Stable Sheet - November 2019
Stable Sheet - November 2019
An American Legacy - The Morgan Horse
From The Board
Mission Statement for your Board of Directors:
"To promote & preserve the Morgan Breed, serve MHAO members,
& support the Unity of the Morgan community."
President's Message
Another year has passed for MHAO. Now is when I look back to see what has been accomplished and forward to what still needs to be done. Often times it takes more than a year to accomplish new things.

I am so proud of our Board of Directors. All have worked hard to move us forward.
Paula Hague and Nancy Eidam worked hard to keep up the momentum we have started for the Oregon Morgan Classic. We again had a wonderful show that was very successful in drawing exhibitors and sponsors. Thank you to all who worked on the show and to all our sponsors . Kathy Christensen handled membership, helped with promotion and our General Membership meetings, the OMC Silent Auction, and our Hi-Point awards. Her gift baskets and other gifts given to our sponsors were fantastic. Erin Silver led Hi-Point, the Spring Clinic & Award Banquet, and was heavily involved with Promotion in support of Martha Woodland who led our Promotion committee. Erin provides horsepower, leadership, and fresh ideas wherever she goes. Martha's efforts and her vision have redirected our activities around promotion. Shirley Champion stepped up to handle the Open incentive program along with the Ride/Drive program. Mary Grimes raised her hand to start our new Alex Mooney Scholarship program and even donated funds to get it going. Another donation was received from Sally Plumley. That program will become active sometime next year. Natalie Woodland and Grace Martin are working with Diane Pixlee to make our Youth program more active during the year and to continue handling the very successful Youth of the Year program we offer at OMC. Their efforts are planned to continue into next year. Julie Nygaard is our Secretary and helps us get information about our club's Board meetings out to members in a very timely manner. So great! Thank you, Julie. Karen is our Treasurer and keeps everything rolling. She is heavily involved in everything we do. She has been a great supporter of OMC and is a collector extraordinaire! On top of all her Treasurer duties she and her husband Jim have stepped forward to manage our 2020 Oregon Morgan Classic. She is a huge asset to our club.

Please come to this year's Award Banquet and join me in
saying thank you to all these people?

Gay Adams , MHAO President
MHAO Board Meeting Minutes
October 30, 2019
Present: Karen Breckinridge, Julie Nygaard, Gay Adams, Erin Silver and Mary Grimes
Not Present: Kathy Christensen, Diane Pixlee, Martha Woodland, Natalie Woodland, Nancy Eidam, Grace Martin, Paula Hague and Shirley Champion
Quorum Not Met
 
Meeting was called to order at 7:35pm
 
TREASURER’S REPORT – Karen Breckinridge
 
General Checking Account                              $12,787
Savings Account                                              $25,494
Futurity Account                                               $ 4,369
Nancy Falk Trust Donation                              $12,765
OMC Checking Account                                  $19,217
Total Fixed Assets                                            $ 2,838
Paypal Online Account                                    $    160
Other Current Assets                                       $    308
TOTAL ASSETS                                               $77,938
 
7 people have not paid for their advertising in the Futurity booklet yet. Two have said the check is in the mail. Total owing is approximately $500.00
The facility rent has been paid off for the Annual Banquet to Willamette Heritage Center- The Dye House in Salem.
 
An overview of the Profit & Loss Statement for the year reports we had a strong OMC Horse Show and a strong Stallion Service Auction this year. Our P&L looks great.
 
The President reminds the Chairs of Committees that you need to track your income & expenses and if your net result goes over budget during the year that you need approval from the Board for the added expenditures. Also please get expenses for the 2019 year into our Treasurer (Karen) as early tomorrow as you can. October 31 st is our fiscal year end. High Point Awards and Banquet expenses are the exceptions as they always flow into the next year.
 
SHOW COMMITTEE – Karen Breckinridge
It is reported that the show has hired a judge for the 2020 OMC. Our judge will be Nancy Becker.
 
