“A Bigger Incentive”

By Connie Lechleitner

After 26 years, the AQHA Incentive Fund <http://list.aqha.net/t/151243/6881234/7174/4/>  program is getting a makeover. For the 2012 show season, stallion owners, foal nominators and horse show exhibitors will see changes in how the funds are divided and in 2012 the new nomination and licensing fees will begin. The program’s redesign is occurring in response to dramatic changes in the horse breeding and showing industry that have occurred during the past 25 years. The Incentive Fund’s changes <http://list.aqha.net/t/151243/6881234/7720/5/>  are the result of an extensive effort that brought together AQHA members from various parts of the industry – much like it did when the program first began.

Creating More Value for Show Horses The AQHA Incentive Fund began accepting nominations in 1983 and had its first payout in 1986. “The Incentive Fund was designed to enhance the value of the American Quarter Horse bred to show in AQHA shows,” says Don Treadway Jr., AQHA executive vice president. “Until this program, there was very little, if any, actual payback in showing.” The idea for the Incentive Fund grew out of a meeting to develop an incentive program for racing Quarter Horses, Don says. “We wanted to develop a program that would be based on stallion and subsequent foal nomination fees. Since there was already a privately owned racing incentive program called the Quarter Horse Breeders Classic, the concept evolved because we saw a real need for a showing program.” Although the racing industry didn’t adopt the concept until the early 1990’s with the formation of the Bank of America Racing Challenge <http://list.aqha.net/t/151243/6881234/7721/6/> , the concept of the stallion/foal nomination program for show offspring began to grow. “We invited some of the major breeders in the showing industry to attend a meeting,” Don recalls. “There was much discussion on how to distribute the money. Eventually it became obvious that we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel because the AQHA point system was well-established, and everyone in the industry knew what the points meant. It was a natural marriage of points earned by horses nominated to the Incentive Fund to funds generated by nomination fees.” “The Incentive Fund began as a marketing program for stallion owners <http://list.aqha.net/t/151243/6881234/7722/7/> ,” adds Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity. “Enrollment in the Incentive Fund added value to the babies when the stallion and mare owners went to sell them. Until now, the Fund had been exclusively supported by stallion and mare owners. “One hundred percent of the nominations collected go back into the Incentive Fund,” he notes. “Sometimes people assume that AQHA makes a profit on the Fund, but we don’t. In fact, AQHA invests about $200,000 in administrative costs each year to manage the Incentive Fund, dollars that are not taken out in expenses against it.” During the past several years, fewer and fewer stallions have been covering fewer and fewer mares, and AQHA has been chipping away at the Fund as fewer nomination <http://list.aqha.net/t/151243/6881234/7723/8/>  fees were going back into it, Tom adds. “We knew that we needed to make changes to the program.”

See all the changes at the AQHA website

Mike Jennings would like to Thank everyone who attended the Reining and Western Horsemanship Clinic yesterday at Daniel and Angel Hoerauf’s Nova Reiners in Catlett, VA.  We look forward to doing more Clinics in the near future.

We had riders from the show level to Walk-trot level who had an interest in Reining or how Reining can help with their horse. The fun Reining class we had at the end of the Clinic was evidence that the riders were ready to apply things we covered during the day.

I enjoyed working with Daniel and Angel Hoerauf, and my wife, Stephanie, to conduct the Clinic, as well as Denise and Shorty Robinson who hosted the Clinic at BW Farm.

Contact Mike at Mike@professionalauction.com
Or
Daniel Hoerauf at novareiner@gmail.com

Julie Slemp, Chairperson of the VQHA Crisis Fund Committee, is collecting donations to be auctioned off at this year’s Banquet. The following items have been donated for auction:

• Lucas Cash Show Horses - one month of training
• Kelly Performance Horses - one month of training
• BMG Show Horses - one month of training
• Connie Christopher - one month of training
• VQHA Central Region – Montana Silver Smith Buckle
• Shannon Fisher / Shannon Rennee Designs – a piece of fine jewelry
• Kimberley Campbell – necklace from Lia Sophia
• Christina Gedney / CG Designs – 2 page ad ($300 value)
• Alice and Garmon Barger - Zippo Hot Pine Breeding
• Cohill Performance Horses – (2) 1 hour lessons
• Jenna Obermiller – 2 page ad design from Icandothatdesign
• Celina Schmucker Aspen Hill quarter horses – wool cooler and leg wraps
• The Rock Star Shows – (4) 1 stall certificates good at any circuit.
• The Rock Star Shows - One certificate good for for one stall, all class, office and AQHA fees for 1 weekend. Includes 50% discount (at the same show) on 1 show’s stakes or Futurity entry fees for 1 horse. (The regular WP fee is $1,850 and the HUS fee is $750 so the certificate is worth more than $1,000 depending on how the winner uses it.)

If you have anything you’d like to donate please email Julie Slemp at JSlemp@monticello.org

It is with great sadness that we tell you Ida Klepper’s husband, Paul, passed away last Friday evening (January 6) after a prolonged illness.

