|
|
Q-TALK FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2005 The Washington Post this morning has a wonderful profile story on long-time AQHA member Rep. Joel Hefley. The Colorado Republican is also an AQHA honorary vice president and a member of the Association’s Public Policy Committee.
The news story by Mark Leibovich highlights Hefley’s role as chairman of the House Ethics Committee. In it, Leibovich writes Hefley has attracted a lot of media attention lately because of his committee’s admonishment of House Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-Texas, last year. “Cameras are now coming along in clusters, which Hefley calls ‘a bit strange, sure,’ given that he’s a somewhat reclusive ‘cowboy’ who doesn’t care for interviews,” Leibovich writes. “‘Now all of a sudden I’m center of the storm,’ Hefley says. Reporters are staking him out, watchdog types are lauding his courage, and colleagues are calling him alternately gutsy (for taking on a powerhouse from his own ranks) and gone (for taking on a powerhouse from his own ranks). “Hefley is predicting gone, for what it’s worth. “‘I think I’m going to get booted,’ Hefley says. “‘On the one hand, it would make my life a lot easier if I do,’ he says, ‘so I would not object at all.’ “He would spend more time roping cattle in celebrity rodeos, sketching landscapes and sculpting. He hasn’t decided whether he’ll seek reelection in 2006, but says his future on the Ethics Committee will not influence his decision.” Also in today's Washington Post, is an opinion piece by David Ignatius about Hefley. "Hefley, a 10-term Republican from Colorado, is no giant as a legislator, and his views are hardly out of step with the House GOP majority," Ignatius writes. "He's a conservative who says in his official biography that his goals are to 'strengthen the military, protect federal lands and reduce taxes.' Four years ago he was given the thankless job of chairing the House Ethics Committee. Perhaps because he got his start in life as a cowboy, Hefley was just ornery enough to take the ethics job seriously. And that meant investigating DeLay." To read the story or editorial, click on the links above. Registration with The Washington Post is required but it’s free. ProRodeo Hall of Fame Closes The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Directors has closed the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The hall's closure comes as Troy Ellerman, the PRCA's newly named commissioner, takes the reins of the organization. Former PRCA Commissioner Steve Hatchell resigned December 10 to become the president of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Ellerman said the closure will allow the PRCA Board and the hall's trustees to assess its appropriate role for the future. "We closed the Hall at this time because we need to conduct an overall analysis of the Hall's operation, both the facility and its plan for the future," Ellerman said. "Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the Hall of Fame has operated at a loss. The Hall is important to us and to our fans, but we need to determine how to make it financially feasible and better able to compete in today's tourism market." The evaluation will include analysis of the hall's physical facility (along with its programs), plans for increased attendance and prominence in the community, fiscal needs, long- and short-term capital improvements and fund raising. The Hall of Fame opened in 1979 and underwent an expansion in 1996. It celebrated the 25th anniversary of its opening in Colorado Springs in 2004. The PRCA Board named Ellerman, a Sacramento, California, attorney, as commissioner during the 2004 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Ellerman, who has served as chairman of the PRCA Board of Directors since 1999, was elected to the board as a contract personnel representative in late 1995. Speaking of ProRodeo … The Wrangler ProRodeo Tour starts its sixth year this month and features the same venues as in 2004. The tour also retained its format in the winter and summer series, which contestants can select up to 10 events in each series as his/her official Wranger Tour entries. The 12 rodeos for the winter series are:
The winter series culminates with the $500,000 Pace Picante ProRodeo Chute-Out. However, the time and place have yet to be deteremined. The 12 rodeos for the summer series are:
