Each year the American Horse Council awards the Van Ness Award to a person that embodies the dedication and service of the late Mrs. Marjorie Van Ness, one of the founders of the New Jersey Horse Council.
The American Horse Council is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2011 Van Ness Award to Edith Stanger of Idaho Falls, ID.
In presenting the award, AHC president Jay Hickey noted that, “Mrs. Stanger has given her time continuously to the promotion of all aspects of the horse industry. She was instrumental in founding the Idaho State Horse Council in 1975, where she continues to contribute to this day – almost forty years later! Mrs. Stanger recognized the need for a united voice for all horse interests, and was instrumental in joining the AHC as one of the earliest State Horse Council members.”
Together with husband, Dick, Edith Stanger created the Double Arrow Ranch, the largest registered herd of Appaloosa horses in the world. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Appaloosa Horse Club, as President of the Intermountain Appaloosa Club, and as Secretary of the Snake River Valley Horse Show.
“Edith has also worked for the entire industry,” said Hickey. “She helped get legislation promoted to aid the racing industry; to get the brand inspection check-off fee dedicated to the Idaho Horse Board which awards grants to horse activities that meet the strict criteria of use for research, promotion, or education; and recently got a bill through the Idaho legislature allowing simulcast lease holders to move off-site.”
“Thank all of you who are supporters of the Council, and thank you for this great honor you have bestowed upon me,” Mrs. Stanger said in accepting the award. “And thank you to the past, present and future generations that love the horse, are truly concerned for its welfare, and are active in its treatment,” she added.
The horse community in Idaho has benefited greatly from the loyalty and dedication of Mrs. Edith Stanger. She has won many awards for her service to the horse industry, has been elected to the National Appaloosa Horse Club’s Hall of Fame, the Idaho Horse Council’s Hall of Fame, the Idaho Horsemen’s Hall of Fame, and has been deemed a living legend in her community. “She can now add the Van Ness Award to that long list of accomplishments,” said Hickey.
Billy Clarence Myers, Jr., 59, passed away at his home on June 27, 2011. He was born on July 5, 1951 to Billy Clarence and Elizabeth Richardson Myers. He was preceded in death by his father. Bill was a 1971 graduate of West Forsyth High School and a member of Bixby Presbyterian Church. While still in high school, Bill opened the very successful Bill Myers Truck Sales. He was the owner of Auto World of Winston-Salem, a division of Bill Myers Truck Sales. Although cars and trucks were his business, horses were his passion. Bill showed multiple World and National Appaloosa Horse Club Champions.
He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Ellen Bagby Myers; daughter, Amy Myers Brooks and husband Nick; son, Bryon Ross Myers; grandson, Colton Myers Brooks; brothers Rick Myers and wife Beverly, Mark Myers and wife Sheila; several nieces and nephews and his devoted Miniature Australian Shepherd, Dallas. Memorials may be made to Bixby Presbyterian Church, PO Box 2227, Advance, NC 27006-2227 or Hospice of Davie-Mocksville, 377 Hospital Street, Suite 103, Mocksville, NC 27028. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com.
“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.” So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems. BUCK, a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life “horse whisperer,” he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. A truly American story about an unsung hero, BUCK is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds. Opens nationwide today – June 24th. Watch the trailer at www.buckthefilm.com.
We received word that Karen Grimm, Black Horse Ranch, Minden, NV, passed away early this morning. We’ll provide additional information about services and memorials as soon as its available. Karen was a true friend of the Appaloosa community and a dedicated breeder of outstanding horses. She will be dearly missed.
Jan and Stan Dobson, ApHC members from Auburntown, Tennessee, stopped by the office this week for a visit. They had already been to Oregon for some serious horse trading and were headed home. The Dobsons are long-time Appaloosa breeders – 40+ years! – and have focused on producing Foundation-bred horses. We were delighted to accept some registration paperwork and have the chance to chat.
Wow! Mr. Awesome Affair and Eric La Porte just finished 4th in the inaugural World Championship Freestyle reining competition at the Kentucky Horse Park. Standing room only and the only Appaloosa in the competition, Eric took his bridle off and they spun into the money at the landmark event. Way to Go Team Awesome! Click on the link for the replay and so much more!
http://usefnetwork.com/2011KYCupReining/
$25,000 added money; held at the end of the Five Star Reining competition, CRI5* (Concours de Reining International), the sport’s highest level and held concurrently with the Rolex Three Day Event.
12 competitors including David O’Conner; Totally packed house!
He did the same routine he won App Worlds with – Desparado.
Received word from George Ehmer that he and P.S. No Joke (Joker) have qualified for the finals in the American Competitive Trail Horse Association competition to determine “America’s Favorite Trail Horse.” They’ll be heading to Austin, Texas, next week. George says to watch for them on RFD-TV and be sure to vote for them!