HI- POINT COMMITTEE -- Erin Silver
There is the same participation as last year for the Hi-Point awards. Erin would like to pair down the award categories such as have one award for Working Western. Under the Working Western award it could include Ranch Riding, Reining and Cutting. It was mentioned that Ranch Riding and Reining is becoming popular with our Morgan members, but currently there are few riders in both. Gay said she thought that change was already in place for 2019. She and Erin will talk. Changes need to be outlined and covered in the General Membership meeting.
 
BANQUET COMMITTEE – Erin Silver
The banquet is scheduled for November 10 th . Board members going to the meeting so far are Gay, Julie, Erin, Karen and Mary. Gay will check with those not present at this meeting. On the ballots that were mailed out is information about the Potluck and what MHAO will provide. This information is also posted in recent Stable Sheets and will be posted again on Facebook & via a special release for Stable Sheet one more time before the event.
 
EDUCATION/SPRING CLINIC – Erin Silver
Rhea from Eugene area has offered to host the clinic in 2020. Erin is checking with Julie Adams for her to be our facilitator for a clinic on Western Dressage in March. The exact date has not been decided on. Date selected affects the closing date for our Stallion Service Auction (SSA) so Gay asks it be set ASAP. Publication for SSA needs to start right away.
 
STALLION SERVICE AUCTION COMMITTEE – Gay Adams
Last year the auction was held on the same day as the Educational Spring Clinic and the General Membership Meeting. It was thought that this might have shortened the Clinic. Everything seemed rushed to get it all in. More discussion on setting the date separately or on the same date as the clinic will follow. Gay is just starting to work on the list of 2020 Stallions with Leslie Arnould’s help. OTM Total Eclipse from Denielle Peters and Whispering Warchant from Stacey Hennessy have been promised since last year. Gay will recheck with them to be sure they are still interested. She will be researching the Nationals procedures for their online auction at OKC to see if we should use the same program. The final day of the auction we will need phone volunteers again this year. Gay is seeking volunteers.
 
FUTURITY COMMITTEE – Gay Adams
We are the only Futurity and Stallion Service Auction in the Western Region (excluding the Western Working group). We gave out over $6,000. 00 in prize money last year. So far 4 foals born in 2019 have been nominated. In the last few years our numbers have been right around 10-14. Fewer foals seemed to be born this year, but there are more than 4 out there.  Nancy Eidam has always been a big supporter nominating 3 or 4 a year, but she is likely no longer breeding. It is $45.00 to nominate your foal in the year of their birth. You also need to be a member of MHAO. Then it is $25.00 each year to keep your foal in for the 5 year program. The people who show their Futurity horses get more than their futurity fees back. The foals must be eligible for AMHA registration and be registered by the end of their yearling year. Parents do not need to be nominated. ANY foal eligible for AMHA registration (parents are registered) may be entered.
 
PROMOTION – Erin Silver for Martha Woodland
Kathy, Erin and Martha have been talking about increasing our efforts on promotion at the State Fair. They feel that is the best place to invest our resources. They will talk to the State Fair contact about restructuring the State Fair All-Breed Challenge. The All- Breed Challenge class that was held during the State Fair was a great Morgan Promotional event and the Morgans won. Erin said that about half way through the class we lost the crowd because of the length of the class. The In-Hand portion of the challenge was too slow with about 30 horses coming back into the ring one at a time. She thought that there could be ways to make it more entertaining. We would like to see the incorporation of Western, English, Reining and Carriage Driving in our presentation and to be allowed to give short demonstrations of each discipline. If possible we could have someone dress up as Justin Morgan with an in-hand horse and give a brief history of the Morgan Breed. Our suggestion will be to have the challenge be judged on presentation and costumes.
 
Erin liked how the Arabian people had a table with props and information and had someone taking pictures on personal cell phones to promote interest. This is something that we can for sure do next year at the show. Gay asked that we take some pictures of them as well for the Stable Sheet – as well as of the booth and our exhibitors. 
 
It was brought up that the Arab people were told if they had at least 10 horses at the State Fair show that the show committee would add Breed classes for them; this would also apply to us for our Morgan exhibitors. Let’s try to increase our numbers for next year. We had about 6 this year.
 
