• Feb 6 --BC Yukon zone meeting 1:30 PM at The Loft restaurant featuring a Silent Auction including A One-Day package for 2 people @ A. P. Guest Ranch with  horse(s)-stay included (value $250) 333 Shuswap Avenue, Chase BCLaurie Ann Lyons 250-571-9419
• Feb 6 - BCIMHC AGM  10:30 PM at The Loft restaurant, 333 Shuswap Avenue, Chase contact Karen Wilkie Boyd 250-546-8973
• Feb 27 - BCIMHC 11:45 Lunch, 12:45 Meeting at The Armstrong Saxon Inn contact Karen Wilkie Boyd 250-546-8973
• April 10 & 11– Okanagan Breeders Showcase – Armstrong Fair Grounds – Stallion Showcase & Breed Demos. To participate in the Morgan breed demo contact Pat Crema 250-577-3218.
• April 17 – BCIMHC meeting with guest speaker or club ride, ride tentative – venue location to be verified. Contact Karen Wilkie-Boyd 250-546-8973 or Pat Crema 250-577-3218
• June 26 – BCIMHC meeting with guest speaker or club ride, ride tentative – venue location to be verified. Contact Karen Wilkie-Boyd 250-546-8973 or Pat Crema 250-577-3218
• July 17 – EFC ride. Contact Pat Crema 250-577-3218
• Sept 25 – BCIMHC meeting with guest speaker or club ride, ride tentative – venue location to be verified. Contact Karen Wilkie-Boyd 250-546-8973 or Pat Crema 250-577-3218
• Nov 6 - BCIMHC meeting with guest speaker. Contact Karen Wilkie-Boyd 250-546-8973 or Pat Crema 250-577-3218
• Dec 4 – BCIMC Christmas Party. Contact Karen Wilkie-Boyd 250-546-8973 or Pat Crema 250-577-3218

• Feb 20 - -AGM 12:30 pm Banquet Cocktails at 5:00pm Dinner at 6:00pm, & CMHA Awards to follow, Beaumont Community Centre 5204-50 Ave. Beaumont Contact: Sarah Oliviera 780-986-4165
• Feb 21 - Tack Sale 1:00-5:00 pm Beaumont Community Centre 5204-50 Ave. Beaumont Tables contact: Sarah Oliviera 780-986-4165
• April 23-25 - Mane Event, Red Deer Volunteers needed for the booth, contact Ann deSt. Remy 403-782-3856 Horses for demos contact: Willa Schwab 780-986-4676
• May 8 - Spring Warm Up Show, Beaumont Ag Grounds, Sandra Sanche780-922-6280
• May 15 - All Breeds Open Schooling Show Victoria Trail Agriculture Arena Lynn Danyluk780 656 0406
• May 21-24 - Westener Spring Horse Show , Red Deer Ann deSt.Remy 403-782-3856
• June 6 - Leduc Fundraising Foundation Ride - Eldon Bienert (780) 986-6652
• June 12 - AEAS 5th Annual Ride for Cancer 10:00 am White Earth Valley, Newbrook Hwy 831 Lynn Danyluk780 656 0406
• July 9-11 - Summer Classic Horse Show, Olds, Ab OPen Youth Challenge, Morgan, Saddlebred, Arabian, & Open Classes
  Contact:  Kathy Padgham 780-672-6978 
• Aug 7 - Kananaskis Fundraising Foundation Ride Eldon Bienert (780) 986-6652
• Sept - Battle of the Breeds and Equifair– Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Cec Watson 403-378-4323
• Sept -   Horse Improvement, Red Deer Vern Baron 403-782-3856
• Sept 3-5- Alberta Morgan Horse Show, Hobbema, Pannee AgriPlex Contact: Sarah Oliviera 780-986-4165
• Oct - AB zone and AMHC Semi Annual Meeting  Lacombe Research Centre Kathy Padgham 780-6726978 or Bob Watson AMHC meeting will begin at 10 am with the Zone meeting at 11:30am.

