When the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) officially launched in 1940, several ranch breeders were the initial registrants and members. Those ranches, like King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas—the owner of the first registered horse, Wimpy—were drivers in the industry.

In 2022, King Ranch and Waggoner Ranch, located in Vernon, Texas, were recognized by AQHA as 100-year breeders. Those ranches not only kick-started the breed, but today continue to influence the horses competing.

All Quarter Horses must be able to run a quarter of a mile in 23 seconds or show that they are capable of Quarter Horse performance under ranch conditions, was recorded in the AQHA Executive Committee meeting minutes from April 22, 1940.

The breed has evolved to include horses that show in hunter under saddle, western pleasure, dressage, and are driven under lines. Yet, the basis of the breed remains their foundation characteristics of cow savvy, athleticism, and trainability.

A Cow Horse First

The list of stallions that have impacted the Quarter Horse breed is long, and among them is Doc Bar. Bred for speed, the chestnut stallion was born in 1956, sired by Lighting Bar and out of the mare Dandy Doll, a daughter of Texas Dandy.

In the halter arena, Doc Bar was a champion, but it would be his offspring that truly influenced the future horses bound to compete in the National Cutting Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), and the versatility ranch horse arena.

“They were great horses,” says NRCHA Hall of Famer Bobby Ingersoll of Doc Bar foals. “They were great then and would be great today. They were athletic, quick-footed, had a lot of cow instinct and were quick to train. I showed the first Doc Bar foal at the NCHA Futurity, I’m pretty proud of that. [Cow horses] had a lot of old foundation breeding, [but] when Doc Bar came [along] we had a little different type of horse, and they were pretty horses, too. Who doesn’t want to ride a pretty one?”

Looking at the performance horse industry, you can still trace Doc Bar bloodlines to the winners in nearly every discipline. The 2023 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman Champion Phillip Ralls rode Call Me Mitch to the title, and the roan stallion is by Metallic Cat and out of the Docs Hickory (by Doc Bar) daughter Miss Hickory Hill.

“Doc Bar brought the look,” recalls Bill Enk, NRCHA Hall of Fame member, trainer and NRCHA director of judges. “The eye appeal box [on a score card] was for Doc Bars. They looked at a cow, they got around on one and looked pretty doing it. The Doc Bar line is still on a lot of pedigrees. He has influenced an industry.”

Ranch to Arena

Today, ranch riding is one of the most entered events in the AQHA. With the addition of the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show and the inclusion of the stand-alone ranch riding class at the AQHA World Championship Show, horses bred, raised and used on the ranch have a place to compete. The ranch horses “shine up” to hit the show pen.

Jessica Rumbaugh and her gelding, Boonfull Of Caesar, who has Doc Bar on both sides of his pedigree, won the 2018 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Amateur World Champion title. The gray gelding may look sharp showing, but he’s also been known to push Rumbaugh’s grass-fed beef cattle around on their former El Campo, Texas, ranch.

“I bought him as a cutting horse, but his athleticism made adding the other classes for versatility—ranch riding, ranch reining, working cow horse and ranch conformation—easy to do,” says Rumbaugh. “He is just a great horse.”

Aboard Lil Trash Talk, another Doc Bar descendent, Texas trainer Bud Lyon captured the 2020 AQHA Junior Ranch Riding World Champion title and the 2021 AQHA Senior Ranch Riding World Champion title. The sorrel horse was bred by Brooke Wharton, who grew up on the Waggoner Ranch. It’s that connection between today’s show horse and the base members of the breed that continues to drive the Quarter Horse’s evolution on the ranch and in the show pen.

Where the Quarter Horse excels is showcasing the versatility of the breed, especially in the western performance horse classes. With the growth in today’s cow horse, cutting, reining and ranch horse events, the breed may be moving farther away from the original stallions (like Doc Bar) on paper, but the characteristics of the horses remain true to the breed’s standard.

This article about the Quarter Horse’s ranch roots appeared in the July 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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When it comes to sheer numbers, no breed can match the popularity of the American Quarter Horse. With a total of more than 2.5 million individual horses in the U.S., the Quarter Horse can easily be called the king of breeds.

