Congratulations to Rusty Miller, Republic, Ohio, on being named the 2009 ApHC Trainer of the Year at the awards banquet Sunday evening here in Jackson. Also nominated (and receiving a nominee plaque) was Laurence Hiatt, Hankinson, North Dakota.
New and re-elected directors were sworn in Thursday night. Lori Richards, Parker, SD (Territory I) and Lonnie Ledbetter, Fort Worth, TX (Territory IV) were the new faces.
Officers elected to serve on the Executive Committee for the coming year incude: Chuck McWhirter – President; Steve Bennett – Vice President; Jack Zuidema – Finance Committee Chair; Diane Rushing – Rules Committee Chair; Laura Lyon – Planning & Review Committee Chair; and Lonnie Ledbetter – Marketing Committee Chair.
The daily Network newsletter from the National Show and Youth World can be found at appaloosajournal.com as well as a link to a variety of photos. Also this year, there is a collection of candid camera shots courtesy of Larry Williams Photography on his website (larrywilliamsphotog.com).
My blogging is obviously in lag mode, but it’s been a good week in Jackson. As with most horse shows, we’ve experienced a variety of twists and turns. Most of the city was affected by a major water main break and was without water for part of Thursday.The response from the city was quick and helpful, with a tanker truck full of water and some of those cute little blue portable “restrooms.” At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve had too much water in the form of a thunderstorm. What the experts would call “minor” flooding occurred in a couple of barns. Exhibitors worked together to manage the crisis.
The Awards Banquet Sunday evening was very nice. Ward Fenton brought most of his family from Montana for his official induction into the Hall of Fame (a ceremony to honor Victoria Ennis will be scheduled for next year in Tulsa). The combined open/youth/non-pro event seemed to be a plus.
After a week’s worth of on-site work by ApHC staff and crew things are set to go in Jackson, Mississippi for the 2010 National Appaloosa Show. And, after many miles of travel and untold hours of preparation, exhibitors from across the country are busy settling in as well. The show office opened today and quickly became a hub of activity as entries were finalized, numbers assigned and paperwork completed. Classes start Monday morning.
We’ll have a collection of photos on this site, Larry Williams Photography will also be providing candid photos on their website and there will be additional photos and links from the daily Network — an online publication this year. Class results will be in the Network along with feature stories, schedules and sponsor information. You can also keep up with the action via webcam.
Two amendments to the Appaloosa Horse Club Bylaws have been approved by a vote of the members. The first involves adjusting the election schedule for directors so that voting each year will take place in September, October and/or November, with newly elected directors being seated at the spring meeting (usually March). Beginning in 2011, the nomination deadline will be shifted to July. Directors whose terms would normally expire in July of 2011 will continue to serve until the “regular” meeting in March, 2012.
The second amendment outlines a formal process for board member conduct, the review of such conduct and a board procedure for filing complaints, notice of hearing and potential removal from office of a director.
To review the full text of the amendments, visit the “association” link from appaloosa.com, then click on Board of Directors.
The Appaloosa Stock Horse Organization is hosting the High Roller Big Gamble – 2010 Canadian Stock Horse Championships in conjunction with the 2010 Canadian National Appaloosa Show on Saturday July 31/2010 in Brandon, Manitoba. The divisions will run concurrently with the Junior, Senior and Non Pro Working Cow Horse Classes. Paybacks and prizes will be as per the ASHO pay scale and rules. 0% of the entry fees are retained and any added purse will be pro-rated by entry numbers.
For information and entry forms please contact appaloosastockhorse@hotmail.com
These are the winners in this year’s director election:
Territory I – Lori Ann Richards, Parker, SD
Territory II – Sandra Matthews, Colorado Springs, CO
Territory III – Diane Rushing, Decatur, IL (uncontested)
Territory IV – Jack Zuidema, Alachua, FL (uncontested)
Territory V – Tracy Meisenbach, Brookneal, VA (uncontested)
Territory VI – Chuck McWhirter, Newton, NJ
Results from voting on proposed bylaw amendments will be available next week (June 15th). The deadline was set later to allow for returns from Europe and beyond.
This year’s Appaloosa Museum raffle horse looks like a winner to me. He’s a 2010 colt sired by Secret Admirer, by The Secret and his dam is Awe Keloa Dreams, by Awe Striker.
A big THANK YOU to Rocky Top Appaloosas, owned and operated by Bill & Jeanette Cook of New Salem, North Dakota. With more than 26 years in the horse breeding and showing business, Rocky Top Appaloosas has a proven history of producing good minded Appaloosas and Quarter Horses with superior movement, athletic ability, and desirable conformation. We sincerely appreciate their generosity and support! You can visit their website (www.rockytopappaloosas.com) for more information about other horses — in case you don’t win the raffle.
