Other recent discussions have focused on a proposal to automatically qualify Canadian National Champions for the ApHC World Show in the same year. The ApHC executive committee has expressed support for the idea and will likely offer a recommendation at the July Board of Directors meeting in Jackson, Mississippi. Winners from the European Championships and other international shows, as well as from the ApHC National Show, may also be included in the ultimate proposal.
Another group of ApHC directors is working on realignment of our point system for World Show qualification. Under the new structure, adjustments would be made each year to more appropriately reflect participation levels in each class, average number of points earned by qualifying horses and other factors.
We thought you might like some numbers from the 2007 World Championship Show in Fort Worth. And, of course, we always like sharing good news.
Non-Pro entries – 1,221
Open Halter entries – 393
Open Performance entries – 918
Total entries – 2,532
Total horses – 978
Total entries increased by 10.13% over last year and we were up 35 horses (3.7%) over last year! Entries increased in all divisions (non-pro, halter, performance).
Yearling Incentive Sale average = $4,513
Average price of the Top Five = $13,400
Average price of the Top Ten = $11,025
Select Sale average = $2,432
Average price of the Top Five = $4,750
Average price of the Top Ten = $3,595
Yearling Sale averages were down from 2006, primarily due (we assume) to the increase in the total number of consignments in the sale. Averages for the Select Sale were up slightly from a year ago.
Individual prices are posted on the on-line catalog. The ones without prices were either not sold or were scratched from the sale.
The ApHC Sale Committee met for a de-briefing on Thursday and discussed various aspects of the sale for next year. Obviously, there are always improvements and changes that can be made. Overall, however, the sale was a good one. Our first attempt with on-line bidding was interesting and successful. We had 178 viewers/bidders on line during the sale. At least two lots were sold via the Internet and several other consignments were helped along with active on-line bidding.
We would like to extend a special word of thanks to Bruce McCarty, who stepped in as auctioneer for Keith Babb, who suffered a severe leg break while on a hunting trip. Bruce did a great job and was helpful on many fronts.
Congratulations to the buyers and sellers. We look forward to a renewed effort in 2008.
Last night’s program included a short show by Diana Olson who is President of the Arizona Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association. She certainly woke us up as if anyone was sleeping at that point.
I’ve really enjoyed my opportunity to be with you once again and for my first World Show. I hope you enjoy the interviews and pictures and really appreciate the great staff of the ApHC for working with me to bring you some of the sights and sounds of a great show.
Keri is smiling because it’s the last day of the show and all has gone well. As show manager, Keri LeForce has a lot of organizing to do.
She says that this year’s show is bigger with about 6% more horses and entries than last year. That’s a good increase. Another thing she likes about this year’s show is the extracurricular activities like the clinics and the screening of the movie “Trail End.” She says they enhance the participants experience and she’s heard very positive feedback about them. Keri says the staff will wrap up the World Show and get back to work on the National show which will be in Jackson, MS next year. She says the city there has been very supportive and hopes to really impress ApHC members when they attend.
His real name is Roland but everyone calls him Pete Woods. Pete’s been judging Appaloosas for 51 years now!
Besides judging he’s also painting and at the information booth here at the World Show you can see a couple of Pete’s paintings. I sat down with Pete this morning to get a little bit of his perspective from his career. He says he got his first Appaloosa in 1949 and it was the first registered one in New York state. He was drawn to the breed because of their color and disposition. Pete’s ApHC membership number is 420 by the way. He was one of the first Appaloosa judges to be carded too.
One of the things that stands out in his memory were shows like the National Show in Salem, OR in 1973 when there were huge numbers of horses in the classes and they only had 3 judges. If you’re going to be a judge Pete says, “You have to satisfy yourself.” He says you can’t satisfy everyone.
You can listen to my interview with Pete here: Pete Wood Interview (6 min MP3)
When you’re trying to getting the bidding up in an auction you’ve got to try different things. Like this move during the pre-rope race auction last night.
Each of the contestants was auctioned off in a Calcutta and had to parade around the ring to generate excitement and hopefully some competitive bidding. The auction raised $4,500 to fund scholarships for Appaloosa youth. The winning bidder received $2,250!