The Quarter Horse’s backstory is closely linked to the history of America. English horses used for racing by the Colonists and speedy Spanish Barbs kept by the Chickasaw Indians were bred together to produce a horse that could run a quarter-mile faster than any other.

The Foundation Sires of the American Quarter Horse

Although many horses went into creating the American Quarter Horse we know today, three foundation sires made a huge imprint around the turn of the 20th century: Peter McCue, Traveler and Old Fred all made their mark on the breed and can be seen in many modern Quarter Horse pedigrees.

Peter McCue

Foaled in 1895 in Illinois, Peter McCue was born into a bit of controversy. He was registered as a Thoroughbred, with his papers showing he was out of a Thoroughbred mare named Nora M and by a Thoroughbred stallion named Duke of the Highlands.

Peter McCue’s breeder later insisted otherwise, saying the bay stallion was sired by a Quarter Horse named Dan Tucker. To this day, people still argue about who sired Peter McCue. Regardless of his parentage, Peter McCue was an impressive racehorse and a prolific sire. Two of his sons, Old Red Buck and Chief, were among the first 20 horses listed in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Stud Book.

Those first 20 horses are considered the founders of the breed and called the “Grand 20.” Five of Peter McCue’s descendants are also part of the Grand 20: Wimpy, Tomate Laureles, Little Richard, Whiskaway and Colonel.

AQHA Hall of Famer Peter McCue can be seen in the pedigree of thousands of American Quarter Horses. He is known for producing horses that can race as well as show.

Traveler

Foundation sire Traveler, born in 1885, has a rags-to-riches story. Of unknown breeding, the roan stallion was “discovered” at around 8 years old while being used as workhorse on the Texas and Pacific Railway. Two Texas horsemen named John Cooper and Brown Seay recognized the stallion as a “Steeldust type,” meaning he looked like he could have been descended from the well-known racing stallion Steeldust, who appears in just about every American Quarter Horse pedigree today.

The men traded a mule for the stallion and brought him home where he was trained to race. He became a successful sprinter and a great sire, producing three famous Quarter Horses out of a mare named Jenny: Little Joe, King and Black Bess.

Many champions are descended from Traveler, and five of his descendants are part of the Grand 20 foundation horses of the Quarter Horse breed.

Old Fred

Another stallion that went from being a workhorse to a prestigious foundation sire was Old Fred. Foaled in 1894 in Missouri, Old Fred, a palomino, was brought to Colorado as a 2-year-old. He was descended from three of the original foundation lines of Steeldust, Printer and Shiloh.

When legendary Quarter Horse breeder Coke Roberds saw Old Fred on a freighter’s hitch one day, he bought him. In Roberds’ hands, Old Fred became famous for producing great running Quarter Horses. His son, Bob H, became a record-holding sprinter, and even today, many racing Quarter Horses carry his name in their pedigree. Old Fred was also known for producing hardworking cow horses that could stand up to the rigors of ranch work.

Old Fred produced great broodmares, too. When his daughters were bred to Peter McCue, some great racehorses resulted. One mare named Squaw won 49 out of 50 races and went on to be successful as a broodmare.

Many palomino Quarter Horses can trace their pedigrees back to Old Fred, who was also one of the Grand 20.

More Articles on the American Quarter Horse

◆ A Winning Combination: Appendix Quarter Horse
◆ America’s Horse Has Talent

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That’s a wrap on the largest American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Show in history! During the 2020 Farnam AQHA World Championship Show; AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan; AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals; and the Adequan Level 2 and Nutrena Level 1 Championships, more than 7,500 entries, 2,100 exhibitors and 2,700 horses competed for nearly 150 Farnam AQHA and Adequan Select world championships, and nearly 150 Adequan Level 2, Nutrena Level 1 and AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals championships. The event, which was November 2-21 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, was held in accordance with local, state and federal coronavirus mandates and was closed to the general public.

