Meet a Few of Your ICAA Officials

 As a child, I begged for a horse, but it wasn't until I was 12 years old that I finally talked my parents into it. My first horse was a registered buckskin Mustang mare and she was in foal by a little known Appaloosa named Number 7. At that time, the ApHC allowed a Mustang cross to be registered. That was the beginning of a lifetime love affair with the Appaloosa.

I was born and raised in Indiana, but never cared to stay. In the late '80s I left and have only been back for short stays. Since then, I've lived in Guam, Louisiana, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, and currently I live in west Texas, after having moved from a 100,000 acre cattle ranch in New Mexico to a new piece of property the ranch owner bought.  

When I lived in Idaho, I had what I still consider to be my dream job. I worked for a few years at the ApHC in the registration department. I had the awesome task of looking at baby pictures all day long, along with a smattering of adult horses here and there. I did descriptions and send-out mostly, but also learned to do all of the other jobs surrounding registration, such as stallion reports, listings, transfers, pedigree updates, etc. I was there to register the first baby of the new millennium. One of my biggest regrets in life is that I left Idaho, and so my job there.

I met Dave Higgins in a rather odd fashion. One day, while doing send-out at the ApHC, a gorgeous buckskin leopard named Sapelos Mr June Bug came across my desk, and I noticed the owner was in Shipshewana, IN. I slipped a note in saying how much I loved the horse, and that I used to haul cattle up to Shipshewana. What would be a lifelong friendship was born, until Dave's passing in 2020, and I was immersed into the world of ICAA.

I do not show and have never had the desire to. I get bored quickly in an arena and just want to say, "Open the gate!" My love is to ride into God's country, as far back as the trails will take me, the rougher the better. That has always been my passion and challenge. I've ridden in the mountains of Arkansas, in the extremely rough and rocky mountains of Southeastern Oklahoma, in Brown County State Park of Indiana, in the mountains of Northern Idaho, and in many other much less spectacular places. 

I've bred Appaloosas, Quarter Horses, Paints, and a few Miniatures over the years, with a passion for the cow bred Appaloosas and Quarter Horses. There is nothing like watching a new foal come into this world and get up on those wobbly legs for the first time. Currently I'm not breeding, but I do miss the babies.

My name is Amanda Hubbert and I, along with my husband Anthony have owned HH Appaloosa Ranch in Deer Park, WA since 2018! We proudly stand foundation Appaloosas and strive to breed F4 and above, 100% Foundation babies! This year being our first big year we were blessed with two striking foals! A colt, HHA Twisted Iron, ICAA registered and proudly owned now by Holly Turney, and a filly, HHA Socks To Be You, ICAA pending, retained for our program! Both foals are F4 via ICAA and 100% foundation pedigree designation via APHC. We also have our foundation and ICAA registered stallion, The Prince Of Jokers, a 2 year old, 15.2 hand sorrel few spot along with newly obtained Jr stallion, BCA Zamos Replica! 

I have loved the Appaloosa since I was 5 years old. My love started with my mother’s purchase of Miss Rattler B, granddaughter to Joker B, by Joker’s Red Rattler. This beautiful, intelligent mare went on to win many classes shown from Western Pleasure to Gymkhana games proving the versatile abilities of the Appaloosa horse. Her many foals were just as willing and intelligent as she was. Many, many years later I am proud to own and stand some related to my mother’s Appaloosa, three so far registered with ICAA. 

I first learned of the ICAA through Charles Potts when I went to Blue Creek Appaloosas to cross two of my mares with two of his stallions, Poplars Zamocha, now owned by Verna Roberts, and BCA Chats Yamahawk, still retained by Charles at this time. Upon learning of the registry, I felt it was important to my ranch and my horses to register them with ICAA. We have since registered three of my five Appaloosas. The imperativeness of registering our Appaloosas with ICAA ensures my horses will be in the records for all time, leaving a legacy and value that I couldn’t give them without ICAA. When you choose one of our babies, you get ICAA along with them! 

This has imprinted upon me the desire and realization to help ICAA where I can. As a District Representative, I want to find new ways and avenues to spread the word, recruit additional members, and get those members to register their eligible Appaloosas! I will promote the ICAA on our Ranch site, at local shows and by having membership forms and accessible information on why it’s so important to bring eligible horses into our registry. 

I believe I have a firm grasp on what ICAA strives to bring to the Appaloosa community, and I can only hope to be one of the cheerleaders for our precious Appaloosas. I am a member and regular attendee of the local Palouse Empire Appaloosa Club through APHC, a proud member since 2018, along with my son. I have been a proud member of ICAA since 2019 and have supported the club in ever way, making many friends along the way. If I can be of help to the members in my District (District VII), please contact me.

30718 N Cleveland Rd, Deer Park, WA 99006, 760-905-0130

Email: turtle_love@ymail.com

  My name is Conny Riedel and I have been interested in the Appaloosa breed since the day I met my first horse, an Appaloosa mare named High Hand Rosie. We both moved from Germany to the States in 2003 and in the following years, I bred her twice and she answered my hopes in giving me a stallion and a mare.
 

