Time's Running Out... Register for the 2025 AMHA National Convention

by February 12th

You won't want to miss out on all that this year's Convention has to offer! The schedule is packed with educational opportunities, a showcase of World Champion horses, the live Stallion Service Auction, Awards Presentations, a spectacular panel of Morgan Legends, the Annual Meeting of Members, a Silent Auction, Social Events, Entertainment and so much MORE!  

REGISTER BY FEBRUARY 12, 2025 for the lowest rates. (Registration fees will increase after February 12.)

Click below for full information. We look forward to seeing you there!

Don't Forget to VOTE!

The AMHA 2025 Board of Director election ballots have been emailed to all members eligible to vote. Paper ballots were also mailed on January 9th, providing another convenient method to cast your vote.

Please remember that AMHA Bylaw 2.13 requires that each Region cast a minimum of 100 ballots to establish a quorum and validate the election. So even if your Region has only one person running for a position, AMHA still NEEDS YOUR VOTE!

Click below to see the slate of candidates and read more about this important election.

Should you have questions or need assistance with your ballot, please contact Carrie Mortensen at execdir@morganhorse.com.

The 2025 MHF/WMF Stallion Service Auction - You've Got To Be In It To Win It!

Did You Know…? 

• There are 84 magnificent Morgan stallions to choose from in the MHF/WMF Stallion Service Auction!  
• Foals resulting from a SSA breeding may be eligible for a $10,000, $20,000 or $40,000 BONUS in their respective World Morgan Futurity class!
• Online Bidding Ends February 28th at 6pm Eastern Time. Then, the stallion services with the top ten bid amounts at the close of the online bidding on will go on to be auctioned LIVE on March 7th at the AMHA Annual Convention, Meeting & Clinic Weekend in Newark, OH.
• All proceeds from the auction will benefit the World Morgan Futurity, Regional Shows and AMHA’s Show Grant & Marketing Programs! Last year, the auction ended as one of the all-time highest earning auctions since its inception. Over $135,000 was generated for the betterment of our great breed!
• The Stallion Service Auction is a definite WIN-WIN for everyone!

Check out the extensive roster of stallions and place your bids today to breed your next Champion! 

Youth Contest Organizers Needed!

The 2025 competition year has begun and our Youth are ready to start their journey towards 2025 AMHA Youth of the Year honors. But, they can't do it without our extraordinary team of organizers who hold the qualifying contests for them.

Each Youth of the Year Contest is a four-phase competition, consisting of: 1) Taking a horsemanship test 2) Judging four classes (two in-hand, two performance) with two sets of oral reasons 3) Presenting a speech on a horse-related topic of the coordinator's choice and 4) riding or driving a horsemanship pattern. The competition can be designed to accommodate any type of rider—youth, junior exhibitor, or walk/trot divisions.  

Please click below to learn more about this exciting and educational program, and contact Nikki Dumas with any questions, at Ph: (859) 448-5109 or nicole@morganhorse.com. 

Thank you in advance for providing this excellent opportunity for our Youth!

Join Us For the Next Episode of the Morgan Horse Source!

The AMHA Youth Council invites everyone to join in on the next episode of the The Morgan Horse Source! Please tune in on Wednesday, February 19th, at 7:00pm CST for Episode 35: “Jordan’s Journey to Center Ring” with Jordan Freeman. Click the Zoom link below to join in on February 19th.

The Youth Teams Program is Now Accepting Applications

The AMHA Youth Teams Program is an annual competition designed to facilitate teamwork and good sportsmanship, while helping to educate and familiarize youth with the Morgan horse. Points will be earned performing many different tasks relating to the Morgan horse from home at the barn, to horse shows, to their commitment to AMHA youth programs such as Youth Contests and the AMHA Youth Council. This year the program is again made possible in part by funding received from US Equestrian.

Apply today and join in the fun!

Annual AMHA Recognized Club Applications Due February 15th

AMHA recognized Morgan clubs receive support for breed promotion and club membership expansion and are also eligible for Breed Promotion Grants and Annual Club Awards! Further, AMHA can assist in promoting events and connecting your club with other clubs across the nation, and the world, to share activities and ideas to better promote the Morgan Horse. All recognized clubs are also listed in The Network each year, as well as on the AMHA website.

Club applications are due FEBRUARY 15th.

Learn more and access the club application by clicking below:

Searching For a TMH Article?

Every year, the official breed journal, The Morgan Horse, compiles “Editorial Indexes” listing the annual slate of articles by theme with issue date and page number. If you are a reader trying to locate a special article, the indexes are posted to AMHA’s website and offer a convenient search method. Readers can find the Editorial Indexes from 2003 to 2024 HERE (while there, you can also explore the dozens of archived articles from The Morgan Horse by clicking on the Select Articles link)

The Annual TMH Trainer's Issue

Show Your Trainer Some Love! Email TMH by February 24th to reserve space for your favorite trainer in the March issue that focuses on our breed’s professionals!

INDUSTRY NEWS

In Memory: James Leon Alexander

AMHA mourns the loss of James Leon Alexander, age 80 years, of Berkshire, Vermont, who passed away peacefully at the UVM Medical Center on December 22, 2024, surrounded by his family after a brave battle with cardiovascular disease.

He was born on November 29, 1944, in Barton, VT to Edward and Beverly (Turnbull) Alexander. James was a devoted son, caring for his parents and their home in Orleans for many years. Like his father, James was a history buff. He was a gifted storyteller and he loved telling humorous anecdotes and stories about his Alexander and Turnbull families to family and friends.

James graduated from Orleans High School where he met the love of his life, Beverley Alger. After high school, James graduated from Norwich University with a degree in Science and became an officer in the US Army...

USDA Announces HPA Final Rule Postponement

The American Horse Council (AHC) provides the following announcement issued by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) regarding a 60-day delay for the implementation of the Horse Protection Act’s Final Rule.

On January 24, 2025, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will temporarily postpone its final rule to amend the Horse Protection Act (HPA) regulations for 60 days from February 1, 2025, to April 2, 2025. APHIS published the final rule (89 FR 39194-39251) amending the horse protection regulations to provide, among other provisions, that the agency will screen, train, and authorize qualified persons for appointment by the management of any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction to detect and diagnose soring at such events for the purposes of enforcing the HPA.

With the exception of § 11.19, which went into effect on June 7, 2024, and authorized the training of horse protection inspectors, the remainder of the rule was scheduled to go into effect on February 1, 2025. 

APHIS will issue guidance to stakeholders for the upcoming horseshow season in light of the postponement of the new rule.

Click below to read the full press release.

American Morgan Horse Association

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