PG.39
DIRECTOR REPORTS - 2020/2021
SHANE MASSINGHAM - Portfolio: Affiliates
As the past year has been a very trying time for all of us, we hopefully will look back on Covid -19 as something
that has made us all appreciate our hobby and our friends!
During my first 12 months on the board, I have been busy piecing together the Affiliates Practices and
Procedures Document to help all Affiliates understand their responsibilities and the procedures required to
have shows run smoothly. We have also begun creating an Affiliates Incentive program to reward Affiliates who
are busy in their promotion of our Australian Quarter Horse activities. We hope to have this completed ready
for January when we all hope to be out and about more.
Once again, our Victorian Affiliates got together in February and worked out their busy show year dates and
unopposed dates. Unfortunately, it was to be in vain this year with the shows grinding to a halt mid-March for
all of the country. During the last 12 months we have had 1 new Affiliate join our ranks and congratulations and
welcome go to the committee of the Hastings Performance and Quarter Horse Club Inc.
With many affiliate events cancelled we saw State Shows in Victoria, NSW, WA, Tas & NT go ahead with SA &
Qld being postponed from original dates and rescheduled in the new extended season beyond August 1st. SA
chose early in August to cancel with the Qld State Show still yet to run September 22-25.
I had hoped to get to contact more affiliates online during this year, but with Covid affecting us all in different
ways I will certainly endeavour to do so if I retain this portfolio. We wish all affiliates the very best and we will
all come out of this in the end if we stay strong.
Shane Massingham
PAUL LORIMER - Portfolio: Show & Performance
As we all know the 2019/2020 show season has been a struggle in many ways Covid-19 has been the biggest
impact as many shows have not been able to run. We are beginning to see AQHA shows and Barrel Races
again as committees come to grips with COVID Safe Plans.
The drought has been another major hurdle for events such as campdrafting, cutting and Team Penning because
cattle were very hard to source. The drought is still causing us all difficulties as all forms of Hay are probably the
dearest they have ever been in most areas. I hope everyone of our members can stay positive as there is a light
at the end of this tunnel and it will soon shine bright on all forms of AQHA competition.
As of 1s August a new rule book was released and which will be current for the next two years. The only major
change in show and performance section was the introduction of compulsory wearing of Approved safety
helmets in English classes at AQHA approved shows.
The Rule Book was produced as a book and also as an App for both Iphones and Android phones. Please submit
any thoughts you have on the App compared to the printed style. The Rule Book should be a fluid document so
that it can respond to the member’s needs.
I would like thank the members who sent in suggestions for rule changes and I hope members will continue to
send into the AQHA their thoughts and any changes they would like the Show & Performance Subcommittee and
Board consider for the next rule book.
Paul Lorimer
www.aqha.com.au
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ISSUE 2020