Please see the respective pages – VA Bred and State Fair Event listing

Check out the VA Bred Program page
VQHA Futurity September 9-12

Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, MD
Sunday, August 22, 2010 – 8:30 a.m.
Visit the Maryland State Quarter Horse website for more information

We have posted a High Point Standings document on the VQHA Points Page for download (below the list of judges).
These are the standings as of July 17, 2010.
Notes include Exhibitors who are close to meeting requirements for High Point Awards and what they need to do to qualify.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a horse this year. The horse, an 18-month-old mustang female from Suffolk, was euthanized July 26 because of the severity of her symptoms – extreme weakness and ataxia, the inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements, unsteady movements and staggering gait. The horse received an initial vaccination and a booster in the fall of 2009, as well as a booster in May of 2010.

Many states are experiencing an unusually high level of EEE infection this year but this is the first reported case in Virginia. Last year the state had eight cases, most of them in the Tidewater area. The disease has a mortality rate of around 80 percent, so prevention is a key part of equine health. Generally, EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes. Prevention methods include vaccination, destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, using insect repellents and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.

In an April 2010 press release, Dr. Richard Wilkes, VDACS’ State Veterinarian, encouraged horse owners to work with their veterinarians to plan a vaccination schedule that would protect their horses from EEE and West Nile Virus. Available vaccines are generally effective in drastically reducing the incidence of both EEE and WNV in horses. For the vaccine to be effective it must be handled and administered properly and be given at least two weeks before the horse is exposed to the virus. Additionally, to stimulate full immunity, horses must be vaccinated twice, about 30 days apart, the first year of vaccination. The vaccines are effective for six to twelve months, so horses should be re-vaccinated at least annually.  In an area where the disease occurs frequently, such as southeast and Tidewater Virginia, most veterinarians recommend vaccination every six months.

For more information, please contact the Office of the State Veterinarian at 804.692.0601 or consult your local veterinarian.

Dear fellow VQHYA and VQHA members,

I hope everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer, and getting ready to head back to school and go back to your usual fall/winter routines. This has been one amazing summer for VQHYA. Colby Ringer, Michael Felts, Whitney Southall, Kimberly Brown, Shiloh Finch, Kacie Collier, and myself started it off with a boom by representing Virginia at the Youth Excellence Seminar and AQHYA Convention in June. They got the opportunity to learn leadership skills, meet other members of AQHYA from all over the United States, and vote on who they wanted to run AQHYA for 2010-2011.

Michael Felts, Sammi Felts, Megan McConkey, Kassie Blazer, Matthew Nash, Tori Shockley, Ben Shank, Elizabeth Shank, and myself then took Virginia to the AQHYA youth world championship show the first week of August. The world show was a complete success. We came back with 1 Reserve World Championship, 1 third place, 2 Top 40, 1 Top 30, 1 Top 20, and 2 Top Tens! It was truly a year to remember. Virginia also ended up third place in the team spirit and stall decoration contest! Our stall decorations were awesome! Thank you to Chris Ringer and Melissa Wright for picking them out and Kyle Hughes for hauling them out to Oklahoma. The Team Virginia outfits were also very stylish and we all walked in with dignity and pride and preformed a dance that we developed ourselves with help from Chris and Melissa. Everyone got along fantastic and everyone was always willing to offer a helping hand whether it was simply sweeping the aisle way or attempting to fix our broken Port-A-Cool.

We would also like to give a big thank you to our parent association and Gene Montgomery for providing the Youth Association with enough money to buy Port-A-Cools. We would have burnt up otherwise! I would also like to give a BIG thank you to Chris Ringer and Melissa Wright for coming out to the world show and supporting us and for all of the time they put into ordering our outfits, entering us, and making stall decorations. We wouldn’t have been able to make it without you guys! The Calendar Raffle is now underway so stay in touch to see if you won anything! This has been a great year for VQHYA so far, and we can’t wait to see what the Congress and the rest of the year has to bring for Virginia!

God Bless you all!

Katie Jo Jones

VQHYA President

The following positions are up for Re-Election:

• Secretary (Linda Johannes)
• Treasurer (Laura Boardwine)
• Director at Large #2 (David Lamb)
• Director at Large #4 (Clarence Green)
• Central Region (Fay Pawlak)
• Greater Richmond Region (Kerry Allen)
• Northern Region (Open)
• South Eastern Region (Open)

The Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship, held in Oklahoma City, OK on July 30-August 7, has now come to a close.