• March 19-21 - Morgans at the Can-Am, Western Fairgrounds- Mary Freeman 519-631-2750 www.canamequine.com
• April - OMHC General Meeting 1:00 pm location TBA Sandra McGinty
• June 5-6 - Lindsay Horses All Equine Fair. Sheila McNaughton
• June 19 - OMHC Open Show All Breeds Welcome! Stephanie Rutherford
• June 26-27 - RCRA Open Breed Show/Morgan Classes Andrea Lehman
• July 3 - Ottawa Valley Light Horse Show Genevieve Kendell-Hayes
• July 17-18 - OMHC Classic @Royal Cdn. Riding Academy. Greg Reeves 905-473-3132 Judge: Tina Porter
• July 17 - Kars Fair/Morgan classes Linda McGowan
• Aug 3-4 - CNE Multi Breed Show Gen Kendell 613-826-0209 or Barb Meyers
• Aug 7 - Sutton Fair or Sutton Fair Office or Val Reeson
• Aug 7 - Navan Fair/Morgan classes Linda McGowan
• Aug 14-15 - RCRA Open Breed Show/Morgan Classes Andrea Lehman
• Sept 4 - Perth Fair/Morgan classes Linda McGowan
• Sept 4 - Shawville Fair/Morgan classes Linda McGowan
• Sept 19 - Richmond Fair/Morgan classes Linda McGowan
• Sept 24 - Lindsay Fair/Morgan classes Val Reeson
• Sept 25 - Carp Fair/Morgan classes Linda McGowan
• Sept 25-26 - RCRA Open Breed Show/Morgan Classes Andrea Lehman
• Oct 2 - Roseneath Fair. Contact Bruce/Alice Murray 905-352-2595
• Oct 3- Markham Fair or Markham Fair Office
• Oct - OMHC general meeting, 1:00 pm location TBA Contact Sandra McGinty
• Dec - OMHC general meeting Turkey Supper! Contact Sandra McGinty

• Feb. - Quebec club AGM - Lisa Oakley or Andre Laurin

• Feb 28- NBMHC AGM Dawn Brown 506-433-5725
• April 24-25 - Riding & Driving Clinic with Valarie Siemer at Porter's Equine Centre, Stewiacke, NS   Contact Gordon Young at 902 883-9908
• May 1-2 - Equine Review Morgan Demo/Club Booth Melissa Mackenzie 506-832-5515
• May 7-9 - Tune Up with Robin Groves Clinic, Hampton, NB Melissa Mackenzie 506-832-5515 or Dawn Brown 506-433-5725
• June 5- Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation Trail Ride at Hobby Horse Farm, Coldbrook, N.S. Fundraiser for the Equine Foundation.Contact:  Leslie Fuller   
• June 19-20 - Sunrise Morgan/Arab Show Dawn Brown 506-433-5725
• July - Salmon River Driving Show
• July 17-18 - Annual NB Morgan Horse Show Sussex, NB Dawn Brown 506-433-5725
• Sep - The NS Morgan Show, Truro, NS Ester MacDonald 902-534-2955
• Oct - Semi-annual NB club meeting, Sussex, NB Dawn Brown 506-433-5725
• Nov. - Semi-annual NS club meeting, 10:30 am Bev Young 902-883-9908

• Click on the link for a listing of US shows US Shows 

News from the American Morgan Horse Association

The Certificate of Service portion of AMHA's registration application, or some functional equivalent, has long been a part of the process required to register a Morgan horse.

Blood Typing, DNA and the Parentage Verification Program
Beginning in February 1972, AMHA made concerted efforts to bring its Registry Rules and Regulations in line with industry standards. In the early days of natural breeding, the stallion owner's signature had been used as a means of supporting the integrity of the registration application. The voluntary use of formalized stallion reports was considered. In 1974, foals of mares exposed to two different stallions within 35 days were required by the registry to be blood typed. Stallion reports also became mandatory with that breeding season.

In 1977, AMHA adopted its random blood typing program, which was first used on a limited basis. As of 1981, AMHA required all producing stallions to be blood typed and a random 1% of foals tested to its sire and dam. In and after 1987 all maiden mares foaling for the first time had to be blood typed. The use of semen transport, frozen semen, and embryo transfer became available in 1980s with the requirement of blood typing of the resulting foal as well as its dam (or donor dam). In 1991, all foals were required to be blood typed before registration, and 1994 saw the requirement of blood typing for all maiden mares, prior to the registration of their foal, come into place. In 2000, AMHA's blood-based program evolved into the DNA-based program currently being used.

