Appaloosa Horse Association of Alberta

    2006 HIP PRIZE LIST (PDF)
    2006 ENTRY FORM (PDF)
  2006 Stake Class Form (pdf)
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    2006 Incentive Program Information & Form (PDF)
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The 2006 evaluation was held Sept 16/06 at the Olds Cow Palace.
The vet evaluator was the same as last year, Dr Roxy Bell. Two new evaluators from Western and English background were rotated onto the program this year

Mr. Lyle Jackson has spent 30 years in the AQHA industry as a trainer and 15 years as a judge. He holds judges cards for NRCHA, AQHA, NRHA and APHA Lyle has judged international shows in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Australia, USA, Canada and France. He has shown in every western discipline, specializing now in reining and working cow horse. At the International level winning International championships, National  Championships, multiple NRHA Bronze Trophies and has Reining Futurity , Derby and Maturity winners Lyle currently sits on the Professional Horseman’s Committee for the American Quarter Horse Association and the Executive Board of Reining Canada.

Ms Donna Kavanaugh

Donna is a lifelong horse person who has been showing horses since age of six. Donna began training professionally in 1997 and is an active trainer, coach and exhibitor in Hunter, Jumper, Western Pleasure, Trail, Show Hack, Dressage, Country/English Pleasure and Halter. Donna holds an AHA Judging card.

Dr Roxy Bell

Dr Bell graduated from the Western School of Veterinary Medicine in 1975. She has been involved in Equine research and now has an active practice with her husband David. D & R Veterinary Services Inc. focuses on equines. Dr Bell is very familiar with form to function evaluation programs, as she is a sport horse breeder

Past experience has proven that the evaluation works best when only one new evaluator is rotated at a time, and using evaluators familiar with the scoring system is essential. There has been critism in the past, concerning using the same evaluator several years in a row, with the horse show mentality ruling. 
The key point being while qualified judges are used in both systems, there is a fundamental difference. While the same horses might still be the ‘winners’ in either venue, the actual score and degree that each horse is faulted for a flaw determines whether that horse earns a Classic or Premium designation at the HIP evaluation. 

It takes more than being a good judge to assess HIP scores-it also requires some degree of familiarity and experience with the scoring system so horses are not either faulted too severely nor not critically enough

While it is desirable to use as many different qualified judges as possible at shows, so the same judges aren’t seeing the same horses over and over again, with  possible pre conceived notions concerning those horses, the same does not hold true at HIP
Scores between the two performance judges varied greatly in some incidences this year, and scoring was very critical, resulting in only one horse Classifying .In my opinion Ms Donna Kavanaugh was the weak link

I still believe in the value of the program, but also know the results of the 2006 evaluation firmly prove that we can’t just use new evaluators because of the pre-conceived notion of  some members that this is valuable just like for shows, but must retain stability in the scoring system by using evaluator with experience or at least requiring that evaluators junior judge at HIP to acquaint them with the scoring system

The photographer was Jeremy Ullmann and Ring Steward was Ms Joanne Wright.

Results of the 2006 Incentive program:

Two year old Appaloosas
Miss Ziggy Bright, earning a payout of $300

Three year old performance
First : High Caret Gemstone, owned by Chris Ullmann, payout $510
Second: I’m Bright Enough, owned by Katie Tainsh, payout $ $340

Turn out was down in general and only three Appaloosas took part in the Evaluation

HIP Survey

Hopefully most AHAA members received their HIP survey. I used the mailing list that I had available to me, and sent out about 40 surveys. If I missed anyone, I apologize, and can send out a copy to you, if desired. The mail out gave a history of HIP and also details of the incentive program that was put in place by the AHAA for a trial period, in order to encourage Appaloosas to take part in the evaluation
The actual cost of our participation in HIP  has noting to do with the incentive program

The questions asked were:

A/ the AHAA should continue to support HIP?

B/ the AHAA should run the Incentive program for another period?

C/ Do you plan to bring a horse in the future?

Of the 40 mail outs, only 15 were returned

Results
 11 replied yes to all three questions.
1 replied yes to the first two and no to the third, only because they are not a breeder
1 replied yes to first question and not sure to the other two
1 replied no to all three questions
1 replied yes to all three, but wants every horse achieving a Classic score to receive equal incentive funds

Some comments also received:

Considered HIP the highlight of the show year, and only was not there this year because they didn’t have a suitable horse, but will again come in the future.
Actually about five people stated that they only did not come this year because they didn’t have a horse of suitable age, but will again in the future
One horse did not come because the horse was injured
 A week before the evaluation

Conclusion: While the Appaloosa  turnout was disappointing this year and the evaluation itself had some issues, due to bringing two new evaluators on board, there is merit in the program in helping to shape a breeding program and in identifying superior Alberta bred horses.
Like all votes and surveys there is no sense in sending out  a means for members to express their opinions if the board does not then use that information to shape future direction. I would have liked to have received more input, but lacking that, must then recommend policy based on those members who took the time and interest to reply. I thus recommend that the AHAA continues to help run the HIP program and have the incentive fund continue for another specified period to be decided by the new board.

