EQUINE RESEARCH ■ SCHOLARSHIPS ■ THERAPEUTIC RIDING THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM EQUINE RESEARCH ■ SCHOLARSHIPS ■ THERAPEUTIC RIDING THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM PHOTO BY JIM BRET CAMPBELL 2011 ANNUAL REPORT who we are what we do The American Equine Research Quarter Horse Foundation The care and welfare of more than The related philanthropic organization of the Amer- six million registered American ican Quarter Horse Association, seeks to advance the Quarter Horses is of utmost American Quarter Horse and the partnership it importance to the American shares with people primarily through the develop- Quarter Horse Association. The ment of funds and programs designed to Equine Research Committee is • preserve and interpret the history comprised of leading American and modern uses of the breed; Quarter Horse breeders, equine veterinarians and other AQHA members well • support the educational advancement grounded in equine research methods. This of our industry’s youth; committee makes decisions each year as to where • protect and enhance the physical funding support should be provided to ensure the 2011 well-being of all equines; and health and well-being of all horses. Since 1960, • promote the American Quarter Horse’s AQHA and AQHF have provided more than $9 by the numbers capacity to provide physical and emotional million in equine research grants to numerous benefits to individuals in need. colleges and universities. Scholarships 2011 Scholarships & Grants Awarded Ensuring the future of the American Quarter Horse industry includes developing and educating future industry professionals. The Foundation provides scholarships based on 9% academic merit, equine involvement and financial need. Since the program’s Equine Research – 46% inception, more than $5 million has been awarded 46% to more than 950 young people. 45% Scholarships – 45% America’s Horse Cares “America’s Horse Cares” focuses on the unique emotional bond between an Therapeutic Riding – 9% American Quarter Horse and a person when it comes to overcoming physical, psychological and emotional barriers. AQHF is dedicated to creating an ongoing funding base to support those with special needs by providing financial support to therapeutic riding centers. The Foundation has given more than $400,000 to more than 100 centers and deserving programs Total Contributions Calendar Year 2011 throughout the country. 1% The American Quarter Horse 4% Foundation Endowment – 67% Hall of Fame & Museum 5% The Hall of Fame & 12% 7% Hall of Fame – 12% Museum houses the most precious artifacts 4% in the history of the Scholarship – 5% American Quarter Horse as well as the Therapeutic Riding – 7% Association. The Museum seeks to attract visitors of all ages and all levels of familiarity with the Area of Greatest Need– 4% breed to educate them about the American Quarter 67% Horse and the American Quarter Horse lifestyle. Equine Research – 4% The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum is a modern, world-class showplace where Other – 1% history, artifacts and art come to life in one of the most state-of-the-art museum facilities. THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE FOUNDATION 1 FOUNDATION COUNCIL CHAIR Laina Banks Each year, the American Quarter Horse Foundation produces an annual report which gives us the opportunity to showcase our important work and to say “thank you” in a special way to our generous supporters and volunteers. 2011 again reminds us of how fortunate we are to share our lives with the American Quarter Horse and of our responsibility to ensure his future well-being. It is easy for me to express to you why my husband, Ken and I give to the American Quarter Horse Foundation. It’s because the American Quarter Horse is what our lives revolve around and where we find comfort, joy and strength. Foundation Council Let me introduce you to a few of our Foundation friends who feel the same: Toni Kawulok: “I donate because I have had three horses with Laina Banks, Chair cancer and one with Wobblers. I support equine research to help Schulenburg, Texas find cures for these and other diseases affecting our equine companions.” Margaret Bellville Atlanta, Georgia Gunnar, Carol and Shelley Otness: “The American Quarter Horse Lori Bucholz has enabled our family to realize lifetime dreams. We have traveled to Waterloo, Nebraska many places where we have met wonderful people and Quarter Horses. Supporting AQHA and AQHF is our way of saying ‘thank you AQHA Ruth Dismuke-Blakely for a wonderful ride!’” Edgewood, New Mexico Avery Ellis: “AQHA is a BIG part of my life! It’s something I have Kate Johnson a lot of fun participating in and has helped me develop skills, learn Fort Worth, Texas responsibility, and be a part of a group of high achieving, fun-loving Nadine Lipson youth. Since AQHA has done so much