MEMBERSHIP – Reported by Gay Adams for Kathy Christensen
Doana Anderson has volunteered to help with membership and the Directory next year. She will do this whether she is elected to the Board or not. The directory will come out in the Spring of 2020. She is not able to do it sooner. Renewals were sent out with our ballots.
 
Remember, as board members, to invite people to join our MHAO group. It was brought up by Erin to maybe offer a cheaper Youth rate, to encourage young members. This is something that has to be voted on when we have a quorum. A formal presentation on how it will be structured is needed for the Board to consider. It was suggested that Erin outline it and present it to the board. What will this new membership include? We need to keep in mind that our regular membership fees are low and are very needed to help fund all our programs including high point. We would not be able to support all our programs without the additional fund raising that we do.
 
WEBSITE/STABLE SHEET – Gay Adams
After our election Gay will be getting updated information to Dallas for the website. Becky Bean has agreed to help with the Stable Sheet. She is on the ballot running for a director position, but will help whether she is elected to the Board or not.  Gay will still provide info from the Board, AMHA, USEF, & the Oregon Horse Council for the newsletter. What type things are included in the Stable Sheet is taken from the suggested outline from AMHA. The Stable Sheet comes in 4 sections. Readers have to click the link to the next section to read all of it. Gay is trying to shorten it.
 
NEW BUSINESS –
 501c3 Organization to house OMC & Scholarship Program – Gay Adams
Gay is waiting for a call back from the attorney that she met with recently. Some important points that were brought up during the initial meeting.
1-       If using our same MHAO officers as on our current board to be the officers for the new organization, we need to show that there is no ‘conflict of interest’.
2-       In the new organization’s By-laws we need to list where assets would go if our new 501c3 organization folded. They would need to go to another 501c3 so it would not be back to MHAO.
3-       With the new tax law is a 501c3 rating still needed? MHAO is currently a 501c5. People who are donating or sponsoring that report to the IRS as a farm or business can deduct their sponsorship or donation as a business expense; not as a charitable donation. We are exploring forming a separate organization as an arm of MHAO with a 501c3 IRS rating that would cover the OMC show and the Alex Mooney Scholarship so donors could deduct donations as a charitable donation. We would refer them to their Tax Advisor for any guidance. Increasingly, Corporate Sponsors want to see a 501c3 designation in place in order for them to donate.  I have heard this from several show organizations including the one for C-Fair.
 
Gay is also exploring if there is any way to convert MHAO as it exists to a 501c3. She knows there are some membership organizations that are rated this way. She believes most or all of them were grandfathered in because they existed that way before the law changed. .
 
Lawsuit against AMHA.  Sherry Cole gave an overview on Facebook and Carol Fletcher, our regional rep, sent a summary letter to Gay on the topic. The MHAO Board and its members need to be informed should our members ask us about it. We don’t need to be the experts, just to be able to say we are aware of it. Gay will forward the letter from Carol, and Erin will forward the facebook blurb (later found to be the same).
 
SCHOLARSHIP – Mary Grimes
Mary had a great idea for a fund-raiser to support the Alex Mooney scholarship fund. It is a Balloon idea, where guests will purchase a balloon that has been stuffed with a piece of paper inside that when popped will show what you have won. The prizes will be donated from businesses and friends. There will be more discussion when a quorum is present and we can vote on this. Mary would like guidance from the Board on any other fund-raising ideas. We want fundraising going on at the Spring Clinic. Gay will send Mary’s outline to the entire Board asking for input and a vote of approval.
 
OPEN DISCUSSION –
Discussion about USEF Safe-sport was had. It was asked if we would be required to take the test again in 2020. It is thought that it would be a shortened version of the original test. Input from USEF should be out soon.
 
There was a meeting/discussion at Nationals, in OKC, about a break-off group being formed; the Equine Sports Council. No one on the call attended. Shane Darnell and Melissa Morell are involved in this. There are currently groups that are not using USEF; Saddlebreds and Arabians for example.
 
The next Board meeting will be in person as the club’s General Membership meeting on November 10 th at the Awards Banquet in Salem.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM
 
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Nygaard – MHAO Secretary
2019 MHAO Award Banquet
MHAO Award Banquet &
General Membership Meeting
Sunday, November 10, 2019

"Come socialize with your Morgan friends & have a great meal!
Brief membership meeting followed by High Point Awards!"


