Danie is the President of the Appaloosa Horse Breeders Society of South Africa and also one of the 70+ breeders active with Appaloosas in South Africa. Started by Claire Amm as merely a club in 1977, the Society was officially recognized by the South African Stud Book in 1997 and continues to grow steadily. It currently boasts over 2800 registered Appaloosas and 140+ members. They publish a quarterly magazine, hold four major shows a year, social rides, regular meetings, clinics, a year end banquet and a National Championship Show. About 24 Appaloosas have been imported to South Africa in recent years from the United States and Canada and this business continues to increase.

This year will be the tenth annual National Championship Show to be held October 15–17 in the beautiful Afridome facility in Parys, Free State, south west of Johannesburg. Three Americans, that we know of, will be making the trek to help them celebrate. As part of the youth exchange program, AYA President Josh Clevenger will be attending; ApHC Director Frank Larabee will be going on a mission of diplomatic exchange and ApHC President Chuck McWhirter will be judging the show. About the trip Chuck said, “It is exciting to watch the Appaloosa breed grow, and important to work together with our affiliates in South Africa and around the world to ensure the future of our breed.”

To explain the success of the Society, Danie says it’s very professionally run, that the directors work well together and focus on member relations and marketing. To read about the organization and history of Appaloosas in South Africa, please visit www.studbook.co.za/Society/appaloosa or contact Danie: PO Box 178, Trompsburgh 9913, South Africa, perdeberg@vodamail.co.za

To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!

Nash Hill Equestrian Center is the new home of Hedges Show Horses and quickly becoming known as ‘the place to be’ for reining derbies and first rate competitions in the North East. The fact that the area averages 260 inches of snow per winter doesn’t slow them down at all. The 40 thousand square foot, state of the art facility has everything necessary to go undaunted in bad weather. The heated arena is a 100 x 200 feet with view room, staff quarters, indoor hot-walker, round pen, wash racks and 41 stalls. Outside are more stalls and paddocks, arenas and so far, 20 RV hook-ups. Grounds engineer, Bob Keyser, constantly works to maximize and add to the versatility of the facility.

As a lifelong lover of Appaloosas, Kelly Hedges has enjoyed many aspects of the industry. He has held an ApHC judges card for 30 years and has traveled around the world, including Isreal and Germany, to judge shows. He has raised and shown Appaloosas to multiple Championships, coached clients to the highest success, and in 2006, was named ApHC Trainer of The Year. What makes him happiest about Nash Hill is the increased ability it gives him to promote Appaloosas to open and new markets. If you ask him what he’s up to these days, he’ll tell you about the amenities and the arena but then he gets a gleam in his eye and that huge genuine smile won’t leave his face when he starts telling you about his horses, family and clients beating quarter horses in open competition on Appaloosas.

Kelly once said, “…the people involved with Appaloosas are just great people. It’s a very family-oriented atmosphere, and that stands out to me.” Hard working and dedicated to the breed, Kelly and his family are definitely part of that very atmosphere. And optimistic too. About the state of the industry Kelly had this to say, “the future is bright! Next year’s gonna be huge.”

Full-text version printed in the September 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!



The storm

One minute it was hot and humid, the next minute it was a lake. It happened so fast not everyone had time to get to higher ground. Heather Runyon was thankfully rescued by John Tsihlis.

Mary Lou Minic

Pillar of the breed and familiar face in the ApHC information booth at every National and World show, Mary Lou Minic added a special touch of congratulations in honor of her late husband, industry icon George Minic, while presenting the awards and a special trophy in the Most Colorful at Halter class.

Full-text version printed in the September 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!

The Champions!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

On Spot

Spot has a really dry sense of humor. He has a way of looking at the instructor during the session as if he is saying, “Can you believe that?” He never does anything that would be considered unsafe and he is very aware of his riders. If they don’t pay attention or if they are not following directions, he knows it and brings them to the center of the arena where the riding instructor is standing as if to say, “talk to this rider, would you?” He also enjoys gently investigating pockets for treats and for some of our clients who are tactile defensive, this helps them to stretch their boundaries and let someone touch them.

