


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.
Kaye E Helton-Anderson ApHC # 795274 sent in:
I know that the Nationals/ Oklahoma/ Mississippi issue has been thoughly beaten to death... But this was before the huge fuel/hay and day to day cost of living increases. I would like to see The Nationals relocated more centrally. A lot of the ApHC trainers here in the North West West Coast have cut back on the ApHC and are turning to other breeds. A lot of ApHC exhibitors are selling their ApHC and getting other breeds so they can still ride with the same trainers.. Another thought that I had was to discontinue the ApHC Nationals, keep the Youth World Show on the same dates and then keep the ApHC World Show in FT Worth. That way there would be no need for the bigger show grounds so it could be held at other venues that could be more centrally located and then more purse money could go into the World Show.
I would also like to have the possibility of non-pro and youth leasing horses explored. USEF ( formerly AHSA ) has allowed leased horses for a very long time. Leased horses are listed in their magazine "Equestrian" and they sign paper work and the USEF collects a small fee. This can be, in my opinion a win-win for everyone... ApHC shows that they are "user friendly" to people who cannot afford to purchase a show horse, It will add money to ApHC. I think that we could get some of the other stock horse breed people into the ApHC ...
I know that there will be someone who will claim that some one will be getting a "push button horse" for nothing and will win everything... To me this is a non-issue Why should it matter if the family/non-pro bought the horse or leased it? They still have to learn how to ride it correctly.. The only difference would be the fact that money changed hands in purchasing the horse vs. leasing. If this would go through I also feel that a huge PR announcement in all of the major / regional horse magazines that are not not geared towards just the ApHC people
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.
To be official, a certified copy of the lease or a lease registration form must be registered with the Federation and accompanied by a fee of a $60 fee.. The lease must contain a start and end date and be signed by the leasee and the lessor. If a lease is not renewed with-in 30 days of its expiration, a later renewal will require a $60 fee. The lease will then be effective the day the renewal is received by our office. A written statement of termination must be submitted by the leasse and the lessor if the lease is terminated before the end date stated in the lease agreement. The Federation does not accept agent signatures
Territory 1 Zone B Workshop
Missoula, MT
April 26-27, 2008
Thank goes to all the dedicated Appaloosa people who took the time out of their busy lives to make this workshop a success. Due to various reasons, attendance was not quite as large as expected. Many clubs sent representatives who did a excellent job of conveying their views and concerns. Clubs represented were the Alberta Appaloosa Horse Association from Alberta Canada, Montana Appaloosa Club, Vigilante Appaloosa Club, Mountain Country Appaloosa Club, Western Montana Appaloosa Club, Intermountain Appaloosa Club, Dal-Worth Appaloosa Club and Palouse Empire Appaloosa Club.
Thanks also goes to Steve Taylor, CEO of the Appaloosa Horse Club and Kevin Pullin, the Appaloosa Horse Club Trail and Distance Coordinator for their attendance and participation.
Good discussions, good food and great ideas happened and we hope the success of this workshop will encourage other areas to organize a workshop of their own. They are great tools for the exchange of ideas.
Following is a summary of the discussions of member and regional club concerns and the current changing horse world challenges the ApHC and its regional club faces and some ideas of how to successfully navigate thru them.
Have the ApHC add 3 and 5 year membership
Memberships without the Journal.
Associate memberships just for specific things without voting rights.
Offer awards for ACAAP in 2 or more different divisions, all with comparable awards.
Expand the ACAAP program to include some sort of recognition for non-traditional events that offer awards and placing such as parades and non-arena type judges trail classes.
More promotion for ACAAP.
Research giving regional clubs and individual members reduced rates to buy subscriptions of the Appaloosa Journal so that they may place the Journal public venues such as schools, libraries and museums or to put in stores on a consignment basis.
The Journal should focus more on what everyday Appaloosa members do with their horses, more articles on what regional clubs do and more information each month on the different programs. Show more of the different things the members use their Appaloosas for.
