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Q-TALK
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2005
The great cutting horse sire Peppy San Badger was put down last week in his paddock at King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas. Ranch management and family members decided on Friday because of the stallion’s advanced age and deteriorating health it was time to euthanize the great horse. Known by many as “Little Peppy,” the 31-year-old stallion was by the ranch’s great cutting stallion Mr San Peppy and out of Sugar Badger by Grey Badger II. Little Peppy began his cutting career by winning the 1977 NCHA Futurity. He was champion of the 1978 NCHA Derby as well as the 1979 NCHA reserve world champion. He also won the 1981 NCHA World Finals. He retired with lifetime earnings of $172,710. The NCHA Chatter reported his last public appearance was in 2004 during King Ranch’s 150th anniversary celebration. It was on that occasion that Little Peppy was reunited with his long-time trainer and rider Buster Welch. “It’s like we’ve never been apart,” Welch told The Chatter. “He was the greatest horse I ever threw a leg over. He was so unusual in the fact that he had so much dignity, and he had the highest intelligence I ever saw in a horse. He was a pleasure to do anything with.” He then went into the breeding shed and was soon the top choice for many mare owners. He sired 2,323 foals including 1,202 performers in mostly cutting, reined cow horse and reining. Of the 19 crops registered, which the last was in 1996, 173 went on to receive their AQHA Register of Merit awards. In the National Cutting Horse Association, his get earned almost $21 million while in the National Reining Horse Association, his offspring earned about $400,000. In the National Reined Cow Horse Association, his get earned about $110,000, and in AQHA world shows the earnings top $72,000. Little Peppy’s bloodline remains predominant among the King Ranch’s horses. “He was gift,” Cody Crider, manager of the King Ranch Quarter Horse division, told The Chatter. “You can plan and breed all you want, but you won’t get a horse like this on purpose, even though we will all keep on trying.” Little Peppy’s grave marker will stand at the King Ranch headquarters among those of other great King Ranch horses including his sire, Old Sorrel and Thoroughbred Triple Crown champion Assault. VS Diagnosed in Colorado Horse Colorado has become the fifth state in the country to have a confirmed case of vesicular stomatitis virus. A 6-year-old horse in Delta County tested positive for the disease, and the premise has been placed under quarantine. "VSV is not a human health issue, but it can have severe economic impact on livestock owners, especially in the dairy industry," said Wayne Cunningham, state veterinarian at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. "The disease usually doesn't result in an animal's death, but the main reason we watch it closely is due to fact that the symptoms closely resemble foot-and-mouth disease, which is much more economically devastating." In 2004, 148 horses, 119 cattle, four sheep and goats, and two alpacas were infected with VS, involving a total of 107 premises across the Colorado. VS is a viral disease that is usually not fatal but causes painful lesions around an infected animal's mouth, nostrils, teats and hooves, symptoms similar to foot-and-mouth disease. Only laboratory tests can differentiate the diseases. VS primarily affects cattle, horses, and swine. These blisters enlarge and break, leaving raw tissue that is so painful infected animals generally refuse to eat or drink and show signs of lameness. Severe weight loss usually follows. Because the disease is thought to be spread by insects, preventive measures include keeping susceptible animals in dry corrals and stables, using insecticides and insect repellents daily, providing good nutrition and practicing best management techniques. Prior to 2004, the last case of VS in Colorado was diagnosed in 1998. Although vulnerable, humans are rarely infected with the disease and usually display flu-like symptoms. In addition to livestock, other susceptible animals include llamas, goats and wild animals such as deer, bobcats and raccoons. For more information on VS, click here. Chris LeDoux to be Inducted into ProRodeo Hall of Fame Chris LeDoux, a 1976 world bareback riding champion who became a country-western singing star, is among six inductees to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. LeDoux died in March after battling cancer. Other inductees are 1981 world all-around champion Jimmie Cooper, 1978 world saddle bronc riding champion Joe Marvel and stock contractor Marvin Brookman. Rodeo clown and actor Slim Pickens and team roper Charlees Maggini are to be inducted posthumously. AFA Names New Task Force American Farrier's Association President Craig Trnka, CJF, has appointed a new task force to survey the farrier schools in North America. The mission of the Farrier Schools Survey Task Force will be to survey all farrier schools in North America to document the quality of instruction, the qualifications of instructors, the curriculum, physical facilities, cost of tuition, admission requirements, student success/retention rates, and other related information. Members of the task force include:
