Ideal Standard Prints are Available
For Sale at the WCHA Office!
2009 was a big year for our very young
organization. Some very successful
events took place during the year
including the Jerry Wells Scholarship
Futurity, the Congress Futurity plus
many other state and local shows. With
the help of many of our members we
had a great fund raiser and Stallion
Service Auction at the AQHA World
Show.
Our Affiliate status was confirmed with
the AQHA, WCHA has plans to work
with them and all of the breed
associations in the future.
WCHA added four new judges in August with a written exam and live judging to
test their qualifications. Our judging program continues to advance each year.
WCHA Directors have spent countless hours to create one of the best
organizations possible. Plans for 2010 include more events, another judges
qualifying exam to be held in August at the AQHYA World Show, more
information to our members through E-news and through our website, a new
trophy designed especially for WCHA, prints of the ideal standard are for sale
and many more new and existing programs to watch for.
Now it is time to re-new your membership and join in on all the
great things WCHA is doing for the Conformation Horse.
Thanks,
Wayne Halvorson
New Address!
World Conformation Horse Association
Attn: Rebecca Halvorson
or Renee Merchant
9528 S Sooner Rd
Guthrie, OK 73044
Please click here for a downloadable
2010 WCHA Membership Form
WCHA's Official Publication Sponsor
______________________________________
WCHA
at the
WORLD
It was banquets and new beginnings for the World Conformation Horse
Association at the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show.
Article and photos
by Christine Hamilton
WOULD YOU PAY $2,000 FOR A USED SHOW HALTER?
You might if it was a halter worn by a legendary mare and
it was being sold to raise money for an organization you
cared about. That's what Mary Helen Borsch of Pilot Point,
Texas, did. She was a very determined bidder for the silver
show halter that used to belong to multiple world champion
Pick Me Please. The bidding stopped at a cool $2,000.
Mary Helen bought the halter at the 2009 World
Conformation Horse Association banquet and benefit auction
November 11 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in conjunction
with the AQHA World Championship Show. The banquet
featured a stallion service auction, as well as live and silent
auctions of items donated to benefit the 2-year-old association.
More than 350 people attended.
As an added bonus, at the WCHA annual business meeting
November 12, the organization officially joined forces with
AQHA as an alliance partner. As a strategic marketing
alliance partner, WCHA earnings will be displayed on
American Quarter Horse records. The associations will
also work together to promote the breed and competition.
To learn more about the alliance partner program, go to:
www.aqha.com/association/benefits/alliance.html .
"AQHA and WCHA will work together to strengthen the
industry and explore opportunities that will mutually benefit
each association," said AQHA Executive Vice President
Don Treadway Jr.
It's an exciting time for the WCHA, which was begun
by 40 halter industry breeders, owners and trainers in May
2007 (go to www.conformationhorse.com for more information).
And the optimism was palpable at the banquet.
But why did Mary Helen want that particular halter so
badly?
"Because I have a beautiful filly that will wear it and
maybe win," she said. "We're hoping for some good luck
from it."
Pick Me Please, a 1989 daughter of Mr Conclusion out of
Sissydator by The Intimidator, was the 1993 world champion
aged mare, 1992 youth and open world champion 3-year-old
mare and 1991 world champion 2-year-old mare. Her foals
have earned a combined 238.5 points.
That halter just might have some luck to rub off.
(Christine Hamilton is editor of The American Quarter Horse
Journal)
Non Pro Colts
1. VG VERSACE Shown by Linda Gordan, Owned by Gary & Linda Gordan
2. REAL GROOVY Shown by Josh Weakly, Owned by Josh Weakley
3. TWENTYFOURKAROT KOOL Shown by Robin Bales, Owned by Robin & Cliff Bales
Open Colts
1. SECRETZ Shown by Ross Roark, Owned by Gerri Lea Pratt
2. VG VERSACE Shown by Linda Gordan, Owned by Gary & Linda Gordan
3. REAL GROOVY Shown by Josh Weakly, Owned by Josh Weakly
4. INFLUENTUAL Shown by Jason Smith, Owned by Dr. GiGi Woods Davis
Non Pro Fillies
1. E LOVIN ME Shown by Josh Weakly, Owned by Josh Weakly
2. BR PRETTY WOMAN Shown by Leasa Haselden, Owned by Leasa Haselden
3. DENIUM N LACE Shown by Glenn Cantrell, Owned by Glen & Mary Cantrell
4. BISCAYNE BABY Shown by Toni Caride, Owned by Gina Caride
5. BEST CLU EVER Shown by Christy Overstreet, Owned by Fairhavens Farm
Open Fillies
1. E LOVIN ME Shown by Josh Weakly, Owned by Josh Weakly
2. LWR PLAY TO WIN Shown by Aaron Hall, Owned by Alan & Roberta Whetzel
3. BR PRETTY WOMAN Shown by Leasa Haselden, Owned by Leasa Haselden
4. DA JA VOO Shown by Steve Ferguson, Owned by Stephen Schoultz
5. MAREABELLA Shown by Ross Roark, Owned by Frank Berris
6. DENIUM N LACE Shown by Glenn Cantrell, Owned by Glen & Mary Cantrell
Non Pro Geldings
1. LOCAL CELEBRITY Shown by Christy Heck, Owned by Christy Heck
2. IM DOMINATE TOO Shown by Brian Causey, Owned by Brian Causey
3. THE GOLDEN MIRAGE Shown by Mimsi Roe Lovering, Owned by Mimsi Roe Lovering
4. JMK SUPERCHARGED Shown by James Melvin Kifer, Owned by James Kifer
5. LETS TALK TOUCH Shown by Katie Mitchell, Owned by Katie Mitchell
Open Geldings
1. FEARED Shown by Ross Roark, Owned by Josh Weakly
2. TYECOON Shown by Mike McMillian, Owned by Carl Guelker
3. LOCAL CELEBRITY Shown by Christy Heck, Owned by Christy Heck
4. JMK SUPERCHARGED Shown by Fred Reese, Owned by James Kifer
5. IMA EXCEPTION Shown by Wayne Halvorson, Owned by Thomas Scheckel
6. TOP THIS Shown by Kathy Smallwood, Owned by Mary Jane Walker
7. IM DOMINATE TOO Shown by Brian Causey, Owned by Brian Causey
Why did the WCHA get started in the first place?
That is perhaps the most exciting thing about the movement. Owners, breeders and trainers all agreed that creating an organization with
a unified voice was critical to the future of the industry. A diminishing market certainly served as catalyst for the first meeting
in May 2007, but the result was a focus on the bigger picture of organizing a segment of the horse industry among the first seen
in competition.
Why does the name of the association include Conformation Horse rather than Halter Horse?
The founders of the WCHA recognize that conformation is a crucial element to the soundness and athletic ability of the horse,
regardless of the discipline in which it might be involved. While the WCHA will develop and promote halter horse competition,
its primary mission will be to educate the public about the value of and how to recognize good conformation in the horse.
The WCHA Annual General Business Meeting was held during the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City, OK. Wayne Halvorson was elected President, Jodi Sullivan President elect,
with Tim Finkenbinder, Jerry Bauerly, and Greg Holden making up the Executive Committee board. Peter J. Cofrancesco III and Dick Donnelly are Ex-Officio Members.
The 2009 Auction and Silent Auction, chaired by Brian and Dawn Causey was a big success. Thank you to all of the hard work by everyone who helped with the meeting, the auction and working the WCHA Booth.