I met my now-husband in 2014 and he has been a tremendous help with all the horses from foal to mare to stallion. I don’t think he was aware of what he was going to marry into when he met me.
 

Having worked as an ICU technician in a big Equine clinic for the past 6 years, I had the opportunity to watch what a good breeding can accomplish and also how a bad breeding can fail. I am a firm believer in not breeding horses that have a genetic defect and have found in the ICAA an association that believes in pure breeding and doesn’t get swayed by the money that is attained by breeding HYPP and Herda Carrier horses, as the bigger associations are. I was also dismayed in finding that many Appaloosa World and National Champions are no more than glorified Thoroughbreds or Quarter Horses with spots.
 

I am thrilled to be involved in an organization that believes in the Appaloosa Breed and excited in the possibilities that are ahead of us. Please feel free to contact me with any questions and concerns you may have.

Conny Riedel, 751 Cowboys Ln, Springtown, TX 76082, (817) 583-4904
Email:Horsememories@hotmail.com

 I was raised with and have spent most of my life with horses.  My father owned his own outfitting business for many years and our family continued to own and use horses after the outfit was sold.  He also had a logging business and used horses to skid logs.  Both parents were accomplished horsemen.  When a new horse was needed for the outfit it was not uncommon to go out in the bush and catch a wildie, bring it home tame and train it.

I broke out/trained my first horse at age 7.  He was a little black sheltand pony and it was quite the memorable experience.  By that time, I had been riding for several years and of course, mom oversaw the whole procedure.

I began riding my very OWN horse at the end of my 7th year (in October).  He was a sweet little pinto fellow, approximately 14.2 HH, nothing fancy, just a little bush horse my parents got from a local Indigenous man, Felix Plante.  Couldn't have got a better horse anywhere.  We did everything together – trail riding, camping, gymkhana, guiding, rodeo, ponying, parades.......  We were together for 32 years.  Still miss him today.  He was a very spirited, athletic little horse who taught me to “ride” or hit the dirt!  Super quick on his feet.  As we couldn't afford saddles, the first several years were strictly bareback.

As I grew, I began starting horses over my teenage years with my mom.  Guess I bounced better and healed quicker than she, LOL!  She often purchased youngsters and we started or retrained them and sold them.  It was her way of earning her own money.

My husband and I purchased our farm in 1994 and began our own breeding program in 1995.  I had always been in love with the Appaloosa horse so it was a dream come true to be able to breed my own!  Our mission was to produce high quality horses and increase the Appaloosa genetics.  We wanted to raise, train and sell our product.  As it turned out, we often had trouble keeping youngsters around long enough to train them to saddle!  We have sold horses around the country and the world – first horse to be sold to Greece from Canada, have horses in most provinces, many in the USA, one in England, and two in Switzerland.  To date, I have started all of my own colts.  But, now I find my age catching up to me and due to stiffness in my joints that slows my reactions down too much, I require someone else to do the starting for me.  This is a very hard thing to do, entrust my youngsters to someone else.  But, sometimes we just have to make the hard choices and I have been blessed to have found a gem of a trainer.

I also am an Animal Health Tech. Graduated from the Fairview College program in 1978 working off and on in the veterinary industry (then steady 1996 to 2012) until my retirement.

I earned my Level 2 English and Western Instructor Certification with the Certified Horsemanship Association in 2001.  I instructed private lessons and clinics until retiring.  I will still help people once in awhile that need it.  I am very successful at helping riders with fear issues.  I no longer have a breeding program, just a few of our product kept for riding.  Attending clinics over the summer is my favourite pastime now.  It is fun to learn, improve my horsemanship skills and enjoy the company of same minded horse people.

All of my herd that qualify are now registered with ICAA, all are n/n for the genetic diseases and three have been tested positive for the gait gene.  All are started under saddle and I continue to extend their training levels.  I lost my harness mare last year so am looking forward to starting another in 2020.  I enjoy promoting our ICAA horses at every opportunity and will continue to do so as often and as loudly as possible!

My name is Michelle Vega. I have had an interest in Appaloosas since I was a small child and at the age of 14, my dream came true. He was a grade grey leopard gelding that deepened my love of the breed with his heart and spirit. Chip was 3 when I bought him and stayed with me till he passed at 29 from cancer. Although I have had many breeds (drafts, ponies, mules), I had continued with my love of Appaloosas until 2015. After a few years without horses, I was once again blessed to have Appaloosas in my life again. SpiritWolf, my husband, saw my longing for a loud colored colt that had caught my interest and we went to see him. While there, he was chosen by a beautiful filly and he was hooked. With my husband’s support and interest, WillowWolf Appaloosas came to be. 

I had been a district representative in New England many years ago when David Higgins and Candace Brown were still with us. Candace Brown was a fan of my artwork and printed a version on the cover of the ICAA Report foal issue, Spring/Summer issue 2000. I moved to Kentucky in 2018 and have been here building my dream with my husband’s support. I would love to help others build their dreams as well.

