InStride Edition - February 2024

COVER STORY

PRETTY ASSETS 12-17

By Corrine S. Borton

Photos by Avid Photography

FEATURES

HORSE CENTS: HORSE COUNCIL

UNVEILS RESULTS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY 21-22

By AHC

MAKE IT OFFICIAL: PHBA

OFFERS SPECIAL RATES ON REGISTRATION 30

By Corrine S. Borton

EVENTS

FUN IN THE SUN: CELEBRATES 10 YEARS IN FLORIDA 50-51

Photos by Jeff Kirkbride

REGULAR COLUMNS PROFESSIONALS 40-41

Cody Conover

YOUTH 44-45

Ava Hathaway

“INSIDE” HEALTH 47-48

By Brian Burks

DVM

“INSIDE” LAW 53

By Katherine Jarve

THE BUZZ 58 ASSOCIATION NEWS 56

FEBRUARY, 2024

ADVERTISING SALES

ADVERTISING SALES

Courtney B. Ament

Deanna Green Willis

WEBSITE ADVERTISING

Courtney B. Ament

TECHNICAL ANALYST

Brent Adam Borton

CIRCULATION

Lenora B. Sheppard

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS

Courtsey Designs

Denise Hawkins

Emajes

Hampel Designs

Jakovich Marketing

Superlative Equine

Valor Designs

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Courtney Borton Ament

Corrine S. Borton

COLUMNISTS

Brian Burks

Katherine Jarve

COPY & RESEARCH

Lenora B. Sheppard

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Courtney B. Ament

Avid Photography

Eye Of The Horse Photography

Lindsay Hanewich

Jeff Kirkbride

Cody Parmenter

Shane Rux

With Pretty Assets at the center of her small, powerful program Meghan Tierney produces results

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos

Avid Photography

It’s breeding season and in print, social media and conversations across the United States and abroad, it’s stallions, stallions, stallions. Who sires the best dispositions? Can I duplicate that stallion’s balance and topline? What get to trainers prefer?

But what about the mares?

As most savvy breeders agree, the dam contributes more to a foal than its sire. So why don’t we see broodmares featured front and center in advertising?

That’s a question Florida AQHA breeder Meghan Tierney has been asking herself.

“I started thinking ... mares are at least 50% (arguably more) responsible for the result of that foal. Most everyone will agree that the dam ends up mattering more than the top side of the papers anyway, and yet we barely market and showcase the mares as breeders. I know it’s a bold statement to make, but I think it’s time to shake things up a bit. If the boys can do it, why can’t we?”

The answer? They can.

This story is about Tierney’s young but dynamic breeding program – one in which she is quick to point out is just getting started at a time many others are throwing in the towel. At the center of that burgeoning operation is Pretty Assets (Lacey), a 2013 bay mare by Allocate Your Assets out of Art I Pretty (AQHA Hunter Under Saddle Reserve World Champion, NSBA World Champion and Congress Reserve Champion). Bred by Rebecca Bailey, Pretty Assets got her own show career started by winning the Hunter Yearling Longe Line at the 2014 All American Quarter Horse Congress. She went on to capture AQHA World and Reserve World Champion titles in Hunter Under Saddle as well as numerous National Snaffle Bit Association World Championship and Quarter Horse Congress titles. Her lifetime earnings surpass $61,000.

Tierney purchased Lacey in 2016 to be her amateur partner at the suggestion of North Carolina trainer Keith Miller.

“I had never seen a hunt seater like her before,” she said. “Setting aside the flashiness of her bald face and four white legs at a time where nothing like

s

that was typically seen in an AQHA Hunter Under Saddle pen. She always has had, and still possesses this undeniable presence and athleticism that I’ve yet to recreate in anything other than her offspring.”

And speaking of her offspring, there are few mares, even stallions with percentages as high as that of Pretty Assets. Tierney says one after another Lacy’s foals have been great minded, and easy horses to get ready and be around.

“Every single owner and trainer that have had the pleasure of training and showing a Pretty Assets foal all agreed that they’re the best of the best, physically and mentally,” she said.

Take a look for yourself.

Lacey’s first foal, Hello Pretty, arrived in 2017. The doubled registered (AQHA/APHA) bay mare, sired by Hes A Cool Hotrod, won the Hunter Longe Line at the 2018 Tom Powers Futurity and went on to earn amateur and youth points in AQHA and APHA.

Both Enticed and Born With Assets followed in 2018.

Enticed, a bay stallion by Its A Southern Thing is a multiple NSBA World Champion, Congress Champion and AQHA World Champion. He has earned 109 performance points in Hunter Under Saddle and Western Riding and has lifetime earnings surpassing $35,000.

Born With Assets, a sorrel mare sired by The Born Legacy, won the 2023 Quarter Horse Congress Open Versatility Stakes class. She has AQHA points in Halter, Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle and Equitation and lifetime earnings of $7,201.

Shes Southbound, a 2019 sorrel mare out of Pretty Assets and sired by Its A Southern Thing, won the 2021 NSBA

2-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle at the Championship Show in Ocala, Florida and has lifetime earnings of over $4,000.

In 2020 Pretty Assets foals included Pretty Dang Good and Real Southern Assets.

Pretty Dang Good, a bay gelding by Good Better Best won the Breeders Championship Futurity Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line at the 2021 NSBA World Championship Show and was Reserve in the Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line. In 2022 he won the Breeders Championship Futurity 2-Year-Old Open Sale Graduate Incentive of $10,553 at the NSBA World Championship Show and was Reserve in the 2-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle. Last year Pretty Dang

Good was Reserve Champion in the 3-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle Futurity at the Quarter Horse Congress as well as in the Southern Belle Futurity portion of that class. He ended the year by winning the Level 2 Junior Hunter Under Saddle as well as the Level 2 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Stakes at the AQHA World Championship Show.

Real Southern Assets, a bay gelding by Its A Southern Thing, won both the Breeders Championship Futurity 2-YearOld Limited Non-Pro and Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle at the 2022 NSBA World Show. At the Quarter Horse Con-

gress that same year he won the Level 1 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. Last year, Real Southern Assets won the 3-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle and the Breeders Championship Futurity 3-YearOld Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle at the NSBA World Show.

Down In The South and Pretty Lil Outlaw were foaled in 2022.

Down In The South, a doubled registered (AQHA/APHA) bay gelding sired by Its A Southern Thing, won both the Color Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line and the Breeders Championship Futurity Color Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line at the 2023 NSBA World Show. He was also Reserve Champion there in the Limited Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line and the Breeders Championship Futurity Limited Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line. He already has lifetime earnings of more than $8,400.

Pretty Lil Outlaw is a bay mare by Outlaw Enterprise. She placed seventh in the Open Hunter Longe Line at the 2023 Quarter Horse Congress, earning $645.

Several other Pretty Assets foals are still awaiting their show debut.

Pretty Darn Southern, a bay gelding sired by Its A Southern Thing arrived in 2021. And last year’s foal crop included PrettyIzAsPrettyDoes, a bay mare by Its A Southern Thing and Coded Pretty, a red roan mare by VS Code Red.