for me, not only as a rider, but as a person, I want to give back by supporting AQHA in any way that Bonner, Montana I can.” Robin Merrill Purcell, Oklahoma Larry Larson: “Giving an honorarium gift to the Foundation is a simple, personal way to honor our ‘industry friends’ or a special Scott Myers Quarter Horse that has touched their life. It warms my heart knowing Sharon Center, Ohio that each donation I make continues to support AQHF special projects and the families are personally notified of the gift.” Tim Petty Ocala, Florida Everyone has their own personal way of giving back to the horses that have brought them George Phillips so much. For this we are most grateful and will continue to be good stewards of your generous Sumrall, Mississippi support. Ralph Seekins Warmly Fairbanks, Alaska Laina Banks Council Chair American Quarter Horse Foundation 2 THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE FOUNDATION AMERICA’S HORSE CARES Through the use of equine-assisted activities, therapeutic horseback riding allows thousands of special-needs individuals to experience the rhythmic 2011 AHC RECIPIENTS motion of a horse. The “America’s Horse Cares” program has created an Chesapeake Therapeutic ongoing funding base to support therapeutic riding centers that help Riding Inc. persons overcoming physical, psychological and emotional barriers. Abingdon, Maryland The Foundation has awarded more than $400,000 to more than 100 deserving centers. Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding Our mission is to provide financial assistance to therapeutic horseback Barnesville, Maryland riding centers who will continue to be effective in successfully providing much needed programs and services for those with emotional, physical Equi-Kids Therapeutic and cognitive limitations. Ideal recipient centers should have various Riding Program business and organizational components in place that will ensure the Virginia Beach, Virginia center’s long-term viability, thus benefitting those in need. Grant funding supports the purchase of safety equipment for riders and/or equines Equine Assisted and scholarship or financial assistance for client expenses. Therapy Inc., Centerburg, Ohio PHOTO BY SAM BLISS J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center San Juan Capistrano, California Mane Gait Therapeutic Horsemanship McKinney, Texas Montgomery Area Nontraditional Equestrians Pike Road, Alabama New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding Inc. Bowling Green, Kentucky Reach Therapeutic Riding Center Waco, Texas Refuge Services Inc. Lubbock, Texas Our Funding Partner: FARNAM Farnam, the official grooming, conditioning, dewormer and fly control Special Equestrians Inc. supplier for AQHA is a proud supporter of America’s Horse Cares. Indian Springs, Alabama Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT) Tucson, Arizona THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE FOUNDATION 3 EQUINE RESEARCH The care and welfare of more than five million registered American Quarter Horses is of the utmost importance to the American Quarter Horse Association and Foundation. The Equine Research Committee is comprised of leading equine veterinarians, research scientists, and American Quarter Horse breeders well-grounded in equine research methods who make decisions each year as to where funding support should be provided to ensure the health and well-being of all horses. Since 1960, AQHA and AQHF have provided nearly $9 million in equine research grants to numerous colleges and universities. 2011 EQUINE RESEARCH PROJECTS: Mississippi State University deposition of fat. This will be the first study to determine if an alternative treatment “Arthrodesis of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint in the Horse: (SIRT1-activator, resveratrol) which mimics dietary restriction by modulating both A Biochemical Comparison of 5.5mm Cortical Screw Augmented inflammation and metabolic parameters will aid in treating metabolic syndrome. 4.5mm Narrow LC-DCP and 5.0mm LCP Constructs” Investigator(s): Amanda Adams PhD – Young Investigator Award Current recommendation for performance ending osteoarthritis of the pastern joint University of Minnesota is to fuse the joint with a stainless steel plate and 1mm lag screws. This procedure “Selective Breeding Practices in the American Quarter Horse: Impact on Health and Disease” results in greater than 70 percent of horses returning to performance after surgery. Selective horse breeding has produced American Quarter Horses that are highly The goal of this study is to compare the stability of two different bone/implant successful in a variety of performance disciplines. Although the breed is diverse, the constructs used for pastern joint fusion in cadaver legs. The currently used dynamic researchers believe that selective breeding has lead to substantial genetic structure