My name is Meaghan Monahan, and I'm a bit of an 'App-aholic'. I moved to CO from MA  in 2009 to pursue a Bachelors in Equine Sciences at Colorado State University. Starting the spring of my Freshman year, I was lucky enough to stumble upon an opportunity to work for and learn from a living history book of the Appaloosa horse, Mr. Al Maxey. He had dedicated his life to produce 'original' Appaloosas that were as loud of personality as of coat color; which he rode on the Chief Joseph ride for 25+ years. I was quickly indoctrinated into the culture of versatility and capability that is the Appaloosa and gifted with hours of oral history that he had collected as a park ranger in Yellowstone or in his pursuit of research. His family established, and I manage, the 'C.A Maxey Appaloosa Heritage Foundation' dedicated to furthering education about the amazing breed and their heritage.  

Outside of my work with the CAMAHF, I am also an Anesthesia Veterinary Technician with the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a focus on pre-clinical research. This is more than a job to me, it's an opportunity to be a part of the amazing medical discoveries that can change our world for animals and humans.

Living in the Foothills of Colorado I am exploring the world of NATRC (North American Trail Riding Conference), ApHC in-hand and ridden shows, Eventing, Pairs Paces, Packing/outfitting, and more with the amazing Appaloosas I am lucky enough to call 'partner'. We have 4 generations on site, and I want to promote the breed that is so sound /capable that grandmas are consistently being ridden with their grand-foals led at their sides on trail rides. 

The ICAA's missions speak to my personal beliefs and personal efforts. I want to be an active, public supporter of the ICAA and to reach out to those who may not be aware of the organization or understanding the efforts of this group of enthusiasts.

Howdy, thinking I'll make this bio short as we're told the average human has an attention span of less than 10 seconds.  The first horse came to me as a 13 yr old, bought by my mom as 'birth control' and boy did that work!  She was an Appaloosa mare that I rode all over rural San Diego back when there were rural parts.  She was a total babysitter.  Arabians and competitive trail riding in Kansas came next.  Followed by lots of wild mustangs and a draft, here in W. Washington.  Somewhere in there, I received degrees in AgBusiness and AgEconomics, and then Diagnostic Medical Sonography ("ultrasound tech").  

At 60, I realized I didn't bounce as well as I used to and decided the gentle, easy-going, spotted babysitter of my childhood was what I really needed.  Got a leopard PJA foundation bred mare and rode her all over the forested mountains of our beautiful state.  Then I met Charles Potts of Blue Creek Appaloosas whose beautiful, high-quality, high percentage foundation Appaloosas stole my heart.  Charles introduced me to ICAA and their simple system of generation counting, which was greatly appealing to me.  Graciously, Charles sold me an F5 mare in foal for an F6.  This spring, the fledgling Olympic Appaloosas had its first 2 foals, an F5 and an F6. Our goal is to continue to upwards climb to "purebred" Appaloosa status while not sacrificing health, temperament, movement, or color. 

We have 4 foundation Appaloosas, 1 mustang, and 1 pony in a suburban setting.  Due to limited space and metabolic issues with the mustang, we have set up a track system.  This preserves the small amount of poor-quality pasture we have, provides a mud-free environment, and allows our horses 24/7 movement in a herd setting.  All on about 3.5 acres! 

My fascination is color genetics and non-conventional horse keeping.  I'd love to help educate breeders on how to interpret the alphabet soup of color test results so we can all be on the same page when we say we have a black, bay, or red Appaloosa.   And if anyone needs tips on managing equines on small spaces and especially, in very wet environments, please contact me. 

jsjordan2011@yahoo.com

(360) 461-9993

I live in Orem Utah. 

I have loved horses my entire life!  When I would watch shows on TV or in the movie theater and there was a horse I was more interested in the horse than the story unfolding on the screen.  

When I was 11 my uncle had a ride a mare Smokey.  It was the first horse I had ever ridden.  I found out after that it was also the first time anyone rode Smokey.  She was an Appaloosa mare and I was hooked!  She had a foal the next year and I was ecstatic to find out that the foal was my birthday present on my 12th birthday.  He was a bay with a blanket and spots.  Champion was my buddy for several years!  We rode Smokey and Champion for several years during which I studied the history behind the Appaloosas and became an even bigger fan!

At present I have a Foundation bred Toby mare that traces back to Toby 10 times.  She is a wonderful bay with a beautiful log black mane and tail!  Wendy is great!  I am completely sold out on the ICAA theme of the Blood Breed Appaloosa!  We want to get back to as close to the original Appaloosa of the Neemepoo as possible.  These horses are gentle and tough as they come!  I love their resilience!  We have a golden Opportunity to show the world what a unique and wonderful breed the Appaloosa is.  The Appaloosa is not a colored Thoroughbred, Arabian, or Quarter Horse, it is a unique and special American Breed!  After the economic problems of the last few years world wide, we have the great privilege of offering true value in a unique and historically rich breed as well as a great family friendly horse that can do anything we want them to do!  One of the true all around horses there are today!

I am Ron Seamons, proudly ICAA District Rep.  Please get with me and together we can build a great ICAA hub in the intermountain west!

Ron