In all Pretty Asset is the dam of 12 foals, eight of which

Meghan Tierney is pictured on the opposite page with Pretty Assets. Inset photos of Keith Miller riding Lacey to a Breeders Championship Futurity win at the NSBA World Show in 2016 and Tierney in her win shot from the AQHA World Show later that same year, where she claimed a Reserve Championship in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. Pretty Assets’ winning foals (pictured left to right) include: Enticed; Born With Assets; Shes Southbound; Pretty Dang Good; Real Southern Assets; and Down In The South. Pictured on this page (top) is Meghan’s 3year-old contender The Social Enterprise (Angel Baby). s

have already earned a total of $125,033. Four of her babies have earned a total of 166 AQHA points as well.

Tierney is expecting two Pretty Assets foals this year – by What Matters Most and VS Code Red – at her private, 15-acre farm located in the heart of horse country in Reddick, Florida. It’s where she keeps her broodmares and a few young performance prospects and Meghan’s fiance, professional trainer JD Koffel keeps his training horses there as well.

“He is without a doubt the hardest worker I know, the most dedicated man in the world, and you will never find a more honest and kind human,” Tierney said. “He basically is my constant daily inspiration of how I can better myself every day.”

Tierney describes their operation as a full service facility.

“Between JD and I, we basically can cover just about any service,” she said. “Were a small and private fully operating breeding and foaling farm and JD can fulfill any and all sales and training needs.”

For the most part, Meghan and JD do everything from cleaning stalls to building breeding stocks.

“We do have one employee, Aubriann Scowden, who has worked for us for almost a year and a half now while she’s completing her animal science degree at the University of Florida. She not only helps us in the day to day stuff, but she also comes and stays in the house on the farm while we are away horse showing,” Tierney said. “I cannot describe how much peace of mind she brings us when were gone because I know I can trust her with our home and horses.”

Tierney’s goal is to develop a program in which she can make a living raising and selling quality foals.

“Afterall, it’s not cheap to keep a roof over your head nowadays, but I keep hoping that one day I’ll get to breed and keep one for myself.”

While Pretty Assets is the cornerstone of her breeding program, Tierney and her mother, Melissa Hendrix, also own three other mares together. Bedecked N Bedazzled, a 2012 brown mare by Its All About Blue out of a

thoroughbred mare (Duplicated Girl). She will be bred to Outlaw Enterprise this year. Bedecked N Bedazzled is the dam of Meghan’s 3-year-old contender, The Social Enterprise (Angel Baby), by Iron Enterprise.

“I bought her (Angel Baby) and her pasture mate as a package when they were weanlings,” Tierney explained. “I sold the other filly to my friend, Kristy Wagner, and kept Angel Baby for myself. She was bred by Kelly Rager, of Ohio. Originally named Lila, she soon became the heart horse I never expected. After the first two times she almost died I started calling her my “angel baby” because she liked to visit heaven so often. She gave me one more bad scare and has escaped death three times now. She is the light of my life and has retaught me how to love horses like I used to as a little girl. I like her so much that we tracked down her dam and bought her too.”

Tierney and Hendrix also own Peaceful Eazy Feelin, a 2020 double registered (AQHA/APHA) sorrel mare, sired by Peace Out Man and out of Captured My Checkbook, who is in foal to Enticed for a foal this year. They also own World Champion producer No Doubt Shes Hot, a chestnut mare by No

Doubt Im Lazy who is one of the last daughters of Sheza Hot Cookie. She is expecting a Made For It foal this year.

Tierney is the first to admit that breeding horses is not for the faint of heart.

“Putting aside all the complications and devastations that can occur, it’s long hours, late nights, early mornings, and can have a lot of disappointments along the way,” she explained. “However, I’d put money on the fact that there is no greater joy than watching a foal you bred winning a title. I’d almost say it’s more fulfilling than winning the trophy yourself. It makes the not so fun parts all worth it in the end.”

Tierney has built her breeding program with patience, trying to learn lessons along the way. For example, after some trial and error, she has decided she’d rather control the offspring of Pretty Assets.

“I stopped offering her to the public about five years ago,” she explained. “The demand got to be too much and there was no way to satisfy all that wanted one. I also enjoy having a hand on the controls when it comes to who shes bred to, where the resulting foal goes, and who ends up owning said baby. I’ve sold foals in utero in recent

years, but there will be no Pretty Assets embryo rights sold.”

Tierney says she loves having her mares with her and that they all have their own individual personalities, especially Pretty Assets.

“Lacey is the quintessential queen,” she admitted. “She knows she’s special. She knows she’s important and is not afraid to remind you of her status. Lacey is a mare that demands two things in life: respect, and Mrs. Pasture’s cookies. Anything much past that, she could not care less about. She’s never been particularly cuddly and does not want to be anyone’s pet. She is everyone’s boss, and will be until the end.”

Building a successful breeding program has been Tierney’s

ttt

dream for as long as she can remember. Born in Alpharetta, Georgia, she grew up on a small farm surrounded by horses, sheep, goats and turkeys.

Tierney studied business management and non-profit organization management at High Point University in North Carolina where she also earned a degree in Spanish linguistics. She says she is a fourth-generation horse crazy girl. Her grandmother used to do the huge cattle drives across states in the midwest. But it’s her mother, Melissa Hendrix, who introduced Meghan to the horse show life.

“My mother is the most amazing human to ever walk the planet, she said. “She has earned several World Championship titles and has done her fair share of winning.”

In fact, Hendrix won the Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle at the 2016 American Quarter Horse Association’s Level 1 East Championship Show.

Because of her mother’s involvement with horses Meghan started out pretty much where everyone does, at local fair shows and doing anything and everything on a horse.

“A lot of my younger years were spent running barrels on my childhood horse, Mojo, who later on turned into a professional pony horse to the stars,” she explained. “It was important for us to find a spot for Mojo in the show world, even if he was never going to be a show horse.”

Meghan quickly graduated to breed shows and futurities and over the years has earned numerous Quarter Horse Congress championship titles as well as NSBA World Championship titles and Breeders Championship Futurity wins.

“So far I’ve won a majority of my trophies in the Hunter Under Saddle and Longe Line pen,” she said, “but I do have a few from Western Pleasure too.”

In addition to all the work that comes along with managing a breeding program - selecting matches, ushering new foals into the world and caring for mares and foals - Tierney spends a lot of her time working in other aspects of the horse industry. She helps several management companies put on horse shows across the United States, including at the Virginia Spring Breakout where she and Cameron Van Sickle organize the Virginia Maiden.

Meghan and JD have thought a lot about their future and try to focus on their mission.

“We’d like to keep JD’s core group of customers, keep my breeding operation going and growing, and end up in a place where we can own and train our own personal horses, while not sacrificing our family life,” Tierney said.

You can contact Meghan Tierney via her personal Facebook page or by calling (973) 303-6804.

