Action alert: The AHC needs your help to save the Recreational Trails Program The AHC is working to preserve the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program. If Congress does not take action this year this program could no longer be available to recreational riders. The RTP provides funding directly to the states for recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. It was created in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The RTP will have to be re-authorized in the next national surface transportation program bill if it is to continue. Since its inception the RTP has provided approximately $730 million for thousands of state and local trail projects across the country, including many that benefit equestrians. RTP projects consist of construction, maintenance and restoration of trails and trail related facilities as well as the acquisition of easements or property for trails. The RTP is one of the few sources for federal funding of trail projects that are not on federal land. The program is a great resource for equestrians to fund projects in their state and local parks. Congress is expected to begin work on the next 5 year highway bill very soon. The AHC, in conjunction with a broad coalition of recreational trail users, is requesting that Congress not only re-authorized the RTP, but also increase funding for the program to $555 million to be spent over the five years of the bill. The AHC urges all recreational riders to contact Congress and voice support for this program and let them know this program is important to the horse community. You can download a sample letter here that can be used as a starting point for a letter to your Representative and Senators. You should personalize it with information about yourself and your state trails. Please Fax or Email it to your Representatives or Senators because regular mail must go through a long security process. Contact information for your Representatives and Senators can be found at http://www.house.gov/  and http://www.senate.gov/  . Please send copies of any emails, letters or faxes you provide to your Representatives or Senators to the AHC at bpendergrass@horsecouncil.org  or fax to 202 2961970.  If you have any questions please contact the AHC. http://www.horsecouncil.org/2009_ActionAlert.php  AQHA-APPROVED CLASSES TO PREMIER AT OPEN HORSE SHOWS Long considered too competitive, inaccessible or too expensive, AQHA-approved classes branching out this year. AQHA is introducing AQHA-approved classes to run during any open or 4-H horse show. In fact, these AQHA classes can be held within other classes at the show. For example, an AQHA member exhibiting a registered Quarter Horse in the open show’s western pleasure class can also receive points based off his or her placing against other AQHA members and their Quarter Horses in that class. The shows are novice driven, but show management can choose to offer open, amateur and youth classes as well. "These new shows aim to create a friendly and inexpensive show environment for all levels of exhibitors while providing the opportunity for many more American Quarter Horse owners to participate in the AQHA show experience,"says Charlie Hemphill, AQHA senior director of shows. Click here for more information HERDA Test Available A DNA test for the autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder HERDA has been developed by genetics researchers at Cornell University and is now available to the public. According to CU geneticist Nena Winand, D.V.M., Ph.D., the test unambiguously identifies normal, carrier and affected horses. Affected foals can be definitively identified at birth. read more...

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