November 2020
Newsletter HAFLINGER HORSE BITS
Liz Murphy driving Nu-Knight CSA
Now Available for Order! Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for your favorite Haflinger-lover? Need a daily dose of golden pick-me-up (even though 2021 is bound to be better)?
AHR’s 2021 Haflinger calendar is your perfect solution! One calendar will be sent to each 2020 member in November. Additional calendars are available for order now – while supplies last!
One calendar—$12 Three calendars—$30 Six calendars—$50 includes shipping via US First Class mail
Visit haflingerhorse.com or contact the office at (330) 784-0000 to order Calendars will begin shipping in mid-November, just in time for holiday gift-giving! But hurry—once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Bits & Pieces from AHR
Annual Membership Meeting
Important Dates
The AHR membership meeting will be Wednesday, December 2, 2020 beginning at 7 pm EST. Due to ongoing health precautions, the Board has elected to only offer a virtual option. A Zoom access number will be available for members to listen to and/or view the presentation before opening up for questions. In the interest of time, please send any questions 48 hours before the meeting to board@haflingerhorse.com. Not only will this help us prepare, but we may need time to search out answers or make a board decision before public announcement. While this is not ideal, the Board appreciates the ongoing support of members during such a difficult year.
• December 2: AHR Annual Member Meeting—streaming online • December 31: All annual memberships expire—visit haflingerhorse.com/join/ to renew! • December 31: 2020 foal registrations due to avoid late fees • December 31: Stallion License renewals due • January 31: 2020 AHR Golden Path hours and AHR Ambassador point submissions due • February 1: Extended deadline for Sire/Dam Futurity nominations for 2020 foals
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Bits & Pieces from AHR
The American Haflinger Registry is pleased to announce...Our All-New Website! Visit Haflingerhorse.com for: • • • • • •
Breed Info Events & Programs Membership Info The Registry Haflinger Marketplace Shortcut to Farm, Horse, and Pedigree search • Fabulous Photos of Haflinger Horses Please stop by soon!
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Plus: New FREE Member Benefit! The Farm Directory and Classified Ad pages of the website have merged into a new and expanded AHR Marketplace. Check out the interactive and searchable map, which not only includes the directory and classifieds, but also event listings, services, tack and equipment for sale, wanted ads, and more! Visit haflingerhorse.com/marketplace to check it out and add your listing today. All listings are now FREE with your AHR membership!
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2021 Committee Chairs Please contact any committee chair if you would like to help! All members are welcome. Inspection & Classification Kathie Hanson & Erwin Slabaugh classification@haflingerhorse.com
2021 Inspection & Classification Picking up where we left off in 2020, the 2021 Inspection and Classification will be held in conjunction with the Great Lakes Haflinger Association’s Annual Show, on July 9th at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds in Centreville, Michigan The application deadline is June 10th, 2021. Additional details and the application packet can be found at haflingerhorse.com/inspection The Inspection & Classification Committee is still open to considering additional sites in other parts of the country, if there is adequate participation! Contact classification@haflingerhorse.com or call Kathie Hanson (218) 666-5924 or Erwin Slabaugh (440) 487-7940 with suggestions.
FUTURITY Erwin Slabaugh futurity@haflingerhorse.com JUDGES John Dunkel judges@haflingerhorse.com MEMBERSHIP Joey Lysinger membership@haflingerhorse.com NATIONAL SHOW Kyle Love nationals@haflingerhorse.com PEDIGREE Kathie Hanson registrations@haflingerhorse.com POINTS/AWARDS Suzi Vlietstra points@haflingerhorse.com PROMOTIONS Suzi Vlietstra promotion@haflingerhorse.com YOUTH Michelle Harper youth@haflingerhorse.com
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Bits & Pieces from AHR
Sponsorship Opportunities
Haflinger National Showcase The 2021 AHR National Showcase is scheduled for September 3-5 at the Michiana Event Center in Shipshewana, Indiana. There will be a full line of classes for both Hitch and Sport, including: In-Hand Western English Pleasure Driving Dressage Hunter/Jumper Hitch Farm Team as well as the AHR Futurity More details coming soon! Questions, or interested in helping out with the show? Contact Kyle Love at (419) 3075321 or nationals@haflingerhorse.com. Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
Gold Sponsor - $250 - Class sponsor of a class with 3 or more Haflingers hitched to a vehicle OR class with required ring set up (i.e., jump, dressage, trail, etc.) - Sponsor gets name in program, name announced during class, can hand out ribbons/trophy and photo-op if desired, name on website as a Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsor - $100 - Class sponsor of a class with 2 or fewer Haflingers hitched to a vehicle, ridden or led Sponsor gets name in program, name announced during class, can hand out ribbons/trophy and photo-op if desired, name on website as a Silver Sponsor Bronze Sponsor - $99 or less - Sponsor gets name in program, name announced once during show, name on website as a Bronze Sponsor Sponsorships can be sent to: Kyle Love, 3005 S Fletcher Road, Chelsea MI 48118 Page 6
Futurity Changes and Updates! Although this show season didn’t go quite as planned, AHR has been busy looking ahead to 2021, and the Futurity Committee is pleased to announce some exciting changes and updates for next year’s event! Live Streaming New for 2021, the AHR Futurity Show will be live-streamed to an open audience! Now you can not only showcase your futurity horses, but also market them directly into prospective buyers’ living rooms!