Willamette Heritage Center,
Dye House
1313 Mill Street SE, Suite 200
Salem, OR 97301
Come one, come all!
Join us in celebrating 2019
MHAO Election
Thank you to everyone who has stepped forward!

Only MHAO members can vote.
Ballots were mailed out.

You should have your ballot by now. If not -
Click here to download:
one vote for individual membership
two votes for family membership
one per adult for life membership


Vote for a total of 10 people covering all categories
(officers, youth, & directors)

Mail to:
Karen Breckenridge by November 4, 2019
4715 Eola Drive NW
Salem OR 97304

or bring your ballot to the Award Banquet &
General Membership Meeting

Questions? Contact Karen
(503) 580-4716, wylieriley@aol.com
Time to Renew Your MHAO
Membership
Without members,
MHAO won't exist
MHAO represents the banding together of people who love the Morgan horse, and who want to work together to promote the breed and to support Morgan owners & youth. Help us to continue to do this important work throughout the State of Oregon.

Please join or renew your membership today.
MHAO offers benefits & programs for everyone

·      * High Point Awards for those who compete whether at Open or Morgan events.
* A Ride/Drive Program that recognizes you for time spent driving or riding your Morgan horse. 
·      * An Open Incentive Program that reimburses you up to $100 per year against expenses for activities other than at a Morgan show (maximum of $25 per activity).  That is more than your membership fee!
·      *  Support to breeders thru the MHAO Stallion Service Auction and Breeders’ Cup Futurity. We offer the only auction and futurity in the Western Region.
·     *  The Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show put on by MHAO is the largest Morgan show in the Northwest. It is the only Morgan show in Oregon.
·     * An active Youth Program.
·     * Education at a discount for members.
·     * Promotion activities to get the word out about the wonderful Morgan horse
* A new scholarship program
* Support for AMHA Youth of the Year participants .
The list goes on

Click here to download a membership form
Renewal forms are being mailed out with the 2019 ballots

For questions, contact Kathy Christensen, Membership Chair
(503) 391-9047, mike-kak@Q.com
Nominations for the 2020 MHAO
Stallion Service Auction Are Open
Stallions To Be Announced January 1st.
Nominate now to get your promotion
material in place!
Click here to download an SSA nomination form
For questions or assistance contact Gay Adams,
Stallion Service Auction Chair
(503) 936-4276, sunstonemorgans@comcast.net
A plaque at the Kentucky Horse Park
Get Your 2019 Foals Nominated To The
MHAO Breeders' Cup Futurity
Deadline is December 31st
Deadline is December 31st for the Initial Fee of $45
Thereafter their initial nomination will be considered late
and a late fee will apply.

Don't Miss Out!!
Those that show in Futurity classes often win back
their entry fees and more. Let us help you
promote your breeding program!

Click here to download a 2019 Certificate of
Foal Nomination Form

Click here to download 2019 Futurity Rules


For questions contact Gay Adams, Futurity Chair
(503) 936-4276, sunstonemorgans@comcast.net

Home Off the Range: What the $35 Million Population Control Plan Means for America’s Wild Horses
By Marina Calahan