Certificate of Service
The first registration applications from the 1920s required certification by the stallion owner that their stallion was bred to a specific mare on or about the stated date of service.

In the 1960s, this certification took the form of a "Breeder's Certificate." This certificate required both the sire owner (or keeper) and dam owner (if it is not the same owner) to sign certifying that a specific Morgan mare was bred to a specific Morgan stallion and the dates of service.

Sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s, the "Breeder's Certificate" was changed to a "Certificate of Service." The mare owner signed to certify that he/she owned a particular mare and bred her by natural service to the stallion mentioned as the sire of the foal for which registration was requested. The stallion owner (if different from the mare owner/lessee) signed to certify that the designated mare was bred by natural service to his/her named stallion on the dates provided.

In the late 1970s, the certification by the mare and stallion owner was split. The mare owner/lessee signed the registration application attesting "I hereby certify the above parentage and particulars are correct to the best of my knowledge and belief." Now the Certificate of Service only required the stallion owner's/lessee's signature, when the applicant was not the owner of both the sire and dam at the time of service.

In 1984, the registration application was amended to reflect the possibility of additional breeding methods. Now the stallion owner/lessee signing a Certificate of Service was certifying that an identified mare was serviced by an identified stallion by AI, hand, embryo transfer, or pasture. All dates on which the mare was covered were to be recorded. The 1986 registration application was further amended to include references to frozen semen and semen transport in the Certificate of Service. In 2003, the wording on the Certificate of Service was changed slightly to read "This is to certify the above mare was bred to the above stallion on list all dates the mare was covered using AI, hand, pasture, frozen semen, semen transport, or embryo transfer." The signature of all stallion owner(s) or lessee(s) at the time of service or owner of frozen semen at the time of use were required.

In 2004, a subcommittee was formed to review the requirement of the stallion owner's signature on the Certificate of Service. The wording current at that time required the stallion owner to certify information that they often could not accurately certify because they routinely had no knowledge regarding the actual use of semen shipped by them or their agent. In 2005, the Registry Committee moved to reword the certification on both the Certificate of Service and the separately required Stallion Service Report to allow the stallion owner to certify information that they were more likely to be able to certify.

The wording on the Stallion Service Report was changed from "I hereby certify that the above named mares were bred to this stallion shown." to "I hereby certify that the above named mares were bred or exposed to this Stallion as shown or if semen from this stallion was shipped it was with the understanding that the mare(s) listed would be inseminated using fresh cooled or frozen semen."

The wording on the Certificate of Service was changed to "1. This is to certify the above mare was bred to the above named stallion on month, day, year using pasture breeding, hand breeding, or AI on the farm; or 2. This is to certify that fresh cooled semen or frozen semen from the above named stallion was shipped on month, day, year for the insemination of the above listed mare. I hereby certify that the above named mare was bred or exposed to the above named stallion as shown or that if semen from this stallion was shipped it was with the understanding that the mare listed would be inseminated using fresh cooled or frozen semen.

In February 2009, the AMHA board voted to remove the Certificate of Service portion from the registration application effective January 1, 2010. In May of 2009, the board voted to remove the Frozen Semen Certificates. The decision to remove the Certificate of Service was upheld during the August 2009 Board meeting; however, the removal of Frozen Semen Certificates was tabled pending further education and research. All other requirements for registration, including the Stallion Service Report and Frozen Semen Certificates and rules, currently remain in effect. DNA analysis proves or disproves the parentage indicated on the registration application. Any additional purpose to be served by requiring a stallion owner's signature seems to be served by requiring either a Stallion Service Report or a Certificate of Service. It does not appear that both are necessary. AMHA has received some correspondence from concerned stallion owners. Some use the requirement for a stallion owner's signature as a means for collection of breeding fees. Others are concerned that semen can be used for multiple breedings without their knowledge. Current AMHA Registry Rules require a properly filed Stallion Service Report for every registration application. If a mare identified as the dam of a foal being registered is not listed on a report, a "red flag" is raised and the AMHA will contact the stallion owner for the additional information or a valid reason why the information is not being provided. Owners of foals produced from frozen semen must provide a properly signed Frozen Semen Certificate with the registration application. In the absence of this information, registration applications may be held up for a reasonable period of time to allow the parties to come to an agreement and provide AMHA with the required information or paperwork to permit registration. Of course, AMHA will abide by court orders related to any registration application.