Meghan’s broodmares are pictured on the opposite page (clockwise from upper left): Pretty Assets; No Doubt Shes Hot, Peaceful Eazy Feelin and Bedecked N Bedazzled. On this page (top) Meghan’s 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle contender The Social Enterprise. Below that she is pictured with fiance, JD Koffel.

Make It Official

PHBA offers reduced rates for registration through April 30

Text Corrine S. Borton

If you have not yet registered your yearling or older horses with the Palomino Horse Breeders of America, now is the time to act.

For the next two months, the PHBA is offering discounted registration fees to all members.

“The association has been offering the discounted registration program for many years now,” said General Manager Terri Green. “The decision to continue it recently is due to the inflation brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Green said the association feels the program helps to get more people to register their palomino and palomino bred horses.

And the program has paid off.

“We do have people that hold off to register their horses until the special runs,” Green explained.

The registration special applies to all registration types - regular registry as well as Palomino bred horses.

Now through April 30, eligible yearlings can be registered and receive papers for just $60. The fee for eligible horses that are 2-years-old and over is $80.

Horses registered with the American Morgan Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association, American Saddlebred Horse Association, Arabian Horse Association, Jockey Club (Thoroughbred), International Morab Registry, American Paint Horse Association, Appaloosa Horse Club, Mountain Pleasure Horse Association, Rocky Mountain Horse Association, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, the American Holsteiner Horse Association, and the United Quarab Registry are eligible to apply for regular registry provided the horse meet color and white rules.

If your horse is not eligible for registration with one of these breed associations, then your horse will fall under the Color/Conformation rules.

Color/Conformation horses: 35mm pictures - (clear full view front, back,

each side, and any additional close-ups of white markings, brands, scars, etc.) must accompany the application. Polaroid photographs are not accepted.

In 2011, the PHBA introduced the Palomino Bred registration category, which allows horses with at least one PHBA registered parent to be registered, regardless of the horse’s color.

The PHBA provides recreational, financial and competitive rewards for every age group, and classes for novice, amateur, youth and open competitors. Classes range from halter to Jumping, Horsemanship to Driving, Cutting to Saddle Seat, Pole Bending to Reining, Parade Horse and Barrel Racing. In addition, there are many opportunities for trail riders and youth, as well as incentives for stallion owners.

To be eligible for any of the registration discounts offered through April 30,

the owner/applicant must be a PHBA member in good standing.

“It’s a great time to take advantage of the discounted fees,” Green said.

PHBA maintains records on more than 93,000 horses and owners, more than 250,000 horse show entries, and over five hundred horse shows. PHBA provides recreational, financial, and competitive rewards for every age group, extending more than 900 approved classes for amateurs, novice/amateur, youth and open programs. Classes range from halter to jumping, horsemanship to driving, cutting to saddle seat, pole bending to reining, and barrel racing.

For additional information on the discounted registration program, to obtain applications for registration or membership visit the association’s website at www.palominohba.com.

Let’s all help make exhibitors feel welcome

Happy New Year Everyone

As we move forward into the 2024 show season I would like to congratulate you for a successful 2023.

The World Show has grown in both number of horses and entries over recent years. We’ve tried a few new class additions, Amateurs came up with a special event Showmanship and AQHA Ranch classes were part of the class roster. Amateur halter was blessed with additional monies sponsored by the Bradshaw’s. We also had numerous other added money performance classes sponsored which is greatly appreciated.

Please make a note to reach out and thank each and every sponsor PHBA had in 2023, when you do ask them to consider being involved in 2024.

With the PHBA National Convention fast approaching the date is March 6-10 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our National Directors and committee members will discuss any rule change proposals that would go into effect beginning in 2025.

The Annual awards banquet will also take place for PHBA’s top honor roll horses and exhibitors in youth, amateur and open. The close of convention will end my year serving as president and the new president will take the reins. Let’s all continue to pursue the best possible path for PHBA.

There will be some shows coming up soon, Jan. 19-21 Dixie National Color Bonanza, Jackson, Mississippi and then Feb. 2-3 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. I’m hoping you can support and enjoy these two great shows. Stop by the PHBA website for the show schedule and other upcoming events.

We can have successful shows in 2024 if we invite exhibitors, make them welcome and thank them for attending.

Teamwork drives the success of the Amateur club

With 2023 in the rearview mirror, I would like to highlight some of our amateur successes, that aren't possible without great teamwork. The PHBA National Convention was one of these, where we worked hard, yet had tons of fun. We had our best benefit auction in years, which put us in great shape for receiving our beautiful 2023 year-end championship awards. Everyone came excited, and I loved how everyone dressed up and made it a festive awards night. We all have fond memories of the friends and shows we have attended throughout the year. Our PHBA family is the best.

The PHBA World Show was also a booming, festive event, where we worked hard, yet had plenty of time for fun. The new Showmanship Shoot Out class was a highly successful "can't-miss" event, and fun for all exhibitors and spectators. I look forward to seeing the new theme and creativity in place for this class in 2024. With this amateur group, nothing is impossible!

Another epic event was our annual "Street Party" which is always fun. Each year this reminds me of the good food, street dancing, and singing, that is also part of many APA gatherings, where you might find a good game of dominoes, hearts, or even a chess game. I want to send a heartfelt thank you to Terry and Tammy Bradshaw for their generous contribution for the World Show Amateur halter classes. Your generosity is appreciated every year. Last, but not least, I want to thank the Affiliate Palomino Associations (APAs) that sent fantastic baskets to be raffled off at the World Show as another fundraiser for more amateur activities. If you didn’t send one in 2023, please start planning now for your APA's 2024 World Show basket and let’s make them even better this year.

As we prepare for the PHBA National Convention March 6-9 in Tulsa Oklahoma, I hope everyone will start making plans to attend. We will begin with a complimentary reception Thursday night with live entertainment this year. Friday night will be our Live Auction, so please bring your pocketbook, because the items will be amazing. Saturday night will be our epic awards banquet, to celebrate everyone's successes. Please make sure to attend our amateur meeting, where we will all take a look at the new rule proposals and how they might affect our showing. It is open for all amateurs to attend and voice your opinion. While in Tulsa, please stop by and visit our amateur exhibit at the Palomino Horse Breeders (PHB) Heritage Foundation Museum where you will find a great collection of PHBA memorabilia, both past and present

As the National Convention adjourns, I hope we will leave Tulsa as a team that will help carry PHBA to our most fun and profitable year ever. Get your dues paid early, your novice credentials in early, and start planning for your show schedule in the year 2024. Show have already started in January and will continue until the last show in December.

PHBA youth members invited to convention

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas and a happy new year. With 2024 here let me share with you what your Youth Board has been doing and what we are planning for this new show season.

Once again we will have the Leadline class at a reduced price at our World Show. This was made possible again because of two amazing sponsors. We are all so thankful for the support of our active members, we could not do it without your support. Hopefully, some of those youth entrants will grow up to follow in the footsteps of our greatest supporters.