Wild horses are an iconic feature of the American West, but now on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, their future as a symbol of freedom on the frontier is threatened. 
On September 23rd, the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations passed a Fiscal Year 2020 spending bill that includes a budget increase of $35 million for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program.
It’s a contentious population control plan, involving large scale helicopter roundups and fertility management, that has animal welfare groups in fierce division. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) told the Associated Press it was a historic win for horses while critics such as Animal Wellness Action call it a “poorly disguised path to slaughter.”
An age old problem
The on range wild horse population has been a growing concern for the past 50 years. Today, there are an estimated 88,000 wild horses and burros roaming free on public land. In addition, there are over 50,000 horses in 17 off-range holding facilities across the Western USA.
The Appropriate Management Level (AML), the maximum number of horses the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined can exist in a healthy balance with the land, is a much smaller number—26,700, to be exact.
It’s a number that was set in 1971 by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act , based on the cattle population, at a time when the wild horse population was reported to be 26,000. Some argue the AML is out of date. 
What is certain is that overpopulation has led to resource depletion on the range, impacting horses, cattle and native species. Horses in holding are a growing expense for taxpayers, each animal costing between $45,000–50,000 over the course of their lifetime. The burgeoning cost, about $50 million annually, put pressure on Congress in 2018 to consider lifting the slaughter ban. While the ban was renewed “last-minute,” the threat of employing lethal measures looms large with continued inaction.
The argument isn’t if something should be done, it’s how.
It is the best of plans, it is the worst of plans
The BLM’s proposal aims to bring the wild horse population back down to the original AML via three key strategies: large-scale round ups, fertility control and promoting adoption.
“I think this is the only adoptable solution being presented to Congress that will lead us to a non-lethal management scheme long term,” said Keisha Sedlacek of the Humane Society.
“We are asking for roundups, and while they’re not great for wild horses, you can’t do fertility control now without these kinds of gathers. You have to be able to get to the horses. The only way to have a successful fertility control program is to get to 80–90% of the mares.”
The hope, Sedlacek explained, is to phase out large scale removals over a period of ten years, after fertility management and adoption have stabilized the population.
Those who have signed off support on the proposal include the Humane Society, ASPCA, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and American Farm Bureau Federation. 
But Marty Irby, the Executive Director of Animal Wellness Action argues no plan at all is the only one worse than the BLM plan currently on the table.
“Our organization, along with about 70 groups, have come out in total opposition to the plan, versus just the few which support it,” contends Irby.
The nature of a helicopter roundup is inhumane, critics say, and particularly puts foals and young stock at risk, sometimes gravely. They also argue that the swell of horses in holding will only increase federal costs, opening the door to the possibility of slaughter a few years down the road when federal funds run dry.
“We believe it creates a perfect storm for the pro-slaughter coalition to say, ‘now we have all these horses in holding, we have nowhere for them to go and they’re costing millions of dollars to the federal government. It [slaughter] is the only option,'” Irby said.
While supporters of the plan disagree that it’s an attempt to leverage legislation towards pro-slaughter, they recognize $35 million likely won’t suffice, even if it’s successful.
“I don’t think $35 million is enough, to be honest. I think we need about $100 million per year, but this is what the Senate came up with. I think it’s not enough funding, we definitely need more,” said Ryan Yates, director of congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
“What we’re seeing is an effort to increase funding to begin a process. They cannot do this overnight, it’s going to take a lot of effort.”
Mares and the fine print
Another concern among critics is that the language surrounding fertility management is too loose in the BLM plan, and doesn’t explicitly exclude the surgical sterilization of mares, something many consider to be a crude practice.
Regarding fertility control, the BML’s 2020 Budget Justifications states:
“The Program will also continue working with academia and Federal partners to explore effective sterilization methods and to enhance existing fertility control vaccines and develop new population controls through research projects, focusing on those that have shown positive outcomes thus far; in addition to supporting several research projects aimed at developing new management tools, such as radio-tag collars and infra-red scanning for surveys.”
“At the request level, the program will continue to find ways to address the significant overpopulation, which is 206% over the statutory AML, including through sterilization methods and the use of contraceptives and the spaying and neutering of animals before returning them to the range.”
According to Sedlacek and the Humane Society, the language is intentionally not restrictive to avoid inadvertently excluding future methods or technologies over the long term, not because it promotes surgical sterilization.
“The use of surgical sterilization techniques will not be allowed as it hasn’t been proven that it can be done safely or humanely on a wild horse or burro,” stated the Humane Society in a press release .
As it stands, one of the most promising fertility control options is the PZP (porcine zona pellucida) immunocontraceptive vaccine. It can be administered by darting mares. Some argue that there’s a chance the population can be culled by relying on this method primarily.
Thinking outside the corral
So far the proposal approved in the Senate spending bill is the only one being seriously considered by the government, but it’s not the only one in existence. As the situation grows more dire, so are activists inspired to come up with different solutions.
Anthony Marr is a lifelong animal activist—best known as “Champion of the Bengal Tiger” —who has worked with countless species. Today, he’s fighting for wild horses , and his proposition is quite literally outside of the box.
That’s because it calls for releasing the 50,000 horses currently corralled, with the exception of geldings, which would be put up for adoption, then increasing the AML to 150,000 horses and relocating 12% of cattle from public to private lands to allocate enough resources for the existing horse population. A 12% decrease would equate to about 250,000 head of cattle.
Marr suggests the government subsidize ranchers who move the cattle to private land with the $60 million in funding that would be saved from closing holding facilities.
“HSUS/ASPCA plan is a very expensive and inhumane plan, which is conditional of a healthy economy. If the economy takes a nosedive, what do you think is going to happen to the horses?” he said. “Many of these horses will be in holding facilities for life, they’ll never leave.”
Despite government initiatives to encourage mustang adoption, and even a resurgence in adoption interest, only a fraction of captive horses will find homes, Marr explained.
“Right now it’s a one horse race with the HSUS/ASPCA plan, but we’re trying to propel the MARR-Plan onto the Congressional stage,” he said.
To that end, Marr introduced a petition , which has secured over 12,500 signatures to date, and is planning a motorcade event on November 16th in Washington D.C. alongside other groups in the coalition.
Yet, those who celebrated the $35 million investment into wild horse and burro management have been left confused and disappointed by the response.
“We are puzzled by this reaction…” said Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations. “While we recognize the hesitation to support anything due to the massive challenge the agency now faces and its historic mismanagement, for the sake of our wild horses and burros, now is the time to be bold and to offer to help these horses in a tangible way.”
“We have been, and will continue to be, open to dialogue with solutions as the goal. We do not intend to suggest that this proposal is the only way forward, but it is the only actual plan that has been offered and the best solution we see, given the realities our horses face,” said Perry.
*It’s important to note that the wild horses can more accurately be described as “feral,” as they were introduced by accident during the Spanish Conquest in the 16th century . The population crisis we’re faced with today is the result of the lack of ecological checks and balances, which naturally mitigate the population of native species.*