Nominations will still be open for 2021 foals until April 15th. Forms are available for download at haflingerhorse.com. We’re looking forward to an outstanding event at the 2021 AHR National Showcase, and hope to see you on September 4th at the Michiana Event Center in Shipshewana, Indiana! *Classes are subject to be combined or cancelled if there are fewer than five entries per class.
New Payouts* $500—1st place $300—2nd place $200—3rd place $100—4th place $100—5th place Stallion/Mare Nomination Extension Due to covid-19, the nomination deadline for sires and dams of 2020 foals has been extended to February 1, 2021. Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
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Bits & Pieces from AHR The Story of the AHR Youth Leadership Council In the fall of 2020, a handful of AHR youth passionate about Haflingers and community came together to reconstitute and reinvent the youth program. They included Mason and Brantley Collins of Ohio, Amanda Cederquist of Michigan, Connor Jayne of New York, Elise Wilson of Georgia and Rivkah Valley of New Hampshire. They met online on Zoom and via an invitation only discussion forum that was created on the AHR website. Every aspect of the previous program was looked at and examined, including membership. The following changes were made: • Youth membership dues were set at $12 annually • Eligibility for the D. Lee Wilson Jr. Memorial Scholarship was reduced from a requirement of 2 years to 1 year membership in AHRY for 2021.
Lee Wilson Jr. Memorial scholarship were extended to Dec 31, 2021. • In addition, a new program for youth was implemented, the Golden Path Youth Program. In Golden Path Youth, youth are recognized for the hours they spend riding, driving or training their Haflinger in any discipline. • Lastly, the youth put their passion into creating a flyer to showcase their passion for our breed and to invite others to join the newly revitalized AHR Youth Program, the Youth Gazette. The future of our breed is in good hands.
Michelle Harper American Haflinger Registry, Youth Program Chair
Mason and Brantley Collins of Ohio
• The AHRY Contests were reconstituted. These included Best Photo Content, Best Creative Writing, Best Art. • The High Point Youth Program was revitalized for 2021. • Deadlines for all contests, the High Point Youth program and the D. Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
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USDF All-Breeds Award Winners In a show season restricted and cut
short by covid-19, it was harder than ever to meet the criteria for USDF’s All-Breeds Awards! At the lower levels, to simply qualify for awards, horses must earn a minimum of eight scores from four different judges, at four different shows, including two scores at 60 percent or higher from the highest test of the level. They must also maintain a median score total over 60 percent. Congrats to AHR’s 2020 winners!
First Level Musical Freestyle and First Level Adult Amateur Musical Freestyle Champion: Wiz Bang LMP (Wiser JPH x Courtney), Tracy DiSabato-Aust, owner/ rider; Kay & Larry Parkin and LMP Ranch, breeders – 68.367%
First Level Open Champion: Andrit NTF (Afghan III NTF x Natanja NTF), Eliza Banks and Jena Rondinelli riders; Jena Rondinelli owner; John and Judith Miller, breeders 67.222% Reserve Champion: Willo-The-Wisp BBR (Willo Van Het Spick x Luxury Edition SBF), Grace Bergstrom, owner/rider; Jodi & Brian Winkler, breeders – 64.931% Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
First Level Junior/Young Rider Champion: Willo-The-Wisp BBR (Willo Van Het Spick x Luxury Edition SBF), Grace Bergstrom, owner/rider; Jodi & Brian Winkler, breeders – 64.931%
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Bits & Pieces Tribute Equine Nutrition Partner’s Program Contribute to the American Haflinger Registry painlessly! The American Haflinger Registry has renewed its partnership program with Tribute Equine Nutrition. Tribute will gift back to AHR $.25 for each Tribute bagged product proof of purchase and $10 for each ton of bulk Tribute feed. Simply send in your proofs or invoices with this submission form and support AHR with the feed you already buy!
