approached Dr. Blodgett to work for her as the resident veterinarian and manager for the Four Sixes Ranch horse division. Through their partnership, they developed a world-class, multi-tiered operation with some of the most elite race, performance, and working ranch horses available anywhere in the world. He is survived by his wife of 53 years Karen Blodgett: daughters, Buffie Guynes and Brandie Blodgett Mustian and husband Mike; grandchildren, Claire Guynes, Rebecca Guynes, Catherine Guynes, Myla Mustian and Maddox Mustian.

JON BARRY EXPECTED TO RECOVER AQHA/NSBA TRAINER, JUDGE SUFFERS SERIOUS INJURIES IN HORSE-RELATED ACCIDENT

Well-known trainer and judge Jon Barry, of Advance, Missouri, was seriously injured in a horse-related accident last month, and was airlifted to a trauma facility in Saint Louis, where he was diagnosed with broken collar bones, multiple rib fractures, a skull fracture and liver laceration.

Barry started showing horses in 1970 and established Jon Barry Training Stables in Advance in 1977. A carded judge with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), his training operation has focused on Western pleasure mostly, but has also recently added Ranch Riding and Reining. Last year Barry teamed with Oklahoma trainers Gil Galyean and Charles Cannizzaro to present the new Back To Berrien Futurity in Michigan.

His daughter, Marty Barry Lantz said that while her father’s injuries were substantial, she believes with time and patience he will recover.

“True to his passion for the industry he consistently asks about the horses and that the judges committee is aware that he is trying to get better,” she said. “We have a long road of recovery yet to travel. We are so thankful for everyone's prayers, thoughts, support, and concern in this time of need.”

HORSEMEN’S WEEKEND MICHIGAN STATE UNIV. EVENT FEATURES CLINICS

A Horsemen’s Weekend will be featured at the Michigan State University Pavilion Jan. 13 to 15, on the campus of Michigan State University in Lansing.

Several clinicians, educational speakers, and an equine rescue showcase will be featured at this year’s event.

HITCHING POST TRAILER DESTROYED IN FIRE IN ROUTE TO SHOW

Lisa Davis, owner of the Hitching Post Of Florida, lost her entire trailer in a freak accident driving to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala for an American Paint Horse Association (APHA) show recently.

Davis and her daughter, Kelsey Smith, have competed in American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) competition for years with Pinetree Quarter Horses.

“Now that it’s public knowledge I’d like to thank everyone who came to help mom today,” Smith posted on social media. “Her store caught on fire on the way to WEC and everything was lost. If you know my mom, this was her dream. I will be making a go fund me but until then I’ve attached her Venmo below. Any donations to help my mom rebuild will be so appreciated.

@Lisa – Davis – 120 (Venmo)

Saturday clinicians include Matt Lantz, Kevin Mackinder, and Taylor Fabus.

Austin and Garth Gooding, who together have produced hundreds of World and Congress champions throughout their careers, will present a clinic on Western Pleasure on Sunday, which will also feature an equine rescue showcase featuring several local Michigan rescues and their adoptable horses.

There will also be a Tack and Craft Sale the same weekend. Tickets will be sold at the door at $30/each which includes Saturday and Sunday. Discounts will be offered for groups of fiveplus and military. There is limited availability for participation in both the Horsemanship and Western Pleasure clinics Pricing includes a single stall and weekend admission for a single person. This could be a great present for a horse lover this upcoming holiday season.

For additional information join the MSUHA Horsemen’s Weekend on Facebook, or contact MSU Horsemen’s Association: https://www.msuha.com/

ASSOCIATIONS

HALL OF FAME ADDS SIX (IN) APHA NEWS

TThe newest class of APHA Hall of Fame inductees will be honored June 30, in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of the APHA Hall of Fame & Awards Celebration. They are:

RH Mr Imprint—This 1994 sorrel overo stallion was a three-time world and reserve world champion at halter and a top APHA sire. He was owned by Phil and Sue Drawdy of Fort Pierce, Florida.

Un Zip Me—The 1987 black overo mare earned 10 Amateur world and reserve world championships in Western pleasure, trail, Western riding and showmanship, along with three world and national titles in Open Western pleasure. She was owned by Harlene and Russell Rowe of Long Beach, California.

Lynn Simons—A successful trainer, breeder and exhibitor from Aubrey, Texas, the late visionary was influential in establishing APHA as a top breed organization.

Fred Tabor—Involved since the 1970s, the horseman established Tabor Ranch in California and Texas, where he bred, trained and showed champion halter horses. Recently retired, he now resides in Rancho Murieta, California.

Pat Trebesch—A supporter of APHA for more than 50 years, the horseman from Aubrey, Texas, is respected as an APHA breeder, exhibitor and former trainer, judge and coach.

Craig Wood—The former APHA president from Owenton, Kentucky, is a Paint breeder, judge and Professional Horseman and was instrumental in guiding APHA.

About APHA: About APHA The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.