Next up on March 6-9, we will have our PHBA National Convention. The convention will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where all Youth, Amateur, and Open PHBA members are welcome. Year-end awards will be presented for the 2023 show season and adjustments to our rule book will also be made here. If you haven’t had a chance to attend you’re missing out on a good time. The convention is a great way to meet new and longtime members, share ideas, work through suggestions to better our show experience, and recognize accomplishments. The convention is always a fun time. So step away from work or school schedule for a few days and hang out with your horse show family. Plus, this year there will be live music on Thursday night so do not forget your dancing shoes.

After the convention, we will once again be returning to the MidWest Horse Fair April 19-21. Attending this event is a fantastic opportunity to show off our amazing palomino horses and our organization’s history with over 60,000 attendees. I am very excited to attend again because we had so much fun last year. One change we made this year will be the addition of awarded scholarships to youth who want to attend this event which will help ease the burden of rising costs associated with travel. To be considered for a scholarship please submit a short essay on how this scholarship will help you at the Horse Fair. For more information go to our PHBA Youth Facebook page.

Our Youth Board and our amazing Youth Advisors have also been working on a new type of outreach this year. We are crafting materials about our organization to be shared with 4-H extension offices and FFA chapters across the country. Our goal is to reach a group of youth who have never crossed the PHBA boosting numbers, sharing talent, and further expanding the growth of our organization. If you have any contacts that can support our effort, please reach out.

A special thank you to my Youth Board and our Youth Advisors. None of our success would be possible without you. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know on our PHBA-Y Facebook page, and don’t forget to stay up-to-date with content on palominohba.com.

RESPIRATORY HEALTH

by Brian Burks

Actions you can take to keep your older arthritic horse comfortable

Horses are comfortable in temperatures much lower than humans prefer. In the absence of wind and moisture, horses tolerate temperatures at or slightly below 0° F. If horses have access to a shelter, they can tolerate temperatures as low as -40° F. But horses are most comfortable at temperatures between 18° and 59° F, depending on their hair coat.

Horses evolved as plains animals, well-equipped to deal with wind, cold, and snow.

Nonetheless, horse owners like to protect their charges from the elements, often building barns to keep them sheltered and warm. In times past, horses were only in barns at night, after being outside working during the days. Now, horses may be in a barn for 23 hours, with only a single hour of exercise.

Barns are built for warmth and protection more than for air flow and ventilation. When evaluating air quality, airborne particles in numbers greater than 2.4 mg/cubic meter (M3) of air have been shown to increase the incidence of airway disease. Most barns measure 40–60 mg/M3. The breathing zone of the horse during feeding time is often 30–40 times higher. Particles include dust, endotoxin, mold spores, ammonia, and silica from arena dust. Hay has been measured to contain 19.3 mg/M3 and bedding, especially straw bedding, can be in that range or higher, making hay and bedding major contributors. This may result in destruction of the epithelial lining of the airways and contribute to the development of equine asthma.

ercise during cold weather has been shown to cause airway diseases like asthma; repeated exercise causes chronic airway inflammation. Some studies suggest that 25-80 percent of stabled horses suffer from equine asthma. Clinical signs include coughing and snorting, decreased performance, labored breathing, nasal discharge, and abnormal lung sounds. Due to the size of the equine lung, clinical signs are not apparent until many airways are involved; many more horses are affected than can be detected. Foreign material causes airway inflammation, thickening the bronchial walls and reducing blood oxygen. Symptoms can be treated, but the underlying poor air quality must be changed, or the lung capacity may be dramatically reduced,

Some studies suggest that 25-80 percent of stabled horses suffer from equine asthma. Clinical signs include coughing and snorting, decreased performance, labored breathing, nasal discharge, and abnormal lung sounds.

taking weeks to months to recover.

Horses have a respiratory system that functions extremely well during exercise. A horse’s respiratory rate can increase from 12 breaths per minute to more than 150 bpm. Tidal volume (TV), the volume of air that is inhaled and exhaled with a normal breath, ranges from 4–7 liters per breath at rest but increases to 12 liters during strenuous exercise. Minute volume (MV) is the total volume of air inhaled and exhaled per minute (MV = TV X RR). Horses at rest have MV averaging 100 liters per minute, but during very hard work, MV averages an astounding 1,500 liters per minute. Even at rest, this is a tremendous amount of air flow into and out of the lungs. When the air being inhaled contains high numbers of respirable organic particles, the potential for irritation is high. Add exercise on top of that, such as training in an indoor arena during the winter, and the increased respiration rate causes deeper penetration of particulate matter.

The frigid air of winter can cause additional problems. Ex-

A horse’s respiratory system is designed to warm and humidify air as it enters the nose before it reaches the lungs. A horse asked to exert energy and work must deepen his breaths, which does not allow the air enough time to warm up before it reaches the lungs. Horses can warm the air in temperatures as low as 20 degrees F, but below this temperature, damage to the epithelium occurs. Airways that have undergone repeated challenge with unconditioned air have incomplete repair and squamous metaplasia of these airways.

When the exercise intensity is increased, the volume of air passing through the upper airway becomes too great to adequately condition. When this unconditioned air reaches the lungs, there is a loss of heat and water from the surface of the lower airways. The result is a cold and dehydrated lower airway prone to cell injury. Loss of water from the airway is a poorly recognized contributor to dehydration in the horse and dehydration is a major cause of fatigue and poor performance.

• Using equine appropriate nose masks while jogging may help keep the airway warm and hydrated, much like a face mask does for people.

• Wait for a warmer part of the day to exercise your horse.

• Ensure that your horse is up to date with vaccination for equine respiratory diseases.

• Take the horse’s temperature daily as an increase in

LUNGS (continued)

temperature may be the earliest sign of an infectious problem.

• Improve air quality in the barn by using the following recommendations:

• Improving overall ventilation by opening windows ajar and using ceiling fans and duct filters to remove airborne particles.

• Storing winter hay supplies in a building or shed separate from the horse barn so moving the hay does not create more dust that will settle in the barn.

• Mucking out stalls daily to minimize ammonia buildup in the barn’s air.

• Providing turn out time as frequently as possible, especially when barn chores may be raising more dust.

Cold weather and poor air quality can affect the ability of your horse to perform to potential. While the former cannot be controlled, the latter can be greatly affected by leaving horses outside, especially in dry weather. Keeping airflow and clean air in the barn during wet weather when horses must be inside will help to prevent long term lung problems.

Dr. Brian Burks grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of California, where he was active in the 4-H club, specifically canine obedience and rabbitry. In an effort to realize his dream of becoming a veterinarian, he began to work as a veterinary assistant for Dr. Michael Stabbe at Clovis Equine Clinic. During this time he attended California State University, Fresno. Burks is a graduate of Oklahoma State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In preparation for a residency program, he completed an internship at Equine Medical Associates, outside of St. Louis, Missouri. After an internal medicine residency at the University of Georgia, he came to Fox Run Equine Center in Apolo, Pennsylvania, in 1998. You can reach him by calling (724) 727-3481.

Ava Ha�away

Michigan competitor has had her share of ups and downs

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos Eye Of The Horse Photography, Shane Rux & Lindsay Hanewich

Sixteen-year-old Ava Hathaway, of Coldwater, Michigan knows all too well what a roller-coaster ride showing horses at the top level can be. She’s had her share of bumps along the way but staying focused, patient and determined she has also learned that there are just as many high points as there are lows.

