NQPA News

NQPA STATE of the UNION – APRIL, 2009

 

Greetings,

Once again we survived a year of transition and change (we do this about every ten years). The NQPA and the OQPA started 2008 with new Officers and Directors. Fuel prices sky-rocketed. The stock market took a dive as did the USA economy. All these things helped push us into a rocky beginning for 2008. All things considered, we weathered the storm pretty well (including the one at the Futurities). We are a resilient group. We ended 2008 with another great banquet. The year-end awards were fantastic (as usual).

We are having our 2009 Futurities at the Franklin County Fairgrounds (located on the West side of Columbus). This is being done in an effort to accommodate more of our members by providing a more central location. This is an attempt to make the travel distances for everyone a bit more equal. The operating costs will be higher than other places that are available. However the OQPA and the SOQPA are sharing the costs with the NQPA. Now we need you to come to Columbus and participate in the futurities.

The poor economy is a burden to us all. The Quarter Pony associations are no exception. It is a struggle to operate in this lagging economy. You can help us with our expenses. Please if you can, pay your dues early, pay your futurity entries on time, and support our shows. In addition if you have a business or ponies and tack to sell please contact us about advertising on the QP website. We have reasonable advertising rates for non-members and substantially discounted rates for our members.

Let’s all remember to take time to thank all of the NQPA Officers and Directors, OQPA Officers and Directors, and SOQPA Officers and Directors for their hard work and dedication. In addition I want to personally thank those members who even though they aren’t Officers or Directors, stepped up and helped at the shows. Most of them without being asked. Our shows, Saturday night potluck dinners, and year-end awards banquets would be extremely difficult without the help of our members. As I have said many times, there may be a better bunch of horse people somewhere outside the Quarter Pony associations. After sixty years in the horse industry, I haven’t met them.

Remember, last one out closes the gate. See you in the show pen.

 

RJ Lynam

NQPA President

 

OQPA NEWS 

2009 Ohio Quarter Pony President Letter

 

Well the calendar says it Spring, but it sure doesn’t seem like it outside; as I sit here watching it snow.

We have the 2009 Show Season set, showbill is posted; on the website;  and will have the Futurity Show Bills posted after the 19th of April

Please note that the 2009 Futuritys will be held at Franklin Co Fairgrounds this year, Hilliard, Ohio. We are going to try to hold the Futurities, each year in different parts of the State, to make it more accessible to more members. Remember you must be a NQPA member to show in the NQPA Futurity, and a member of OQPA to show in that Futurity, and this year these shows will be good for all Associations Yr End Award Points; NQPA; OQPA; SOQPA.

We are hoping for as good a year as last year, we had good participation, had lots of fun, and good food, at our Saturday night cookouts at the shows. We had a huge turnout for the Banquet, and Officers are looking into a bigger place to hold the 2009 Banquet. OQPA will again be giving Open Hi Pt Awards at the 2009 Banquet, remember whether you are showing OQPA or Open classes you must be a OQPA member and make half  (1/2) the given shows to be eligible for those awards.

We have added a few classes; Bareback Horsemanship, a $3.00 walk-trot class, and In-Hand Trail and Steer Head Roping to the 2009 Class Awards List.

If you have any questions, or suggestions to help make us better; please contact us, whether my email or by phone, or at any show. stephey@bright.net    or 419-594-2968

 

Good Luck to All in the 2009 OQPA Show Season

 

OQPA President          

 

            Wendy Stephey