Way to go George…and Joker!
It gives us great sorrow to announce the passing of Appaloosa legend and Hall of Famer, Bill Cass. Bill was an inspirational mentor, successful breeder and promoter of the Appaloosa breed for more than 40 years. He is best known for his association with the Hall of Fame stallion Colida, but he bred more than 300 Appaloosas and owned more than 270 since he joined the Appaloosa Horse Club in 1957. Please join the Appaloosa Horse Club and Appaloosa Journal in honoring his memory, and extending our deepest condolences to his friends and family.
Bill’s address was the Circle Lazy C Ranch in Welch, Oklahoma, but he was definitely a citizen of the worldwide Appaloosa community. As a point of interest, his ApHC membership number is four digits.
David Robert Nemelka
1938 ~ 2011
David Robert Nemelka, our devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away on February 8, 2011, at the age of 71. Our father was a friend to everyone. He naturally uplifted and brought joy into people’s lives, whether it was by passing out happiness gum or paying for a stranger’s groceries. He loved giving bear hugs and enjoyed being called Papa Bear and Opa by his family and friends.
Opa was born on March 30, 1938, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Nephi Alma Nemelka and Ruth Hubold. He and his four siblings were raised in humble circumstances and they forged bonds as children that sustained them throughout their entire lives. After graduating from West High School in 1957, he earned a degree in social work from the University of Utah and served as an intelligence officer with the 142nd MI Linguist Company of the U.S. Army Reserve. He served a mission for the LDS Church in West Germany and it was there that he met his “double, double sweetheart,” our mother Ingrid.
You cannot know Opa without knowing Omi, his best friend and the love of his life whom he married in the Logan Utah Temple on November 21, 1962. They were true to their life’s motto of “Family First and Nothing Second,” and our dad considered his children his greatest legacy. He often said that the purpose of life was to create positive memories with your loved ones, and for his 28 grandchildren, these memories include legendary Kids’ Day adventures, Easter egg hunts for cash, golf cart rides with his dog Cutie Pie, and horseback riding in the backyard.
Our father dedicated his life to helping those in need. He had a special love and talent for working with troubled youth and was program director of boys’ homes in California and Utah. Blessed with wisdom and a gift for counseling, he aided many people in their most difficult times. Opa was passionate about the cause of organ donation and dedicated the latter years of his life to eliminating the organ shortage. He was a member of the Utah State Legislature for two terms, from 1973-1976, where he received the Don Quixote Award for fighting the battles of the less fortunate. As a lifelong and faithful member of the LDS Church, he had many callings but his favorites were Scoutmaster and Home Teacher.
Opa delighted in many things. He raised Appaloosa race horses and was inducted into the Appaloosa Horse Club Hall of Fame. Observing his backyard hummingbirds and having them land on his hands brought him great joy. He loved playing games, especially Chinese Checkers with his wife and The Settlers of Catan with anybody he could convince to sit down at the table. Opa always considered it a privilege that he was able to raise his family in Mapleton, and Maple Mountain remained a source of peace and inspiration throughout his life.
He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Ingrid; his children: David (Arianne) Nemelka of Springville, Utah; John (Heather) Nemelka of Provo, Utah; Heidi (Joe) Udall of Mesa, Arizona; Joseph (Christy) Nemelka of Mapleton, Utah; Sonja (Mitch) Wasden of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Allyson (William) Davidson of Ningbo, China; and Michael (Melanie) Nemelka of Washington, D.C. He is also survived by 27 grandchildren and his siblings, Rose (Rick) Blackhum; Jeannene (Ed) Barham; Carol Kimball; and Roger (Linda) Nemelka. He was preceded in death by his parents and his “German Princess” granddaughter Anna Loeen Nemelka.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, February 15th in Mapleton. Condolences may be sent at www.wheelermortuary.com
If you’re not a “Googler,” you might have missed this story about ApHC member Regina Broughton of Bristol, Tennessee. She’s profiled in a local news article (link below) with special mention of her Appaloosa X Thoroughbred Tango. The duo is earning a regional award from the North American Trail Riding Conference and we thought you’d like to know about another special person in the Appaloosa community.
http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/feb/07/broughton-makes-lifes-journey-back-horse-ar-824790/
Part of the program at the Color Breed Council Judges Seminar in Oklahoma City is the presentation of awards for various judging anniversaries. At this year’s event last week, the Appaloosa Horse Club was especially pleased to offer an engraved plate to Roland (Pete) Wood of Ocala, Florida. Pete has been a carded judge with the ApHC for 55 years! We had to come up with a new category of award since this doesn’t happen too often. Shown with Pete as he accepts the honor is Ray Burchett, ApHC Judges Committee Chairman. It’s also worth noting that Pete has been a member for 60 years. Thanks Pete – and congratulations!