Those who misssed the event can check out the results and winning runs at www.aqha.com/worldshow. You can also find the daily Gold Globe Reports, including the top moments of the show on AQHA’s Facebook page.

The most anticipated awards of the event were presented to the Farnam AQHA Superhorse, AQHA All-Around Amateur, AQHA Select All-Around Amateur, OKC Leading Owner, The American Quarter Horse Journal Reserve Leading Owner and the top AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses at the show.

This year’s show featured a variety of exciting events, including the:
◆ $151,000-added Halter Bonanza, courtesy of 10-year cumulative breeders Steve and Kathy Headley, 30-year cumulative breeder Linda Gordon and 30-year cumulative breeders Terry and Tammy Bradshaw
◆ $50,000 Pleasure Versatility Challenge, brought to you by Terry Bradshaw Quarter Horses
◆ $25,000 open and amateur working western rail classes, sponsored by Headley Quarter Horses
◆ $15,000 Western Pleasure Challenge
◆ $5,000 Zimeta 3-year-old western pleasure stakes

The AQHA also added four additional stakes classes to the show–working hunter under saddle, ranch trail, western dressage and dressage.

AQHA Professional Horsemen volunteered their time to give 15 free Ride the Pattern clinics, presented by Nutrena. These clinics gave exhibitors and spectators the perfect opportunity to learn how AQHA Professional Horsemen would approach a specific class or pattern at the show. You can watch the previously recorded clinics on AQHA’s Facebook page. Thanks in part to Nutrena’s generosity to match the amount donated at the Ride the Pattern clinics, the Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund raised more than $12,000. The AQHA Professional Horsemen also hosted an online auction, which raised more than $31,000 for the Professional Horsemen Crisis Fund. Donations can be made to the Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund online.

2020 AQHA World Farnam Superhorse

The 2020 Farnam Superhorse is Dancin N The Dirt, owned by Sandy Vargo of Plain City, Ohio. The 2011 bay gelding, by Hot N Blazing and out of Caught You Dancin, was bred by AQHA Professional Horsewoman Leslie Vagneur Lange of Greeley, Colo. Dancin N The Dirt earned 33 points and was shown by AQHA Professional Horseman Chuck Briggs of Azle, Texas. Dancin N The Dirt won the world champion title in senior working hunter, reserve world champion titles in senior hunter hack and senior pleasure driving, and placed 10th in performance halter geldings. Dancin N The Dirt and his connections received a trailer, courtesy of Sundowner Trailers, an original Lisa Perry bronze, and a rose bouquet. Read more about the top five 2020 Farnam Superhorses.

Farnam All-Around Amateur

Lauren Stanley of Visalia, Cali., earned the title of 2020 Farnam All-Around Amateur. Stanley showed the American Quarter Horse Extremely Good Stuff, owned by Jeff and Garrett Crivelli of Visalia. The 2013 red roan gelding, by Extremely Hot Chips and out of Shes Got The Goodstuf, was bred by Brad and Corrine Borton of Bridgeton, N.J. Stanley and Extremely Good Stuff earned 54 points. They won the world champion title in horsemanship, reserve world champion title in showmanship, placed sixth in amateur trail and seventh in amateur aged geldings. Stanley received a one-year use of a Sundowner trailer, an original Lisa Perry bronze, and a rose bouquet. Read more about the top five Farnam All-Around Amateur exhibitors.

AQHA Select All-Around Amateur and Gene Graves Super-Select Special Recognition

The 2020 Select All-Around Amateur is Scott Allen Reinartz of Crossroads, Texas. Reinartz showed his American Quarter Horse Investin A Goodbar. The 2009 sorrel gelding, by Ima Zippo Good Bar and out of Foxy Asset, was bred by AQHA Professional Horseman Jim Dudley of Columbia, Mo. Reinartz and Investin A Goodbar earned 44.5 points. They won the world champion title in Select amateur trail, reserve world champion title in Select amateur showmanship and placed third in Select amateur pleasure driving. The pair were also finalists in Select amateur performance halter geldings. Reinartz received a prize package that included a one-year lease of a three-horse Sundowner trailer, Lisa Perry bronze, and a rose bouquet. Read more about the top five AQHA Select All-Around Amateur exhibitors and Gene Graves Super-Select Special Recognition Award recipient.

