By Rich Fortner

“The American Quarter Horse Association is the world’s largest single-breed equine registry and membership organization, with more than 5 million American Quarter Horses registered worldwide and AQHA membership numbering more than 300,000. AQHA’s mission is to record and preserve the pedigrees of the American Quarter Horse while maintaining the integrity of the breed and to provide beneficial services for its members which enhance and encourage American Quarter Horse ownership and participation.”

The NQHA association's "Walk of Fame." It was moved and enlarged from the State Fair to the Lancaster Event Center this past summer.

The Association was founded in March 1940, in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1946 the Association moved to its current home at Amarillo, Texas.

Not long after, the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association was formed with John Berry of Ogallala as its first president. The Association has continued as a strong affiliate over all these years with its current president, Tom Kirshenbaum of Omaha.

AQHA has many programs and activities available to members. From showing to racing to trail riding, AQHA has it all for the horse enthusiast. AQHA tailors to youth and adults, beginners and professional riders, and simply American Quarter Horse fans. There is something for everyone!

Nebraska can be proud of the fact that our state has been the home to some of the most influential American Quarter Horses, breeders, trainers and owners. A historical marker to this point can be found at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln where a great majority of the current Quarter Horse Activity occurs.

The Haythorn Ranch of Arthur was the first Nebraska ranch to register Quarter Horses. When the American Quarter Horse Association gave its first ever Remuda Award in 1993, it was fitting that the Haythorns received it.

The Pitzer Ranch of Ericson began the foundation of what has become one of the breed’s leading producers with their stallion, Pat Star, Jr., purchased in 1956. But destined to make the largest impact was the lineage of the legendary Two Eyed Jack that began with Howard’s purchase of this great stud in 1964.

Shown aggressively until he was nine, he earned 217 halter points, and also earned points in performance events including western pleasure, hunter, reining, western riding and working cow horse. He was even used on barrels a time or two and worked cattle on the ranch, but his best contribution was as a breeding stallion.

By the time Two Eyed Jack was retired, he had sired 1,416 foals, 119 AQHA Champions and 30 Youth Champions including 31 Open and Youth World or Reserve World Championship winners. After the adoption of A.I., he was bred to as many as 434 mares in one season, proving to be one of the all-time prepotent breeding studs in Quarter Horse history.

Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Hall of Fame in 1997 was Howard along with his pride and joy, Two Eyed Jack, the all time-leading sire of AQHA champions and prominent cornerstone of our Pitzer Ranch program.

Anyone familiar with Quarter Horses today is aware of Zippo Pine Bar, purchased by a Nebraska rancher, Norman Reynolds of Lexington, at a sale when he was a weanling. Reynolds, according to a friend, was looking for a sire of using horses in his cow-calf and feedlot operations. But plans changed when Reynolds’ daughter took Zippo Pine Bar into the barn and shined him up. She took him to some weanling classes, and according to AQHA records, he won four out of four. That prompted some consideration for the thousand dollar weanling, and after he did some growing up, he was put in training with Bill Keyser. The rest is history. Reynolds had been looking for a using horse sire, but what he got was a pure talent who was capable of winning a Halter class, a Western riding class or a Pleasure class. He did all of that many, many times. Zippo Pine Bar later moved to Texas where, according to AQHA records, he has 1,636 registered foals. Half of those are performance horses with a point total that takes the lid off any record in the book. The sons and daughters of this fantastic stallion have 43,168.5 AQHA points! In addition, by my count, there are 14 World Champions and 29 Reserve World Champions. In the world of Western pleasure, big money purses are still relatively unheard of (for example, the 1997 high money earner in Open competition took home $33,464 for the year). Keep that in mind and then realize that Zippo Pine Bar could have earned over $1.5 million dollars in the pleasure futurity business! Some of the top cutting horse sires in the business brag about offspring earnings well below this figure, and an NCHA Futurity Champion earns over $100,000. In addition, AQHA reports incentive earnings of over $650,000.

For several years pari-mutual Quarter Horse racing was held at several tracks across Nebraska. Broken Bow, Deshler and Hastings enjoyed the amazing breakneck speed of Quarter Horse racing. Quarter Horse races are run flat out, with the horses running at top speed for the duration. There is less jockeying for position, as turns are rare, and many races end with several contestants grouped together at the wire. Quarter Horse racing’s All American Futurity is to 2-year old racing American Quarter Horses what the Kentucky Derby is to 3-year old Thoroughbreds.

First run in 1959 and won by Galobar, the All American Futurity offered horse racing’s first $1 million purse in 1978. In 1982, the race became a $2 million event.

This year’s renewal of the All American Futurity will offer a purse of $2,050,000. The winner of the All American Final on Labor Day, September 2, will earn the $1-million winner’s share of the purse.

