The January/February issue of Cowgirl magazine includes a feature story entitled, “Appaloosas — The Ultimate Comeback Story,” by Gavin Ehringer (with photos from the ApHC). It’s especially nice to see that the publishers have included an Appaloosa in one of their own in-house ads for the magazine and the website. The article traces the history of the breed, but includes some personal background from Mr. Ehringer and references to Joker B. and Prince Plaudit.
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!
The annual holiday/Christmas open house at the Appaloosa Museum was this past Saturday. A larger-than-normal crowd of youngsters and their parents stopped by to visit with Santa, perch for a while atop the ever-patient Shadow shown here, decorate horse-shaped cookies and just play around. With the help of museum staff and board members as well as a great group of volunteers from the University of Idaho, everyone had a great time. And, the event made the front page of the local newspaper today (that’s harder to do than you might think).
There are a few more photos in the flicker album (menu at left).
We received this note from Mary Bengel in Oregon. The details are pretty amazing.
Dear Appaloosa Horse Club,
Please check out our friend and horse trainer’s Facebook page and blog. Plus you can hear her being interviewed on The Horse Radio Network’s Stable Scoop show (episodes 94-107). Kathleen Dodd left Oregon mid-May to ride her two Appy’s across the USA to the East Coast….alone with no support or follow vehicle. She is currently in Nebraska. Her Appy’s are mother and daughter. Mystic, the mama, is Kathleen’s jumper champion. And Delightful, the daughter, is as pretty as she can be at only 4 years old. These mares have seen a lot over the last 4 states. They are now snake proof, wild horse proof, firework proof, semi-truck proof, jack rabbit proof, and train proof.
Kathleen and the mares are traveling on little to no money. Care packages are being sent as well as cash. We are looking for sponsorship to help cover the cost of hay, horseshoes, and the cell phone bill that is used for safety and to monitor and navigate their trip. I have added your facebook page to Kathleen’s Wild Ride as one of “our favorites” Please check it out at: Kathleen’s Wild Ride [On facebook] The Horse Radio Network’s Stable Scoop Show [episode 94-107] They also have a facebook page. And Kathleen blogs when she can: youmightthinkthisiscrazy.blogspot.com
It’s the 35th anniversary of championship equine sport at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta. It’s the 21st edition of the Battle of the Breeds. This year’s battle includes 12 breed teams competing for prize money, fan approval and a bit of bragging rights.
Pictured here is Kaylee McLachlin riding Amigo TRT in the Jeopardy Jumping — one of five events in the Battle of the Breeds. This duo performed well, scoring 460 points which included the 100-point bonus jump. Denice Jones, riding Shady’s Leo Dexter, also competed today in the jumping and compulsory skills (in Dexter’s case, driving).
Tomorrow’s agenda includes precision driving and barrels. Should be fun to watch. Each of the five components of the battle features substantial cash and attracts a good crowd of loyal fans. Stay tuned. Team Appaloosa looks to be competitive. Thanks to the Alberta regional club for coordinating an exhibit booth at Equine Expo. Even if things don’t warm up and dry up, it will be another super PR opportunity.
I made it “down” to Nampa for the Idaho Horse Expo this past weekend. Crowds were almost as good as the weather and there was definitely something for every interest level. It’s always entertaining to watch the activity surrounding the private treaty sale, training clinics, ranch horse events and the trade show.
A real crowd pleaser was the Supreme Cowboy Race, which is basically timed, extreme trail. One of our own, Talea Morgan-Metivier, from Chewelah, Washington, competed with the best of them on two great looking Appaloosas. The picture is of Talea and her four-year-old mare Smart Little Cayenne, by Smart Little Sign (also a star of the event), who is by High Sign Nugget. Thanks Talea for showing of with colorful Appaloosas!
Thanks also to George and Lise Jumper, long-time ApHC folks from Emmett, Idaho, who came by to help at the Appaloosa table.
More photos are in the album (see left hand menu).
The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) congratulates Calizona ApHC of California for earning the title of 2009 Exemplary Appaloosa Regional Club, an honor developed to recognize regional clubs that go above and beyond when promoting the Appaloosa breed.
Calizona ApHC, a representative of the Appaloosa breed in Southern California and Arizona, receives $500, a trade show space at the World or National Show, two tickets to the annual ApHC banquet and a certificate of award. 2009 is the third consecutive year Calizona ApHC has received this honor.
The 2009 runner up for this prestigious award is Maine ApHC, representing Territory VI. The Maine ApHC made their debut run this year giving the winner a real run for the glory by hosting a variety of activities that showcased the versatile traits of the Appaloosa, enhanced the regional club experience in their community and promoted our Breed of Choice.
A portfolio detailing the club’s Appaloosa shows, activities, sales and other member hosted events is submitted to ApHC. Clubs are then judged on various categories that focus on member participation and breed promotion. The highest scoring regional club in each territory receives $200 and a certificate of award from the ApHC and moves on as a finalist to compete for the exemplary award.
Territory winners are: Appaloosa Horse Association of Alberta, Canada, Territory I; Calizona ApHC, California, Territory II; Illinois Appaloosa Association, Illinois, Territory III; Sooner ApHC, Oklahoma, Territory IV; Maine ApHC, Maine, Territory VI; *Honorable mentions to Utah ApHC, Territory II; Appalachian Appaloosa Association, Territory VI; and, Great Lakes ApHC, Ohio, Territory VI.
