A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, April 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM at the Grand Lake Casino Lodge and Event Center, Hwy 10- 26301 S. 655 Road, Grove, OK 74344, (918) 786-4406. Donations in his name can be made to: The Christian Medical Clinic of Grand Lake, Inc., POB 451368, Grove, OK 74345; Integris Grove Hospital Building Fund, 1001 E. 18th Street, Grove, OK 74344 (Attention- Cathy Trewyn); or The ApHC Scholarship Fund, ApHC Museum at the Appaloosa Horse Club, 2720 W. Pullman Road, Moscow, ID 83843. No flowers please.

Dozens of live auditions will be held all over the United States. By registering early, you will reserve your spot and have priority in selecting your audition location. SEASON 2 brings some exciting changes. We have designated two divisions to accommodate different levels of competition. The divisions are PROFESSIONAL and PLEASURE. Everything you need to know is outlined in our DETAILS section at www.actha.us

We’re told by the folks at ACTHA, that they would especially like even more Appaloosa riders to participate. Who knows, you might be a TV star.

The American Competitive Trail Horse Association is proud to announce Season Two of America’s Favorite Trail Horse, a national TV Series in search of America’s favorite trail horse. “Season One of America’s Favorite Trail Horse was a huge success! The horses we met and the stories that we shared touched our hearts, there was no way that we couldn’t do this again” stated ACTHA co-founder Karen VanGetson. “Our mission is to give the great trail horse the recognition it deserves and this is a wonderful opportunity to do just that”.

In a similar format to Season One, horses all over the country will have a chance to compete to win over $100,000 in cash and prizes, including a new 4 Star living quarter’s trailer. The finals will be held at the beautiful Franklin Family Ranch in Blanco, TX and will be aired on RFD TV!

Do you have a great Trail Horse? Have a partnership you’d like to share with America? TELL US YOUR STORY! We’re looking for all breeds, all skill levels, and lots of personality! Season 2 of America’s Favorite Trail Horse will be completely new! The emphasis this season will be on the horse/human interest story. Every equine and their human partner have a story, a partnership, a bond…we want to hear it! We want to broadcast it to the world and show how awesome the great American Trail Horse is, and we want you to tell us your journey! Each horse and rider in the Finals will be showcased in one of thirteen 1-hour episodes. America will vote for their favorite trail horse during 10 voting episodes, and then America votes again for their favorite from the top winners to crown America’s Favorite Trail Horse 2012!

More Options for 2012!
Season 2 brings some exciting changes. We have designated two divisions to accommodate different levels of competition. The divisions are Professional and Pleasure. We will also offer Live Auditions as well as Video Auditions. See details on our website. We want you on RFD TV this Fall! Go to www.actha.us to register today!

Watch the second ten finalists as they compete to earn your vote and their share of the $100,00 in prize money! America’s Favorite Trail Horse will air at 8pm EST on HRTV DISH channel 404. Every episode will be shown FREE on www.actha.tv simultaneously at 8pm EST. Voting starts as soon as the episode is over at 9pm EST and will be open for 48 hours per episode. If you missed any of the episodes, you can still watch it at www.actha.tv

How to VOTE:

Ten horse are showcased in each of the 10 episodes, with one horse chosen
as a winner of each $5000 episode. The 10 winning horses then proceed to
the final round where 3 grand prize winners will be awarded a total of
$50,000. Only one vote per email address per episode and voting starts
after each Tuesday night episode at 8pm EST.

Last week’s winner was Marjorie Chema riding Emmy Lee! (1/2 Spanish Arab
1/2 Oldenburg)

Every Vote counts! Pass the word! Tell us your Favorite!

www.actha.us

ApHC member George Ehmer (you may recall) is a contestant, so be sure to watch for and vote for George and Joker!