Include the ACAAP newsletter in the Journal or at least have an article each month about ACAAP
Develop some sort of reply system for all correspondence received by the ApHC, whether via email, phone or regular mail.
Have the website have a page for links to different groups promoting the many diverse types of Appaloosa being bred, from foundation bred to modern breeds from trail to racing.
More information on the website about the F numbered horses and present day foundation bred horses.
Have the ApHC forward questions to regional clubs on things such as breeders of a certain type of horse or trainers in a certain area of expertise. Encourage the regional to have a contact person who has information on the members in their area in order to answer these questions that the ApHC cannot ethically answer.
The ApHC as an organization, it’s regional clubs and it’s membership need to be more proactive to industry affecting equine and agricultural issues. Land use and horse transport are just 2 examples.
The ApHC should send contact information on new members to regional clubs in the members area and also include information on the regional clubs in the area to new members.
The ApHC, regional clubs and individuals should look at joining their state and the national horse council.
The ApHC look into group liability that all clubs can buy into.
Have a more user friendly rule book.
Look into the ApHC developing their own horse show software program that regional clubs can purchase.
Concerns were expressed about regional club officers being required to be ApHC members and regional clubs needing to give the ApHC a financial report.
Directors need better communications with members and keep them more up to date on ApHC matters.
Encourage regional clubs to have awards for saddle log hours and other goal oriented awards that are non horse show related.
Develop an on line suggestion box and maybe offer a suggestion of the month prize.
The ApHC, regional clubs and individual members need to remember that not all members use the internet and keep other lines of communication open with members also. Suggested having regional calling trees and good newsletters.
Regional clubs could provide information about local Appaloosa breeders and the Appaloosa in general for local welcome packets given by realtor’s when someone purchases a home in the area.
Utilizing YouTube as an advertising tool along with your traditional forms of advertising.
Regional clubs need to be sure and do all the little things that make people feel welcome at your events and always be positive in their attitude and leave the negativity at home.
Ideas for shows: BBQ’s for exhibitors and staff, welcome wagon at barns when exhibitors arrive to show them their stalls, answer any questions they have, offer snacks, coffee and water and generally provide them with a positive first look at your show.
Always present a positive attitude to the public and leave the controversy and negativity at home.
Regional clubs can make a list of organizations their members belong to and then work with those groups not only to help them, but to promote the Appaloosa.
Provide educational opportunities for the public outside of organized horse expos. Examples-- do a horse safety demonstration for a group using Appaloosas, have a booth at your local farmers market with Appaloosa information and a live horse if possible.
Organize a local horse club day for all breeds at a local feed store or some large parking lot with much public exposure.
Regional clubs could organize a youth royalty program to attract youth to their club and to attract publicity.
Offer local show circuits, could be open, breed, breed/combo or combined with other breeds.
Combine events with other groups to defray costs and work. Offer your clubs help at their show in exchange for their work at your show.
Private treaty all breed sales that offer test rides, veterinarians on site for inspections and a short presentation of sale horses. Might combine with a stallion presentation.
Include 4-H and FFA classes in your events.
Do not skimp on advertising as it makes you look successful and tells the public that you are still viable.
Always present a professional and successful look. Presentation is very important to success.
Regional clubs could look into group purchasing of feeds, hay, tack, supplements, etc.
Focus on many small local things rather than large regional things.
Look into multi-regional club sponsored large events.
Sponsor a 4-H/FFA horse judging contest using all Appaloosas.
Many marketing ideas were talked about.
Affordability not only in purchasing, but in many phases of Appaloosadom as compared to other breeds; Color, both loud and non; Grandparents; Non-pros; Youth
I am sure there were some things that I missed, if so please contact any of us with them.
Jan Phillips, organizer, Territory 1 Zone B workshop
Sandra Jones and Lynette Thompson, committee members

Talea Morgan