Oklahoma City Leading Owner

The Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau Leading Owner is awarded to the owner who has the highest number of points accumulated for their horses entered at the 2020 Farnam AQHA World in both Level 3 and Adequan Level 2 classes across the amateur and open divisions. The owner must have three horses entered at the show to be eligible. This year’s Oklahoma City Leading Owner was Dan Fox of Chino, Cali. Fox earned 135 points with 10 American Quarter Horses during the show. The American Quarter Horse Journal Reserve Leading Owner was Warren English Jr. of Sturgis, Mich., who earned 96 points with his five American Quarter Horses.

Top Ranching Heritage Bred Horses

AQHA recognizes the top Ranching Heritage-Bred horses at the Farnam and Adequan AQHA World. The owners and breeders of the top-placing AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses each received $250. The owners also received a specially designed trophy. Learn more about the four American Quarter Horses that earned the top Ranching Heritage-Bred awards at this year’s show.

About the 2020 AQHA World Show

The Farnam AQHA World is the premier event in the equine industry. The Farnam AQHA World hosted the 2020 AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan; AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals; and the Adequan Level 2 and Nutrena Level 1 championships, which were held in accordance with local, state and federal coronavirus mandates. The show featured three weeks of exciting competition, educational opportunities and a bountiful trade show. For more information, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.

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.

Further Reading

• Breed Profile: American Quarter Horse

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The American Quarter Horse has been famous for years for many things, including its versatility, heart and mind. The legends like Wimpy and Zippo Pine Bar are celebrated and revered, and the famous freestyle rides of horses like Roxy and A Ruf Gal boast universal popularity.

The modern stars of the breed have proved that the Quarter Horse can excel at just about anything. The four horses profiled here are currently or recently at their peak, and there’s no doubt that their amazing achievements will be remembered for generations of Quarter Horse lovers to come.

Harley D Zip

One way to know that a horse is making history is when he becomes a Breyer model horse.

Harley D Zip, known as “Harley” at the barn, is now 19. Kerry Papendick and her husband Lew own Highview Ranch Quarter Horses just south of Rapid City, S.D., where Harley is now happily retired.

Harley is the all-time leading point earning horse in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the all-time leader in Incentive Fund earnings, with well over $100,000. He has won 16 world championships and has nearly 6,000 AQHA points, with 2,300 being western riding points. It’s an undeniably impressive résumé.

Harley has been in training with Jason Martin and Charlie Cole of Highpoint Performance Horses since he was 4 years old.

“Harley and Jason both truly understand what the other is asking and have always seemed to get along,” says Kerry. “I truly think that is why Harley has lasted so long at the top of his career.”

The Papendicks bought Harley from Joetta Bell for their daughter Kristina in 2003. Bell was an AQHA amateur exhibitor that both of Kerry’s daughters, Kristina and Ali, looked up to.

“We will always feel thankful to Joetta for giving us the opportunity to own Harley,” says Kerry.

While the majority of Harley’s points are from his time in the show pen with Jason Martin, Kerry and her daughters have all had the opportunity to achieve AQHA/AQHYA world championships, multiple Congress championships and multiple National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) championships with Harley.

“Harley is so versatile,” says Kerry. “He has taught us more about showing Quarter Horses than I can even start to express.”

Kerry believes the No. 1 reason Harley is so successful is his correct conformation, and that his presence in the show pen is what makes him so memorable.

“He is built to work,” she says. “And in the show pen, his eyes are always alert and looking ahead, and his trademark lead changes are beautiful.”

Kerry’s description makes it easy to understand why Tom Persechino, executive director of marketing at AQHA, told Kerry that Breyer was interested in using Harley as a model.

“It’s surreal,” Kerry says about her horse becoming a Breyer. “I used to play with Breyer horses as a child. My daughters would spend hours playing with Breyers. It was very hard to keep it secret until the model was ready for the public.”