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American Haflinger Fund The American Haflinger Fund is a 501(c)3 Charitable Non-Profit Corporation. Our goal is to maintain an ongoing scholarship fund for our youth members who are involved with the Haflinger breed. To donate, make checks payable to the American Haflinger Fund and mail to Carolyn Sutton, 2031 Fixler Road, Medina, Ohio 44256. You can use the Amazon Smile Program when shopping on Amazon and a portion of your purchase will be donated to the Haflinger Fund. A donation has been made by Paul and Carolyn Sutton to the American Haflinger Fund “In memory of John Cisler”. Donations have been received by the American Haflinger Fund “In Memory of Barbara Mosher” by the following: The Nobles Family, Joyce Springer, Joyce M. Watts, The Family of Arthur and Delores Scott, Michael D. & Barbara C. Luffred, Roger M. Gilbert, Co-Operative Feed Dealers Inc., Paul & Carolyn Sutton.
Haflinger Journal Haflinger Journal is a full color magazine devoted to the Haflinger breed, printed 4 times a year. Full page ad- $125; Half page ad- $80 Front cover- $200; Inside cover- $180; Inside back cover- $160
Sale and show results are printed at no charge. Feed and tack store and horse related ads are welcome. February 2021 issue will have a special stallion section. Please contact Marcus Chupp for more info at (217) 543-2015. Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
AHF Giving List $0-99 Star Wonder Club • Andrew and Linda Yoder • Robert and Sally Bades • Dolores and John Eberly • Jeff and Doris Suess • Cory and Elizabeth Hartman • Steven and Peggy Strahler • Roger M. Gilbert • Jim and Pat Robmann • Tom and Margaret Dye • Brenda McKee • Garnett Asphalt Products, Inc. • Joyce Springer • Joyce M. Watts • Michael D. & Barbara C. Luffred $100-499 Marlite Club • Rambling Rovers RV Group • Preferred Seed, Buffalo, NY • Herbert, Nelson & Barbara Nobles • Family of Arthur and Delores Scott • Dan Masters • Marcia Hignett • John and Michelle Dunkel • Don Summers • Mary Wright Goss • Co-Operative Feed Dealers, Inc $500-999 Napoline Esq. Club • Illinois Haflinger Association • Rocky and Cindy Bates $1,000-1,999 Stardrift Club • Buckeye Sale Committee • Mid-Atlantic Haflinger Association • Keystone Haflinger Association $2,000-4,999 Nasor Libby Club • Brian and Dana Mitteer • Paul and Carolyn Sutton $5,000-9,999 Student Easter Sunday Club • David Wilson Family $10,000- 29,999 Mistral Club $30,000-$99,999 Alpen Konig Club • Gladys Wilson Donovan Estate Page 11
Haflingers and Hounds: My Journey
One of these horses is not like the others…
My Haflinger journey began on a crisp golden day in late September. It was my second time out hunting with Miami Valley Hunt in Dayton, Ohio and I was leasing a hunt horse I had never ridden before, Maxie BEH (Max), a sturdy 15 hand Haflinger. “He’ll take care of you,” I was assured. As I eyed the cheeky look in Max’s eye and the sassy toss of his blond head, I wasn’t so sure. With his curved pony ears and short stature, he wasn’t the elegant bay horse I had imagined myself riding to hounds. On the bright side, I thought, at least the ground wasn’t so far away should the worst happen. Steeped in pageantry and tradition, foxhunting has fascinated sportsmen for centuries. The roots of North American foxhunting began in 1650 when Robert Brooke imported English foxHaflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
hounds to Maryland. Passion for the sport soon spread to Virginia and the other colonies. Today there are more than 140 hunts across America keeping the tradition alive and well. In contrast to previous centuries, rarely is the quarry killed in North America; it is "the thrill of the chase" that counts and sometimes today it is coyotes who are chased. Riding Max was a novel experience for me as we were by the far the shortest in the field. I couldn’t help but laugh at Max’s jaunty stride as we walked between tall Thoroughbreds and giant draft crosses. The convenience of his short stature became clear as branches whipped over and above our heads. Max led the way through fast-moving streams, past the faint-hearted avoiding jumps, waited (almost patiently) as I Page 12
By Michelle Harper
extracted thorns from my breeches, and kept me smiling through the whole hunt. He was such a happy golden boy! By the end of the hunt, I was in love with foxhunting and with Max. However, sadly, Max wasn’t for sale and he was the only foxhunting Haflinger everyone knew. Not all horses are suited to hunting, even many experienced trail horses. A good hunt horse must be forward but be patient enough to stand around waiting for hounds to find the scent. They must be exceptionally wellmannered and used to having hounds surround them. Any transgression towards a hound is unforgivable and hounds always have the right-of-way over horses. My quest was on to find a Haflinger that was a foxhunter or Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