TESTING EXPANDED AQHA ADDS MYHM DISEASE TO GENETIC HEALTH PANEL

Myosin-heavy chain myopathy is a genetic muscle disease that can result in two distinct clinic disease presentations that both involve muscle loss or damage and are linked to the same genetic variant. Screening for MYHM is now included in the American Quarter Horse Association’s genetic health panel. MYHM was added to the panel following a member-submitted rule-change proposal made to the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee.

At the 2022 AQHA Convention, the Stud Book and Registration Committee approved the addition of MYHM to the genetic health panel, with the rule change forwarded to and approved by the AQHA Board of Directors.

Facts regarding the genetic health panel for MYHM: For horses tested through AQHA, MYHM will automatically be included in the results for tests ordered after Dec. 1.

Breeding stallions tested after Jan. 1, must have the complete panel, including MYHM, before offspring can be registered; stallions tested before Jan. 1, who already have the 5-panel test

results recorded with AQHA are not required to retroactively add MYHM.

Horse owners who want to add MYHM to existing health panel results have the option to add it to their horse’s record so long as the original hair sample is still available and viable for testing; the cost to add MYHM to existing panel results is being offered at a discounted rate of $20.

MYHM is being offered separately to add on to existing 5panel results for a limited time. Once that limited-time offer expires, MYHM will only be offered in the full genetic health panel through AQHA.

To learn more about MYHM and other genetic mutations, refer to www.aqha.com/genetics.

If a horse is affected, consult with your veterinarian or other equine health care professional for managing your horse’s needs. Learn more about MYHM at www.aqha.com/myhm, a part of the new AQHA genetic health online resource.

The National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) and the NSBA Foundation have announced that applications are now open for the 2023 Coaches Summit. The Coaches Summit is a workshop presented as a special project of the NSBA Foundation for equine industry professionals, therapeutic riding center coaches, staff, volunteers or anyone interested in exploring opportunities for the engagement and expansion of current or new riding programs for Equestrians with Disabilities. The three-day program features instruction from industry professionals, post-secondary educators, therapeutic riding instructors and business and industry professionals.

The 2023 Coaches Summit will be held at the Temple

Grandin Equine Center at CSU Spur in Denver, Colorado, Feb. 2022. Applications are open Dec. 1 to Jan. 15.

Focus points for the program include exploring the value of competition to therapeutic riding centers, their staff, and the riders and families they serve, as well as networking with therapeutic riding professionals and professional horseman alike. PATH Intl. Certified Professionals can receive continuing education credits for attending the Coaches Summit as outlined in their certification requirements.

For more information about the NSBA Coaches Summit, visit nsba.com/special-projects. For more about the Temple Grandin Equine Center, visit csuspur.org/tgec.

Armellini, Stephanie .......................30, 32

Backes QH ...............................18-19, 53

Baker Futurity Horses .............................53

Baker Show Horses .............................2-3

Bar H Photography ...............................57

Barger QH ...........................................53

Barry, Jon .............................................57

Blue Ribbon Tack .................................53

Boo Yah Custom Clothing .......................55

Boxell, John .........................................54

Briere, Pierre ........................................53

Britton, Blake .......................................52

Burris, Tony ..........................................52

CAC Show Horses ................................52

Capital Qtr Horses ...............................59

Caplinger Qtr Horses .............................56

Chafin Perf. Horses ..............................55

Coast To Coast Trailers ............................56

Corrival Ranch ................................24-25

CR Ranchwear .....................................54 CT QH .................................................54

Elite Trailers .........................................55

Equine Healthcare Int ..............................6

English Show Horses..............................53

Fisher, Alan ..........................................57

Folck Insurance ....................................57

Galyean, Gil ........................................54

Garcia Quarter Horses ...........................54

Glover/Galyean ...................................56

Golden West ........................................53

Gumz Farms ........................................56

Harris Leather ................................37, 54

Horn, Ron ............................................55

Jeff Kirkbride Photography .....................54

Jones, Chris & Melissa .............................56

JML Design ..........................................53

Kathy’s Tails ..........................................54

Kendalls Western Hats ...........................52

Kennedy, Kathie ...................................55

Knelly, Laura ........................................53

Kungle, Talor .......................................BC

Lakins, Kenny ......................................52

March To The Arch ...............................41

McLendon, Farley ..................................5

Parrish Quarter Horses ...........................55

Pickard/Hanson Show Horses....FC, 10-15

Pilot Knob ............................................52

Powers, Tom ........................................57

Recchiuti, Donnie ................................54

Richland Ranch .....................................9

Roberts, Alyse ..................................... 52

Roberts Quarter Horses ..........................53

Ryan Geiger Photography ......................56

Shane Rux Photography .........................57

Starland Ranch .........................FC, 12-15

Starnes Insurance Agency ......................56 Sweet Shop ..........................................56

Terlizzi Show Horses .......................44-45

The Breeding Barn ..........................16-19

Voge Qtr Horses ....................................7

Wheeler Show Horses ............................52

Williams, Kathy ...................................52

Darci’s Show Horses .............................55

Davis, Wayne & Judy ............................55

Dickerson Show Horses .......................57

Dobbs Insurance ..................................52

Leeman Farms ......................................55

Looney Show Horses ......................30-31

Malone QH .........................................54

Zeitler, Mark & Judy .............................57

Zuidema Perf Horses .............................57