Like many, Hathaway got her feet wet in the Small Fry Division with Hour Radical Valentine, a 2004 sorrel mare by The Radical Hour out of Rio Skippa Sally, competing in Showmanship, Horsemanship Trail and Western Pleasure.

She snatched her first Quarter Horse Congress Championship in 2018 with KCees Cruise Missile, a 1998 bay gelding by KCees Lethal Weapon out of Timely Rumorz, winning the 11 & Under Youth Showmanship.

“It was extremely unexpected and a surreal moment for me,” she said. “Cruiser was truly a wonder-horse, as in 2018 we brought him out of a 10-year retirement to show in all- around events.”

And in the five years that followed, Hathaway has had the opportunity to show such decorated horses as Certainly On Sundi, Stop And Stare and Al Eyes On My Assets and Pure Lotto, to name a few.

But in 2001 she found herself on the hunt for a new show partner to carry her into the 14-18 Youth Division.

And that’s where I Will Be A Good RV entered the picture.

Affectionately called Boo, the 2013 bay mare by Good I Will Be out of Ill Be Dun Won It, was owned by family friends, Richard and Betty Carr, of Bremen, Indiana and Richard Carr

had been competing with her in Amateur Select Western Pleasure classes. Richard was on the hunt for a new show partner and thought Boo had the potential to become a successful all-around contender so they offered to lease her to Hathaway after the 2021 AQHA World Show and she was eventually purchased by Hathaway’s family.

“She really took to the all-around events naturally and we were really becoming a great team,” Hathaway explained.

Showing undre the guidance of Beckey Schooler, Kyle Dougherty and Austin Lester at Beckeys Showplace/Showplace Farms, they headed off to the 2022 Congress feeling prepared and ready to compete in a myraid of youth classes.

Things were going well too. The new team placed third in Youth Horsemanship 12-14; fourth in Level 1 Youth Trail 1418; fifth in Youth Western Pleasure 12-14 and then won a Congress Championship in Youth Equitation 12-14. But two days later Boo was rushed to Ohio State University where she was diagnosed with acute arytenoid chondritis, having an emergency tracheotomy, resulting in a temporary trach tube.

“It was a scary situation but thankfully, she was able to make a full recovery, coming back in April of last year,” Hathaway said. “While Boo was recovering, I got the opportunity to show Janet Egolf's amazing horse, Perfectly Made (Chubb) in the all-around events. He is incredibly talented as well and I am so thankful for Janet allowing me the opportunity.”

With Boo fully recovered Hathaway eased back into the 2023 show season. By the time the AQHA Youth World Show rolled around they were getting back to full force. Together Boo and Hathaway placd 14th in 14-18 Level 3 Showmanship; fifth in 14-18 Level 2 Horsemanship; and 13th in 14-18 Level 2 Trail. Then, at the NSBA World Show they won the Novice Youth Western Riding and placed ninth in Youth Trail 14-18.

At the 2023 Congress Hathaway and Boo made a huge statement by captureing the Reserve Youth 15-18 All-Around title with a championship in Showmanship; a third place in Horsemanship; fifth place in Equitation and a seventh place in Western Pleasure, plus a Reserve Championship in Level 1 Youth Western Riding.

“Boo fits the definition of a princess, and is definitely very loved,” Hathaway said. She and Boo will continue to compete in Youth AllAround classes this year. In addition to her busy show schedule Hathaway is a junior at Bronson High School, and recently announced her commitment to attend the University of Georgia where she will be a part of the school’s Division 1 Equestrian Team. She is also very involved in sports at school where she runs cross country and plays basketball. The daughter of TJ and Joanna Hathaway, DVM, Ava also enjoys helping her mom whenever she can out in her veterinary clinic.

“I also really love spending time with my friends and family doing anything we can together,” she said. “Along with showing horses, I also show cattle with my brother, Aden, at a state level.”

Hathaway says she is most proud of earning Quarter Horse Congress, NSBA and AQHA World Show titles and two Reserve All-Around Youth titles at the Congress in the show pen but is as equally proud of her accolades outside the show arena. She has earned All State in Academics; Multiple District Championships in Basketball and Volleyball; MVP of her school’s Conference in Cross Country along with All State Cross Country Award. She also exhibited Reserve Market Beef Steer at the Michigan State Fair last year.

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, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.

ttt

Ava Hathaway is pictured on the opposite page (top) with her show partner, I Will Be A Good RV; (bottom) showing Boo in Horsemanship at the 2023 Quarter Horse Congress and (inset) in win pictures from the 2023 and 2022 Congress. On this page Ava is pictured (top) getting a hug from her mom after winning the Youth Equitation 12-14 at the 2022 Congress. Below that she is shown running track at her high school and showing cattle.

TRADEMARKS

by Katherine Jarve

To protect your logo or design consider registering it with the USPTO

Brand recognition is everything. For years, horse owners have been hot branding horses with the farm’s personalized logo for easy identification. Long before there were any official breed registration documents, it was common practice to physically mark or “brand” horse. Now, like the American Quarter Horse, the practice of branding has evolved. While the tradition of hot branding still continues in some places, “branding” in the show horse industry has taken on a much different look. Today, horse owners, exhibitors, and trainers are branding themselves both in and out of the show ring. Think about it. Almost every single stallion owner and horse trainer has a distinctive farm name and logo. In fact, even some amateur and youth competitors have personalized logos. You see brands on pick-up trucks, trailers, sheets, show tack, t-shirts, baseball hats, and the list goes on and on. Having a recognizable and reputable brand may get you recognized in the show ring, but it can also translate into dollars and cents. Therefore, the question becomes should you trademark your brand? If so, what is the legal significance?

a “cease and desist” letter to force them to stop using your name and logo. Additionally, you may be entitled to bring legal action against them to recover damages or profits that they have made from using your name or likeness. On the flip side, if you are using a certain business name or logo that another has trademarked, then you can be subjected to legal action and will, at minimum, be forced to rebrand. You will need to choose a new business name, change all your merchandise and advertising, and let your clients and customers know. Aside from being expensive and time consuming, “rebranding” yourself can be a major setback.

A common misconception is that having a trademark means you legally own a particular word or phrase and can pre-

A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design or combination of these that identifies and represents your business or product. It’s how people recognize you and distinguish you from your competitors.

A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design or combination of these that identifies and represents your business or product. It’s how people recognize you and distinguish you from your competitors. In order to have any legal protection for your brand, it must be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). You are not guaranteed any legal rights to that brand until it is registered. When it comes to trademarking, it is generally “first come, first serve.” Therefore, it does not matter whether you have been using a particular name or logo for 20 years if it is not registered. Additionally, you will not be permitted to register a name, symbol, or logo that is substantially similar to an already registered trademark. For example, it would be unlikely that anyone would be permitted to register a farm under the name “4 Sixes Ranch” since it is likely to confused with the infamous “Four Sixes Ranch” in Texas. You likewise would unlikely be able to trademark any variation of the 6666 logo in the horse industry.