The summer series culminates with the $500,000 Pace Picante ProRodeo Challenge September 29-October 1 at the River City Roundup Fair and Festival in Omaha, Nebraska. And the entire tour will climax in Dallas with the $500,000 Pace Picante ProRodeo Classic, and will showcase the finalists from the previous two Pace Series events and the top overall points winners from the winter and summer tours. The event’s dates will be announced later. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2005 A couple of reining trainers are on the move. Robbie Boyce, who worked for Carol Rose Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas, for four years, has decided to go out on his own. He has moved to Jacksboro, Texas, where he will focus primarily on training reined cow horses along with a few reiners. Boyce has more than $450,000 in NRCHA and NRHA earnings and 722.5 AQHA points in everything from reining and working cow horse to roping and team penning. NRHA Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer is also striking out on his own. After working for seven years at Bob Loomis’ place in Marietta, Oklahoma, Latimer is moving about five miles down the road to start his own training business at a facility owned by non-pro reining champion and fellow Canadian Lance Griffin. Loomis, however, will continue to send some of his horses Latimer’s way for reining training. Latimer has more than $1.4 million in NRHA earnings and has 324.5 AQHA reining points. AQHA Membership Continues to Climb Just got an e-mail from the boss stating AQHA membership in 2004 increased by almost 5,700, putting the number of members over 350,000. Pretty darn good, I would say. Another Sad Loss
Flipping through my January Journal last night, I was saddened to see an advertisement stating Perpetual Prince had passed away (page 175). Owned by 2004 AQHA Leading Owner Rita Crundwell, the 1998 gelding was a five-time world champion and six-time Congress champion. He was by Perpetualism and out of Roca Be Cool by Ima True Skip. This is very sad news. I had a chance to meet the wonderful gelding at this year’s Congress, where he had just won the open gelding championship. You could tell he was a winner just by looking at him, and he had a wonderful personality. As his handler Buddy Laney led him to have his win photo taken, the gelding wasn’t bothered by any of the chaos going on around him. And as the photographer set up the crowd around him for his shot, the sorrel gelding patiently stood and waited. Just like his name, he was a true prince. If you have ever watched Rita around her horses, you can immediately tell she loves each and every one of them. No matter how many times she has won (and, trust me, she’s won a lot), she always has to wipe away tears as the announcer gives out the placings. Prince was very special to Rita, and when I asked her about him, the normally quiet woman glowed while she talked about his winning character. I’m sure his unexpected death has been very hard on her. If you would like to drop a note to Rita to let her know she is in your thoughts and prayers, you can write to her in care of her Meri-J Ranch at P.O. Box 211, South Beloit, Illinois 61080. TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2005 Here it is. The first “real” Q-Talk, and I’ve got very sad news to begin it with. Zane Staebler, son of 2004 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity winner Brandon and Kris Staebler, passed away December 23. Zane was born June 9 with a defect in his heart that caused unoxygenated and oxygenated blood to mix. With this condition, there was no chance of survival and he was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center, where he spent his entire life. With Kris at the hospital full-time, Brandon would train horses all week at his Santa Maria, California, ranch and then drive 2½ hours on Saturday afternoons to visit his son in Los Angeles. On July 4, Zane had surgery in an attempt to fix his heart, but an infection later set in, furthering damaging the vital organ. A heart transplant was his only option. Then, near the end of October, a heart was found for Zane and he came through the difficult surgery successfully. However, in November, complications again set in and he never recovered. Plans are underway for a fund-raising event to help the Staeblers with Zane’s medical expenses. As soon as I hear something, I’ll pass it along. I know you’ll join me in extending deepest sympathies for Kris and Brandon. If you would like to drop them a note to say they are in your thoughts and prayers, you can write to them at P.O. Box 1224, Santa Maria, California 93456. West Nile Virus Vaccine & Broodmares A new study was released in December stating that the killed West Nile virus vaccine does not increase the risk of pregnancy loss in broodmares. Reported in the December 15, 2004, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University reported that the incidence of pregnancy loss among mares in their study was within the reported range of typical loses seen during each period of gestation among mares. From their results, the authors concluded that the administration of killed West Nile virus, which in this study was Fort Dodge’s Innovator, does not adversely affect pregnancy outcome in mares regardless of when it is administered during gestation. To read more on the study, click here. EHV-1 Found in Two Michigan Racehorses TheHorse.com reports that at least two horses at Northville Downs Standardbred Racetrack in