This is a little long but I believe it is worth reading.
Below is a letter I sent a couple of hours ago to the AMHA B.O.D. in reference to the proposed AMHS and a proposal that I am making that I feel will addresses most of the issues and concerns that I have heard over the years. I have already heard back from one director that agrees that AMHS as originally proposed is not the way to go and is very interested in my proposal or some variation of it. He also request I remain as the Chairman of the committee that was established as it was established to explore the possibilities and make recommendations. I would be very interested in hearing everyone’s thoughts on this proposal. I would ask that you read it in its entirety and let it soak in and give it some honest thought. Constructive criticism is welcome but remember this is only a proposal and is intended to satisfy several issues and concerns. As a little background information for the ones who don’t know me personally we have a fair size head (around 40 currently) and none of them are over 34†and they are all AMHA and almost all are double registered AMHA and AMHR. My wife and I are active members of AMHA and AMHR. I say all that to explain I have no personal agenda since I will gain no immediate benefit from an Appendix Registry but I do believe it will be good for the entire miniature horse industry and what is good for the industry is in the long run what is good for me personally and for every owner of a miniature horse.
Fellow B.O.D. members,
I have done a lot of asking, listening and personal pondering the last couple of weeks about the proposed new registry (AMHS). I have read or heard many responses through phone calls, e-mails, and internet sites. A conservative estimate would be around 75 responses and they have been from big breeders to small owners and from AMHA members and non-members. The vast majority of these responses have been opposed to a new independent registry owned by AMHA. Most tell me they will not pay additional fees, either registration or membership fees, for another miniature registry. Most also seem to feel this is being proposed solely as a source of revenue and not as a benefit to members. They also tell me they do not want any added personal or AMHA expenditures for this. While at first I thought this sounded feasible, after time to think it through I tend to agree that this is not the way to go. I therefore would like to relinquish my chairmanship of this new committee. There were three other people that volunteered to be on this committee, Barbara Naviaux, Mark Kern, and Tom O’Connell. If the BOD would like to continue this committee I would recommend one of these three to chair it. There has been no official committee work done to this point other than my own opinion gathering which is why I use the term relinquish my position rather than resign since the committee has never really started.
I do however have a different proposal I have had in the back of my mind for a year or so that I do think would work and I think now is the time to propose it. I would like to propose an AMHA Appendix Registry which I will lay out the basics for below. AQHA has had a similar Appendix registry for many years and it has been very successful, and while I am not very familiar with it I believe this would be similar to Arabian’s Half Arab Registry. If the BOD is interested in this I would be glad to serve on and chair this committee.
I have spoken with a few people that were opposed to the “AMHS†but were very interested and supportive of this idea. The few I have spoke with range from some of our biggest AMHA breeders, to small owners, to non-members. If we adopt this proposal I realize the basic outline I am proposing will need some tweaking but I highly recommend we keep it simple, cost effective, and member friendly. I believe this addresses many of the issues and concerns we have heard over the years and will provide a large growth potential for AMHA and its members by expanding our market, increasing membership, increasing participation, and protecting the integrity of our 34 inch and under AMHA horse but also allowing for and appreciating the ones that go over and for some of the outstanding individuals from outside AMHA.
Once this is up and going I would recommend we consider some Appendix class at the shows.
Respectfully Submitted
Ronnie Clifton
Proposal for AMHA Appendix Registry
AMHA Appendix Registry will not use temporary registration All registrations are permanent. Horses in this registry will be referred to as Appendix registered
Eligibility:
1 – Any AMHA registered horse that has exceeded 34 inches may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the same fees it would cost to bring them permanent in AMHA. This may be done at any age when the horse exceeds 34 inches. If the horse has already been brought permanent it will be placed in the Appendix registry at no additional cost to the owner when the original registration certificate is sent in to the office and an Appendix Registration Certificate will be issued. If the original registration certificate has already been sent in and is in the possession of the AMHA office the horse will be placed in the Appendix Registry upon request of the recorded owner. This request must be signed by the recorded owner or accompanied by a properly signed transfer.
2 – Any AMHR registered horses 38 inches and under may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the regular AMHA registration fee that would apply based on the horse’s age and the same equivalent permanent registration fee for an AMHA horse plus a $50 processing fee.
3 – Any offspring resulting from the breeding of an AMHA registered horse to an AMHR registered horse may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the regular AMHA registration fee that would apply based on the horse’s age and the same equivalent permanent registration fee for an AMHA horse plus a $50 processing fee.
4 – Any offspring resulting from the breeding of an AMHA Appendix registered horse to an AMHR registered horse may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the regular AMHA registration fee that would apply based on the horse’s age and the same equivalent permanent registration fee for an AMHA horse plus a $50 processing fee.
All AMHA Appendix registered horses will retain their pedigree information on their registration certificate and in the Stud Book including registration numbers of all known ancestors to identify their AMHA and/or AMHR background.
Any offspring resulting from breeding an AMHA Appendix registered horse to either an AMHA registered horse or another AMHA Appendix registered horse will be eligible for registration in the regular AMHA registry provided it meets all registration requirements. These offspring will be issued either temporary or permanent registration based on their age and will be subject to all of the requirements and regulations of AMHA registration. If these registered offspring ever exceed 34 inches in height they will be place into the AMHA Appendix Registry according to the same procedures as any other AMHA registered horse.
I also recommend that once the Appendix Registry is established and up and going that Appendix classes be included in AMHA shows.
