(4/03) News Release from the American Quarter Horse Asso - March 2003 Annual Meeting .....
"AQHA's Board of Directors also approved the Stud Book and Registration Committee recommendation to delete Rule 227(i). By eliminating Rule 227(i), AQHA now allows horses commonly known as Cremellos and Perlinos to be eligible for registration, provided they meet all other rules of registration."
Wendy Bockman, who was instrumental in getting information together for the AQHA Stud Book and registration Committee, emailed me to say that the BEC Research Binder (that our ACPS-BEC committee put together in 2000) "was what did this for them!" They made over 30 copies of our BEC binder to give out to all their committee members!
Another AQHA member who helped Wendy was Allison Myers. She emailed Joanie Webster to say..."Thank you so very much for all your hard work and research!! Without the information provided by your group and many others we would not have seen this day!!"
The AQHA now joins other Breed Associations which accept BECs into their studbooks....
Morgan Horse, Welsh Pony, American Shetland Pony, Thoroughbred, Icelandic Horse Reg., Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, Andalusian, Lusitano, Paint Horse, Paso Fino, Akhal-Teke.....(off the top of my head) and us, of course!
Happy Spring to Everyone, Margot Watson
(posted 1/03) American Quarter Horse Association: OPENING DOORS - COMMITTEE REVIEWS WHITE RULE
In October (2002), AQHA’s Studbook & Registration Committee met during a special session. The meeting was called to give the committee time to fully review information gathered by staff to discuss certain registration rules due to the limited time the committee has during its annual meeting each March during AQHA’s Convention. “This is a positive, proactive way the Stud Book & Registration Committee can evaluate important rules that affect all members,” said AQHA President Jim Shoemake. “As I have said before, AQHA maintains its right to draft, adopt and administer rules that have been democratically passed by its members, but just as importantly, we understand that we have an additional responsibility to continually review current rules as to their effect on the Association’s members and the breed. I am proud of the members of Stud Book & Registration for taking the additional time necessary to review these rules.” Two specific rules that the committee felt needed a closer look were Rule 227 (i) and Rule 227(c). The committee’s recommendations will be presented to the general membership and the board of directors in March during the annual convention in Anaheim, California.... Based on information requested by and presented to the committee from veterinarians, geneticists and veterinary ophthalmologists, the committee voted to recommend that 227(i) be deleted. If approved by the board, horses commonly referred to as cremellos and perlinos, which are horses that exhibit light (or pink) skin over the body; white or cream-colored hair; and blue eyes will be eligible for registration, provided they meet all other registration guidelines.
From: Amy Supple / February 13, 2002 / Subject: "Creme de la Creme" Club
I am the proud owner of a BEC Connemara gelding. "Coastal Sand" (Cashel's Eye of the Tiger X Canaela) turned 6 years old last September and I have owned him for over 2 years now. I have been having a wonderful time with him. He has everything I look for in a horse. He is sure-footed, athletic, clever, and a lot of fun to be around. I think a good horse is never a bad color and I see no reason why BECs should be discriminated against. The attached pictures show him in his second outing in the hunt field, where he was ridden by my sister.
Gerd Eriksson, 12/3/00 (Sweden)
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 / From: Gerd Eriksson / Subject: My BEC colt...
Hi Inez and all, It looks like it is impossible to catch the lightblue eyes of my colt with the camera, but he really is a BEC. I´ll try again, on a cloudy day! The attached photos are taken sunday, when he was excactly one week old. As you can see his nose is just awfully pink, but I love that too! I love everything about this little colt, including the double dilution. Attached is also a photo of his 2-yr old grey fullsister Ruben´s Roisin.
About the grey gene, it is because of the dark color one can see the white "eye-lines" around the eyes so clearly, indicating him going grey. This can be very diffucult or almost impossible to say if the BEC is born pale, like a very light isabel (palomino).
I sent some photos of him with information about the colors behind to Dr Sponenberg, and he kindly answered my mail with those words:
"I suspect that this one is indeed a smoky cream, that will go grey. I tend to think of grey as a pattern superimposed over any color. So, I vote that he is BEC going grey. Will be interesting to see what he ends up looking like"
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 / From: Gerd Eriksson / Subject: BEC-colt!
Hallo all,
At last! This is Réamonn Ruarc. A strong and healthy colt born sunday morning after a fast and safe delivery. On his legs in about 15 minutes, and immediatly found the food. And yes, he is a BEC.
I do not mind at all, he is gorgeous! In fact I think he is the best of my foals by this stallion so far. I did not breed to get one of course, but I was aware of the risk. Speaking about color, I would never choose a less fitting stallion just because no dilute-gene, and I really prefer a good BEC before a less good but colored. Color is not that important, specially not colts, as most of them get gelded. I can not complain about anything on this little fellow, but it´s too bad he has also a grey-gene. He will "grey out" and loose the cream color. That is a pity, but you can´t have it all. The most important came true, a healthy foal!
I was not sure about my mare, she has had 5 grey foals from diluted stallions, but her dam was diluted. My mare was born really "coal" black with dark eyes, no yellow hairs at all, but they can obviesly be tricky. She was quite the opposite to her fullsister, born sooty (dusty) black with very pale eyes (she had a blue-eyed cream two years ago by the same stallion).
Anyway, he is sooo cute, quite good looking too, and so full of life and very curious and social. He is already leaving his mum (to her big horror), galloping towards us in the field.
The attached photos are taken yesterday at noon, so he is just about one day (30 hours) old. Like the others, he has that "arabian bump" in the forehead, which usually turns to a beautiful head. He already is!
There was a local in-hand show this weekend. I do not know if anyone else is sending the results to the list, I just have to tell you that the class for 3-year old fillies won by Fiona by Öxenholm Marble Jr out of Lofty Jolly Rambler by Kimble, and the class for "middle-aged" mares won by 10-yr old Gräns Tussilago by Finney Master out of Grey Ladyfriend by Kilgreany Lad. This mare is a fullsister to the sire of my foal. The funny part is that both Fiona and Tussilago are blue-eyed creams! They are allowed at local shows in Sweden. Best in show was the mentioned stallion Gräns Ruben and reserve 6 yr old Junessa by Janus (Öxenholm Marble Jr) out of Bellobina by Hagens Jaguar.
Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 / From: Catherine Mack / Subject: Re: records
Yes Beatrice, RBR Georgiana by *Marconi ex *Georgia Lark is also 36 and still giving short lessons to timid children although one arthritic knee limits those lessons to mostly walking ones. George ,as she is called, has been a fixture around Virginia Pony Clubs having carried over 35 different children through their D ratings. What a Connemara ! She is 13.2h , dark dun, all heart, and would have been lost to the breed if her BEC father, *Marconi had not been allowed registration !