Once you have successfully registered your trademark with the USPTO, your name or logo cannot be used nationwide by anyone in the same type of goods/services. For example, if you register the business name “First Place Performance Horses” along with a distinctive blue-ribbon logo, then someone else in the horse industry cannot use that same name or logo. If someone does use the name “First Place Performance Horses” or the blue-ribbon logo that has been registered, then they are infringing upon your trademark rights. You are then permitted to send

vent others from using it. However, you do not have rights to the word or phrase in general – only to how that word or phrase is used with your specific goods or services. For example, you may register a logo that has a horseshoe wrapped in red roses as a trademark for your breeding farm business. However, this does not mean that you can prevent a non-horse related business, such as a bakery, from using that same horseshoe logo.

In addition to trademarking your business name or logo, you may also trademark a horse’s name. In order to obtain a registered trademark from the federal government, you must demonstrate that the mark is being used in the stream of commerce, or that there is a bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce.

Katherine Jarve is a partner at the Marlton, New Jersey law firm of Jarve 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.

C�y C�ov�

Texas trainer keeps the emphasis on treating each horse in his program as an individual

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos Jeff Kirkbride, Shane Rux & Courtney Borton Ament

For 31-year-old Cody Conover, training horses successfully is all about understanding the individual.

Different prospects develop at different rates and it’s the trainers’s responsibility to figure out what each one needs.

“Some colts can progress fast because they are mentally and physically ready,” he explained. “Some colts you have to go slower on. Some of them can be started to get trained on early while others just need to be colt loped around and get broke before they can handle getting pressure put on them.”

That’s why the Texas trainer believes it’s so important for the industry to offer and support classes geared more toward the 3 and 4-year olds.”

Conover has been at it for most of his life. He grew up on a small farm in Iowa where his family raised, showed and sold mostly AQHA and a few APHA horses every year.

“We ranged anywhere between 20-25 horses at any given time,” he said. “We showed mainly at open shows in a circuit called Northwest Iowa Horse Show Association almost every weekend in the summer and also a few Quarter Shows every year.”

Conover started in pony pleasure classes with his partner, Roni, before moving up to a horse.

“My life always revolved around the horses,” he admitted.

Conover graduated from Maple Valley Anthon-Oto High School and participated in 4-H, FFA, cross country, basketball, National Honors Society and the Gold Club. Following high school he attended the University of South Dakota and earned a Masters of Professional Accountancy in 2016.

I chose the University of South Dakota so I could come home on the weekends to ride and would work my schedule out so I didnt have class on Friday to have three days at home to ride. I quit track in high school so I could come home early from school. I tried choosing a career in accounting in hopes that the summer would be less busy to be able to work less hours and ride more. I then chose my accounting job to be close to home so I could ride every night. It was inevitable that eventually I was destined to become a horse trainer.”

In 2018 Conover went to work as an assistant for Saul Sliss in Rochester, Indiana in 2018 and in 2019 he moved to Texas to become an assistant for Aaron Moses. That’s where he had his biggest success and it’s where he remained until last fall when he went out on his own and established Cody Conover Show Horses at Koelbl Ranch in Whitesboro, Texas.

“It was just the right time for me,” he said. “I have become an Open Rider and I worked as an assistant for six years. I was able to see what it took day in and day out to run a successful business.”

The Koelbl Ranch facility includes a huge

“I've always enjoyed breaking out and working with the colts that we raised,” Conover said. “Ever since then, I feel like working with the young horses is in my blood and that’s what has pushed me towards the Western Pleasure futurity horses. Currently I have mainly 2 and 3-year-olds that I ride every day.”

Riding and working with the young horses is what’s the most rewarding part of the process for Conover.

“When a horse works out and goes on the be successful in Western Pleasure or in all-around classes, trainers take a lot of pride in knowing we put the foundation on them.”

During his career as an assistant trainer Conover has had the opportunity to work with and on such decorated show horses as:

• Hot Without A Doubt – Reserve Limited Maiden 3Year Old Champion at Sudden Impulse Futurity, NSBA and Breeders Championship Futurity (BCF) Open and Limited Color 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Champion;

• FlorenceNTheMachine – NSBA Champion Limited 3-

ttt

On this

Year-Old Western Pleasure, Bronze Champion Level 2 Junior Western Pleasure at the AQHA World Show, Reserve Level 2 Champion 3-YearOld Stakes at the AQHA World Show;

• Tickled Pinkk – Level 2 Reserve World Champion 2- Year-Old Western Pleasure at the AQHA World Show;

• Not Just An Illusion – NSBA Champion Limited Maturity Western Pleasure, AQHA World Champion Level 2 Senior Western Pleasure;

• Obsessed To Be Best – Madness Maiden Western Pleasure Champion;

• Socks For Dayz – Congress Limited Open Western Pleasure Maturity Western Pleasure Champion.

While working as an assistant Conover also had the opportunity to work with several Youth, Amateur and Non-Pro contenders including:

• Hot Without A Doubt and Caitlin Miller, winners of the Tom Powers Futurity Limited Non-Pro 3Year-Old Western Pleasure;

• Socks for Dayz and Laura Adkinson, winners of the NSBA World Show Limited Non-Pro 3-YearOld Western Pleasure;

FlorenceNTheMachine and Inez Mattke, two-time NSBA Reserve World Champions in Novice Amateur Select Western Pleasure.

“I find it so rewarding when they figure things out with their horses and are successful,” Conover said. “Seeing them come out of the arena with a smile on their face makes all the long hours worth it.”

When he is not training horses or at a show, Conover stays busy tending to other business needs but he also enjoys hanging out with friends and going out to dinner. In the winter months he likes watching sports, especially Iowa Hawkeye Football and Basketball and in the summer he sometimes takes time to go boating with friends.

Conover says his most prized possession is his dog Nala, who goes about everywhere with him. and he says his idea of perfect happiness is running a successful business; doing well at the horse shows – but also being able to live life outside of the horses.

“I think its so important to be able to do things outside of my career to keep me sharp while riding,” he said.

You can reach Conover by calling (712) 212-1832 or you can connect with him via Facebook at Cody Conover Show Horses.

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, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.

Cody Conover is pictured on the opposite page (top) and showing Obsessed To Be Best to a win in the 3-Year-Old & Over Maiden Western Pleasure at the 2022 Madness in Ohio.

page (clockwise from top left): Cody and Socks For Dayz, after winning the Limited Open Maturity at the 2023 Congress; Cody and Made In The Dark winning the $10,000 Limited Horse Limited Rider at the 2021 Championship Show in Florida; Cody’s dog, Nala, who goes most everywhere with the trainer; and Cody and friends enjoying a boat ride.

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos Jeff Kirkbride

The Tenth Annual Fun In The Sun, held in conjunction with Fox Lea Farm’s Winter Circuit drew competitors from all over the United States and Canada to Venice, Florida in January for competition in Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Trail, Western Riding and Pleasure Driving.