I had the good fortune to spend some time this past weekend in Tampa for the inaugural event of the “Reining Classic.” Thanks to host and show organizer Frank Marley for a warm welcome and for all the efforts of his support team. Actually, it wasn’t so warm weather-wise, but the quality of the reining was outstanding. The sport is certainly attracting more attention these days and part of Frank’s goal is always to promote Appaloosa horses along with the discipline. Folks from Inside Reining television, the NRHA magazine and Quarter Horse News were there to cover all the action. Instead of the usual trophies, winners received a Seminole Hard Rock guitar. Good food, good fun, entertainment, a trade show and lots of tough reining competition made for a really good start for what Frank intends to make an annual event.
We’ll follow up with further details (or where to find them), and you can visit the photo album link for more of my weak attempts at photography.
The March cover story of Horseback Magazine will be about the Chief Joseph Trail Ride and the saga of the 1877 flight of the Nez Perce. The piece is by Steven Long, Editor of HM. In addition to that position, Long is an avid horseman, author of several books about crime and the accompanying courtroom drama, and a freelance writer for publications such as Cowboys and Indians Magazine and Western Horseman. He’s also been a special correspondent and anayst for CNBC and, along with his horse Facade, has appeared on Animal Planet’s “Animal Cops Houston.”
Horseback Magazine has evolved from its origins as Horse Talk, then later as Texas Horse Talk. The publication also has a strong Internet presence at www.horsebackmagazine.com.
Received this note from Monty Holmes, ApHC Director, 5A:
I thought that you’ll might enjoy reading about Lynn Bliss and her Appaloosa “Webster”. She gave me permission to share this story. It is an example of “thinking outside the box” and is an idea that may be of benefit to some of you along the way.
FYI: Lynn is a longtime member of the ApHC and the Arkansas ApHC. She and her family have been in the Appaloosa business for many years. I got to know her several years ago when we attended college together at Arkansas State University and she rode her Appaloosa “Rebel Cry” in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association events. She has served as an officer in the AApHC and has represented Territory 5, Zone A on the ApHC Non Pro Advisory Committee. My wife, Suzi, and I are proud to call Lynn and her husband, David, our friends and friends of the ApHC.
This is Lynn’s email…
Subject: Fundraiser & Webbie!
Dave and I donated a ‘Two Hour Adventure with Webster the Wonder Horse” to a local fund raiser auction that was held last night. Basically — two hours of hand-on interaction at the barn with Webster…. grooming him, interacting with him, learning some basic horsemanship, working with him on some showmanship stuff, getting to ride him a little bit, cleaning stalls, etc…. learning parts of horse, about horses, history of Appaloosas, and you get to take home a horse-shoe worn by Webster in competition and a blue ribbon won by Webster in competition — you had to be at least 10 years of age. Well…. a 40-something woman bought it for $400!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Afterwards the local Boys & Girls Club asked us if we would donate the same thing to their upcoming fundraiser……
Lynn Austin Bliss
Get more for your money with new bundled advertisement packages available for the 2009 Appaloosa Yearbook and the Year-End issue of Appaloosa Journal (May), in addition to bonus links on ApHC social media Web sites and during the live video stream of the 2010 National and Youth World shows!
Commemorative Package A:
• Full-color spread (two pages) in the May issue of Appaloosa Journal: $1,470
• One full page in the Yearbook: $800
• Live link and logo in the May, June and July e-newsletter: $360
• May, June and July “Feature of the week” on all ApHC social networking (Facebook, Twitter, Appaloosa Blogspot and MySpace) pages for one month (four weeks): $300
• Logo and live link on National Show live streaming video page: $275
Total value: $3,205
Your price: $2,270
Commemorative Package B:
• One full-color page in the May issue of Appaloosa Journal: $780
• One full page in the Yearbook: $800
• Live link and logo in the May, June and July e-newsletter: $360
• Logo and live link on National Show live streaming video page: $275
Total value: $2,215
Your price: $1,580
Commemorative Package C:
• Choice of one full-color half page or one black and white page
in the May issue of Appaloosa Journal: $490
• 1/2 page in the Yearbook: $400
• May and June e-newsletter feature with logo and live link: $240
Total value: $1,130
Your price: $890
Commemorative Package D:
• One business card ad in the May issue of Appaloosa Journal: $85
• 1/8 page in Yearbook: $100
• May or June e-newsletter feature with logo and live link: $120
Total value: $305
Your price: $185
Note from Dorine Bennett
This week on the Women’s Pro Rodeo Today show on RFD-TV (episode 52) the featured profile was about Sherri Mell! What a wonderful person to include in their show! Good to see!! As you may know, Sherri has been a part of the Appaloosa world for many years and has been inducted into the Women’s Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Calizona and long time ApHC member, Debbie Herzman, was interviewed by “The Boulevard Magazine” after her recent experience of riding in the Rose Parade. This is a publication circulated in the San Diego County area of Southern California but also is on the Internet. See the link below for the on-line version to see the article and a great picture of Appaloosa horses.
On the Boulevard’s Home Page, scroll down to the Item titled “Investigate This” – Bonsall Woman Rides ….
http://www.theboulevardonline.com/current.html
Calizona congratulates Debbie on her media opportunity sharing her experience and love for the Appaloosa breed.
Leslie Foxvog
President Calizona ApHC
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