AMHA encourages stallion owners to protect themselves and their stallions by ensuring they have strong, properly executed breeding contracts. Plans are underway to invite an attorney to speak during the 2010 AMHA Annual Convention on equine contracts as AMHA's way of assisting Morgan owners develop contracts that will help to clearly define their terms for breeding and collection of fees. A forum on frozen semen also will be held. We hope you can attend; however, for those who cannot, audio tapes will be available through AMHA's website following the conference.

Below, we have provided pertinent Registry Rules and Regulations that describe required reports and other requirements for registration of foals that are in effect as of January 1, 2010.

RULE 9 - REQUIRED REPORTS
Section 1: Stallion Service Reports

1. A separate Stallion Service Report shall be filed with the Register for each stallion.
2. A Stallion Service Report must be filed prior to midnight, January 15 of the following year by the recorded owner or recorded lessee at the time of exposure or use of a registered stallion that was exposed to or whose semen was used to inseminate a registered mare anytime during the preceding twelve (12) consecutive months.
3. A Stallion Service Report shall include and distinguish between artificial and natural (hand or pasture breeding) services and transported cooled semen and frozen semen. In the event that frozen semen is used to inseminate a registered mare and the owner of the frozen semen and the owner of the stallion are not the same person(s), the owner of the frozen semen at the time of insemination is required to file a Stallion Service Report prior to midnight, January 15 of the following year.
4. If a stallion is used for breeding at more than one (1) location during a calendar year, a separate Stallion Service Report shall be filed for each location.
5. A late fee will be charged if the Stallion Report is filed after January 15 but before February 15 following the current breeding season, after which an additional late fee will be charged.

RULE 2-REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS effective 1/1/2010
Section 1-B: Applications for foals conceived using Frozen Semen (also see Rule 2, Section 5)

1. All applications for registration must be correctly completed on the official Register form and submitted with the appropriate Register fee.
2. Every application for registration must be completed with the personal signature of the recorded owner or recorded lessee of the dam at the time of foaling.
3. If the owner or lessee of record of the stallion and the owner of the frozen semen are NOT the same, a Frozen Semen Certificate or application issued by the Registry shall be submitted with the registration application.
4. Every person applying for registration of a horse must furnish (at the applicant's expense) a DNA Report and/or a Blood Type Report as may be required pursuant to Rule Two, Section Three.

Section 4: Semen Transport

Before any semen is transported from the location of collection, the owner or lessee of record of every stallion whose semen is collected shall apply for and receive from the Register an Official Semen Transport Permit, and the blood type or DNA analysis report of the stallion shall be recorded with the Register.

Section 5: Frozen Semen

1. Transport of frozen semen shall be in conformance with the requirements of Rule 2, Section 4 above. If, at the time of breeding, the owner or lessee of record of the stallion and the owner of the frozen semen are the same, the owner shall complete the accompanying Breeders Certificate of Service to register the resulting foal. If, at the time of breeding, the owner or lessee of record of the stallion and the owner of the frozen semen are not the same, a Frozen Semen Certificate issued by the Registry shall be submitted with the registration application in lieu of a Breeders Certificate of Service.
2. The owner of frozen semen is required to file a stallion service report in accordance with Rule 9, Section 1.

AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE FROZEN SEMEN CERTIFICATES
This form allows the owner of frozen semen to authorize AMHA to issue the Frozen Semen Certificates in the name of the purchaser listed and to release them directly to the purchaser and is typically used when larger amounts of frozen semen are purchased.

For more information, contact the AMHA Office at info@morganhorse.com