I don’t know about anyone else but when our American flag came by in the ring during our National Anthem last night I got a lump in my throat.
This kicked off the ceremonies last night at the Toys for Tots Performance. Awards were given out and sponsors and dignitaries like Barry Corbin were honored.
There are a number of pictures from the event in my photo album.
I had not seen a rope race until the National Show earlier this year. It’s a lot of fun to watch. Last night we had an invitational event with halter exhibitors. This video has the first heat so you can see what it was like.
At the National Show we met MyHorseForSale.com owner, Jan Erhardt (right). Now she’s got an exclusive website set up for the ApHC for members to sell their horses. You can find it in the Marketplace section of the ApHC website using this link.
I spoke with Ginger Baker (center) about the new website and what it means for ApHC members. She says it’s really easy to use. If you have a horse for sale then you just go to the website and use the tools built in to list your horse, including the ability to upload pictures. As of yesterday there were nearly 200 horses already listed so it looks like the service is already receiving a lot of activity.
We all listen to the ring announcers and I’m sure some of you wonder who they are. One of them working the World Show is Louis Amedeé from Louisiana.
Louis started out his career announcing boat races before moving to equine shows. He’s been doing this for about 40 years and 10 now with the ApHC. Louis says this has been a very good show. He especially likes the unique parts of an appaloosa show like the horse against horse competitions. For aspiring ring announcers he suggests that you’ve got to be dedicated.
The CEO always gets the tough job right? This doesn’t look too rough though Steve.
These were some of Steve’s helpers at the World Championship Appaloosa Sale. They were responsible for getting the paperwork to the winning buyers in the auction.
I’m not sure who they all are but they are all winners. There are some photos of them in action at the sale in my photo album.
I know the exhibitors don’t get much of a chance to talk to the judges but that’s as it should be. I, however, had an opportunity to talk to ring steward John Tabb. John recently judged the European Appaloosa Championship and says it was a good experience and one he’s had a chance to do several years ago.
I asked John if there was much difference between the show their and ours here in the U.S. He said there really isn’t and that the quality of their horses is very good. He didn’t really think he was an ambassador from the U.S. but I think he was and a good one too.
You can listen to my interview with John here: John Tabb Interview (3 min MP3)
In 2008 ApHC members will have a new benefit program to look forward to. It’s called the ApHC Membership Advantage Program. At the World Show Steve Anderson was manning a booth to help explain the program. He was also helping with the raffle of a John Deere Gator which will be given to a lucky winning member.
Basically the program will allow members with full time equine facilities to purchase certain products and services at group discount rates. For example, qualified members can receive up to 23% off the price of John Deere equipment. Steve says they’re in the process of establishing a toll-free telephone line for members and a link on the ApHC website to more information.
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We thought you might like some numbers from the 2007 World Championship Show in Fort Worth. And, of course, we always like sharing good news.
Last night’s program included a short show by Diana Olson who is President of the 
Keri is smiling because it’s the last day of the show and all has gone well. As show manager, Keri LeForce has a lot of organizing to do.
His real name is Roland but everyone calls him Pete Woods. Pete’s been judging Appaloosas for 51 years now!
When you’re trying to getting the bidding up in an auction you’ve got to try different things. Like this move during the pre-rope race auction last night.
I don’t know about anyone else but when our American flag came by in the ring during our National Anthem last night I got a lump in my throat.
At the National Show 
We all listen to the ring announcers and I’m sure some of you wonder who they are. One of them working the World Show is Louis Amedeé from Louisiana.
The CEO always gets the tough job right? This doesn’t look too rough though Steve.
I know the exhibitors don’t get much of a chance to talk to the judges but that’s as it should be. I, however, had an opportunity to talk to ring steward John Tabb. John recently judged the European Appaloosa Championship and says it was a good experience and one he’s had a chance to do several years ago.
In 2008 ApHC members will have a new benefit program to look forward to. It’s called the ApHC Membership Advantage Program. At the World Show Steve Anderson was manning a booth to help explain the program. He was also helping with the raffle of a John Deere Gator which will be given to a lucky winning member.