Kerry says Harley is like family. “He’s smart, kind and is truly the best horse I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. We love him.”

Honey Bright Dream

In 2009, Honey Bright Dream made a name for herself in the dressage and Quarter Horse worlds. Teamed up with owner and rider Patrick Marley, the two successfully competed in dressage at Grand Prix, the highest level offered in this Olympic sport.

Standing only 14.3 hands, Honey Bright Dream, known as “Honey” or “Queen” around the barn, came to Marley in North Carolina in 2003. When Marley and Honey’s relationship first began, it was anything but perfect.

“She’s been with me since the summer of 2003, and I purchased her in April 2004,” he explains. “We didn’t like each other at first. I had an ego—I thought she should know who I was. She thought I should know who she was.”

Once the two understood each other, their success steadily grew. In 2006, Honey won All-Breeds Award recognition with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) at the Prix St. George level, one of many noteworthy achievements. In 2008, Marley decided the pair was going to do Grand Prix.

“Her growth in the dressage circuit was so successful,” he says. “It was blind ambition.” In addition to cultivating the desire to succeed, Marley really focused on correct training and a strong foundation.

“Honey is a worker,” says Marley. “She wanted it as much as I did. She really speaks to the versatility of the breed. Quarter Horses don’t quit.”

Honey and Marley worked with trainer Tami Batts to finesse their skills.

“Patrick and Honey came to me with most of the Grand Prix already there,” says Batts. “I got to do the finessing work and show-ring preparation.”

Batts says Honey didn’t have a huge lift in her piaffes, but they were really technically correct—always in diagonal pairs and very on the spot.

“Diagonals were one of her super qualities, and canter pirouettes were very easy for her,” explains Batts. “She was just special.

“Honey has Quarter Horse written all over her,” adds Batts. “There was no denying that. She surprised me. When you saw them coming around the ring, you smiled. It was real dressage and it was really good.”

“Tami gave us a lot of confidence and was so respectful with how she trained my horses,” says Marley.

Honey, now happily retired, has inspired dressage and Quarter Horse enthusiasts around the globe.

“I’ve never had a horse touch me the way this horse has,” says Marley. “I want to express my gratitude to her.”

Lil Ruff Catalyst

Ranch pleasure is growing in popularity, and a shining star in the ranch pleasure world is Lil Ruff Catalyst, known at the barn as “Stud.” Stud, owned by Mozaun McKibben and Hillary Zimmerman of Whitesboro, Texas, is a black stallion who commands attention.

Stud has won money in cow horse competitions, earned several world championship titles in the Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) open world championships and also won championships in the Ranch Horse Association of America (RHAA).

Additionally, the 8-year-old is a three time AQHA World Champion in versatility.

“He’s so honest,” says McKibben. “He’s just one of those great show horses.”

To compete in versatility, a horse needs to be talented in seven disciplines: reining, roping, cow horse, trail, ranch pleasure, halter and cutting.

“It takes a super talented horse,” says McKibben. “He’s the most versatile horse I’ve ever had. He’s just a great horse. It doesn’t matter what you do—he’s good at it.”

McKibben bought Stud as a yearling and started and trained him.
“He taught me a lot about horses,” McKibben explains. “Horses like him are really smart and trainable. I have to push him, but I want to push a horse in the show-ring. I can win pushing, but I can’t win pulling.”

McKibben says Stud can be taught anything. He knows how to sit down like a dog just on a voice command, and he’ll come and stay. He’s been used at ranch rodeos and team roping.

More shows are in Stud’s future, and you can be sure he’ll command the attention of any ring he enters.

“Stud has a big, soft eye,” McKibben says. “He’s balanced and pretty. He’s a really nice horse.”

Spooks Gotta Whiz

With a score of 233.5, Spooks Gotta Whiz (aka “Baby Spooks”) and renowned reiner Shawn Flarida won the individual gold medal in August at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France.