We were pleased to receive the February issue of Horse & Rider with one of our own featured as the horse “we’d love to own.” SHYS BLUE BOY, owned by Abby Bruno of Moreno Valley, California, is the star of this month’s “Your Horse, Your Life” page. The description of “Blue” and his accomplishments — so far –certainly embody the Appaloosa theme of versatility, disposition, willingness to please, etc. Congratulations Abby and Blue! The photo here is from their win at the 2010 World Show, where they earned the Nutrena Iron Horse award and were named World’s Best Appaloosa. Earlier in the year, at the Youth World, Abby and Blue won the High-Point Youth All-Around title as well.
ApHC Director Lynette Thompson passed along the good news about a recent collegiate signee. ApHC member and exhibitor Juliana Cook, from Farmington, Georgia, will participate as part of the Auburn University Equestrian Team. Congratulations Juliana!
The link below includes the full news release from the Auburn folks. I guess football isn’t the only thing they do well.
http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/w-equest/spec-rel/120110aaa.html
This is from Stephanie Hutcherson, Appaloosa Horse Club member, with a registered Appaloosa gelding named Touche Roman. I wanted to let you know that he (“Romeo”) was in a side saddle scene on the TV series Vampire Diaries on November 11, 2010. Romeo was also on the Vampire Diaries website for the previews of the show for almost a week before the show, and currently he can be seen on the website on their past episodes video. The episode is called Katrina.
You can see some photos that I took while on the shoot on my club’s sidesaddle website www.georgialadiesaside.com , both on the blog and on the past events page.
Romeo and I have been partners for almost twelve years, and I have to say he has been the best horse I’ve had in the over twenty-five years I have owned horses. We (Romeo and I) have competed in hunter/jumper, combined training, and dressage shows… in astride saddles and in sidesaddle. We have participated in the ACAAP program for many years, receiving Top Ten in Combined Training and Certificate of Achievements in combined training, over fences and dressage. We have also received many awards at the national and international levels in sidesaddle riding.
For pleasure we enjoy driving, trail rides, hunter paces and parades. We have competed in many parades in Georgia and Kentucky. Our most memorable parade was in a sidesaddle in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. We also participate in sidesaddle demos throughout Georgia and also at the Kentucky Horse Park once a year. Romeo and I have also volunteered our time with Special Olympics riders and horse shows.
Back to the Vampire Diaries. I was contacted by the film production company who found me through our web site, and who were initially looking for a “side saddle consultant.” This role grew over the next few days as we got closer to the shoot date, to the point where they invited Romeo in for a role with a stunt double for the actress. When I was asked to include Romeo, I knew right away that my Appaloosa could handle it. It was an 18-hour day with the scene being shot at night. There were bright lights, ladders, fog machines, and people coming and going out of the dark woods with video equipment. Romeo did not spook once. He had to canter past “dead bodies” (actors, or course!), a stuffed wolf, and an overturned wagon. He also did many takes where he had to stand completely still as the actress ran away from him. Throughout it all, he delivered a perfect performance, and was quite popular with the cast and film crew.
He was and is the perfect “spokes-horse” for the Appaloosa breed: smart, calm, gentle, and versatile. And I’m so blessed to have him!
Stephanie Hutcherson
President
www.georgialadiesaside.com
Board of Directors
www.americansidesaddleassociation.org
Had to share this news item from ApHC judge and exhibitor Christy Wood:
I attended my first Ultimate Cowboy Trail Challenge on Nov 20 & 21 in Bishop, CA. This was going to be my stepping stone to start entering extreme cowboy racing so I went to scope it out. There were 60 riders to run on the qualifying round on Sat with 16 advancing to the finals on Sunday. The age divisions were 2 youth, 2 non-pro and Pro. We had to memorize 29 obstacles within two arenas and out as well. They gave us 9 minutes to complete the course. I did it in 5:45seconds. The end result was that I won the whole darn thing! What a blast! I won the Pro division, my horse,”Dollar” won Top horse, she was the highest point earner for both days, and I won the entire Ultimate Cowboy Trail Challenge and was handed a check for $1,000.00.
I will be joining the EXCR association in Jan and hope to ride in more races throughout the year. I will also be back on the Appy circuit and my goal is to be back at the Worlds in Oct. Please note that this is a solid bay mare, and when I had to give a short bio for the announcer at the challenge I had him say “Dollar is a registered Appaloosa mare which goes to show you that it is in the bloodlines that gets you down the trail, not the color on the butt.” I know our breed wants to be recognized for our color, but perhaps we need to give those solids, who we do allow on our trails and in our arenas, to take center stage once in a while. I own 2 solids and two colored Appaloosas, and they are all my breed of choice!
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