January 8, 2008 AQHA REACHES 5 MILLION The American Quarter Horse Association, the world’s largest equine breed registry and membership organization,  has reached the 5 millionth registration milestone. Registration number 5,000,000 is being held for Shelly  Nielsen of Alberta, Canada, who purchased the naming rights through an online auction. At 3:36:01 p.m. CST on December 26, AQHA completed registration number 4,999,999 and assigned the number to  Slash Nic, a bay roan stallion owned by Julie Ann Boer of Rigby, Idaho.  Nielsen, who is an AQHA Life Member, was the highest bidder of the online auction that was held for the 5  millionth registration number. While the special American Quarter Horse that will be AQHA’s number 5,000,000  hasn’t been born yet, Nielsen’s bid of $8,750 will benefit many horses through the American Quarter Horse  Foundation as the auction proceeds will be donated to the Foundation’s Equine Research Fund. Since 1979, AQHA and AQHF have provided more than $6 million in equine research grants to numerous colleges  and universities. In 1994, a permanent fund was established with a long-term goal of $5 million for equine  research for the prevention and cure of equine diseases and injuries. “We are very excited to welcome Shelly Nielsen’s new foal into the registry as number 5,000,000,” said AQHA  Executive Vice President Bill Brewer. “We are very grateful for our valuable members who helped us reach this  monumental accomplishment. As the only equine organization worldwide to reach this number, we are proud to be  the registry of the world’s most popular and versatile horse.” “My husband, Steve Brown, was the one that really wanted the 5 millionth registration number,” Shelly says.  “He was really excited and followed the bidding until it closed. “When our foals arrive this spring, we will determine which one will be the best to have the number,” says the  AQHA Professional Horsewoman, who trains reiners, and pleasure and working cow horses. “We are probably going  to name the foal Wynns Five Million, after our 21-month-old son, Wynn. Besides, ‘Wynn’ also sounds like ‘win.’ “

Copyright:  Alberta Equestrian Federation

5/17/2008 : 3:32:39 AM