Horse protection act

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AQHA/MQHA RULES/CHANGES

TWO-YEAR RULE RECINDED AT AQHA CONVENTION

March 16: At the American Quarter Horse Association’s annual convention, AQHA’s breeders won one of the most closely watched policy battles in recent memory when AQHA members and directors voted to remove the Two-Year Rule.

Under REG111.6, frozen semen from a stallion could not be used to produce an AQHA-eligible foal more than two calendar years after the stallion’s death or gelding. Under

REG112.9, frozen embryos from a mare could not be used more than two calendar years after her death or sterilization. The rule in question dates back to 2015, and applied to horses foaled that year or later.

Supporters said when AQHA was established in 1940, they were registering a ‘type’ not a ‘breed’ and that type came from a lot of different directions so that there was a lot of genetic diversity in the horses that were registered. The two-year rule, supporters argue, protects genetic diversity.

Supporters also justified the two-year rule since mitochondrial DNA testing can’t fully distinguish between a clone and the original horse (AQHA does not register cloned horse or their offspring). However, researchers at UC-Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory have now validated a method to determine whether a foal comes from an original horse or a clone. The work, funded by AQHA, gives the industry a new tool to verify parentage in situations involving cloned genetics.

Opponents said the rule didn’t protect genetic diversity – that “popular sire syndrome” doesn’t include deceased stallions still breeding a few mares. Instead, it’s the concentration around heavily used, actively promoted stallions breeding hundreds — sometimes thousands — of mares. Opponents contend that being able to use older stallions in breeding programs is critical to supporting greater genetic diversity, rather than limiting it.

Opponents also said it hurt younger breeders and smaller programs. For many smaller breeders, it was about protecting years of work. If a young stallion dies unexpectedly, the frozen semen left behind may be the only thing to keep that breeding program alive. In addition, others argued that placing a strict timeline on genetic use could influence difficult decisions about a horse’s health, potentially delaying euthanasia or necessary procedures in order to preserve breeding eligibility. They also believe that the market should be allowed to dictate what is produced. As more up-and-coming horses prove themselves as performers and producers, they feel that demand will naturally shift.

Some History:

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At the 2000 AQHA Convention, regulations were first introduced permitting the use of frozen semen, but with the limitation that it could not be used beyond the calendar year in which the stallion died.

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In 2001, this restriction was expanded to include stallions that had been gelded.

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In 2002, the rule was eliminated entirely, allowing the use of frozen semen without time limits.

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Between 2011 and 2014, the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee recommended to deny proposals that would allow clones of AQHA horses to be registered.

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In 2025, two proposals were presented, one allowing the use of frozen semen and embryos from this group of horses for 10 calendar years and another allowing it for 20 calendar years. Both rule changes were denied by the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee in 2025, and after a considerable amount of discussion, both proposed rules were rejected by the members.

This year, the proposal to eliminate the rule was first reviewed by the Stud Book and Registration Committee which initially voted against recommending its removal. However, AQHA governance allows members to challenge committee recommendations during the general membership meeting. During that meeting, members in attendance voted in favor of removing the rule. The proposal then advanced to the AQHA Board of Directors, which holds final authority over registration rules. The Board ultimately approved the change, officially eliminating the Two-Year Rule from the AQHA rulebook.

This sequence highlights a key aspect of AQHA governance: even controversial rules can be overturned when enough member support is demonstrated at convention.

https://www.aqha.com/-/frozen-in-time https://www.msn.com/en-us/society-culture-and-history/social-issues/aqha-members-push-for-change-to-controversial-two-year-rule-at-2026-convention/ar-AA1YG1gA

https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/aqha-members-overturn-committee-repeal-two-year-rule/ https://www.horsenation.com/2026/03/17/aqha-drops-the-two-year-rule-reshaping-the-future-of-quarter-horse-breeding/

CONCERNING HORSES

EDCC FEBRUARY STATISTICS

https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/EDCC-February-2026-Statistics

AAEP SPREADSHEET ON VACCINATIONS

https://aaep.org/resource/adult-horse-vaccination-chart/

CONCERNING AGRICULTURE

USDA NIFA LAUNCHES NEW RAPID RESPONSE GRANTS OPPORTUNITY TO COMBAT EMERGING AGRICULTURAL THREATS

March 16, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announces the launch of a new competitive grants program aimed at rapidly addressing emerging and re-emerging pest and disease threats across the nation’s food and agricultural systems.

These grants are available to eligible colleges, universities, and other research organizations.

With a maximum award of $500,000 and a grant duration of 12 to 24 months, the program supports grants for research, Extension, or integrated projects. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, within 180 days of a qualifying pest or disease event, ensuring swift mobilization of resources when threats arise.

Applicants are encouraged to coordinate efforts across institutions and regions, and to contact program staff at afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov with questions regarding project fit. For more information, visit nifa.usda.gov or email afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov