EC July/August, 2008
For the conformation horse enthusiast, there is finally a place to call home,” says Peter Cofrancesco, III of Sparta, New Jersey, a founding member of WCHA. “The WCHA now has a unified voice that will help promote and bring enthusiasm back to this segment of the horse industry.”
Cofrancesco, who initiated a meeting with 40 interested individuals to discuss the state of the industry a year ago in Tioga, Texas explains that the ultimate goal of this organization is to be the voice of the conformation industry much like the NSBA is to the pleasure industry, the NCHA is to the cutting industry, and the NRHA is to the reining industry. “There is no doubt that these disciplines are a lot better today because they have a voice and have been able to establish an identity and promote their industry. We want to create that same enthusiasm for the conformation horse industry.”
The decision to call the organization the World Conformation Horse Association instead of the World Halter Horse Association stems from their desire to bring back the importance of conformation in all events. The WCHA conformation standard was formed based on the desirable traits found in the western stock horse.
“The group determined that its purpose is not only to promote the halter horse segment, but also to bring back the value of good conformation to the horse regardless of the discipline it might be involved in,” Cofrancesco added. “As the WCHA moves forward, you will begin to hear more about the conformation horse from this group.”
Cofrancesco mentions a story about a famous race horse trainer who at every sale would go around and rate the prospects on conformation before even looking at their pedigree. “Confor-mation is paramount and serves as the foundation to the horse’s ability to successfully perform in any discipline and is part of the mission statement of the WCHA.”
Halter events are the best entrance into the industry, Jodi Sullivan, an executive committee member of WCHA, says.
“Everyone can do it. We often say, ‘it is a good place to start (young) and a great place to wind up’ (when you are too busy to ride), with lots of fun time in between, and it’s very affordable in comparison to the cost of riding events with their expenses of the horse and all the equipment and attire required. It is also ideal for people with disabilities or health issues who are unable to ride and want to be involved.”
Cofrancesco adds, “It is a fairly easy event to do. All the person needs is a halter, a pair of starched jeans, a shirt, and a cowboy hat to show in these events. This association will provide an opportunity for all levels of exhibitors to compete and succeed.”
Chad Bayer, who showed in the first-ever WCHA classes held in conjunction with the Region 8 Experience in Amarillo, Texas this past year, says he heard about the formation of the WCHA and thought it would be a great stepping stone. “I mainly showed at local open shows, and I am not able to compete competitively and show at the AQHA or APHA World Shows, so I think this will be a great avenue for me to be able to compete at a higher level with higher quality horses but still be competitive.”
The association will offer youth, non-pro, and open conformation classes, as well as provide limited divisions in the non-pro and open classes. Karen Coleman from Las Cruces, New Mexico, who is currently the leading money earner for WCHA, mentions that they handed out silver halters for last place in some of the WCHA halter classes at the Region 8 Experience. “It is a great place for new exhibitors to start even if their horse isn’t big and fancy.”
Also, many seminars have been and are planned in conjunction with the WCHA classes, Coleman says. “Some seminars involve teaching correct conformation structure, how to groom, and how to become involved in the association. One of the goals of the association is to make top halter trainers more visible and available to any individual wanting to learn more. We want exhibitors to actively seek out these individuals and ask for their help and advice. We don’t want them to be afraid to ask top trainers like Jason Smith, Ted Turner and Mike McMillian questions. These trainers want to help and educate people about their passion for halter horses.”
The WCHA halter classes will be different from the halter classes at the regular stock horse shows in several ways, Wayne Halvorson, an AQHA judge and WCHA executive committee member, explains. “The WCHA will set a high standard for the judges. There will be certain classes chosen where the judge will be required to give reasons for their placings. They will be held accountable for their placings and this, hopefully, will result in an overall feeling that everyone is on a level playing field. Also, the crowd loves it, and it makes the class more interesting to the exhibitor and audience.”
Mimsi Lovering, also a founding member of the WCHA and competitor in the amateur events, talks enthusiastically about the oral critiques given during her class at the Region 8 Experience. “I went away feeling good about participating. There was no favoritism shown toward any person or horse. The reasons were given in a very positive and pleasing manner. It really helps educate the public about what a structurally sound horse should entail. I felt proud being involved in this organization. Everyone involved with the WCHA has done such a good job in a very short time.”
Bill Harrison, Director of the Nacogdoches Boys Ranch, which is an at-risk boys program that uses horses as therapy, is also thrilled about the formation of the WCHA. “Our boys participated in the new WCHA-sponsored classes at the Texas Classic and did quite well. It gave them a chance to gain more recognition, and Michael Horace, the trainer at the ranch, appreciated the extra lesson the boys received from the judges who gave oral critiques after their placings.”
Halvorson, Coleman, Cofran-cesco, and Sul-livan, also mentioned that there will also be a greater effort to give substantial payback money and awards with these classes. Coleman says, “My son and I were awarded over $1,000.00 for the four classes we competed in at the Region 8 Experience in Amarillo. It was an extra added bonus besides being involved in such an exciting new association.”
One of our primary goals is to try to change the perception of the halter horse, Sullivan says. “One perception is that the halter horses have been bred so highly specialized that they cannot perform i.e. shaky knees, musclebound, heavy, and misbehaving because of pent up energy. We want to change this perception by educating breeders and exhibitors about the importance of having structurally sound horses.”
Cofrancesco adds, “If there has been a cloud shadowing our industry, I believe the WCHA will shed light on how to reestablish and bring more enthusiasm back to a discipline that is the foundation of our sport.”
Dick Don-nelly from La Porte City, Iowa, who is also the current chairman of the WCHA, speaks highly of everyone involved in the newly formed organization. “We have such a tremendous group of people that unselfishly have given their time and money to put programs in place to help promote sales and jumpstart this industry to regain interest and momentum. Part of the current challenges for this association involves the slowing economy, but that is something we have been able to overcome in the past and we look ahead to a bright future.”
Emphasis is currently being placed on a membership drive to attract new members, Sullivan says. “The other Western Stock Horse Breeds are certainly being targeted, beginning with the Palomino World Show this summer and the Paint World this summer and again at their Paint Congress in the fall.”
Membership and judges applications can be found on the WCHA website at www.conformationhorse.com. Annual memberships are: Youth – $25; Non-Pro/Amateur – $40 and Regular – $50. Lifetime memberships are available for $500.
“We are currently focused on coordinating success for the remaining four Regional Shows and pursuing the concept of a Breeders’ Program and events for ’09,” Sullivan says. “Once we have these plans under our belt we will be pursuing opportunities to hold more WCHA-sponsored classes at other associations/breed shows events.”
For those wanting to find out more about the association, please refer to the information below. WCHA office at:
World Conformation Horse Association
13181 US Highway 177 · Byars, OK 74831
Phone: 580-759-3959 · Fax: 580-759-3999;
E-mail: info@conformationhorse.com
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