The All American Quarter Horse Congress began in 1967. The Ohio Quarter Horse Association founded this event and continues to sponsor it to this day. The congress’ purpose is to showcase the American Quarter Horse. The organizers also hope to educate people about this mammal and the proper way to show it at professional events.

While the Ohio Quarter Horse Association does permit other breeds of horses to participate in the congress, the event’s main purpose is to showcase the American Quarter Horse. The All American Quarter Horse Congress takes place for three weeks each October at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The Ohio Quarter Horse Association estimates that 650,000 people attend the congress each year. This event rivals the Ohio State Fair in attendance. The participants of the All American Quarter Horse Congress also bring an estimated 110 million dollars to the Central Ohio economy. More than 16,000 horses enter various competitions each year, and approximately 8,500 of these mammals reside on the Expo Center grounds during the Congress.

The American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show is the pinnacle for owners and exhibitors around the world, who must qualify for the event by earning competition in each of the classes representing Halter, English and Western disciplines. United States, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Venezuela are competing at this year’s event. 2010’s version included 3,326 entries vying for $2,614,865 in cash and prizes and made an economic impact on its host, Oklahoma City, Okla., of 28.5 million dollars.

With the American Quarter Horse, there truly is something for everyone. Consider becoming involved. Look us up on the Web at AQHA.COM and NQHA.ORG. The NQHA association’s “Walk of Fame.” It was moved and enlarged from the State Fair to the Lancaster Event Center this past summer.

The Nebraska Pinto Horse Association

By Ashley Biskup, NPtHA President

The Nebraska Pinto Horse Association (NPtHA) membership is over one-hundred strong and proud to be a family-oriented organization. Families are the biggest part of the membership of the Nebraska Pinto Horse Association.

Our members are a variety of youth, amateur, novice-amateur and open exhibitors, all working to promote the Pinto breed and encourage ideas of good horsemanship and good sportsmanship. NPtHA shows offer a variety of classes for the Pinto horse. These classes include stock/hunter types, pleasure/saddle types, ponies and miniatures.

NPtHA Youth Club Members: (L-R) Jocilynn Behlen, Cynthia Yeager, Jaycen Timm, Elizabeth Blaser, Mackenzie Daniels and Emily Critser

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is, “What is the difference between Paint and Pinto?” Simply put: The Paint Horse (registered by the APHA) is limited to horses of documented and registered Paint, Quarter Horse, or Thoroughbred breeding. The difference in eligibility between the two registries has little to do with color or pattern, only bloodlines. While most Paints can be double registered as Stock or Hunter type Pintos, PtHA also allows for the registration of miniature horses, ponies, and horses derived from other breed crosses, such as Arabian, Morgan, Saddlebred, and Tennessee Walking Horse, to name but a few. The Pinto Horse is a color breed with documentation of pedigree.

The Pinto is the breed choice for equine enthusiasts of virtually all disciplines and events; or just for pleasure riding or to get a job done; when you want a horse, pony or miniature to use or show, with color and eye appeal!

We have a very active youth club that stretches from 7 and under Lead Liners to 14-18 youth exhibitors. Each year they host their very own show in Fremont, Neb., this year on June 4. They provide a variety of door prizes and fun activities for everyone.
This year we are offering again our 2nd Annual NPtHA Sponsored Youth Show June 5th in Fremont. This show is designed to help our local youth and 4-Hers to prepare for the upcoming District 4-H Horse Shows. We are happy to provide them one more venue to show in before their big qualifying round at Districts.

NPtHA Royalty Contestants: (L-R) Princess Contestants Brittany Dake, Princess Contestant Kylie Miller, 2011 NPtHA Queen Laura Kyriss, 2011 NPtHA Princess Selena Finn, 2011 NPtHA Sweetheart Jocilynn Behlen, Sweetheart Contestant Karlie Miller, and Sweetheart Contestant Emily Critser.

Throughout the year, NPtHA members have many opportunities to get together and enjoy their Pintos and develop new friendships. We invite everyone to our shows that are held all summer long in both Lincoln and Fremont. Please join us May 7 in Lincoln, Neb.; June 4-5 in Fremont; June 25 in Lincoln; July 23 in Fremont; August 14 in Lincoln; and September 10-11 for our All Breed Jackpot in Fremont.

September 10-11 we are hosting our NPtHA All Breed Jackpot again that is open to anyone and everyone. We offer jackpot classes for Halter (all ages), Color, Longe Line, English Pleasure, Trail, Western Pleasure, Pleasure Driving, Reining, Barrels and Versatility.

Whether you just love Pinto horses, want to exhibit them, or watch the versatile Pinto horse in action, we offer something for everyone and we guarantee a good time! For more information please visit our Web site. We can’t wait to see you!