Futurity winners this year included: Western Pleasure

Susan Scott Memorial 4 & 5-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure –Champion: Waffle House, owned by Karen Wood, shown by Katy Jo Zuidema; Reserve: Queen Ov Hearts, owned by Dr. Cory Seebach & Dr. Candice Hall, shown by Gil Galyean.

Carl Yamber Memorial Maturity Open Western Pleasure –Champion: Waffle House, owned by Karen Wood, shown by Katy Jo Zuidema; Reserve (tie) Champion Thats How U Holiday, owned by Kenna Slater, shown by Jay Starnes and The Cooki Monster, owned by Capital Quarter Horses LLC, shown by RJ King.

Maturity Limited Open Western Pleasure – Champion: Pinball Machine, owned by Tali Terlizzi, shown by Nick Mayabb; Reserve: Countray Grammer, owned by Michael McInnis, shown by Kaitlin Hutchinson.

Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure – Champion: The Cooki Monster, owned by Capital Quarter Horses LLC. shown by Susan Roberts; Reserve: Knockin It Out, owned by Richard & Betty Carr, shown by Betty Carr.

Maturity Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure – Champion: Doubl Or Nothin, owned and shown by Haley Purkapile; Reserve: Sleep N The Moonlite, owned and shown by William Cox.

Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure –Champion: Tik Tock owned by Scott Frye, shown by Andy Cochran; Reserve: Loook Whos Lopin, owned by Perry Jackson, shown by RJ King.

$5,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure – Champion: Loook Whos Lopin, owned by Perry Jackson, shown by RJ King; Reserve (tie): Stopp Itt, owned by Nicole Thomas, shown by Kenny Lakins and Americann Made, owned by Nettie Olsen, shown by Adam Mathis.

3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure – Champion: Certainly Persistent, owned by Kathy Elmer, shown by Jay Starnes; Re-

serve: Up To Know Good, owned by Capital Quarter Horses LLC, shown by RJ King.

3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure – Champion: Code Her Blue, owned by Jenny Duda Lagrange, shown by Katherine Crowe; Reserve: I Lope You Love Me, owned by Gil & Becky Galyean, shown by Becky Galyean.

3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure –Champion (tie): I Lope You Love Me, owned by Gil & Becky Galyean, shown by Becky Galyean and Lieutenannt Dan, owned by Rusty & Katie Green, shown by Deanna Willis.

3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure – Champion: No Doubt Im Sleepin, owned and shown by William Cox; Reserve: Snazzy Lil Machine, owned and shown by Alexis Gooding.

Hunter Under Saddle

Green Hunter Under Saddle – Champion: Huntin A Dance, owned by Richard & Betty Jo Carr, shown by Judy Zeitler; Reserve: (3-way tie): Heres To The Blue, owned by Tali Terlizzi, shown by Kaitlin Hutchinson and No Shoot Sherlock, owned by Marcy Lynne, shown by Suzanne Pickard and Dreaming Bout You, owned by Susan Phillips, shown by Stephanie Armellini.

Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle – Champion: Im Willy Good Today, owned by Madeleine Bayless, shown by Keith Miller; Reserve: Super Freek, owned by Jennifer Leavengood, shown by Jamie English.

Pictured on the opposite page (counterclockwise from top) is: Jonathan Meilleur, of Hamburg, Pennsylvania, carrying the flag during welcome ceremonies; Katy Jo Zuidema and Waffle House, winners of both the Susan Scott and Carl Yamber Memorial Western Pleasure classes; Madeleine Bayless and RS Hank WhyDoYaDrank, winners of the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle; contestants in the egg toss. On this page (counter clockwise from top) a scene from the NSBA Cocktail Party held at the show; Anthony Montes guiding VS The Fireman through a Junior Trail course; Peg Graber and All About You And Me completing their Amateur Select Horsemanship pattern; and Jocelyn Kay Grabow and Gotta Lota Frost competing in Small Fry Showmanship.

Maturity Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle – ChampionIm Willy Good Today, owned and shown by Madeleine Bayless; Reserve: Always GoodToBe Best, owned and shown by Sandra Morgan.

Limited Maturity Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle – Champion: Im Willy Good Today, owned and shown by Madeleine Bayless; Reserve: GoodFellaz, owned and shown by Courtney Suthofff.

3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle – Champion: RS Hank WhyDoYaDrank, owned by Madeleine Bayless, shown by Keith Miller; Reserve: Jus Be Good, owned by Sara Jackson-Vance, shown by Amber Hanson Pickard.

3-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle –Champion: Dreaming Bout You, owned by Susan Phillips, shown by Stephanie Armellini.

3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle – Champion: RS Hank WhyDoYaDrank, owned and shown by Madeleine Bayless; Reserve (tie): The One N Only Club, owned and shown by Sandra Morgan and Dreaming Bout You, owned and shown by Susan Phillips.

For complete results visit www.elitehorseshows.com. For more information on the Fox Lea Circuit visit www.foxleafarm.net.

BUZZ

ON THE WEB

(www.instrideedition.com)

(IN) LIFE

AQHA and NSBA competitor Lara Yungclas, of Norwalk, Iowa, married Paul Anderson on Jan. 20 in Cumming, Iowa. Lara is employed by Complete Wellness Chiropractic and Paul is a land manager for Peoples Company.

(IN) DEATH

John S. Narmont, 81, of Auburn, Illinois passed away on Jan. 17 at his home in Auburn, Illinois. He and his wife, Sondra, established Richland Ranch, Inc., one of the largest Quarter Horse breeding facilities in the mid-west. They owned many famous World Champion stallions such as Coats N Tails, Impressive Review and AQHA & NSBA Hall of Fame recipient, Zippos Mr. Good Bar, just to name a few. Mr. Narmont grew up in Springfield, Illinois and studied law at Notre Dame before opening his own law Practice.

THREE RIDERS ADDED TO NSBA QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR CLUB

JAMIE ENGLISH, BECKY GALYEAN AND ASHLEY LAKINS ARE THE NEWEST MEMBERS TO JOIN

The National Snaffle Bit Association recently announced that Jamie English, of Madison, Georgia; Becky Galyean, of Purcell, Oklahoma; and Ashley Lakins, of Wilmington, Ohio have joined its Quarter Million Dollar Club.

English grew up riding and showing horses in High Point, North Carolina, and earned an associate degree in business from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. She worked as an assistant to professional trainers Tony Burris, Beckey Schooler, and Trisha and the late Carl Yamber before beginning her training business in North Carolina. She later moved to Madison, Georgia, after teaming up with Jason English, whom she married in 2018. The couple welcomed their son, Jayden, in 2022. Jamie has won numerous Congress, world and futurity championships on her way to reaching the Quarter Million Dollar milestone.

manager at Gil Galyean Quarter Horses, and as a Non-Pro competitor in AQHA, NSBA and NCHA events. Becky has been named a multiple-time Congress, world and futurity champion on her way to joining the Quarter Million Dollar Club.