When owner Michell Anne Kimball brought Baby Spooks to Flarida to ride, she told him, “I’ll let you ride my horse, but you’ve got to get me to France.” It’s clear that Flarida and Baby Spooks quickly became a successful match; the pair helped the United States win gold in the team reining competition as well.

Kimball didn’t grow up in the Quarter Horse world. In fact, she spent many years as a successful hunter/jumper rider before buying her first Quarter Horse in 2008. She purchased Baby Spooks in 2009.

“It wasn’t an accident to pick him out,” Kimball says. “It was something I was looking for. He’s absolutely stunning in the way he’s put together.”

Baby Spooks won his first futurity in 2010, and at that point, Kimball set her sights on WEG. Flarida and Baby Spooks have been working together since January 2012.

Baby Spooks is double registered—he’s an American Quarter Horse and an American Paint Horse.

“He’s a shining example of the best Quarter Horse pedigrees in history,” says Kimball. His movement, disposition, athletic ability and conformation are classic examples of what a Quarter Horse should have.

Kimball’s goal of getting to WEG wasn’t easy. She had to make tough decisions for Baby Spooks. She had to trust her horse, his ability and Flarida. And it paid off.

“Baby is the culmination of a 30-year equine career for me,” says Kimball.

Flarida and Baby Spooks will continue to work together after their WEG success. Kimball says that while Baby Spooks is a breeding stallion, his riding work isn’t done. During the off season, Flarida will keep him in shape, try to earn his AQHA superior award, and do the occasional exhibition.

Kimball describes Baby Spooks in one word: “Awesomeness.”

ALLISON GRIEST is a freelance writer based in Texas. Follow her on Twitter: @allisongriest.

This article originally appeared in the December 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Exhibitors at the 2013 Bank of America Amateur and American Quarter Horse Association Open World Championship Show shined their boots and dusted off their hats for the first day of competition in Oklahoma City. Classes began on Nov. 8 in the Jim Norick Arena at State Fair Park, with prelims in junior and senior pole bending, junior and senior barrel racing, and amateur stake race.

The AQHA World Show has a variety of events and activities for competitors, friends, family and spectators, including free Nutrena Ride the Rail/Ride the Pattern clinics taught by AQHA Professional Horsemen. Free clinics include horsemanship, hunt seat equitation, ranch pleasure, showmanship and equitation over fences. See the World Show schedule for the tentative list of clinics and times. Other special events include:

• • Monday, November 11 – Veterans Day Tribute
  • Saturday, November 16 – Freestyle Horsemanship Exhibition with AQHA

Professional Horsemen at 7 p.m. in the Jim Norick Arena

• Sunday, November 17 – Barn Party, Superhorse preview and live music by Denny Strickland at 6:30 p.m. in Barn 3
• Monday, November 18 – AQHA Member Appreciation Day
• Tuesday, November 19 – Pink Out Celebration at 7 p.m. in the Jim Norick Arena
• Wednesday, November 20 – Team Wrangler Night at 7 p.m. in the Jim Norick Arena
• Thursday, November 21 – AQHA Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge at 7 p.m. in the Jim Norick Arena

Attendees can also look forward to receptions and parties during the show, beginning this evening at 7 p.m. with a barn party in Barn 3. For more information on special events at this year’s AQHA World Show, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.

The AQHA World Show is the pinnacle event for American Quarter Horse owners and exhibitors around the world, who must qualify for the event by earning a predetermined number of points to compete in each of the classes representing English, over fences, western, speed, cattle and halter events.

More than 3,400 entries from the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Mexico and the United Kingdom are competing for 98 world championships at this year’s event.

Be sure to check the full tentative schedule at www.aqha.com/worldshow.

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While western sports and cowboy culture play a big part of the show, with cutting, reining and roping on center stage, Quarter Horses will also be competing in English events including hunters, jumpers, equitation and hunter under saddle. All of the competition will be available for live, online viewing at iequine.com.

Watching online is an acceptable alternative for Quarter Horse enthusiasts who can’t attend the show in person. But for those who can make the trip to Columbus, there is plenty to stay occupied outside of the show. The Congress trade show draws shoppers looking for equine gifts, tack and barn equipment, western-themed housewares and even trucks and trailers. Several other special events and attractions will take place throughout the show.