Morgan statue at the Kentucky Horse Park
Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Seminar - Wilsonville
November 16 & 17, 2019
MHAO Members Qualify For A $25 Discount
If you provide boarding facilities, are a fire fighter or first responder, avid trail rider, volunteer for search and rescue, or just own horses - this course is not to be missed! Highly valuable 2-day training to learn how to rescue large animals (all kinds) from a multitude of situations.
Testimonials From the Pendleton Seminar
That Took Place In October
"This is the best class I've ever taken. I can't imagine why anyone who works with large animals would miss it. The information could be life saving"
Marc, Pendleton Fire Department.

"This class is a MUST for any and ALL first responInders. Very important
and informative. So glad I took this course. Any large
animal owners would be smart to attend."
Cheri, SCOPE, WA.
Space is Limited in Wilsonville.
Get Registered Today!!
Click here for more info & to register
16 hours CE for Veterinarians, etc.

For questions or assistance contact:
Brandi Ebner, Oregon Horse Council Executive Director

Far West Cowboy Dressage Gathering
Held September 14, 2019
The Far West Cowboy Dressage Gathering was a huge success this year! We had almost 500 rides - many on our Beautiful Morgans! This is such a great showcase for the Morgan Breed!  Our Freestyle's were a hit with all the great rides and costumes. Partnership on the Ground classes took a huge upturn this year with one ring each day dedicated just to that division!  

We want to thank all our participants for traveling near and far to come to our Gathering.

Rogue Hill Morgan Mares. Photo by Kathy Carlson.
November 8, 2019
From Washington State
MHCWS Award Banquet
Announcement from Linda Collins
*Important Banquet Information*

We are so excited to see everyone at this years annual meeting and awards banquet! We hope you can join us November 16th, beginning at 5pm for social hour, at the Lake Forest Park Civic Club on beautiful Lake Washington.
We are still in need of items for the silent auction. If you are able to donate, please contact Patty Davis and let her know what you will be donating.
We will also be putting together a slide show of all our members, past and present, activities you have done with your horses and stable mates. Please send any photos you would like to have included for this fun night of sharing to Patty Davis at mhcws.pdavis@gmail.com
.
The club also has several awards and scholarships that we are still accepting nominations for. We will accept nominations for the following until October 31st so that we may present them at the annual banquet. Please email all nominations to Jennifer at morganmomjau@yahoo.com

