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What
is the purpose or goal of ATHA?
The American Trail Horse
Association, Inc., was designed to meet the needs of
today's Trail Riders, by providing Identification, Registration,
Certification and Acknowledgement to all trail equines,
regardless of color, breed, size or bloodlines. How
does this work?
For Unregistered equines, ATHA provides registration,
proof of ownership and identity. To equines that are
registered in other breed associations, ATHA provides
a Sport/Performance registry based on ability.
Why
Register Trail Horses?
Some of the world's best horses are Trail Horses!
In a poll done by Horse Illustrated Magazine, March
2002, and recently redone by the American Horse Council
in 2004, the world was shown that Today's rider, no
matter what discipline, trail ride most often. It may
be with just friends and family, a local club, as stress
relief alone, or even professional competitive trail/endurance.
With this in mind, a vast majority of the best, calmest,
most surefooted equines partners never recieve the acknowledgement
they so deserve. They are known as "Just a Trail
Horse". Even though they have no traceable breed
papers or bloodlines nor compete in any shows or competitions,
this shouldn't be reason to label them less a horse
as often occurs. These trusty companions are not grade
or generic in any way in our lives, as It takes a great,
trusting equine to be a trail horse. Many horses try
to be Trail Horses, but are not.
The
Truth about Trail Horses
Because of the high demand in good calm horses, polls
also show that most stolen horses are un-papered, unidentifiable
horses. With this in mind, ATHA put into effect a bridle
tag system and branding program, and now new in 2005,
the ATHA microchip program. With your registry papers,
your trail equine gets a bridle/halter tag with their
registry number and a toll free number to ATHA. Here
at ATHA, we keep all equine info in a computer database.
If your equine gets lost, missing, or stolen, we can
get pictures and detailed info to your local police
dept., auction houses, slaughter, etc... FAST! With
our branding loan program, you can have your equine
Freeze Branded by your local vet for an easily seen
and identifying ATHA brand. Equines with this mark can
be identified right away in a herd, as Registered American
Trail Horses. So...if someone buys your equine at auction,
and traces it's history thru ATHA, it will come back
to you. Giving your equine, a past, and a future!
Why
Brand your equine?
With a deposit, ATHA will send you the official Association
iron for freeze branding your equine. Now you wonder,
“Why would I brand with this, instead of a personal
brand?" Well, one thing is: Who will ID your personal
brand and know it’s yours? An Association brand
is more easily seen and identified. If you’re
at an auction or slaughter pen, and you see a breed/association
brand, you know that the association has a past record
on that horse. Personal brands are forgotten and only
valid in the state YOU register the brand in. Also,
many states don't register freeze brands, only hot brands.
And if you don’t re-register the brand every year
for the rest of your horse’s life, or your sold
horse’s life, then it’s lost. Or, if the
horse crosses the border, there’s no way to track
the brand in another state. Having your horse branded
prevents horse thieves from not only taking, but from
selling your equine to auction or slaughter. Most states
require proof of relinquished ownership. Meaning they
call/contact you to verify that you sold the equine
for whatever reason. By some laws they cannot accept
a branded equine without this. (of course, some places/states
overlook this, but we hope not) ATHA keeps record of
your equine for life. We are very precise in every detail
of your equine, down to three little white hairs on
a knee cap. If someone was to acquire your equine, We,
as an Association have a good chance to identify who
the equine is, by those small little marks. With this
and the help of Net Posse, the internet based International
Stolen Horse Association; ATHA hopes to recover lost
and stolen equines, FAST!
Special
note :
As of 2003, ATHA's brand symbol has been recognized
and recorded in the State of Illinois. ATHA is the first
freeze brand ever recorded in the State of Illinois,
who will start registering all freeze brands. (Be sure
to check with your state for YOUR branding laws BEFORE
branding your equine!) In 2004, several more states
were added and registered with the ATHA brand!
No matter if you brand with an association brand or
a personal brand, make sure you do something to identify
your equine in case his/her looks are altered or changed,
after being lost or stolen.
New
for 2006
As we once again listen to the trail riders of the world,
ATHA is happy to announce the start of its ATHA Youth
Program! For pleasure trail riding to 4H trail trials,
ATHA will be promoting Youth in Trail Riding like no
other Association. Special rates and prizes keep them
interested and learning more and more about today’s
breeds, care and horse handling. ATHA’s 7 Stamps
of Excellence Program continues to be a Top choice for
4H leaders to use with teaching their equine loving
4Hers about horses, and basic horse training. The levels
are easy to attain for beginners to let them achieve
on their own by actually working their equines themselves
in the privacy of their own barn. More details will
come as a new board is established for the ATHA Youth
Program. Stay tuned!
Continuing
for 2005
In 2005, ATHA once again survives to have all trail
horses identified all over the world, and we have joined
forces to get horse’s micro chipped! Now make
your equine identification process complete with Micro
Chipping your equine for maximum theft protection! For
those who don't like the idea of an obvious freeze brand
on your equine's left hip, ATHA has Teamed up with AVID/HorseTRAC
to have Trail Horses micro chipped. The sterile packs
of preloaded syringes, can be done by horse owner or
a vet, and are registered thru AVID/HorseTrac and ATHA
for MAXIMUM identification and horse protection. The
AVID EQUINE chip can be read by any 125 kHz scanner
(AVID, HomeAgain, Destron, etc), and AVID has donated
a Scanner for ATHA headquarters in Illinois, near the
Cavel Slaughter Facility. As the microchips go out into
other areas and locations through out the U.S., ATHA
scanners will be available thru area ATHA Reps. The
AVID Microchip pak thru ATHA is an inexpensive way to
identify your equine in case of lost, theft and tragedy.