How to Watch America’s Favorite Trail Horse…
TV: Channel 404 on HRTV on the Dish Network
ACTHA.TV Online: www.actha.tv FREE

When to tune in…
Tuesday – 8pm EST/ 5pm PST
Tuesday – Same episode repeats 3 hrs later 11pm EST/8 pm PST
When scheduling permits: Repeats Sunday 10am EST/7am PST

How to vote for your favorite trail horse…
Ten horses are showcased in each of the 10 episodes, with one horse chosen as the winner of each $5000 episode. The 10 winning horses then proceed to the final round where 3 grand prize winners will be awarded a total of $50,000. Only one vote per email address per episode and voting starts after each Tuesday night episode at 8pm EST. Voting is open for 48 hours. You can also REVIEW competitors by watching episodes at www.actha.tv

Thought you might be interested in meeting “Wolf” (the Appy) who has walked (both packing and being ridden) from Quoddy Point State Park in Maine to Grayland, WA — a 4-year, 4400 mile trip, 20 miles a day! The trip was made in four laps, side-stepping bad weather each year to return home/beginning the next year, as weather allowed, at the point left off the previous year.

My attached photo (the 3 horses and 2 riders) appeared in the Chehalis, WA “Chronicle” on August 18, 2011. Wolf is the only horse of the three pictured who made the entire trip. The blurb which was published with the photo explains all.

Wolf left Maine June 16, 2007 and arrived at the Pacific Ocean on August 21, 2011. Luckily the two long riders did not experience any of Washington’s famous rain while crossing the state. The rain started the day after they completed their journey.

Wolf belongs to Deb Yavorski, who had a life-dream to ride across the USA. She started out with two horses. Her “non-Appy” Walker proved to be too traffic shy to be safe and she next she bought “Mercury”, her Arab. Deb York joined Yavorski in Montana for the final leg of the trip. She borrowed the QH, “Chiquatah”. The two horsewomen met years earlier at a stable where Yavorski worked and York boarded her horse. Both women are from New York. York rode to honor her mother who passed away in 2007 from leukemia. She says she wanted to do something “extraordinary” before she passed from life (and the trip definitely qualifies in that category).

Deb Yavorski is a member of the Long Riders Guild. She plans to write a book about the trip across the country. I came away from several visits with the two women with the idea that no matter what anyone may say, America is a wonderful place – both women told me that people have been “AMAZING”! Additionally, both women firmly believe that ‘God will provide’ and have many stories to illustrate their belief.

As of today, the women have rented a car and plan to see the Olympia coast beach. (Their horses are being boarded and are resting up while the two long riders see some country and visit). Yesterday plans were being made to have a horse hauler pick up the horses for transport back to New York. The QH was loaned to York and is going back to his pasture in Montana and will work on a pack-string. York plans to get hay in as soon as she gets home and get some painting done around the place. Just business as usual! She is thinking about riding the Pacific Crest Trail in two years. Deb York retired from a job as a cable line woman in 2007; Deb Yavorski will return to her two jobs — she works for an inventory company and subs for the post office. Deb Yavorski is 49; Deb York is 57.

Located on the western edge of the Allegheny National Forest, four miles north of Tidioute, PA – the 150+ acre ranch is just a stone’s throw away from the only congressionally designated wilderness area in the Commonwealth of PA. Encompassing 8,663 acres, this pristine area abounds with many species of wildlife including white-tailed deer, coyotes, eagles, wild turkeys and black bear. There is a nearby virgin forest. The trail terrain is moderate rolling hills and single-track and old shale-based logging roads with creek crossings and is suitable for beginning to intermediate riders. Expect to ride an average of 15 miles per day.

And don’t worry about the price of fuel!! If you want to attend but you don’t want to haul your horse cross-country, there are rental horses available from Hickory Creek Wilderness Ranch, the site of the base camp. They have primitive camp sites for no additional charge. Or you can rent a cabin or a camp site with hook-ups for an additional fee. Contact them directly at 814-484-7520 to reserve your rental horse and/or cabin.

Click on the link below for more information and for a reservation form. We are still accepting reservations with no late fee so be sure and send yours in today!

http://www.appaloosa.com/trail/aphc-trail-rides.htm

If you have any questions, please contact the ApHC office at 208.882.5578 ext. 264 or by email at trailrides@appaloosa.com.

Way to go George…and Joker!

http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/feb/07/broughton-makes-lifes-journey-back-horse-ar-824790/