Palouse Empire Appaloosa Club

Moscow, ID May 17-18, 2008

The following is a summary of the discussion from the Moscow, ID workshop. The group also enjoyed a tour of the ApHC offices led by CEO Steve Taylor and tours of the Appaloosa Museum led by George and Iola Hatley. Kevin Pullin, the ApHC trail coordinator and George and Iola also joined us for dinner and a talk on this years and past Chief Joseph Trail rides.

Our special guest on Sunday was Juli Thorsen, lifestyles editor of the “Horse & Rider” magazine and past marketing director of the ApHC.

This was a great group, representing clubs from Washington, Idaho and Saskatchewan. Ideas were also sent in from Oregon and Alberta that were discussed.

We would like to thank all who attended and took the time to send in questions or topics for discussion. A huge thank you goes to Steve Taylor and Kevin Pullen, who took the time from their own lives to help us make these workshops a success.

Sandy Jones and Lynette Thompson, Sponsors

Auxiliary registry comments: Was pointed out that this is just an idea at this stage and the people working on the idea can always use input.

Open the books to all colored appaloosa horses

Make a auxiliary registry with no cross entry into the regular registry for horses registered there, but give them all the rights of the main registry.

An auxiliary recognition registry for appaloosa colored mares only.

Auxiliary registry for colored appaloosas with only a pedigree certificate and no participation into ApHC programs.

A totally separate, self ruling registry for appaloosa colored horses who do not meet present ApHC breeding rules.

Research a true ½ breed registry for the ApHC. Could use the basic structure of the Purebred Arabian Trust as example of how this might work.

ApHC needs to ask the MEMBERSHIP what they like and dislike about this idea.

Always show a positive face to the public and stop the squabbling, especially in the barns and stands at horse shows and horse expos.

Promote the entire breed and all it‘s uses, not just specific portions.

Do person to person promotion

More personal communications between the ApHC and regional clubs and between the regional clubs and the directors.

Directors need to be more responsive to the regional clubs and to individual members.

Directors should hold idea and information exchange meetings around their zones.

Discussion on breed integrity

Cross breeding

Paint description

Genetic problems

Closing the books

Discussion on the Canadian ApHCC and the ApHC relationship that included a explanation of the Canadian Animal Registration Act. Also discussions of the IRIP program. Several questioned why the ApHC allows other countries to register Appaloosas, plus register than differently than the ApHC rules. Why not simply have regional clubs in those countries and have them obey the ApHC registration rules much as Canadian regional clubs already do. Seems sort of a double standard.

Ideas of things that regional clubs can do besides shows to help/promote themselves, their members and the Appaloosa

Scholarships

Group buying

Parades

Youth program that gives mare in foal to deserving youth

Help at therapeutic riding programs

Use regional clubs as central information distribution points

Provide speakers to other groups

Host small group clinics

Reconnect with older and past members thru social events

Regional clubs need to start networking amongst themselves to exchange ideas and information.

The regional contact person with the ApHC should be actively exchanging information with both the ApHC and their regional club members.

Regional clubs and ApHC members could offer links to each other.

Hold ApHC board of directors meetings separately from major events that some directors need to attend due to their chosen profession and that staff needs to work at. Directors need to be able to focus on their ApHC business, not on their own business at board meetings. Staff needs to attend to the business at hand.

Streamline the rule book

Associate membership without the Journal

Multi-year memberships

Send out the membership card only once and send yearly stickers instead. Make cards fancier and more like credit cards.

The ApHC board of directors needs to consider the long term effects of rule changes. Our youth will be living with these rules for a long time.

The ApHC board of directors need to learn and start using good business practices, including having 5 and 10 year business plans and going by them.

Add a horse wanted section to the ApHC website.

Reconsider the new ApHC regional club membership and reporting requirements

Have information available thru the ApHC on subjects such as how to export a horse.

The board of directors needs to look into the possibility of moving the National show every 3-5 years to different parts of the country.

Change the National show into the Non-Pro and youth world show and eliminate the open classes.

Combine the ApHC sponsored shows into one big July show and call it the World show and have Non Pro, Youth and Open classes with no qualifying.

Streamline the class list at both the World and National show.

Combine the ApHC sponsored shows into one big show and call it the World show and have Non Pro, Youth and Open classes with no qualifying. Hold this show later in the year.

Start a territorial or geographical area show system.

If the ApHC board of directors needs to raise a fee, there should be a explanation as to why included with the announcement.

Ideas that were sent in to me before the workshop and given to the CEO after a short discussion of them.

The ApHC get involved with the “Wrangler Tough Enough To Wear Pink” campaign during the World Show.

Would be in the best interests of the ApHC & its Regional clubs to relax some of the show application rules & show rules, like the AQHA has done.
examples:
1.allow class within a class
2.change or relax the mandatory classes
3.relax the # of days show application must be in prior to show date (100)
4.relax distance between shows?
5.allow specialty shows to use non ApHC judges (fee to ApHC judge may apply, i.e.
Specialty Judge permit), as long as they hold a card through the specialty
association without the need to have an ApHC judge judge with
6. Incentives from ApHC to groups, territories, etc to hold circuits or
multiple shows
7. Incentives to 4H, light horse, fairs, horse showcases to hold ApHC
shows/classes
8. relax the # of ApHC horses entered minimum requirement
9. Adjust the point structure so that it doesn't discourage entries in classes
(particularly the 4-7). Think about awarding points based on the # of horses
beaten. (Of course this will require revamping the ROM's etc., too)
10. Please, please, please ApHC consider a flat NPF structure rather than based
on classes entered.
11. Year end awards for new to show people?

The JC will provide a notation, sticker, something on papers that if the horse is unwanted, the breeder or some previous owner would like to get the horse back. With today’s climate of responsibility of horses you breed, do you think the ApHC would provide such a service for a nominal fee? I know I would put it on my horses papers

Figure out how regional clubs can work together to sponsor bigger ApHC approved shows with more judges. Maybe have these shows as a qualifier to a huge multi area show or point system recognized by the ApHC.

Here is the specs rules for leasing per USEF 2008 rule book

Chapter 11 Federation Records And Awards

Subchapter 11-C

GR1108 Lease Registration

A recorded horse must be shown under a leasee's ownership provided an official lease is registered with the Federation. For points to count with respect to any competition, such agreement and fees must be received by the Federation office on or before the first day of such competition . The leasee becomes the bona fide owner of the horse for the period of lease ( except for Owner classes) for Federation award purposes. The horse must be entered in the ownership of the leasee and must be shown in accordance with *GR 1110.