(like the CA forest fires...)
In addition to the ATHA microchip, new to only ATHA
members...the HORSEcard! This is a plastic, wallet-sized
ID card that identifies horse and owner. Customized
with owner info and chip number, it also includes ATHA's
logo, info and your equine's picture! A must have for
trail riders traveling from state to state! Show ownership
of the equines' in your trailer, with details and a
picture on a credit card style card!
Think
you own a Trail Horse?
By polling today's trail riders, ATHA has found out
what they look for and need out of a true Trail Horse.
With that information, ATHA came up with the 7 Stamps
of Excellence Program. With this program, in conjunction
with "Trail Horse Trials", photos, vhs tapes,
and local state representatives, owners can prove their
trail horse's abilities to everyone and have these accomplishments
"Stamped" on the back of their Trail Equine's
registry papers! This way future and current owners
have Proof of Ability that has been witnessed and proven.
The levels start simple enough for foals and beginner
riders to accomplish, than progressively get harder.
Members work at their own rate, as there should be no
rush for quality trail horse training. Use the checklist
provided with your papers to set your goals and pace.
Many 4H children use this program as an introduction
to basic trail class and competitions.
What
about Trail advocacy and conservation?
This is a common question asked to ATHA staff and Reps.
ATHA in the past has supported several different trail
advocacy programs, thru our Trail Mileage Program. A
percentage of the proceeds from registered members went
to THEIR local state trail advocacy/conservation program(s).
We personally leave the trail issues to the professionals,
the groups that have been doing it for years. Our commitment
is to conserving Trail Horses, and of course without
trails, there are no trail horses. By joining the Trail
Mileage Program in 2005, YOU support ELCR, the Equestrian
Land Conservation Resource. (www.elcr.org) as they continue
to help keep horses on trails.
What
do we see in ATHA’s future?
Our Future plans are developing and changing constantly.
New members bring new ideas and we welcome all ideas.
Each day our staff, members, and Reps come up with great
ways to acknowledge Trail Horses everywhere.
Current
available items include:
Message
Forum - get advice
/ information from other trail riders and find state
trail ride listings
Web-Ring
and Site - Ring member - find other
trail horse related web sites
Email list
for Local Reps - find a local rep in
YOUR area
Email News
- a Yahoo group email feature, bringing you news
and updates for ATHA nationally
State Email
News - every state has a ATHA Yahoo
email group
Trails listed
by Local Reps - find
out which to try and which to forget
Emailed Applications
- print them out, send them in, even email the pics!
Horse Fest
booths and demos - talk one on one with
ATHA Staff at most Fests and Expos
Approved
trail rides - have a Rep attend, and
get everyone qualified, or attend one yourself
Rep Program
- become a Rep and receive ATHA Rep benefits, including
referral bonuses
In the Spotlight
- join us as we “Salute” a Trail
Horse in our Association-yours may be next!
ATHA
Merchandise - get your favorite association
wearable's at our online store
24 hour email
service - email one of our Reps 24-7,
call toll-free during business hours
Halter/bridle
tag - helping to recover missing horses
fast! Info can be sent, emailed, or faxed at anytime,
everywhere. Also, ATHA is a member of Stolen Horse International
“Net Posse”.
Freeze branding
- our freeze branding loan program, allows us
to send the ATHA iron to your vet or personal freeze
brander for use.( Check with your state for branding
laws BEFORE branding!)
Micro
chipping - Identification for the new
century. A must have for every horse owner.
Trail Mileage
Program - keep track of your trail miles.
Earn patches and support ELCR
Discount
Program - get great discounts from ATHA
supporters and affiliates
Projects
currently in progress:
Online searchable Database -
find out more about a registered trail horse
Stud Book
- top trail horse stallions, proven to ATHA Reps!
Searchable
Stud Section for Breeders -
find a Trail Horse Stallion, proven in his Trail ability
Classifieds
- find Trail Horses for sale, as well as prospects (right
now in message forum)
Online knowledge
center for Trail Riding and Horse care
- all your equine info in one place
These are just the tip of the
iceberg when it comes to what the future will hold for
us. If you would like to see some of your ideas come
true or are interested in becoming a Sponsor for the
American Trail Horse Association, please contact us.
ATHA offers several affordable sponsor packages from
online listings to print ads, discounts and events.
Last
Thoughts from ATHA
Welcome to a bright new future for all Trail Equines.
No longer will your "Trail Horse" be grade,
generic, or stock! Or your registered equine, be just
based on its bloodlines, instead of its true proven
abilities! A new breed is hitting the world by storm.
A breed based on ability and performance, not looks
or bloodlines. A breed of companions, best friends,
and beloved equines, of all breeds, pure or cross, all
colors, all sizes, all types. With this, we start a
new breed of equine.
American
Trail Horses
Remember, in the beginning, all equines were
crossed with other breeds to become the "Breed"
they are today. They were all crossed to obtain the
very best qualities from each breed and that's what
makes them what they are. We hope you enjoy your first
hand look at a promising future for Trail Horse Riding
and one of the fastest growing Associations in the equine
world today....
The American
Trail Horse Association.
Regards,
ATHA Staff
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