The museum website will have more information about tickets and the timeline for giving yourself a chance to take this fancy guy home with you.
If you happen to be in the Moscow neighborhood this weekend, it’s time for the Museum’s annual Appaloosa Fest on Saturday from 11:00 – 2:00. There will be fun and games for the entire family. The little ones will have an opportunity to ride a horse. I’m guessing there will be plenty of options for everyone else.
The Appaloosa Horse Club, our exhibitors and their Appaloosas will soon begin preparations for the 64th National Appaloosa Show & 2011 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show to be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We’re pleased to announce that we’ve finalized an agreement with the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority and the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau to host our 2011 and 2012 events at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at the Tulsa Expo Square. The shows will be held July 4–July 16, 2011 and July 9–21, 2012.
See the full news release in the “News Spots” section of the website.
Among a few other things I’ve noticed today, I was reminded that it’s the on-time fee deadline for those who want to sign up for the Chief Joseph Trail Ride. If you want to save yourself a $50 late fee, get something done today.
Information on the ride (July 18-24) from Jackson, Montana to Leadore, Idaho is available in the trail section of the website. I’m told you’ll spend two or three days riding the Continental Divide and the scenery is spectacular.
Also for your calendar if you’re within driving distance of our Idaho neighborhood — the 13th Annual Apalousey Trail Ride to benefit the Museum is scheduled for August 6-8 at the Pony Club Grounds just outside of Deary, Idaho. Visit the appaloosamuseum.org site for more information.
AND, if you’re the competitive sort, the Latah County Sheriff’s Posse and the Appaloosa Museum are hosting what’s being called “Horse ‘N Around” weekend August 27-29 (also at the Pony Club Grounds). We’ll be having an American Competitive Trail Horse Association-approved trail challenge on the 28th, as well as a poker ride, dinner, music, silent auction and assorted other fun stuff. Sign up for the trail challenge on the ACTHA site. There will be more information coming soon on the museum site as well.
We know that some of you beyond the borders are just now receiving election/bylaw ballots in the mail. We did extend the deadline for international ballots to this Thursday June 10th. If you live outside the U.S. and have not received your ballot or if you anticipate that your ballot won’t arrive by the deadline, you have an option.
Request an electronic version of the ballot from Kendra at executiveassistant@appaloosa.com. We’ll include your membership number and you can then email your ballot to the election auditor directly (Kendra will give you the address and any other instructions.
Thanks!
We’ve heard reports of slow (bulk) mail delivery of ballots to ApHC members beyond the U.S. borders and we’ve had the trend confirmed by our election auditor based on slow returns. Because three territories/zones being contested this year involve voters from outside the country, ballots from those areas will be accepted up to and through next Thursday – June 10th. If you have not received a ballot, you should contact the ApHC office immediately. We can issue a replacement ballot by email.
We can tell you that in Territory IV, Zone A (Texas), where a special election was held to fill a vacant seat, Lonny Ledbetter has won.
As some of you have heard, Kevin Pullen has resigned his position as the ApHC Trail/Distance Coordinator. We are evaluating the range of duties within the job description and will make a staffing decision later this summer. In the meantime, other staff members have taken on responsibilities such as data entry and organizing material for upcoming trail rides.
We are pleased to report that Susan Frederickson, who held this position a few years ago, will be specifically helping with final preparations for and on-site management of the Chief Joseph Trail Ride.
Anyone with questions about the trail/distance program or in need of specific trail ride information can contact the ApHC office and ask for Keri or me, or leave a message. Susan’s office hours will be limited, but she’ll be able to respond to questions about the Chief Joseph ride. You can also email trailrides@appaloosa.com.
Our deepest sympathies to Rick and Diane Rushing for the loss of their son Derrick, who died in a motorcycle accident last week. Services were held Monday in Illinois. Derrick was an ApHC member and a farrier. A memorial fund has been established (details at the web address below):
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/herald-review/obituary.aspx?n=derrick-rushing-cowboy&pid=143201554
While waiting for a flight out of Oklahoma City on Memorial Day, I fell in with some team ropers from Utah. We were having a good visit when one of the cowboys returned from a stroll and asked his buddy if he’d heard the announcement about a soldier who’d just arrived for a quick visit home and needed a ride.
The two of them were gone in a flash and returned 15 minutes later. When asked what they’d been up to, the quiet response was enough to make me really glad I’d shared some time with them. A self-described “hobby roper” from Utah had greeted the soldier, thanked him for his service, handed him enough cash for an apparently long-distance cab ride and some food, wished him well and walked away.
No questions, no strings. Just pure gratitude and a stirring example of the cowboy way.
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