- The Leo Beckley Endowment Fund
This award, a $500 scholarship, is given annually to an outstanding young man or woman who will be, or is already, attending a post-high school program. The scholarship will be paid directly to the college or trade school. The scholarship is open to any young person, 21 and under, who is/will be a high school graduate and a member in good standing with the MHCWS. Selection will based on the applicants ability and aptitude of serious study, community service, leadership and achievement with horses, completion or involvement in the AMHA Horsemastership Program. A letter of application declaring why the applicant should be considered deserving of the scholarship and three (3) reference letters relative to character, ability, and achievement with the most recent transcript from the high school and/or school in attendance at the time of application will be needed.

- The Gladys Koehne Inspiration Youth Award
This award emphasizes club and community involvement in an effort to encourage our youth to become active in a world of consisting of more than just the Morgan horse. They must be a member in good standing for at least eight (8) months of the current with the MHCWS. They must also be a member of a local youth club, 4-H or FFA type organization, or participate independently in the national AMHA Youth of the Year program. Or in the absence of such affiliation, display a strong dedication to the promotion of the Morgan horse through MHCWS events, open competitions, parades or other events sharing the Morgan horse with the general public. Show a well rounded approach to academics, act as a role model to others, demonstrate a commitment to the breed beyond simply showing, overcome obstacles to achieve goals, show qualities of persistence, determination, patience, and sportsmanship. Nominations may be submitted by an adult or youth leader with a written letter stating why this individual should receive the award.

- The Yvonne McDonald Inspirational Adult Award
This award was established in 1994 in memory of Yvonne McDonald whose tireless contributions on behalf of the Morgan breed, the MHCWS and the horse industry of Washington State, showed exceptional dedication and served as a role model for all adults and youth to emulate, while being an unselfish mentor in the sharing of her knowledge and experiences. This person must be an active member of the MHCWS, active in the club leadership by being a club officer or committee member or chair. Show commitment to the breed, MHCWS, AMHA, and/or other segments of the horse industry such as WSH, Washington State Horse Council, etc. This is the type of individual that has given more to the MHCWS and/or horse industry than they have taken. One who demonstrates attitude and a manner that gets things done, undertakes activities in a professional manner, is active in club recruitment, and demonstrates qualities of persistence, determination, patience, and sportsmanship.

RSVP cards and banquet information will be in your mailbox soon.
We look forward to seeing you all the banquet!
Cannon Beach vs Road Apples
From Horses
From Linda Brim to OET Members --

The meeting in Cannon Beach the night of 11/6/19 about horses in the city was well attended by the horse community. Many people spoke pleading for common sense regarding the requirement for horse buckets (manure bags) on city streets which are the only access to the beach. No one spoke in favor. The proposal was table and sent back to the parks committee for a do over. City Council recommended they consult with the horse community in revising the proposal. A victory for now, but we need to see this through! I’m very proud of our horse community who dropped everything on short notice to be there!
You WILL be remembered for what you leave behind. Even if it’s not your poop, please pick it up! Unless of course you determine it’s elk poop, but city folk can’t tell the difference.
Apply for the 2020 AHP Student Award
Applications Due by January 20, 2020
If you are interested in working in Equine Media, your journey begins now! Apply for the 2020 American Horse Publications (AHP) Student Award. Meet, network, and participate with publishers, editors, advertising, production, and marketing managers. You will participate in workshops, interactive discussions, lectures and informal get-togethers.
The AHP Equine Media Conference will inform and enlighten you about the opportunities available to, and skills needed for, someone interested in pursuing a career in equine media.

Have an opportunity to discuss your talents and potential with the decision makers who do the hiring. Conversely, those professionals will be evaluating and appraising you as a possible future staff member.

Are you eligible? Yes if you are a senior in high school or an undergraduate college student during the 2019-2020 school year and want to pursue a career in equine media. You must have at least one semester remaining before graduation at the time of application and a 2.00 GPA or higher.