Richardson will serve as the chairman, and Taylor will serve as the secretary of the task force. The first meeting will be this month. Four Sixes Ranch Continues Tradition of Breeding Quality Quarter Horses Beverly Moseley of the Land & Livestock Post, a publication of The Eagle in College Station, Texas, recently highlighted AQHA/Bayer Best Remuda award winner Four Sixes Ranch in Guthrie, Texas. “The Four Sixes Ranch is recognized as an industry leader in producing quality race horses, along with its performance and ranch horses. “The ranch began marketing its stallion services to the public in 1983. Today, 19 stallions stand at the ranch. Seven are racing Quarter Horse stallions and 12 are performance-type stallions. “That same year, the ranch remodeled the horse facilities to allow for onsite breeding of the ranch’s mares through artificial insemination. A full-service veterinary facility also was built. “Last year, the ranch bred about 800 mares on site and shipped semen to another 700 mares. “’It looks like it’s going to bust on through that number pretty easy this year,’ said Glenn Blodgett, D.V.M., the resident veterinarian and horse division manager at the Four Sixes Ranch. ‘It might beat it by a couple hundred, the way things are going.’” TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2005Region Eight has waived late fees for its Regional Experience, which is slated for August 18-21 at Tulsa Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Besides a 136-class Quarter Horse show, the Regional Experience will also feature a 2-day training clinic by Buster McLaury and a roping clinic with Gary Wells and Brad Lund. Featured seminars include dressing for show success, marketing your equine business and grooming, braiding and banding. Another event at the Regional Experience will be a recreational horse auction. For more information on this and other Regional Experiences, click here. Speaking of Regional Experiences … Journal editor Jim Bret Campbell and I will be heading out tomorrow for Regional Experiences in Regions Four and Six. Check back at www.aqha.com daily beginning Thursday for reports coming out of Columbus, Ohio, and Skowhegan, Maine. AQHA Modifies Team Penning Rules At the beginning of this year, AQHA altered its team penning show rules to more reflect the industry standard established by the U.S. Team Penning Association, which is also a new AQHA Alliance Partner. Specifically, AQHA rule 455 (j) has been changed so that if more than three head cross the start/foul line at the same time, a no time will be called. Any part of the fourth animal that crosses the line will result in a no time. Further, rule 455 (r) now reduces the foul line to between 30 and 35 percent of the arena length from the cattle end of the arena, although it may be extended by 5 percent for every 10 feet beyond 110 feet in width to accommodate bigger and wider arenas. The entry gate will be situated 25 percent of the distance from the arena back wall, but not less than 55 feet from the back wall. “We have worked with AQHA for more than a year in modifying its rules to more closely reflect the standards of the industry, which are designed to encourage better horsemanship and care for the animals used in the sport.” said USTPA President Gary Fletcher. “AQHA’s primary goal is to preserve the health and welfare of the American Quarter Horse through its rules, program and education of its members, and USTPA is proud to help them continue in their excellent work to fulfill their mission.” With the rule change, it is now a possibility for producers to offer jointly approved AQHA and USTPA events. “This is an exciting development for producers as it brings more value to shows sanctioned through USTPA and approved by AQHA,” said Cody Weirich, USTPA Executive Director. “Members who compete in these shows can earn points toward AQHA World Show qualification, as well as credit toward USTPA National Finals qualification, among other awards and recognition. Even more important is how these rule changes will positively affect the sport and build it on an international level.” Contact USTPA at (817) 378-8082 or go online to www.ustpa.com for more information on how to put on a dual-sanctioned team penning event. AQHA and USDF Dressage Initiative Extended The joint initiative of AQHA and the United States Dressage Federation to support and encourage the American Quarter Horse in dressage has been extended. Initially, to address growing demands for dressage recognition, AQHA announced a one-year trial program to evaluate the number and scores of American Quarter Horses competing in dressage at approved U.S. Equestrian Federation/USDF and Canadian Equestrian Federation shows. That period has been extended another year in order to fine-tune the scoring system. AQHA’s Show Committee is preparing to examine the figures to see how many horses have participated, how many exhibitors are members and evaluate how the proposed test score table is transferring over into point values. (No points will be awarded during this time period.) The amount of participation during this trial period will determine the future of the program. AQHA strongly encourages dressage participants to turn in their test scores now. "We are excited to have the program in place and hope the level of participation grows to secure the recognition dressage competitors and American Quarter Horses deserve," AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer said. In order to make the process of providing scores to AQHA as easy as possible for Quarter Horse owners, USDF registered horses can visit the USDF Web site and download their score check, which will include all rides for the current USDF competition year. This score check can be sent to AQHA in lieu of individual score sheets. In addition, USDF will be providing detailed data to AQHA on those American Quarter Horses who compete in dressage, in order for AQHA’s Show Committee to evaluate the number of American Quarter Horses participating at USEF/USDF competitions and the scores being attained at the various levels. MONDAY, JULY 11, 2005 The latest issue of America’s Horse should be in your mail boxes soon, and it’s packed with some really great stories. The cover feature is about women’s ranch rodeos and how they are gaining in popularity. Dywan Lane of Wildorado, Texas, told editor Becky Newell that women’s ranch rodeos get their start because of the men’s events. “Some of us gals had been on the men’s teams, and others had just sat in the stands watching the men’s rodeos, thinking ‘Why can’t we do this?’” Lane said. Mostly ranch-bred Quarter Horses are used in the events, which are mostly on the High Plains, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. Typically, there are eight to 10 teams of women – four women to a team – competing in the rodeo. Their ages range from 18 to 55, and most work outside the home. The events include trailer loading, team penning, sorting, ribbon roping, calf branding, steer branding and team doctoring. But even though the women’s events don’t include wild cow milking or bronc riding like the men’s ranch rodeos do, that doesn’t mean they aren’t as tough. Newell writes that at the Amarillo women’s ranch rodeo event this summer, “one gal gave it her all by pulling a 500-pound steer over on top of herself during the team doctoring. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the team got its steer doctored.” Other interesting features in this issue of America’s Horse are:
