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DIRECTOR REPORTS- 2026 / 2027
RICKY GLEN Portfolio: Cattle & Timed Events
Dear Members, The past year has seen exiting times for the Cattle and Timed events portfolio, this portfolio covers the largest side of our industry in Australia with registrations, breeding returns, transfers, membership and of course the competition side.
If you have not been exposed to a Cutting, Campdraft, Barrel Race, Roping or Challenges and a lot of other events that falls under this portfolio, then you are missing out.
The cutting side of our industry is huge, the Annual NCHA Futurity for 3-year-old horses has entries in excess of 140 horses and pays $ 100,000.00 to the winner, the Campdrafts will see over 300 horses competing at most events and again with purses in excess of $ 100k being paid to the winner is great for our breed.
The Barrel Racing side of our industry is growing in leaps and bounds and this is also the same for the Roping side and this is seeing our Australian
Breed Quarter Horses being exported back to the USA to compete but also selling to other countries as well which shows us we are on the right track for what we are producing here in Australia.
We cover quite a lot of events under this portfolio and the AQHA has promoted our breed in these areas by way of Incentive Payouts which goes to the owners and the breeders of the successful horses in these events to the tune of over $ 100,000.00 each year.
The AQHA in doing this try’ s to promote a level paying field to ensure the amount spent on the cutting and timed events portfolio is in line with the monies spent on other discipline’ s within the AQHA.
The major payout for promoting this side of our industry sees breeders and owners toping the leading sales held here in Australia with Australian Quarter Horses and this highlights our breed to the rest of the equine breeds as a horse to own or breed too.
I would like to thank my Cattle and Timed Events subcommittee, Kim Johnson, Kylie Barnett, Lance and Cathrina Hutton and our General Manager, Gemma Clarke for the help with this portfolio over the past year.
RICKY GLEN Portfolio: Hall Of Fame
It gives me great pleasure to present my Hall Of Fame Annual Report for 2026.
The Hall of Fame is one of the most important portfolios within the AQHA as it preserves our past in honouring those Members and Horses that have come before us and this has enabled the AQHA to be one of the most prominent horse breed registries in Australia today.
To preserve our past will insure that future generations of AQHA members will learn our history and will understand what these individuals and horses have done to produce our breed in Australia.
From our 1st imports from the USA, these horses travelled a 6 month journey by boat mostly via England to arrive on Australian shores and the people responsible for these horses being imported allowed Australia to develop our own breed of Australian Quarter Horses and this of course saw us produce our own stud book to record our horses born here and also adding the imports to our stud book as well.
We recognise these Horses and People each year with induction into the Hall of Fame( Heritage) which covers the early years and also the Hall of Fame which covers the later years.
We also have memorabilia donated to the AQHA from past members or families who entrust us with it safe keeping and these items are used in our displays at our office in Tamworth and I thank these past and present members for allowing us to do this.
I would like to thank my HOF subcommittee, Kim Johnson, Karen Thrun, Annie Boyd and Ryan Shiller for your help again this past year and the office as well for ensuring the awards are ready for presentation each year.
TRISH WETTENHALL Portfolio: Treasurer
The Association remains in a strong financial position, with membership, registrations and income streams continuing to perform positively.
The Association recorded a small loss in 2026, primarily due to the impact of significant global cost increases on the delivery of the 2026 National Show. In response, adjustments have been implemented to manage costs, strengthen financial sustainability and ensure a positive financial outcome moving forward.
TRISH WETTENHALL Portfolio: Show & Performance
The Committee has been working tirelessly, with the assistance of the AQHA Office, to review, improve and adopt the American rules and amendments.
As of 1 August 2026, the Versatility Ranch rules have been completed, and we are currently finalising the Show Horse rules.
Moving forward, the Committee will continue this work with the goal of completing the review and adoption of the entire rule book by 2027.
KIM JOHNSON Portfolio: Stud Book
The Stud Book Committee will continue to meet before each board meeting to address member needs and future planning.
The committee has developed new rules for frozen embryo and oocyte management to safeguard the integrity of our breed and support breeders and members. These will be presented as per protocols established;
We are also monitoring the development of a new genetic disorder, Equine Juvenile Spinocerebellar Ataxia( EJSCA). While no tests are currently
available in Australia, we will keep you informed as soon as they become available. For more information, please visit the UC Davis website, which provides comprehensive information on genetic disorders.
The committee welcomes any thoughts or ideas that could benefit AQHA. The committee is currently reviewing the stud book rules to ensure they remain relevant for the future.
I would like to thank the Stud Book Committee for their support of me and AQHA in 2026. They have worked very hard over the past year with Vanessa and the office. I would also like to thank our office staff and Vanessa for their hard work and support of myself in my position.
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au