• The Congress Cutting Event takes place on Thursday, Oct. 10 and includes the Mecuria NCHA World Series of Cutting for open and non-pro riders. After the open finals, the Congress Bridleless Cutting Finals will take place in the main coliseum.
• On Friday, Oct. 11, the Pro Bull Riders Tour will stop in at the coliseum at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. The Congress event is one of the final stops before the PRB World Finals in Las Vegas later this month.
• On Oct. 12-13, the National Reining Horse Association’s popular Ride a Reiner program will give visitors the experience of riding a well-trained reining horse. Four sessions are offered over the two days. For more information, click here.
• The Congress Super Sale is an annual part of the AAQHC in which approximately 200 registered horses are sold. The sale preview will be on Oct. 19 with the sale taking place on Sunday, Oct. 20.
• The 2013 Congress Lecture Series runs throughout the duration of the show and includes topics such as equine injury rehabilitation, practice courses for hunters, jumpers and equitation; evaluating equine conformation; bits and bitting; and equine dentistry. Demonstrations on the various disciplines represented at Congress will take place throughout the show as well. Click here for the full lecture and demo schedule.

This year’s Congress will again be broadcast live online. To watch for free, visit iequine.com. To find out more about the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, visit www.oqha.com/aaqhc.

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The Built Ford Tough American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA) World Championship Show kicks off today in Oklahoma City. Exhibitors under age 18 who have earned enough points during the qualifying season will compete for world titles in halter, showmanship, horsemanship, hunter under saddle, jumping, games, cattle events and more.

2013 AQHYA World Show by the Numbers:

• 773: Total number of exhibitors
• 1,112: Total number of horses
• 46: States Represented
• 8: Countries Represented (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Venezuela)

Most Popular Classes:

1. Showmanship
2. Horsemanship
3. Trail
4. Hunt Seat Equitation
5. Ranch Sorting

Learn more at AQHA.com/YouthWorld.

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The American Quarter Horse’s specialty is western riding and cattle work. Those disciplines will be well-represented throughout the show, along with western pleasure, trail, speed events and reining. However, the English side of the breed will be showcased as well with hunter under saddle and jumping classes throughout the schedule.

One of the breed’s most coveted awards, the Superhorse title, will be determined during the World Show. This honor recognizes a Quarter Horse that demonstrates superior versatility, and dates back to the show’s fifth edition in 1978. That year, a 4-year-old mare named Vickie Lee Pine was named the first AQHA Superhorse after winning the most points in three or more events.

The Farnam Select All-Around Amateur Award is one of the highest honors an amateur Quarter Horse exhibitor can achieve. The winner of this prize will be determined by their placings showing the same horse in at least three events in at least two categories. The winner will receive a cash award and horse products from Farnam, a bronze by artist Lisa Perry, an embroidered blanket from Weatherbeeta and a rose bouquet.

For more information and to watch the show online, visit https://www.aqha.com/worldshow

AQHA World Show by the Numbers

• Total number of horses entered: 2,156
• Countries represented: 10 (U.S., Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands)
• States represented: 49
• Total number of western entries: 2, 573
• Total number of English entries: 386
• Total number of halter entries: 670
• Top five classes based on number of entries:
  • Open Ranch Sorting: 162 entries
  • Amateur Ranch Sorting: 150 entries
  • Amateur Team Penning: 126 entries
  • Open Team Penning: 123 entries
  • Senior Trail: 97 entries

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Study the pedigrees of many modern American Quarter Horses and you’ll find Thoroughbred bloodlines. Three Bars, a highly influential stallion in the Quarter Horse world, was actually a Thoroughbred.

The American Quarter Horse was the first recognized breed native to the United States and is known for its versatility, athletic ability, cow sense and blazing speed at the quarter-mile. When crossed with the Thoroughbred, the result is a horse with stamina and amazing heart, making it a superior performance mount for many different equestrian sports, from barrel racing and ranch work to jumping and other English disciplines.