Spot’s job is varied, so that he never gets bored. He provides up to two hours of session work per day. On one day he may be carrying a veteran with Multiple Sclerosis who is working on balance, ambulation and core strength, another day he is helping to teach a nonverbal young man with Autism to use words, “walk on” and “whoa,” to get the desired response. Spot has been to Special Olympics and carried his riders to gold medals in trail class, English equitation, stock seat equitation and western riding. Whenever we need to take a horse for a riding demonstration, such as the Wyoming Rodeo or the Morton Buildings CHAPS Benefit Polo Cup we rely on Spot’s steady and calm personality to represent our program and carry our riders safely no matter how loud or chaotic the surroundings are.

The thing that makes Spot an outstanding therapy horse is that he accepts his riders regardless of their behaviors or personalities. He has always been interested in what is going on around him without being spooky or flighty. He definitely enjoys being in his stall and relaxing, but is always eager to please when he is asked to go to work, and is as pleasant and trustworthy in an arena full of props and toys as he is on a trail. He has many riders that he looks forward to working with, and he has a funny little nicker that he does when riders dismount, as if he’s saying “thanks for the ride.” One young lady who is fairly nonverbal always replies, “you’re welcome.”

On his riders

Spot is our go-to horse that I can trust with our most challenging riders and also our most timid. He also enjoys being ridden by our more independent riders who are with the program to work on behavioral or emotional issues. His riders have a variety of diagnosis including Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Autism, Quadriplegia, Cerebral Palsy, Rett Syndrome, PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Spot’s trot has a great bounce and impulsion that really helps clients learning to post the trot, but he can also dial it down a bit and provide a slow jog if someone is nervous. I’d say the common thread for all of his clients is that they absolutely love him and look forward to spending their hour with him every week. If Spot is missing a shoe or cannot be ridden for some reason, his riders would rather spend the time grooming him than riding another horse.

On being inspirational

One of our clients who has quadriplegia and is in a wheelchair was getting ready to groom Spot and forgot to set her brakes. I looked up to see her roll slowly under Spot until her chest and face were planted in Spot’s side—she does not have much range of motion and could not push herself back, and one of her arms was pinned to the arm rest under Spot’s belly. He just turned around and looked at her as if to say, “what the heck?” and waited patiently until we pulled her chair out from under him. He never moved once, but the look on his face was pretty funny.

Because Spot is mostly white, he makes a great canvas upon which our riders paint the names of the parts of the horse or color in stockings, socks, stars, blazes—all in garish colors. A number of times I have looked out the window and seen clients playing connect the dots with him. All the while, he has a patient look on his face and regardless of how silly he looks at the end of the session he is quite dignified.

One inspirational story involves our veterans. We have a group that comes out once a week that is receiving treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury, arriving with their therapists from the VA Medical Center to work with the horses for 2 hours and then have a group session in our patio area. Two of the gentlemen that were working with Spot were grooming him and giggling. I didn’t pay too much attention until I turned to ask them if they were ready to saddle up and they had fashioned a mohawk hairdo with Spot’s mane and forelock. He looked ridiculous and the look on his face was one of long suffering—but the two veterans were laughing uproariously. I had to laugh too, but later when the therapist took me aside and said, “You realize that the only time they can relax and let down like that is when they are out here working with Spot” it made me cry. I was so pleased that Spot could give them that.

What everyone should know

I’d like to let your readers know how important it is to have good, sound, healthy, well-trained horses donated to therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activity centers. If you are considering finding a home for your horse, please consider making a donation to your local program if your horse is suitable. We are so grateful to Marion for thinking of us when she needed to find a home for Spot, and he has provided so many of our riders with the opportunity to discover their abilities, rather than focus on their disability. If you have good horse experience, donating the gift of your time volunteering at a center would mean so much to its participants. Many riders cannot have their session without volunteers. Just an hour or so of your time each week means so much to people who participate in therapeutic riding. If you want to find a center near you, please go to www.narha.org and click on ‘find a center’ to discover the wonderful world of equine assisted activities and therapeutic riding!