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear someone say “horse show”? Many immediately picture huge arenas filled with soft dirt, the odd yet sweet smell of horses and leather, and of course prize money, ribbons and trophies. In the case of Lacey Schardt, though, a day of fun, riding, socialization, and learning is what comes to mind.

Lacey Schardt / Photo Provided by Lacey Schardt

Lacey Schardt, from Carleton, Neb., has long been a passionate admirer of horses and a Nebraska 4-H member for 11 years. For the past five years, Schardt has showed and worked with horses after participating in other 4-H areas ranging from work with other livestock to knitting and computers. She is a 2009 graduate of Deshler High School and is currently a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is pursuing a degree in Applied Science. In high school, Schardt participated in high school musicals all four years, One Acts and Speech her senior year, and was Secretary of the National Honor Society her senior year. She was a member of the FBLA.

Schardt mentioned it was her love for horses that got her involved in showing, and that one of the things that helped her get started was when she, her cousins and her siblings were given a gelding to share when they were little. She owned two mares until recently, when her registered Quarter Horse mare of five years passed away at the age of 25. Now, Schardt owns a four year old Paint/Quarter Horse cross mare with potential to be registered.

Lacey Schardt / Photo provided by Lacey Schardt

In past years, Schardt competed in almost every event with her Quarter Horse mare. These events included halter, showmanship, English pleasure, English equitation, western pleasure, western equitation, horsemanship, trail, and barrels, poles. This summer, she will be showing her four-year-old Paint/Quarter horse cross mare, but will only be competing in halter, showmanship, western pleasure and horsemanship, trail, reining and western riding.

Schardt stated that this is the summer she has traveled to horse shows the most. She usually doesn’t travel very far, staying within an hour and a half radius from home. With many new friends and fellow horse lovers from college, she plans on many more trips to shows and competitions.

She does all the training with her horse on her own. The cross mare she has now did receive some professional training before she purchased her last spring, but much of it must be re-taught by Schardt since her last owner didn’t keep up with her training.

While the feeling of winning is what drives many horse lovers to shows, Schardt is motivated by the desire to teach and learn with her horse. She views shows as an opportunity to see where she and her horse need to improve. She said, “Winning a show or competition has never been important to me,” which is honorable, and which you don’t hear many competitors say.
Schardt’s horse showing is more than just a 4-H project. To her, her horse is a great way of relieving stress. “I really love how I am able to get on my horse and forget everything,” she said.

Lacey Schardt / Photos provided by Lacey Schardt

While continuing her work and shows with her horse, Schardt plans on pursuing her goal of earning a Rodeo Queen title and representing a local rodeo. After college, she plans to find a career in the agriculture industry, hoping to someday manage her own farm.  She plans to always keep horses as a part of her life and someday use them to help her manage cattle in a cattle operation she hopes to one day have.

From a gelding shared between siblings to the indescribable feeling that takes over one’s body when riding a horse, there are many reasons why horse lovers start and continue their work and lives with horses.

Schardt’s passion for horses has gotten her a long way so far, and with the positive attitude she has for the progress of herself and her horse, only great things can be expected.

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Bartley, Neb., may not be a very big town or the home of any renowned horse breeders, but it is the hometown of Haley Teter. Teter is a member of the Red Willow 4-H Club and focuses her work on horses.
Teter is a student at Southwest Public Schools, where she participates in volleyball, track and basketball. Next year she is planning to golf, too.
She has been in 4-H for six years. Her mother, Jo Teter, is a 4-H leader in the Red Willow County horse program. Teter’s interaction with horses started when she was two years old. She works with Quarter Horses and green broke ponies. The ponies are a new project of only a couple of years ago.
The Teter family owns ten horses and ponies combined. The three main horses
Teter uses are Apple, Napper and Brody, all geldings. With these     Quarter
Horses, Teter does English equitation, English pleasure, barrels, poles, western horsemanship, western pleasure, trail and reigning in different shows and competitions. After competing at her district 4-H horse show, Teter qualified for state last year and went on to win first place in the All Ages Trail category.
Teter trains her green broke ponies to do tricks, such as lay down and bow.
Her grandfather made a pedestal for the ponies, and Teter trains them to climb up. The main pony she works with is a mare named Kloe.
Given that Quarter Horses can be quite large, Teter receives help training them from her mom and some other 4-H leaders and parents such as Darla Ruppert, Dave and Dylan Ruppert, Todd Theizen, and Jeanne Mueller, a barrel trainer, to name a few. Teter is excited about the future and plans to continue her work with horses. She can’t wait for this year’s Quarter Horse competitions.
Teter is an excelling 4-H member with a passion for horses. When discussing the hard work and cooperation her daughter receives from others to train horses, Jo Teter stated, “It takes a village to teach a kid to ride.” Through Haley Teter’s hard work and help from many, she is headed to success with her horses.