Paul was a member of the military and will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The family has decided not to do a funeral service at this time but to wait until the burial which will take place probably in March or April.The funeral home in charge of making all the arrangements is Fairfax Memorial.

Flowers at Arlington Cemetery are very limited and Ida has made arrangements for those.

The Marine Corps Law Enforcement Association is an association dear to Paul’s heart and information on that will be included on the website should you wish to make a donation.

The Capital Care Hospice Facility was so caring for Paul and donations can also be sent there as well.

The death notice will not be in the newspapers until about January 22 and will include information on the logistics of the burial and donation websites.

Please keep Ida and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Ida Klepper
8905 Triple Ridge Road
Fairfax,VA 22039

Check out the complete 2012 schedule

As frequent competitors and spectators at horse shows across the country, we understand the sacrifices in both time and money that are involved with showing horses.  Shows should be fun and rewarding.  Our vision is to provide outstanding customer service and to award significant prizes, incentives, and awards to the competitors at our shows.  When you show with us, you’ll not only have a great time and earn breed association points, but you’ll also have the opportunity to win wonderful prizes, enjoy a tasty dinner with friends, participate in fun activities, and maybe even win one of the many prizes distributed to random competitors in each class.  And don’t forget about our incredible year-end prizes!

We want your feedback.  As we grow our show circuit, it’s important to us that we keep in touch with what our clients want.  Is there a way you think we can improve upon our service or show format?  What sort of prizes would you like to see at the weekend shows?  We want to hear from you, so please give us a call or send us an email.

We look forward to having you with us this year!

Sincerely,

Sydney Miller and Michele Wilhelm
Rock Star Horse Shows

Clinic for Reining and Western Horsemanship, Saturday January 28 in Catlett, VA with Mike Jennings and Daniel Hoerauf.

How the basics of Reining help all disciplines and Tune Up for the Show Season.
Mounted Fee:  $85. Audit Fee: $10 FREE: 4-H Members and Children 12 and under.

BW Farm – 11032 Brent Town Road, Catlett, Virginia 20119
9:00 AM – Registration opens
10:00 AM- Demonstration Begins

Contact Mike Jennings Mike@professionalauction.com Or Daniel Hoerauf novareiner@gmail.com

Franklin W. Bierman, 78 of Glasgow, VA passed away Friday, January 13, 2012 at his home. Frank was born June 16, 1933 in York, PA. He was the son of the late Frederick H. and Fairy K. Bierman. Frank was a graduate of William Penn High School in York, PA. He worked in sales at Eugene Jacobs, Gregory”s and Lehymer’s clothing stores. In the 1960’s he moved to Roanoke, VA where he was employed by Davidson’s Men’s Clothing Stores to handle advertising and sales promotions where he worked for 17 years. Because of his interest in horses he accepted the position of a fund-raiser and later became Director of Operations of the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County Virginia. He was a member of Rockbridge Hunt where he was appointed joint field master. He was an avid supporter of the United States Pony Club and was instrumental in bringing the USPC National Championship to the Virginia Horse Center. Frank is survived by a brother Frederick Bierman and his wife Gretchen, their daughter Susan Gordon and her son Robert and his family along with two cousins Susan Foose and Kitty Kurtz.

A Graveside service will be announced for a later date, at the connivance of Frank’s family in Prospect Hill Cemetery, York, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rockbridge Hospice, 315 Myers Street, Lexington, VA 24450 or The US Pony Club, 4041 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.
Arrangements Oakey’s North Chapel who invite you to address on-line condolences to www.oakeys.com.

AMATEUR REGISTERED QUARTER HORSE
Champion-Cory Balsis- 373.5 hours
Res. Champion-Jeff Sheffer-335.5 hours
3rd-Kristy Drew-Pruit-240.5 hours
4th-Carol Villagran-188.5 hours
5th-Jean Voss-174 hours
6th-Nancy Sheffer-143.5 hours
7th-Carl Miles, Jr.-25 hours

14-18 YOUTH REGISTERED QUARTER HORSE
Champion-Katy Sheridan-294 hours
Res. Champion-Maggie Lanham-292 hours
3rd-Amanda Bennett-286.75 hours
4th-Josie Morris-136.75 hours

AMATEUR ALL-BREED
Champion-Betty Mayo-342 hours
Res. Champion-Pam Black-199 hours
3rd-Dana Morris-177.5 hours
4th-Joanne Owings-157 hours

OPEN ALL-BREED
Champion-David Lamb-1193 hours
Cathette Plumer-66.5 hours

13 & Under All-Breed
Champion-Alyssa Williams-383.5 hours

VQHA Queen Courtney Sturgill on the cover of the January 2012 Virginia Horse Journal

Our own VQHA Queen and 2011 All-American Quarter Horse Congress Queen is on the cover of the January 2012 edition.
We think it’s the best cover ever.

Here’s a link to the magazine online: http://virginiahorse.epubxpress.com/