There has been concern over lack of advertising. Horse Industry has stepped back further from any financial support, and is no longer doing either mail outs, advertising nor paying for the photographer, as in the past

President Vern Baron has approached Equine Canada in regards to funding, allowing for increased advertising and promotion. This proposal was too late to pursue for 2006, but is viable for 2007
Equine Essentials  repeated their sponsorship and HIP  were given free booth space at the Horse Breeder’s and Owner’s Conference in 2006

Additional sponsorship is  welcomed and would help to better promote both the concept of the program and the running of the program itself.
 

Yearlings

Ms Ziggy Bright, scored one point sort of Classic  (74 ) 
Sire Ok Colorado Cote
Dam Irish Love Bug
Owned Hans and Judy Ullmann

Only one in yearling incentive fund. Payout $250 plus the $50 entry  = $300

Two year olds

Three in the HIP class, but only one entered in the Incentive- I'm Bright Enough Also had the highest score (78 ) and only one to earn Classic
She is a full sister to Ms Ziggy Bright, and also owned by Hans and Judy Ullmann
Payout $300

Three year old performance

No enteries

4 and 5 year old performance 

Three enteries, and all three entered in Incentive

First place Jazz's Bright Sierra score 75.5  Classic - payout 60% of $750 plus the $150 enteries = $540
Sire: The Organizer
Dam Miss Jazzabar

Second : Whiplash McCue    score 75.4 Classic owner Kathy Judson  payout $380
No copy of papers

Third - His High Nez score 75 Classic no payout owned  Kathy Charlton, ridden by Derek DiCacca

This year we had a great turn out for the Alberta Horse Improvement Program, and our high quality Appaloosas were very well represented. In fact I heard one spectator comment “After watching this today, I want to get myself an Appaloosa”

That alone made the day worthwhile.

Following are the results: 

Alberta Bred Classic Bred Yearlings (Judged In-Hand for conformation and movement)
 

ZIPPIN WITH PEP (ApHC)   Score: 77

            Sire: AN IRISH ZIPPO (ApHC)
            Dam: SAN STONE IMAGE (ApHC)

Owned and Exhibited by Judy Ullmann
This horse was also listed as For Sale, Contact Judy at (403) 556-2806 
 

W H THREE D FROSTIN (ApHC) Score:76.3

            Sire: AN IRISH ZIPPO (ApHC)
            Dam: W H FANCY SOCKS (ApHC)

This horse was owned and exhibited by Valerie Beattie.
 
 

Alberta Bred Classic Bred Three Year Olds (Judged Under Saddle and In-Hand for Conformation)

FULL COLOR EDITION (ApHC) Score: 77

            Sire: WYALTA EDITOR (ApHC)
            Dam: BLACK WRANGLER (ApHC)

Owned by Tami Ullmann Exhibited by Chris Ullmann
This horse was also listed as For Sale, Contact Chris Ullmann at (403) 843-2701
 
 

DOCS PERSCRIPTION HI (ApHC) Score: 76

            Sire: HIGH SIGN NUGGET 
            Dam: IMA DOCS DOLL 

This Horse is owned and exhibited by Heather Baumgardner
 

WHIPLASH McCUE (ApHC) Score: 75

            Sire: SAN’S HAP McCUE 
            Dam: HIGHLY FOXY 

This Horse is owned and exhibited by Kathy Judson
 

Alberta Bred Classic Bred 4 & 5 Year Olds (Judged Under Saddle and In-Hand for Conformation)
 

LENAS HIGH HEAT (ApHC) Score: 80

            Sire: HIGH SIGN NUGGET 
            Dam: IMA DOCS DOLL 

This Horse is owned by Jim Dobler and Heather McLevin and was exhibited by Heather McLevin.
 

