Category: AQHA News

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AQHA News News Breeder News

HAD TO BE IVORY is Named AQHA 2022 Canadian Champion Racehorse

Had to Be Ivory Photo credit: ontarioracing.com

Owned and bred by Carol Robertson and daughter-in-law Jaime of Hillsburgh, Ont. and trained by Carol’s husband and CQHA’s 2022 Trainer of the Year Bryn Robertson , Had to Be Ivory completed his remarkable 2022 campaign undefeated in six races which included wins in some of Canada’s richest Quarter Horse races; the Picov Maturity, and the Ontario Bred Maturity.

The 2009 bay gelding has 22nd career wins from 28 starts in his long career.

A son of Ivory James and out of  Robertson’s top producing mare Had to Be Fandango, his life time earnings currently stand at $363,310.

In his final race of the 2002 season “Ivory” as he is affectionately called solidified his position as the best Quarter Horse in the country with a one-length score in the 440-yard dash in a time of 21.410, besting the former record of 21.520 set by Mitford in 2013. His final time speed index of 112 is one of the highest marks in recent Ajax Downs history.

“The fact that he is a home bred, born on our farm, makes us very proud, ” said Bryn. “We just try to keep him happy, fed well and he just goes out there and does it.”

Had to Be Ivory was the 2019 Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs but caught a virus in 2020 that was serious enough that the Robertson’s thought the horse would not recover.

“He was very sick and was in Guelph at the equine hospital for a couple of weeks. He came back in 2021 and he was good but this year he came out firing and we are tickled pink.”

Ivory was the nearly unanimous pick for the 2022 AQHA Canadian Bred Race horse of the year, as voted by the AQHA Racing committee delegates. This is the third time in his career that her has earned this prestigious award.

Bryn Robertson and his daughter Kim Sabila attended the awards ceremony on January 18, 200 hosted in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to accept the award on behalf of Had to Be Ivory and the family.

The award is announce at 28:18 of this video!

The Robertsons said Had to Be Ivory will be back to race again in 2023!

 

This editorial was written with help from Jennifer Morrison / Ajax Downs for ontarioracing.com
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AQHA News News General News Uncategorized

AQHA Creates New Promo Code for New and Renewing Canadian Members

Dear Canadian Quarter Horse Community,

 

AQHA is excited to announce a membership promotion that will help activate potential AQHA members in Canada.  

 

With promo code CQHA, specifically created for Canada, new and renewing members can save $5 USD on an AQHA membership. Simply share this code with American Quarter Horse enthusiasts in your country, including family, friends, neighbors, youth organizations, and more, and when they enter it into the promo code field of the online AQHA membership application they will save $5 USD on their membership. This is a great opportunity to help grow your affiliate membership and expand the international AQHA family! 

 

There are many benefits to having an AQHA membership and here are just a few: 

  • A digital subscription to The American Quarter Horse Journal. We’re celebrating the western lifestyle, and the many ways our members rely on their American Quarter Horses to have fun or get work done. 
  • Access to special programs supported by AQHA grants like Quality Samples, Educational Marketplace Clinics, and the Youth Excellence Seminar.
  • Take advantage of our Special World Show Qualifying process, show advisor and lease program. 
  • The rush of competition and the thrill of victory. Whether it’s ranch riding, jumping, barrel racing – or anything else – AQHA competitions are a valuable experience that create lifelong memories. 

Be sure to share information about the discount via email, or post on social media, so we can spread the word about the endless benefits of joining AQHA!

 

Sincerely, 

 

Jamie_Hughes_Signature
 

Jamie Hughes 

AQHA Director of International Activities

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AQHA News News Member News

First Canadian to Win the AQHA Racing’s Gordon Crone Special Achievement

On the evening of January 12th, 2022 the who’s who of the Quarter Horse Racing industry met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to celebrate at their annual AQHA Racing Champions Ceremony. For Canada’s Ross Brigden of Medicine Hat, Albert, this would be a night worth the trip to “The Sooner State”.

Brigden was awarded the prestgious American Quarter Horse Association’s Gordon Crone Special Achievement award. The award is given yearly to an outstanding man (it’s female counter part is the Mildred N. Vessels Special Achievement Award) within the American Quarter Horse racing industry to recognize his achievement within in the industry throughout the year. The award is voted on by the AQHA Racing Committee.

An AQHA member since the 1970’s Brigden, is a long-time supporter of Quarter horse racing. An AQHA director-at-large, he was elected to the AQHA Racing Council in May 2021, (this marked his third term serving on the Council) and he has twice been the Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association’s president. The retired trainer in his career saddled graded stakes winners Katies Sign and A Special Martini, and trained the earners of nearly $1 million. He has bred the earners of nearly half a million dollars, including stakes winners Snoboat and Princess Of Zoom.