Operated by C.L. “Connie” and Ellen Caines, Caines Show Horses has stood the test of time since the 1970s, when Connie began fitting and showing halter horses. A well-respected judge, Connie met Ellen in 1984, the year she was crowned Miss Appaloosa America. Married a year later, the couple has built one of the most successful and long-standing Appaloosa breeding facilities in the country. One of the first stallions they stood was Appaloosa Horse Club Hall of Famer Skips Reward.

“I went to school for reproduction and it’s just something I’ve always loved,” said Ellen, who graduated from Salem International University in West Virginia with a major in Equine Reproduction and a minor in Management. “I was very fortunate that we had Skips Reward at the time, so we bred a lot of mares to him.”

“When Skips Reward passed away, I basically got out of the showing end of it and just do the reproduction and the sales now,” said Ellen, who estimates she breeds 200 mares each season, and fits show horses when breeding season is over.
“I’ve always loved the racehorses. I started out with an Appaloosa racehorse and went to Quarter Horses, but the real money is in the Thoroughbreds. Little by little I just went that way. I caught a lot of flak from Connie about it, but I’ve had a lot of success with (Thoroughbreds) so he sort of likes that,” Ellen added with a laugh.

Connie, in the meantime, continues to train and show top-notch halter horses, as well as maintaining a busy judging schedule. He judges an average of a dozen shows a year. While Ellen doesn’t show anymore, save for a rare appearance in the non-pro ranks at the National show, she grooms for Connie whenever she can.

The diversity of the Caines’ operation is one reason they have survived the ups and downs of the horse business. They realize that while horses are their passion, it is also their business.

“There are times when things are tight and you’ve got to pull your guns in, then there are times when you’ve got to reach out a little bit further and hope it works,” Ellen related. “We’ve done a lot of different things.”

As a former ambassador for the Appaloosa, Ellen takes great pride in the breed and believes the future of the association lies in building clubs at the regional level. A strong infrastructure of regional clubs supporting the national club stimulates the economy and is vital to keep the largest majority of people involved.

“Aside from the prestige of competing at the Nationals or Worlds, there are some people we would tell to save the money they were going to use to go to Nationals and go enjoy themselves at three or four more regional shows,” Ellen said. “They can win three or four classes and have a good time. And, it makes more money for the national and the regional clubs.

“In the economic times that we’re in, you’ve got to treat things more as a business than a hobby, even if it is just a hobby,” Ellen advised. “Even if you have one or two horses, run it as if it was a business. Ask yourself, if I do this, what are my benefits or setbacks going to be? You’ve got to weigh one against the other and go from there if you’re going to make it work.”

Version printed in the July 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!

Laurie began drawing intensely at age 4 and never stopped. For her, art has been a lifelong endeavor of continual practice and application.

“If you want to succeed at sports you practice, practice, practice,” Laurie says. “If you want to succeed with art you paint, draw, paint, draw, paint, draw—daily.”

Laurie earned a commercial art degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, and took most of her course work from University of Texas at Arlington. After finishing her degree, Laurie worked for eight years as head artist for an advertising agency. She has taught art for more than 27 years, teaching both out of her studio and in public and private schools; and she’s done workshops as well. She also teaches piano, guitar and, occasionally, harp.

Full-text version printed in the February 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!

AYA President

Josh says, “AYA has taught me about having responsibility and being flexible and working with people.” As the AYA President he has set high standards for himself, “I think we can attract more youth by advertising that this is a family activity. I will attempt to educate other youths and their parents on the versatility, reliability, durability and elegance of the Appaloosa horse.

Mary Beth Blake

AYA Vice President

When choosing to run for Vice President of AYA, Mary Beth decided she wanted to be more involved and to help educate more children about Appaloosas. She feels it is her duty to enhance and help the AYA in every way that she can. “It gives me a responsibility that is very important.”

Katie Corbett

AYA Secretary

Katie thinks youth participation is a must to carry on the industry. She advises other youths to get involved. “You make so many friends and learn lessons that help you later in life.” In fact, Katie believes that one of the most valuable things AYA has taught her is true friendship. “I’ve made so many friends through AYA that I’ll probably have for the rest of my life.” Next, she encourages more participation in open shows to showcase the Appaloosa breed.