Ronnie Clifton
Below is a letter I sent a couple of hours ago to the AMHA B.O.D. in reference to the proposed AMHS and a proposal that I am making that I feel will addresses most of the issues and concerns that I have heard over the years. I have already heard back from one director that agrees that AMHS as originally proposed is not the way to go and is very interested in my proposal or some variation of it. He also request I remain as the Chairman of the committee that was established as it was established to explore the possibilities and make recommendations. I would be very interested in hearing everyone’s thoughts on this proposal. I would ask that you read it in its entirety and let it soak in and give it some honest thought. Constructive criticism is welcome but remember this is only a proposal and is intended to satisfy several issues and concerns. As a little background information for the ones who don’t know me personally we have a fair size head (around 40 currently) and none of them are over 34†and they are all AMHA and almost all are double registered AMHA and AMHR. My wife and I are active members of AMHA and AMHR. I say all that to explain I have no personal agenda since I will gain no immediate benefit from an Appendix Registry but I do believe it will be good for the entire miniature horse industry and what is good for the industry is in the long run what is good for me personally and for every owner of a miniature horse.
Fellow B.O.D. members,
I have done a lot of asking, listening and personal pondering the last couple of weeks about the proposed new registry (AMHS). I have read or heard many responses through phone calls, e-mails, and internet sites. A conservative estimate would be around 75 responses and they have been from big breeders to small owners and from AMHA members and non-members. The vast majority of these responses have been opposed to a new independent registry owned by AMHA. Most tell me they will not pay additional fees, either registration or membership fees, for another miniature registry. Most also seem to feel this is being proposed solely as a source of revenue and not as a benefit to members. They also tell me they do not want any added personal or AMHA expenditures for this. While at first I thought this sounded feasible, after time to think it through I tend to agree that this is not the way to go. I therefore would like to relinquish my chairmanship of this new committee. There were three other people that volunteered to be on this committee, Barbara Naviaux, Mark Kern, and Tom O’Connell. If the BOD would like to continue this committee I would recommend one of these three to chair it. There has been no official committee work done to this point other than my own opinion gathering which is why I use the term relinquish my position rather than resign since the committee has never really started.
I do however have a different proposal I have had in the back of my mind for a year or so that I do think would work and I think now is the time to propose it. I would like to propose an AMHA Appendix Registry which I will lay out the basics for below. AQHA has had a similar Appendix registry for many years and it has been very successful, and while I am not very familiar with it I believe this would be similar to Arabian’s Half Arab Registry. If the BOD is interested in this I would be glad to serve on and chair this committee.
I have spoken with a few people that were opposed to the “AMHS†but were very interested and supportive of this idea. The few I have spoke with range from some of our biggest AMHA breeders, to small owners, to non-members. If we adopt this proposal I realize the basic outline I am proposing will need some tweaking but I highly recommend we keep it simple, cost effective, and member friendly. I believe this addresses many of the issues and concerns we have heard over the years and will provide a large growth potential for AMHA and its members by expanding our market, increasing membership, increasing participation, and protecting the integrity of our 34 inch and under AMHA horse but also allowing for and appreciating the ones that go over and for some of the outstanding individuals from outside AMHA.
Once this is up and going I would recommend we consider some Appendix class at the shows.
Respectfully Submitted
Ronnie Clifton
Proposal for AMHA Appendix Registry
AMHA Appendix Registry will not use temporary registration All registrations are permanent. Horses in this registry will be referred to as Appendix registered
Eligibility:
1 – Any AMHA registered horse that has exceeded 34 inches may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the same fees it would cost to bring them permanent in AMHA. This may be done at any age when the horse exceeds 34 inches. If the horse has already been brought permanent it will be placed in the Appendix registry at no additional cost to the owner when the original registration certificate is sent in to the office and an Appendix Registration Certificate will be issued. If the original registration certificate has already been sent in and is in the possession of the AMHA office the horse will be placed in the Appendix Registry upon request of the recorded owner. This request must be signed by the recorded owner or accompanied by a properly signed transfer.
2 – Any AMHR registered horses 38 inches and under may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the regular AMHA registration fee that would apply based on the horse’s age and the same equivalent permanent registration fee for an AMHA horse plus a $50 processing fee.
3 – Any offspring resulting from the breeding of an AMHA registered horse to an AMHR registered horse may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the regular AMHA registration fee that would apply based on the horse’s age and the same equivalent permanent registration fee for an AMHA horse plus a $50 processing fee.
4 – Any offspring resulting from the breeding of an AMHA Appendix registered horse to an AMHR registered horse may be registered in the AMHA Appendix Registry by paying the regular AMHA registration fee that would apply based on the horse’s age and the same equivalent permanent registration fee for an AMHA horse plus a $50 processing fee.
All AMHA Appendix registered horses will retain their pedigree information on their registration certificate and in the Stud Book including registration numbers of all known ancestors to identify their AMHA and/or AMHR background.
Any offspring resulting from breeding an AMHA Appendix registered horse to either an AMHA registered horse or another AMHA Appendix registered horse will be eligible for registration in the regular AMHA registry provided it meets all registration requirements. These offspring will be issued either temporary or permanent registration based on their age and will be subject to all of the requirements and regulations of AMHA registration. If these registered offspring ever exceed 34 inches in height they will be place into the AMHA Appendix Registry according to the same procedures as any other AMHA registered horse.
I also recommend that once the Appendix Registry is established and up and going that Appendix classes be included in AMHA shows.
Ronnie Clifton