Originally from Fountain Valley, California, Ashley Lakins shares her love of horses with her father, Larry Taylor. She grew up showing horses around Southern California, often buying young horses that she would train and sell, before starting her professional career working for trainers David and Cheryl Busick and at Paradise Farms. Ashley was showing horses at the Tom Powers Futurity when she met her future husband, Kenny Lakins. The pair have now been married for 18 years and operate their training facility in Wilmington, Ohio. The multiple Congress and AQHA champion joins her husband in the Quarter Million Dollar Club.

American Quarter Horse Association judge Brad Gibby, of Newborn, Georgia, passed away on Jan. 22, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Gibby grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and earned a degree from DeKalb College in 1968. He owned and operated Brad Gibby Show Horses as well as Cowboy Rope Creations.

Pinto Association Hall Of Fame member Bill Bowen, of Bethany, Oklahoma, died on Jan. 9, at the age of 80. A retired Bethany police officer Mr Bowen was director of the horsemanship program at Southern Nazarene University. A Pinto Association youth scholarship has been established in his name.

Becky Galyean was raised in Edgerton, Kansas, where she was active riding and showing horses. She and her husband, Gil Galyean (the first Million Dollar Club member), live on their 140acre ranch outside Purcell, Oklahoma. She wears many hats, as mother to the couple’s two sons, Garrett and Brody, as the office

The newest NSBA Quarter Million Dollar Riders will be recognized during the NSBA Honors banquet on Sunday, Aug. 11, during the NSBA Breeders Championship Futurity and World Championship Show, being held Aug. 8-18 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

NEW MEMBERS FLOODING INTO THE SPORT INTERSCHOLASTIC EQUESTRIAN ASSOCIATION SET NEW MEMBERSHIP RECORD FOR 20TH TIME

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) has once again set new membership records for the 20th time in the organization’s history.

The membership milestone success of the past three seasons following the 2020 pandemic finds IEA attracting new members who are flooding into the sport.

The addition of the adult pilot program introduced during the 2022-2023 season has also grown to over 230 active adult amateur riders across the three disciplines in its second pilot year. To date, IEA has now topped 14,920 active members

this season.

“It has been rewarding to see steady growth in membership again this year which means our programs are delivering the benefits riders and parents are seeking,” said IEA Director of Marketing

& Communications, Kimber Whanger. “Youth rider numbers have steadily increased at a 3-4% growth rate and this season we welcomed 96 new teams – including another team from Canada.”

In 2002, the IEA started with 175 riders on 13 teams and has become the largest youth equestrian organization in the country and the largest feeder organization to collegiate equestrian programs.

Registration for the 2024-2025 season will officially open in June 2024. For additional information, visit rideiea.org.

The

ASSOCIATIONS

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES (IN) APHA NEWS

The newest class of APHA Hall of Fame inductees have been selected; they will be honored June 27, in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of the APHA Hall of Fame & Awards Celebration. Inductees are:

All Time Fancy – APHA’s Lifetime Leading Sire, this 1998 bay overo stallion elevated the Paint hunt-seat market and stamped his progeny with the same looks and talent. He was owned by Peggy Knaus of Tuttle, Oklahoma.

Fawago King – An APHA Champion, this 1971 sorrel overo stallion was best known as a prolific sire of all-around performers. He was owned by Donald and Carolyn Croghan of Schuyler, Nebraska.

Linda Gordon – A successful exhibitor and breeder, Gordon’s name is synonymous with champion halter horses. Founder of Fossil Gate Farms in Argyle, Texas, she helped impact the modern halter horse and always promoted Paints and APHA.

R.B. Shield – A cattle broker turned horseman, Shield evolved into one of APHA’s leading breeders and most wellknown influencers. Shield Paint Horses in Saginaw, Texas, was a family affair and they quickly became known as a producer of top Paint champions.

Earnest Wilson – An exhibitor, trainer, judge and volunteer from Tolar, Texas, Wilson helped instill a love of horses and horsemanship in legions of youth and was at the forefront in developing APHA ranch and performance-horse opportunities.

For additional information on the APHA Hall Of Fame or all of the APHA’s various programs you can visit visit www.apha.com.

LEVEL 1 CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWS

AQHA RELEASES DETAILS ON THE 2024 EAST AND WEST EVENTS

The Ameican Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has announced details for its 2014 Level 1 Championship Shows.

The AQHA East Level 1 Championship is April 22-28 at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio; and the 2024 AQHA West Level 1 Championships is May 14-18, immediately following Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Pinnacle Circuit, May 11-14, at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

AQHA East Level 1 Championships: Entries open Feb. 1 and the entry deadline for the AQHA East Level 1 Championships is 5 p.m. (Central) on March 15. Late entry options are available until 5 p.m. (Central) on April 1. Unentered horses will not be able to enter after the late entry deadline. Exhibitors who choose to show at both AQHA Level 1 Championship shows cannot compete in the same classes at each event.

Visit https://www.aqha.com/east-level-1-register to enter. Stalls can be reserved on the entry form. RV spaces are currently sold out, fill out the waiting list form here.

AQHA West Level 1 Championships: Entries opened Feb. 1 and the entry deadline for the AQHA West Level 1 Championships is 5 p.m. (Central) on April 1. Late entry options are available through 5 p.m. (Central) on April 15. Exhibitors who choose to show at both AQHA Level 1 Championship shows can-

not compete in the same classes at each event. Unentered horses will not be able to enter after the late entry deadline. Visit https://www.aqha.com/west-level-1-register to enter. AQHA West Level 1 Championships with the Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Pinnacle Circuit at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. Entries for the Pinnacle Circuit will not be taken through this form. Stalls will be reserved through ezhorseshows.com.

Judges for the AQHA East Level 1 Championships include: Gigi Bailey of Maribel, Wisconsin; Leonard Berryhill of Talala, Oklahoma; Rick Christy of Reddick, Florida; Shawn Hays of Tupelo, Mississippi; Lyle Jackson of Cochrane, Alberta; Larry Little of Mebane, North Carolina; Gretchen Mathes of Harwinton, Connecticut; Bennie Sargent of Paris, Kentucky and Melissa Sexton of Okanogan, Washington;

Judges for the AQHA West Level 1 Championships include: Kerry Allen of Rockville, Virginia; Jamie Dowdy of Marshfield, Missouri; Buddy Fisher of Abilene, Texas; Jennifer Kunkle of Cross, South Carolina; Jonathan Meilleur of Hamburg, Pennsylvania and Daren Wright of Chillicothe, Ohio.

For additional information on the Level 1 East and West Championship Shows, includimg eligibility requirements visit www.aqha.com.

Dobbs

Backes

Baker Futurity Horses .............................61

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

Bar H Photography ...............................65

Barger QH ...........................................61

Barry, Jon .............................................65

Blue Ribbon Tack .................................61

Boo Yah Custom Clothing .......................63

Boxell, John .........................................62

Briere, Pierre ........................................61

Brinks Hattery

Britton,

Burris, Tony

CAC

Chafin

Coast

Cook,

CR

Creditt,

CT

Custom

DAC

Darci’s

Davis,

Parrish

Powers,