America’s Horse is a free publication for AQHA members and is mailed out every other month. It’s just one of the many perks you get as a member, so if you’re not one, click here to sign up. NCHA Summer Spectacular Starts Tuesday Although there’s no chance for a horse to win the ultimate prize this year, the third leg of the National Cutting Horse Association’s Triple Crown Series begins its 20-day run Tuesday at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth. The NCHA Summer Spectacular, which is at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, will end July 31 with the 4-year-old open division. The other two jewels in the series are the NCHA World Championship Futurity in December and the NCHA Super Stakes in April. However, there will be no Triple Crown winner this year as the 2004 NCHA Futurity winner Spots Hot (Chula Dual x Sweet Shorty Lena by Shorty Lena) and his rider Wesley Galyean didn’t qualify for the Super Stakes open finals in April. One Time Pepto (Peptoboonsmal x One Time Soon by Smart Little Lena) and his rider Matt Gaines captured the second jewel. Only three horses have won NCHA’s Triple Crown: Smart Little Lena (Doc O’Lena x Smart Peppy by Peppy San) and Bill Freeman (1982-83); Docs Okie Quixote (Doc Quixote x Jimmette Too by Johnny Tivio) and Joe Heim (1983-84); and Chiquita Pistol (Smart Little Pistol x Miss Chiquita Tari by Pay Twentyone) and Tag Rice (2002-03). The Summer Spectacular also features NCHA's largest youth show, which runs Tuesday through Friday. To check results daily, click here. Oswood Stallion Station Moving to Texas Jeff Oswood recently announced that his Oswood Stallion Station in Porterville, California, would be moving to Weatherford, Texas. The stallions he currently stands in California will also make the move, including Slip Down Lena, Smart Little Rondee and Paint stallion Like A Diamond. A few new stallions will also join the 10 stallions Oswood currently stands. The new stallion station will open on 300 acres at 1400 Garner Road in Weatherford in October. At the new location, Oswood and his team will continue reproduction services, stallion and mare management programs and sales prep. These programs have long been considered one of the most reputable and successful in the industry. Oswood plans to include the introduction of a few new stallions to his roster, and an open house ranch party during the NCHA Futurity will introduce the entire roster to the public. Two Quarter Horses Among Sports Illustrated’s ’25 Amazing Animals’ In an online exclusive, Sports Illustrated chose sport’s “25 Amazing Animals,” and included in the list were two legendary Quarter Horses. In racing, Dash For Cash was chosen. SI reporter Ben Reiter writes: “The Texas-bred won 21 of 25 starts – including Champion of Champions in '76 and '77. He sired 1,370 foals, who won more than $39 million. In rodeo, Reiter picked Scamper, writing, “the rambunctious barrel racer won 10 straight world titles from 1984 to '93 and is the only barrel horse in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.” Other horses on the list include Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Ruffian, and show jumper Idle Dice. Other animals include bucking bull Little Yellow Jacket, who is part-owned by NCHA competitor and Elton John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin, and carrier pigeon Cher Ami. You have to be an SI subscriber to read the story. But if you are, here’s the link. Quarter Horse Gets Around on Artificial Limb Although it’s not feasible for every horse, Sushil Dulai Wenholz writes in the July 2005 The Horse magazine about a Pullman, Washington, Quarter horse that gets around on an artificial leg. “While hardly common, such sights have at least stepped out of the realm of wishful thinking and into the real world. Yes, it's a costly procedure. Yes, there are special considerations and potential complications. And, no, not every horse with a leg injury makes a good candidate. But through the efforts of dedicated, far-sighted veterinarians, farriers, and horse owners, equine prosthetics are viable options for giving some formerly doomed horses a new lease on a good life.” Wenholz details in her article how equine artificial limbs have been around for about 30 years and scientists are always looking for ways to improve prosthetics. “But, despite the progress, prosthetics aren't for every horse. The ideal candidate meets criteria related to injury type and site, health and personality.” But there are still some storybook endings. “There is, of course, a bright side, and that's the simple fact that prosthetics allow a horse to continue living a fairly normal life. A mare Redden worked on in 1992 has lived at pasture with other horses since five months after her surgery -- and she runs the herd. Harper's mare – now 18 and on her 14th year with a prosthesis – has more limited physical abilities. But she's nonetheless been bred five times by natural cover, and she has raised five of her own foals, plus two orphans. “While not all cases have happy endings, a significant and growing number do. And it's certainly a step forward from what Ric Redden, D.V.M., founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Kentucky, calls the dark ages, when ‘once a horse loses vascular supply to the lower limb, he's killed. This is an avenue for owners wanting to give back to their horses and to give that horse an acceptable quality of life.’”
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