A LITTLE HIGH (ApHC) Score: 76

            Sire: HIGH SIGN NUGGET 
            Dam: FINTRY LITTLE ZONA

This Horse is owned and exhibited by Kenneth Swainson 
 

HIGH SIGN SONITA (ApHC) Score: 75

            Sire: HIGH SIGN NUGGET 
            Dam: SWEET SONITA

This Horse is owned by Kathleen Charlton and exhibited by Derek Diciacca
 
 

These horses represent well bred quality animals produced here in Alberta, I would encourage anyone who is looking for a superior quality horse, to contact these owners and breeders. Pictures of these horses will be posted as soon as they are available.

To encourage Appaloosa breeders to attend the Alberta Horse Improvement program, and specifically to encourage these breeders to provide to the program, Appaloosa horses of Superior quality and with the level of training that is always in high demand in the horse market, the AHAA has created an Incentive fund to be run on a trial basis for the years 2004 and 2005.

In financial support, each year would have $2,000 added to the program with $250 going to each of the Conformation classes and $750 going to each of the performance classes. Monies will be given out based on the combined Judges score on a sliding scale where the horse who scores the highest will receive the largest portion of the pot.

Additional recognition will also be given to horses that score Classic or premium, these horses will have their pictures published in the AHAA newsletter, on the AHAA website and their pictures will be featured in the AHAA booth. 

Rules:

1) Participants must be entered in the Appaloosa portion of the Horse Improvement Program 
2) Only ApHC registered Appaloosa horses will be eligible. 
3) To be eligible horses must be entered in the program and pay the appropriate fee to the Appaloosa Horse Association of Alberta. Horses who do not wish to participate in the incentive program need only pay the evaluation fee to the Horse Improvement Program.
4) There will be 2 separate entry forms, the usual HIP entry form and a form for the incentive program – the incentive form is sent directly to the AHAA.
 

This program was originally designed by the Alberta Government Horse Industry Branch to have some sort of system to identify breeding horses along the lines set up in Europe to indentify horses that have a certain level of correct conformation and movement, along with trainability to justify their being part of the genetic pool

Conformation is evaluated with the criteria of, 'form to function". Movement is evaluated on a large triangle. Conformation is broken down to front limbs, hind limbs, overall body balance and type. Faults are assessed as either minor or major, and a score is given up to 20 for each part. If a horse scores less than 10 on any part, he is deemed to have a major fault that comprimises soundness, and his score cannot be totaled.

Athletic movement is the same, regardless of discipline, and has the following components: length of stride, lightness, rhythm, and correctness of the stride.

Unlike a horse show, where horse against horse is judged, and a mediocre horse can win , based on competition present, horses at the HIP program are scored. A score of 75% to 84%  earns a horse the designation of Alberta Classic Bred,  85% and above is an Alberta Preminum bred horse. Depending on the quality present in any class, there could be several Classics, or none.

The horses are evaluated by three judges, one of who is an equine vet. These written scores are given to the owners , so unlike a horse show, one really understands why one's horse was given a certain score and can use this information to direct their breeding program and as a marketing tool, esp to Europe , where this type of testing is part of the warmblood breeding program.

Various performance patterns are used, depending on the age of the horse. Performance classes are for 3, 4 and 5 year olds , and are designed not for any particular future discipline, but to indicate general trainability, athletisism and attitude.

Written scores are given by the two performance judges on the different elements of the pattern. The vet judge only assesses conformation of the performance horses, which makes up 30% of the final score.

Once, before the government cuts, sizable prize money was up for each class. The program is now funded by  several breeds that kept the program running through financial committment and volunteer help. Horse Industry rep, Les Burwash serves as an advisor and helps in obtaining the evaluators. Horses that either score premium or classic, receive plaques and are featured on the Alberta Horse Industry Web page.  Detailed information on the scoring system is available through the AHAA web link to Horse Industry branch, and are also printed out on the HIP program entry sheets , that are mailed out to all AHAA members.

Since the AHAA, along with the Arabians, Morgans and Alberta Quarter Horse Breeder's group has made the financial committment to keep the program running, membership is required to be evaluated at the member rate. However any other light horse breed, whose organization is not a financial supporter of the HIP, is welcome to be evaluated at double the evaluation fee.

Appaloosas can be either ApHC aor ApHCC registered, as this is not a horse show, but an evaluation of Alberta bred Appaloosas Sposors are always welcome, and the organization is looking at means to add money to the classes.

The 2004 evaluation , due to rising costs of the Westener, will be held Sept 18 in Olds.
For further information, don't hesitate to contact either Judy Ullmann, AHAA director responsible for the HIP committeee; 403.556.2806 or Ann de St. Remy, secretary/treasurer 403.782.3856.

t  September 13
t  Appaloosa evaluations using a widely accepted & respected ‘form to function’ system. 
t  Westerner Park, Red Deer, Alberta.