The AHP Student Award Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only. Former Student Award Winners are ineligible; Travel Award Winners may re-apply.

Finalists experience the AHP Conference A travel award of $1,000, complimentary conference registration* and complimentary Student membership* which will be awarded to up to three applicants. Travel Award winners have an opportunity to participate with equine media professionals in a three-day conference and related activities at the AHP Equine Media Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, May 28-30, 2020 . Travel Award winners must agree to attend the conference, arriving by Thursday morning and departing no earlier than Sunday to receive the award.

The winner receives a cash award of $1,000 and the title of 2020 AHP Student Award Winner. Additional cash awards will be awarded at the discretion of the judge to the runners-up.

All qualified applicants will receive a complimentary Student membership* and a Student registration* certificate for the annual conference in Lexington, Kentucky, May 28-30, 2020.

For a complete list of rules, requirements and application form, visit https://www.americanhorsepubs.org/student-award-contest/.

Application materials are due in the AHP office by January 20, 2020.
For more information, contact Judy Lincoln, AHP Student Award Coordinator, ahorsepubs2@aol.com , 386-760-7743
Announcement on the
2020 Oregon Morgan Classic

We are pleased to announce our main ring judge for 2020 is Nancy Becker.

See you at the show!
June 17-20, 2020
Announcement on the
2020 BC Morgan Show
We are pleased to announce that we will be adding All Breed Schooling classes to the 2020 BC Morgan Show. These classes will not be judged and are open to all seats. They are a great opportunity to give a young/ new horse exposure and also for fine tuning, etc. Show attire and tack is not required and one may use martingales etc. These will likely be at the start of each session but we will have more details in the Prize List that we will have out in January.
We look forward to seeing you in Lynden next May 18-31, 2020!
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Megan Gallagher Wins 2019 YAA
Judging School Scholarship
The American Morgan Horse Association Young Adult Alliance (YAA), recently presented their sixth annual Judging School Scholarship to Megan Gallagher of Grass Valley, California. The Professional Development Project created by this passionate group awards a $1,500 scholarship to one individual aged 21-40, professional or amateur, who is interested in attaining their Morgan R judging card.
“It has been wonderful to see past recipients of the AMHA YAA Judging School Scholarship stand in center ring at notable shows around the country, said YAA Co-Chair Steven Handy. "This program has helped and will continue to help young adults obtain their judging card and give back to the Morgan breed."
“Our applicants this year were all well qualified and the field was very competitive. Megan Gallagher runs a successful training facility in California and has won World and National titles in performance, trail and western dressage. Her operation is widespread and she is an active supporter and promoter of the Morgan breed. Her experience across a wide variety of disciplines will serve her well as a judge,” said Merin Maggi, Judging School Scholarship Chair.

Past recipients of the judging school scholarship include Josh Noble, Melissa Morrell, Jordan Cusumano, Celia Salmon, and Bobbie Jo Jaakkola. The application period for the next YAA Judging School Scholarship will be released in early June 2020 and will be awarded later that year.

To learn more about the project visit

The American Morgan Horse Association Young Adult Alliance (YAA) is an organization of 18-40 year old amateurs and professionals working together to strengthen the Morgan breed. Established in 2013, this group was founded to create a platform for young adult members to build relationships, develop professionally, become civically and philanthropically active, and to contribute to the economic success of the Morgan community.

For more information, visit www.morganhorse.com/yaa
Save The Date
AMHA/UPHA Convention
January 22-25, 2020
Click here to continue reading:
Your newsletter normally comes in 4 sections. You have just looked at section 1. Click the underlined link above to
continue reading.
Watch for the above type link at the end of each section.
This month there are more sections due to more news.
Included in the next Sections
Section 2:
Morgan Grand National
In Memory Of
Section 3a & 3b:
Advertising Thru MHAO
Classified Ads
How to become an MHAO Member
News from the Oregon Horse Council
Selected USEF News
Selected AMHA News
Section 4:
2020 Horse Show Dates
CDE Dates
Other Dates
Board Members
Gay Adams, Acting Editor | Morgan Horse Association of Oregon
(503) 936-4276 | sunstonemorgans@comcast.net