Jamie Clark

AYA Treasurer

Jamie believes if someone would like to get involved with Appaloosas the best thing to do is find an Appaloosa owner mentor, “Someone that would be able to help you find the right horse for your needs and ability.” Also, Jamie stresses setting goals. “Work hard at reaching your goals and don’t give up. If you need help reaching those goals, just ask.”

Full-text version printed in the July 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!

Full-text version printed in the July 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!

Antelope Island’s harsh landscape sets the stage for the roundup. Rugged and raw, the island is like a mountain jutting up out of Utah’s Great Salt Lake. Consisting of rock, sparse pale grasses and deep ravines, Antelope Island is also home to one of the largest and oldest publicly owned bison herds in the United States.

The original herd, brought to the island in February of 1893 by William Glassman and John Dooly, consisted of a mere 12 head. Now, each fall, the 600 bison are rounded up by horseback and helicopter. Then, state park employees and veterinarians evaluate the herd’s overall health, new bison are permanently identified, and all are vaccinated. In an effort to prevent overpopulation and overgrazing of the island, approximately 200 bison are selected for sale at public auction each year. Proceeds sustain the program, funding operating costs, habitat improvement projects, research and data collection, and maintenance of the corrals.

At one time helicopters rounded up the herd, but the parks department determined that mounted wranglers caused less stress to the bison. Open to the public, riders from around the nation now lend a hand at this spectacular event. For many, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

This past year, Kristen Reiter of Oak Harbor, Washington, and longtime friend and Antelope Island Mounted Patrol member, Beth Wendel of Farmington, Utah, were among these volunteers. The two became friends on the Chief Joseph Trail Ride several years prior, and after hearing Beth’s tales of the great bison roundup, Kristen decided to join her for the 2009 adventure.

“Beth attended last year’s Chief Joseph Trail Ride with several friends from Utah, all of whom have enjoyed adventures on the roundup,” Kristen recalls. “It’s one thing for one person to tell you that you must ride at this event. It’s an entirely other thing to have a group of women surrounding you at the campsite, exclaiming that you absolutely must come!”

Then Beth sweetened the deal a bit further, offering the use of one of her horses so that Kristen could simply fly in, join Beth, and they could camp and ride together.

“When I thought about it, it was a no brainer,” Kristen says. “I’d been offered a mount, a cozy bed and a good friend with whom to share a campfire.”
By Robin Hendrickson

Full-text version printed in the February 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
To receive an info-packed Appaloosa Journal each month, subscribe now!

When you think about a hunter over fences horse, the word “elegant” should come to mind.

Your horse should approach every fence with the rhythmic flow of perfect stride, as though the fence is actually part of the stride. A skilled rider will always see the distance to the next jump and enhance the natural ability and bascule of a good hunter.

Below are three examples to illustrate what this should and shouldn’t look like:

This horse is jumping in too close to the base of this fence. The position of his shoulder is up with his back hollow. The neck is carried high and his form doesn’t appear smooth. His expression is of discontent with his ears back and a concerned eye. Although the rider is pleasantly soft, the reins are a bit too loose and he seems to be pulling himself over the fence. His knees are quite loose and not even. The hooves are just barely picked up, with lack of effort on his part. This is a good example of a horse that is not bascule. He could benefit from working through combinations. Equipment–wise, he would also benefit from a standing martingale.

Although this fence is not high, this handsome horse is demonstrating a completely balanced fence. He has a relaxed demeanor. With his knees tight and together, his cannons are nicely tucked under with his hooves placed well under himself. This horse’s neck is positioned well in front of him showing forward movement. His expression is alert. His mouth is slightly open but the reins are loose enough not to be a factor. I would suggest this rider lower the cavesson in order to encourage this horse to keep his mouth closed. Overall this horse is a good example of bascule.

This typy hunter is showing his strengths by approaching this fence with a kind expression. He is alert and demonstrates an athletic ability for over fences. Soft and round in his neck, this horse is balanced and bascule. His knees are tight but slightly off set. The cannons follow through with his hooves placed gently under him, and he has not wasted any extra energy on this fence. He is light with a complementary hunter form. The bottom line of this horse is tucked nicely under him without the shoulder lifted too high. The neck ties in with a soft curve to the throatlatch. I would suggest this rider have a softer hand with more crest release.