In order to be registered with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), an Appendix Quarter Horse must have one registered Quarter Horse parent and one registered Thoroughbred parent. It is also acceptable for one parent to be an Appendix numbered Quarter Horse (which will have an “X” in front of its registration number) and the other parent a Quarter Horse with a permanent registration number.

Because the amount of Thoroughbred blood can vary widely, it’s not possible to say an Appendix Quarter Horse has one specific body type. Indeed, many have a great amount of Thoroughbred blood, and as a result are taller, leaner and more long-legged than a purebred Quarter Horse. One with more Quarter Horse blood may be short-coupled and more muscular.

Some people believe the Appendix Quarter Horse gets its steady mind and personality from the Quarter Horse parent, but others say the Thoroughbred side of the pedigree contributes to intelligence and good disposition. As with any breed, every horse is an individual.

“There isn’t a lot of difference in personality and versatility between an Appendix and a Quarter Horse,” notes Jennifer Hancock, marketing director at the AQHA. “Horses bred for English disciplines and racing often have more Thoroughbred in their blood and may be considered more ‘hot’ and ‘on the muscle,’ but this really traces more to specific bloodlines than simply to the Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse breed.”

If an Appendix Quarter Horse earns at least 10 performance points in the show-ring (except in halter), or has a speed index of 80 or higher on the racetrack, the owners can apply for permanent, or full, Quarter Horse papers with the AQHA.

A number of Appendix Quarter Horses are dually registered with both the AQHA and the American Appendix Horse Association (AAHA). While the AAHA allows breeding-stock Paints in their registry, the AQHA does not. The AAHA also has a hardship clause, which accepts Appendix horses with only one registered parent, as long as the horse meets conformation requirements.

“While you can’t breed an Appendix to an Appendix for AQHA registry, Appendix horses can be bred back to American Quarter Horses with permanent numbers with the resulting foal being eligible for the Appendix registry,” notes Hancock. (The AAHA does register foals that result from breeding two Appendix Quarter Horses.)

Height: 14.3 and up.

Colors: The AQHA doesn’t register Appendix horses with pinto coloration, but the AAHA does, so long as there is Thoroughbred in the bloodlines.

Associations: American Quarter Horse Association, www.aqha.com; American Appendix Horse Association, www.americanappendix.com

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This article originally appeared in the June 2010 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe.

The post A Winning Combination: Appendix Quarter Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

American Quarter Horses have a long, but generally unknown, history in the sport of polo. They have competed in some of the world’s most prestigious polo tournaments, including the Argentine Open, U.S. Open and Pacific Coast Open.

“There are standout American Quarter Horses at the top levels of polo and we believe as much as 40 percent of the low- to mid-level polo in the United States is played on these horses,” said APHA President Sunny Hale. “The breed is used in domestic and international competition but little was done to keep track of horses and their performance on the polo fields until now. Through this alliance partnership, we want to identify these horses and keep playing records to add even more value and recognition to these equine athletes.”

Polo horses are some of the most unique equine athletes on the planet; they have to be able to run flat-out like a racehorse, but have the control and agility of a reiner or cutter.

“When you make a list of the qualities needed in a polo horse, an obvious choice for playing and breeding polo horses are American Quarter Horses and appendix crosses” said AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway Jr. “AQHA is proud to partner with the American Polo Horse Association and will work to strengthen the industry and explore opportunities that will mutually benefit each association.”

The AQHA industry alliance partner program is designed to increase exposure of American Quarter Horses to millions of current and potential horse owners. This strategic marketing alliance partnership between AQHA and APHA will build a mutually beneficial partnership to identify and expose the individual horses, as well as quantify for the first time in history, the impact the American Quarter Horse has in the sport of polo at all levels.

To learn more about AQHA alliances, visit www.aqha.com/alliances. To learn more about polo, visit www.americanpolohorse.com.

Further Reading
Video: Adventures in Polo

The post New alliance showcases the American Quarter Horse in the sport of polo appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.