 

When interviewed just days after being honoured with the award by the Mediciane Hat News, Brigden said it’s an honour to be the first Canadian to receive it. “For a Canadian to win it, that’s pretty good, I’m happy. . .There’s a lot of good people that probably deserved it. . . [The Committee] voted on it, I was fortunate enough to win it and it makes you feel great, no doubt about it.”

To read the full interview please click here.

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AQHA News News General News Member News

AQHA International Invites You to the 2022 AQHA Canadian and European Summits

L to R: CQHA Directors Mary Ellen Robinson and Gilles Seguin with AQHA International's Sierra Kane

Re-posted from the AQHA website: Connect with fellow AQHA members and affiliates in your region by attending a membership summit in Manitoba, Canada, or Vienna, Austria.

The AQHA International Department is excited for the upcoming 2022 AQHA Canadian and European Summits. An AQHA International Membership Summit is conducted every other year for each membership region. During the summit, AQHA provides updates on Association business activities that are most impactful for international members, as well as updates regarding international member programs that add value to engagement with AQHA and its affiliates.

Topics of discussion during the summits include, but are not limited to, international department-specific and general AQHA news, task force updates, rule changes, funding structures, educational seminars and any other information that’s pertinent to the region.

In addition to the business summits, AQHA International hosts an educational day on a topic important to the region, such as judge education, show steward education or show management.

Summits are free for current AQHA members or $55 USD for non-members.

2022 AQHA Canadian Summit
AQHA International is pleased to invite our Canadian provincial affiliates and AQHA members to attend the 2022 AQHA Canadian Summit, March 25-27 in Brandon, Manitoba.

This event will take place at the Keystone Centre. Click here to reserve your spot for this event! Please RSVP by February 1, 2022.

AQHA is happy to offer a discounted rate with the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Brandon, Manitoba. Click here to reserve your room by February 25, 2022.

Tentative Summit Schedule:

  • March 25 – Evening Reception

    • Join us for the Brandon Wheat Kings vs. Prince Albert Raiders hockey game! Purchase your tickets now for $25 to sit in the American Quarter Horse Viewing Lounge in the Keystone Centre.

  • March 26 – Business Summit Day and Canadian Quarter Horse Association Awards Banquet
  • March 27 – Education Day

    • Topic: Equine Health Management

2022 AQHA European Summit
To our friends, affiliates and members in Europe, we hope you and your families are safe and well during this escalated period of the pandemic. AQHA International is optimistic about hosting an in-person AQHA European Summit in Vienna, Austria, in April 2022, in conjunction with the Federation of European Quarter Horse Associations (FEQHA).

AQHA will continue to monitor international travel restrictions. If travel and limited group meeting restrictions stay in place, AQHA will investigate modifying the 2022 AQHA European Summit to a virtual format. An update will be shared in early 2022 as to whether this event will take place in person or virtually.

Stay tuned to the AQHA International website, social media and newsletters for updates and additional information about the upcoming summits in the European and Canadian membership regions. 

If you have any questions, please contact international@aqha.org.

AQHA news and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.

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AQHA News News General News

2022 AQHA Show Rule Changes

Decembr 3, 2021 - Amarillo, TX

Each year, the American Quarter Horse Association Executive Committee reviews and approves rule changes from the AQHA Show Committee, which are approved by the AQHA membership and AQHA Board of Directors at the annual AQHA Convention.

Committee recommendations are reviewed for feasibility based on a variety of criteria, including but not limited to available resources, budget constraints and necessary computer programming. Careful consideration, discussion and debate are devoted to each item at the time of approval. AQHA is excited to implement these member-driven rule changes, which were voted on at past AQHA conventions and had been on hold for computer programming. The Association has made great strides this year to complete the necessary programming to implement these rule changes that enhance programs and events for our members around the world. All rules are effective January 1, 2022.
  1. Ranch riding has moved from achievement Category 2 to achievement Category 5. Read more about achievement categories.
  2. Horses entered in performance halter without a Performance ROM or Racing ROM must also show in a performance class at the same show. Read more information.
  3. Horses entered in Versatility Ranch Horse conformation must also show in two VRH performance classes at the same show in the same division.
  4. Exhibitors competing at 2022 AQHA events may not cross-enter their horse in the following classes:
    • AQHA reining and Versatility Ranch Horse reining
    • AQHA trail and either AQHA ranch trail or Versatility Ranch Horse trail
    • AQHA western pleasure and Versatility Ranch Horse ranch riding
    • Versatility Ranch Horse amateur and youth classes and the corresponding Limited or Rookie Versatility Ranch Horse amateur and youth classes
    • Walk/trot or walk/jog classes and the corresponding lope/canter classes by exhibitor
Learn more about the Association’s rules and regulations in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations. The 2022 AQHA Rulebook will be available soon on AQHA.com!