Gregg Veneklasen DVM and Jason Abraham
AQHA

AQHA Cloning Lawsuit Mediation Date Reset

Gregg Veneklasen DVM and Jason AbrahamGregg Veneklasen DVM and Jason AbrahamCourt-ordered mediation in the cloning lawsuit involving the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and two Texas horse owners that had been set for late March has been re-scheduled for May 1, according to court records.

The pending United States District Northern District case, set in U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson’s Amarillo, Texas court, also includes a June 24 “be ready for trial” order. However, a court clerk and an AQHA attorney said the trial is not likely to start at that time.

READ MORE
Blogs

Be Heard

On March 5, during the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Convention, I posted a question on the Quarter Horse News Facebook page, asking: “Would you support mandatory five-panel genetic testing in order to register an American Quarter Horse?” I posed the question because, the day prior, I sat in on a meeting of the AQHA’s Stud Book and Registration Committee. Topics on the agenda included three proposed rule amendments relating to genetic testing and AQHA registration. The first proposal was to make the genetic panel test mandatory for all future registrations; require placement of the genetic panel test results on the registration certificate; and waive testing of offspring of parents who are N/N for all genetic diseases on the genetic panel test. The other two proposals more specifically singled out the genetic disease heredity equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) and descendants of the stallion Poco Bueno.
READ MORE
bankston jimmy
Departments

Cornbread Thinks: All Trainer’s Wives Go To Heaven

bankston jimmyThere will be a special place in Heaven for trainers’ wives. It will be padded and have a punching bag. There will be a really nice barn where nothing ever breaks or gets hurt or sick. It will be warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and airy and light. It will be full of good horses owned by customers who pay their bills on time and know all the rules of cutting – written and unwritten. All the barn help will be graduates of the Martha Stewart School of Housekeeping who speak the King’s English. The lopers and assistant trainers will stay happy and never quit at the worst possible time.

READ MORE
Insights & Opinions

Be Heard

On March 5, during the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Convention, I posted a question on the Quarter Horse News Facebook page, asking: “Would you support mandatory five-panel genetic testing in order to register an American Quarter Horse?”

I posed the question because, the day prior, I sat in on a meeting of the AQHA’s Stud Book and Registration Committee. Topics on the agenda included three proposed rule amendments relating to genetic testing and AQHA registration. The first proposal was to make the genetic panel test mandatory for all future registrations; require placement of the genetic panel test results on the registration certificate; and waive testing of offspring of parents who are N/N for all genetic diseases on the genetic panel test. The other two proposals more specifically singled out the genetic disease heredity equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) and descendants of the stallion Poco Bueno.

READ MORE
Features

Historic Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. Holding Figure Four Finale

Since 1884, the Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. brand has stood for quality. Harry Haythornthwaite and his descendants have been recognized with the AQHA Legacy Award for raising top working registered American Quarter Horses at the Arthur, Nebraska, ranch for more than 70 years. In 1992, the ranch was awarded the prestigious AQHA Best Remuda, the first ranch ever recognized with the award. August 30-31, the historic Haythorn Land & Livestock Co. is conducting its last public auction to be held at the ranch.
READ MORE
TravelinJonez ChrisDawson
Reined Cow Horse Events

Chris Dawson Rides Travelin Jonez To NRCHA Stakes Open Championship

TravelinJonez ChrisDawsonTravelin Jonez and Chris Dawson's score of 225.5 in the fence work secured the NRCHA Stakes Open Championship. Photo by Stacy Pigott Chris Dawson, Jacksboro, Texas, claimed the NRCHA Stakes Open Championship Saturday night at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nev., aboard his own horse, Travelin Jonez (Smart Chic Olena x Travelin With Sass x Travalena). Dawson piloted the 5-year-old stallion to a 664.5 composite score (221 herd/218 rein/225.5).

"Everything just came together. It was unbelievable," Dawson said.

READ MORE
TwoKitties TammyJoHays
Reined Cow Horse Events

Tammy Jo Hays Wins NRCHA Non-Pro Stakes

TwoKitties TammyJoHaysTwo Kitties and Tammy Jo Hays. Photo by Stacy Pigott.Tammy Jo Hays is an accomplished non-pro cow horse competitor with numerous titles on her resume, including the 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Derby Non-Pro Championship and the 2012 NRCHA Futurity Intermediate Non-Pro Championship. But the NRCHA Stakes had not historically been kind to the Nocona, Texas, horsewoman; she had never qualified for the Non-Pro finals at this event. Hays broke her Stakes curse with a vengeance in Las Vegas, Nev., when she rode her mare, Two Kitties (Smooth As A Cat x SR Jaguar) owned in partnership with her father, Walter Greeman, to the Stakes Non-Pro Championship with a total 646.5, earning $6,474.

READ MORE
SmartLuck ToddBergen 13sp
Reined Cow Horse Events

Bergen, Franklin Top Bridle Spectacular Classes At NRCHA Stakes

SmartLuck ToddBergen 13spOpen Bridle Spectacular Champion Smart Luck and Todd Bergen. Photo by Stacy Pigott

The reined cow horse world's finest athletes, the bridle horses, claimed the spotlight Friday night at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nev., as riders chased the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Open and Non-Pro Bridle Spectacular Championships.

The grueling three-event test, herd work, rein work and cow work, drew 28 dynamic Open performers who left nothing on the table as they spun, slid and chased testy cattle down the fence.

READ MORE
SpencerHarden3
Cutting Events

Legendary Cutting Rider/Owner/Breeder Spencer Harden Dies

SpencerHarden3Spencer HardenMemorial services for Specer Harden, 83, Millsap, Texas, an NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame member and successful cutting horse owner and breeder who passed away March 28, took place Monday, April 1, at  at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Weatherford, Texas. The three-time National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Non-Pro Futurity Champion rider who won the 1989 NCHA Futurity Open title with homebred gelding July Jazz died Thursday, March 28.

READ MORE