The days may be getting shorter, but the Rocky Mountain Breeders Association (RMBA) is still hitting programs and planning like it is loaded with summer sizzle!
To kick off all the interesting information and member highlights, we’re starting off with a huge celebratory cheer for Elizabeth “Libby” McCauley of Bozeman, Montana. Libby is a high-profile breeder and the owner of the proven reining stallion, Wicked Pretty. The beautiful black AQHA stallion was piloted to a score of 74! This terrific run earned Wicked Pretty a Reserve Championship title in the Open class at the Southwest Reining Horse Association (SWRHA) Futurity Show in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the latter part of October.
It takes a great horse, but takes a great rider and the shout out goes to Jarvis Anderson of Jarvis Anderson Performance Horses in Whitesboro, Texas. If the Anderson name sounds familiar, you’re right. Jarvis comes from the top Montana reining family, the Andersons, in Wilsall, Montana.
The name Wicked Pretty may seem pretty familiar, as well. Libby has been a great supporter of the RMBA annual Stallion Service Auction and has donated a breeding to Wicked Pretty for the auction several years. Thank you, Libby, for your continued support and Congratulations on Wicked Pretty’s successes!
RMBA Stallion Service Auction
The RMBA is also recruiting stallions for the 2023 Stallion Service Auction with a nomination deadline of December 1st .
We’ve added a few additional specifics to the nomination form to provide information and make the process for both mare and stallion owner as easy as possible. Have questions on this program and the auction? Call Jan Finn at (406) 266-4992 or email to Jan at 2684hwy284@gmail.com.
Have a stallion that you’d like promoted and eligible for Stallion Stakes classes, but doesn’t stand to the public or may no longer be available for breeding? Try out the option of a Reference Sire nomination. It’s $50/stallion and opens Stallion Stakes eligibility up for offspring.
RMBA Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet
The RMBA makes a big deal that fall equals the Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet. It is a feast of great food, friends, and wonderful awards. The 2022 event was held Saturday, October 29 th , at the Pass Creek Community Center outside of Belgrade, Montana.
The Treasurer report highlighted the association input at $3+K for memberships; $1,100+ for Sponsorships; Stallion Service Auction at $5,142.15; and the Ranch Horse Competitions cleared $311.66 all total for the year. One of the biggest drivers of increased expenses of the Ranch Horse shows were tied to cattle costs including climbing fuel prices.
Specifically for memberships the association did make some dues changes effective starting in 2023. The individual adult remains at $50; the Youth rate, for any who are not part of any other membership remains at $20. The remainder of the membership rates were increased slightly, but are designed to help members include needed information. Memberships for family where each member under the membership is listed is at $60. This membership rate covers business and ranch memberships in addition to family memberships. The trainer rate increases to $70. This membership includes listing in the Trainer’s Directory on the RMBA website and can include a link directly to the trainer’s personal site or social media page if one is available. Two new items show on the new membership form: an owner’s membership rate at $35 for membership requirements when somebody else is showing a horse and are not part of the same membership. There is also a box to select for subscription to The Wrangler. For members that receive The Wrangler through another association, this allows the member to indicate their RMBA membership will not include The Wrangler.
In 2021, it was determined effective starting the 2022 show season, all exhibitors would be required to hold a current membership. As this was a change, the provision was offered for riders that would like to try the Ranch Horse shows could do so for one show before needing to join the association. Moving ahead as a way to encourage membership, but to also ensure memberships are current and paid by all exhibitors, membership will be required unilaterally. All memberships paid from October 1st are applied to the 2023 membership.
Taylor McCormack has been the Show Secretary the past few years (and did great!), but she is not available for the 2023 season. The Show Secretary is a paid position at the rate of $150/show. No volunteers came forward during the meeting; this may be an opportunity for anyone interested in being a part of the popular Ranch Horse series.
One of the meeting topics truly revolved around the youth who represent the future of the equine industry. Previously, the RMBA had offered a scholarship program open to any member to apply for. Which ultimately was inactivated. Resurrecting scholarships could offer encouragement to youth who are members participating in the RMBA. A committee was appointed to review and refine the process and criteria.
President, Jane Mersen, made committee appointments including creating a couple of new committees. The “Rules” committee is designed to review the existing Ranch Horse Competition rules as written. The “website review” committee was the other new committee. It is tasked with working through the new website to ensure information is up-to-date along with working to create a website option for people who would like to join and pay over the website.
New Officers at RMBA
Three director slots were up for election. Those slots were the 2 nd Vice President held by Ruth Hall; Secretary held by Jan Finn; and Director-at-Large held by Kristy Sheehan. Kristy Sheehan was elected to the 2nd Vice President position; Katie Ennis was elected as the Secretary; and Channie Heimer as the Director-at-Large. Congratulations and welcome to our new directors!
The new directorship for Secretary is also the new newsletter writer. If you have highlights from your breeding program, offspring success, tidbits from family including 4-legged and two-legged individuals; grandchildren achievements, all the neat things we celebrate as an association, send them along to Katie.
Look for Katie to introduce herself through the next newsletter including her preferred contact number and email information. Please join me in congratulating the newly elected directors.
Get Involved
Have you “Liked” and “Followed” our page on Meta (formerly Facebook)? You can visit the RMBA at “Rocky Mountain Breeders Association.” There are plenty of photos of the meeting and banquet on the page. Check them out if you haven’t already.
The page also offers industry-relevant updates and highlights of interest. Invite all your friends to our social media page and remember to peruse the website at www.montanarmba.org to see all the programs available!
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