AQHA Animal Welfare Working Group moving forward with objectives

The American Quarter Horse Association Executive Committee recently approved three objectives established by the Association's Animal Welfare Working Group.

1. Develop a written commitment to be signed by AQHA and its alliance partners (the National Reining Horse, National Cutting Horse, National Reined Cow Horse and the National Snaffle Bit associations) to work jointly to ensure and promote animal welfare.

2. AQHA and its alliance partners will develop an editorial board with each of its publications to rotate interviewing horsemen and their commitment to caring for their animals. The articles could be developed into a "Horsemen's Manual," which would be used as an educational tool for prospective horse trainers.

3. Conduct a breeders' seminar in conjunction with the 2010 AQHA Convention to discuss the effects of genetic defects/diseases on the American Quarter Horse breed and cover stallion breeding, other business statistics and a review of foal activity summaries to educate breeders on selecting stallions/mares.

Members of the working group are Dr. Wayne Burwash, Janet Bowen, David Dellin, Dr. Doug Corey, Bobby Lewis, Sam Rose and Allen Mitchels. The Animal Welfare Working Group also will meet during the next 12 to 18 months to develop more objectives that will be presented to the AQHA Executive Committee for approval.

Date: 9/4/09