Twenty-six breeders from across the country and Canada were honored by the American Quarter Horses Association as 50-Year Cumulative and Legacy breeders at a ceremony held on October 3 at the AQHA Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas.

Each year, AQHA honors breeders who have dedicated their livelihoods to maintaining the integrity of the American Quarter Horse. These horsemen and families see their biggest accomplishments and proudest moments in the horses they breed.

This year, the honorees included 14 who received the cumulative award and 12 who received the legacy award. Cumulative breeders are those who have registered at least one foal for 50 years cumulatively. Legacy breeders are those who have registered at least one foal for 50 consecutive years.

Honorees ranged from people who have bred American Quarter Horses for cutting, ranch and rodeo use to breeders of racehorses. Recipients were also geographically dispersed, hailing from Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Canada. All have dedicated 50 years or more to taking their best and making it better.

“It’s our honor to recognize the effort and time these breeders have spent in pushing the development of the American Quarter Horse,” said Don Treadway Jr., AQHA executive vice president.

The Cumulative Award honorees included:

* S.A. Baxter of Bend, Texas * Merle and Marlene Flinn of Saint George, Kansas * Burdette L. Johnson of Shell Rock, Iowa * Robert L. Mcllhattan of Bozeman, Montana * Mississippi State University of Mississippi Station, Mississippi * Palmer Quarter Horses of Durango, Colorado * TS Herfords and Quarter Horse Ranch of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas * C.F. Vititow of Emory, Texas * Keith Zimmerman of Harrison, Nebraska * Jake E. Braun and Sons of Beechy, Saskatchewan * Jerry and Joan Wynne of Bethany, Missouri * Lightning Seven Horse Co. of Quanah, Texas * Jake M. Dial of Livingston, Alabama * Robert W. Apperson of Welch, Oklahoma

The Legacy Award honorees included:

* Donald S. Gardner Jr. of Opelousas, Louisiana * Beryl and Darrell Wagner of Padroni, Colorado * John R. Anderson of Gail, Texas * Billy Cook of Greenville, Texas * Stanley Glover of Avondale, Colorado * Mrs. Marian W. Hanson of Ashland, Montana * R.J. Henderson of Bloomfield, New Mexico * Robert C. Norris of Colorado Springs, Colorado * Donald O’Brien of Pineville, Missouri * Pennsylvania State University of University Park, Pennsylvania * Phipps Land and Livestock Inc. of Whitman, Nebraska * B.A. Sipes Family of Norman, Oklahoma

When commenting on breeding American Quarter Horses, Marcia Baily of TS Herefords and Quarter Horse Ranch stated, “The ideal horse is the versatile horse. Regardless of the one’s choice of discipline, the versatile horse can compete at a high level, while also satisfying every rider’s needs.”

For more information on the 50-Year Breeder Awards, visit  www.aqha.com.

Founded in 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association is the largest equine breed organization in the world. With headquarters in Amarillo, Texas, AQHA has a membership of more than 300,000 people in 86 countries and has registered more than 5 million horses in 95 countries.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit  AQHA Publications.