could be made into one. Eventually my search led me to Amy of Cedar Lane, a six-year-old 15 hand Haflinger mare of an unusual bronze color. She was green under saddle and had never been foxhunting, however, I was captivated by the gentle expression in her dark eyes. I had a good feeling about her. I gave her the barn name “Angel.” I sent Angel for training to Emerald Valley Farm, an eventing farm owned by my friend, Marcy, an avid foxhunter. Is she really an “Angel?” asked my friend skeptically. I replied, “Yes.” Angel began her training by roading hounds. Roading is used to train young hounds by introducing them to the pack before formal season begins. It is typically a slower pace as hounds,
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Haflingers and Hounds: My Journey (continued) horses and riders are becoming conditioned for the season ahead. Four weeks later, Marcy called and said “Congratulations. You have yourself a foxhunter!” As I predicted, Angel loved hunting. That season we rode in the Blessing of the Hounds. This ecumenical tradition harks back to early medieval days when hunters believed an intercession from St. Hubert of Liege, the patron saint of hunters, would protect their hounds from disease and keep them safe during the hunt. It marks the start of the formal hunting season and usually draws a lot of spectators because of the pageantry of the ceremony. Each member of the Hunt receives a St. Hubert medallion, depicting St. Hubert, a hound, and a stag with a crucifix between its antlers. In honor of the occasion I had Angel’s long mane braided into a lattice, which drew much comment from the field. A few years later, it St. Hubert medallion was a proud day when I received my second St. Hubert medallion on my younger Haflinger, Ancore of Genesis, whom I had bought as a weanling. Over time we have seen more Haflingers out in the field, their golden coats unmistakable in the orange, browns, purples and russet colors of the fall.
Tips on Foxhunting with Your Haflinger There are levels of foxhunting for everyone who shares a love of the outdoors and of horses: First Flight (jumps everything), Second Flight (selectively jumps or not) to Hill Topping (no jumping but follows the field). As a mountain breed, Haflingers can make good foxhunting horses because they are extremely sure-footed. 1. Teach your horse to stand patiently. For every two minutes of excitement, there is at least 20 minutes of standing around waiting for things to pick up. 2. Your horse needs to be tolerant of other horses pushing into them, branches hitting them as well as the occasional whip crack or gunshot used to call the hounds back. 3. Teaching your horse to turn on the forehand is a must. It is courteous to turn your horse’s haunches away from any horse coming up and behind them. 4. Your horse should have a good stop, including when other horses are galloping past. No member of the field should pass the field master or the Master of Foxhounds. 5. Consider going out roading before the season officially begins. It is a great way to acclimate your horse to the sights and sounds of foxhunting.
Tally-ho! Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
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Haflingers Help Make a Difference:
NDR Haflingers ready for a day of helping program participants.
NDR Therapeutic Riding “Little things add up to big things,” says Donna Hyde, executive director of NDR Therapeutic Riding, an adaptive therapeutic riding program in Norco, CA. Little things, like NDR’s Haflinger horses, also change lives. Working from her small urban ranch about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, Donna Hyde has built a successful and life-changing program over the last decade based on her passion for teaching, a lifetime of horse knowledge, enthusiastic volunteers, excited participants, and great team members. Some of the most important team members are NDR’s Haflinger therapy horses. “We love our Haflingers because they are an ideal all-around horse,” Hyde said. “They tend to be quiet, with great temperaments, a forgiving attitude, and they seem to enjoy the work,” she added. The compassionate horsewoman Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
adds that Haflingers’ compact but sturdy sizes are helpful to create a secure base for participants who may have balance issues. Different horses with different body styles and stride lengths are useful in the program to help participants with different needs. NDR Therapeutic Riding serves participants from ages 4 to 95, with the goal of guiding each person to becoming an independent rider always at the forefront. With a wide variety of abilities, influenced by physical and mental health diagnoses including Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Seizure disorders, spinal cord injuries, Cerebral palsy, and other physical or cognitive challenges, NDR uses Haflinger Page 15