Northville, Mich., contracted equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and were euthanized. The first case was discovered Dec. 14, when a Standardbred gelding exhibited classic signs of the neurological form of herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) myeloencephalopathy (EHM). After the horse was taken to the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health at Michigan State University, the preliminary diagnosis was confirmed. Another horse at the racetrack tested positive for EHV-1 on Dec. 20 and was also euthanized. The track is under quarantine and 25 horses are being monitored closely for clinical signs. It does remain open for live and simulcast horse racing. Symptoms of EHM include fever, cough, runny nose, and neurological deficits, and they typically appear within 21 days of exposure, Steve Halstead, D.V.M., M.S., said. The EHV-1 organism can cause several forms of disease, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease found mostly in young horses), abortions in pregnant mares and neurologic disease. EHV-1 is not necessarily fatal. Elizabeth Carr, D.V.M., assistant professor of large animal clinical sciences at MSU, said treatment is possible. "Affected horses can deteriorate rapidly, becoming extremely weak and possibly recumbent within 24 hours of the onset of clinical signs," Carr said. "Treatment is largely supportive care, and trying to prevent or minimize secondary complications associated with recumbency. This would potentially include placing the affected animal in a sling, catheterizing the bladder, as well as fluid and nutritional support. “Anti-inflammatory and antiviral medications are recommended to decrease the inflammation associated with the disease and to try to hasten recovery. Horses that remain standing have a better prognosis than horses that become recumbent and are unable to rise." Horse owners with questions should contact the Michigan Office of Racing Commissioner at (734) 462-2400 or the Michigan Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian’s Office at (517) 373-1077. Rules to Live By I keep up with a number of horse forums on the Internet and a recent one I read had to do with “barn rules.” One user gave some excellent rules she follows at any barn she's at. However, I thought they apply to just about everything in life – from the barn and show arena to the home and business office. 1. Clean up after yourself. Don’t Forget … Remember to send me your thoughts, tidbits and other interesting information to tonyag@aqha.org. —Tonya Ratliff-GarrisonMONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2005 Welcome to Q-Talk! This is a new Web journal (or blog for you Internet-savvy folks) that will highlight news, happenings and interesting tidbits surrounding the American Quarter Horse and the people who love them. Now, for those of you out there unfamiliar with Web blogs, let me explain what one is. A blog is a personal Web site updated frequently with links, commentary and anything else one would like to include in it. New items go on top and older items flow down the page. However, to keep it clean and simple, we will produce a new blog page each week and the older pages will be archived and easy to find. I will be the primary blogger when it comes to Q-Talk, although, occasionally, other writers and editors from the Journal will contribute. You will always know who the author is by the signature at the bottom of each blog item. But to make this new endeavor successful, we also need YOU! This blog is about keeping you informed on what’s happening in the Quarter Horse world, but I can't do that if you don't let me know of interesting events and stories in your area. Send us human interest stories, updates, out-of-the-ordinary show news, tidbits on how to make your and your horse’s life easier or just about anything else you feel is worthy information. Now, this blog won’t have normal show announcements or show results. However, if something happens at your show that was pretty special and newsworthy, send it along to me and I will try to include it. Although it will get off to a slow start, only produced two to three days a week, we hope to eventually keep it full of fresh items every weekday, as well as the occasional weekend. Before I close, let me tell you a little something about myself so you can get to know me. I am Tonya Ratliff-Garrison, and I am the Internet manager for the Quarter Horse Journal. I’ve only been here for about four months but I have been a journalist for more than 20 years. I have also been involved with Quarter Horses for almost that long and currently raise and show reining and working cow horses. I love to hear from readers, whether it is good or bad. Please drop an e-mail to me anytime at tonyag@aqha.org. Hopefully, we can develop a dialogue and make this blog as informative and fun as I envision it. —Tonya Ratliff-Garrison
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
 
|