Although everyone was sad to see the week end, Virginia has MUCH to be proud of:

• Katie Jo Jones and Mostly Chocolate – Reserve World Champion in the Trail
• Matthew Nash and Elusively Yours – 3rd in Yearling Mares
• Matthew Nash and Mister Exclusive - 9th in 2YO Geldings
• Matthew Nash and Alotta CC In Me – 7th in 3YO Geldings
• Matthew Nash and Sumthn About Cool – 9th in Aged Mares
• Katie Jo Jones and Mostly Chocolate – Top 30 in Showmanship
• Ben Shank and Chips Cover Story – Top 20 in Western Pleasure
• Megan McConkey and Artful Indian – Top 40 in Hunter Under Saddle
• Katie Jo Jones and Mostly Chocolate – Top 40 in Hunter Under Saddle

Congratulations to all!

All shows through July 17 Chesterfield Show
See points page for details.

DID YOU SEE THAT HUGE CLOUD OF DUST?
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, THAT WAS COMING FROM OUR 2010 VQHA QUEEN, COURTNEY STURGILL

This has been one busy summer for our VQHA Queen, Courtney Sturgill. Courtney first kicked off her “Summer Run” in Raleigh, N.C. at the Tarheel Triple Clasic, where she won the Reserve All-Around.  She then traveled to Marke Harrel’s Show in Du Quoin, Illinois for a week. After taking a week off, it was on the road to show in Harriman Tennessee where she accumulate a total of 84 points in two (2) days with her horse, Bearly Zippin.  ”Bear” and Courtney also won the circuit awards in five (5) events, including the Amateur Horsemanship.  Courtney and Bear will continue preparing to compete in the horsemanship at the Congress, as they make their next stop at the Reichert Celebration in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Courtney recently had a photo shoot with “Good Ride” and Hannah Casper of Ocala, Florida.  Courtney will be featured in the company’s upcoming ads to be used at the Congress and has also accepted a job in retail/marketing for Good Ride.  Be sure to stop by and visit Courtney at the Hannah’s and Good Ride Booth at all the major shows!

Courtney recently began blogging for the Equine Chronicle starting in June.  Throughout her travels to various shows, Courtney will be blogging about her experiences while showing and all the exciting new turns her life may take.  Be sure to follow her as she will be frequently updating for the Equine Chronicle at www.equinechronicle.com.

I think our Queen needs BIG CONGRATS from all for her fine work this summer.

QUEEN APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR 2011!

An application was received from  Kathryn Johannes who is 18 years old.  She is the daughter of William and Linda Johoannes of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Also, an application was received from our 2010 VQHA Queen, Courtney Sturgill, who is 20 years old.  She is the daughter of Elizabeth Wills and Jeffry Sturgill of Wise, Virginia.

The Queens’ horsemanship competition will take place during the VQHA Futurity on Saturday evening, September 11, during the Barbecue in the coliseum. Please plan to come and watch our girls compete and cheer them on for this big event! It is always so exciting to take part in this first event for our candidates for the 2011 VQHA Queen. Hope to see you there!!

Also, prior to the evening classes,  a basket will be auctioned to benefit the VQHA Queens’ Program. This basket is designed in a hanging western planter that includes the ground stake for hanging. It contains white zinfandel and chardonnay wines with a beautiful hand painted wine glass, snacks, and cocktail napkins, and a beautiful kitchen towel with embroidery. Please come and bid as we truly need your support for this program.

QUEEN’S 50/50 STIMULUS RAFFLE
ONLY 20 TICKETS TO BE SOLD – $50 EACH
DON’T MISS OUT!

If all tickets are sold, there will be one $500 winner.
The winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday evening after the Queen’s Horsemanship competition. You do not have to be present to win. Please contact one of the following to  make a purchase:

2010 VQHA Queen, Courtney Sturgill
(276)328-3022
2011 VQHA Queens’ Candidate – Kathryn Johannes
(540)752-7401
VQHA Queen Mother – Diana Wolfrey
(540)582-2589

CONGRESS DRAWS NEAR
Keep checking this site for all of the exciting upcoming activities!