NDR Therapeutic Riding (continued) horses to help participants improve everything from their balance and fine motor skills to their self-esteem and confidence. A special NDR program focuses on dementia participants, while others are referred by Casa Colina, a world -renowned rehabiliHaflinger Norman Newsmaker with NDR Director Donna Hyde and her son tation hospital with Mark. Mark is NDR’s right-hand horseman and a champion rider as well. particular expertise helping those with traumatic brain injuLVH) and two mares, Holly and Fiona, of ries. unknown registration status. Many participants ride, often with a “Not every horse, and not every volunteer leading the horse and sideHaflinger, are suited to our work,” says walkers, while others interact with the Hyde, “but Haflingers are always a good gentle horses from the ground. NDR bet. We have some horses donated to follows PATH (Professional Association NDR which we then evaluate for our of Therapeutic Horsemanship) certificaprogram. It’s a constant challenge to tion standards and safety is always parafind the right horses as NDR grows. But mount, whether the participant is Haflingers are always a top choice for astride or learning to groom, tack, or our program. There aren’t many Haflinglead their equine partner. ers in California, and we enjoy educating Serving about 60 participants a week people about the breed.” (before Covid-19), supported by a similar NDR Therapeutic Riding is a registered number of volunteers who help with 501(c)3 non-profit, supported by donaeverything from ranch chores to particitions and private payments for horse pant services, NDR’s program includes a care and participant scholarships. Their changing roster of horses, but always largest fundraisers are an annual barbeincludes Haflingers. Haflingers ‘at work’ que, bequests and corporate donations. today at NDR include Norman NewsTo learn more about NDR’s program maker, a 17-year-old gelding and success stories, please visit (Newsmaker NTF x Golden Opportunity www.ndrtherapeuticriding.org. Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
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2021 Membership Application
Or, renew online at haflinger.digitalhorses.com! Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
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2021 Application for Transfer
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2021 Application for Registration
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2021 Application for Registration (page 2)
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2021 Fee Schedule
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Meetings & Minutes AHR Board of Directors Meeting August 12, 2020 All directors present except Chuck Hendershot who was excused with notice. June and July, 2020 minutes were approved as submitted. The Board discussed a research fee to compensate office staff when records/ parentage research is necessary to aid Haflinger owners in securing proper paperwork. The pedigree committee recommended that the lengthy searches are cumbersome on the office, not individuals seeking papers. After discussion, the Board unanimously passed a non-refundable $100 fee per Haflinger effective September 15, 2020.
The futurity committee is working on adding a full line of hitch-side classes to the 2021 event. Also hard at recruiting participants, the national Showcase committee and the Inspection and Classification committee hope to attract larger numbers for 2021 after the 2020 events were cancelled. The partnership with Big Dee’s and the youth division have been revitalized. Publications and our digital announcements are on track with positive results. Updates to the website are underway. Applications for trademarking our logo have been submitted along with the edelweiss brand.
Those seeking election to the Board of Directors for one of three seats need to submit biographies by August 15, 2020. To date, only one has been received. The HHPCS requested ongoing sponsorship and was approved unanimously.
AHR Board of Directors Meeting September 9, 2020 All directors present except Chuck Hendershot who was excused post meeting. August, 2020 minutes were approved as submitted. The Board reviewed multiple committee reports as plans come together for 2021 events following the cancellations of 2020. A revitalized youth program, futurity, national show, and more are in development. Respectfully submitted by, Missy Shanahan, 1st Vice President
As always, the committee seeks input from members with stories and photos. Haflinger Horse Bits | November 2020
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Miscellaneous Quarter 3: Registrar’s Report
STICK WITH
July 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020
Registrations— 76 Total 3rd Quarter 250 for 2020 YTD • Stallions: 30 • Mares: 37 • Geldings: 9
Our new logo is available on full-color stickers!
53 Registrations in the horse recording queue (waiting to be registered) for 23 members, 54% for four customers: • 13 pending are for (Member A) • 8 pending are for (Member B) • 4 pending are for (Member C)
• 4 pending are for (Member D) Transfers—
119 Total 3rd Quarter 555 for 2020 YTD
Members/Renewals— • Active Annual Members: 430 • Active Non-Voting Members: 50 (do not own a Haflinger) • Lifetime Members: 54 (11 non-voting) • Junior Members: 6 Open Work Orders—73 7 in the Ready to Print queue Work Orders Closed in the last 30 Days—109 with 235 line items Submitted by Registrar’s Office, Stacie C. Lynch
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6” AHR Decal Sticker
2 for $10 3” AHR Decal Sticker
5 for $10 Choose from 3” (great for small projects and car windows) and 6” (ideal for tack boxes, vehicles, etc.) Contact the office to order yours! secretary@haflingerhorse.com (330) 784-0000 Page 23
from the American Haflinger Registry
American Haflinger Registry PO Box 124 Fredericktown, OH 43019