History of the AQHBG

The Alberta Quarter Horse Breeders Group (AQHBG) is an autonomous arm of the Quarter Horses Association of Alberta (QHAA) consisting of Alberta breeders and horsemen who are involved with the Quarter Horses as a business. The prime objectives of the group are to develop, promote, and market quality “Alberta–Bred Quarter Horses” for our use and to sell locally, nationally, and internationally.

During the 1970’s the QHAA made some attempt to promote and market Alberta Quarter Horses, but due to the lack of funds and the focus of most QHAA members on the recreational aspect of the horse, no real progress was made. It became increasingly obvious that the people in Quarter Horses as a business would have to band together and to put up extra money to get the job done. In 1979 a group of eleven breeders put up the extra money , $1000 to $1200 each, and formed a sub-group of the QHAA initially called the QHAA Breeders Promotional Group.

The idea of a common front was favored because:

1. both monetarily and physically the job was too big for individual breeders
2. more horses meant a bigger base on which to build a solid foundation for the “Alberta-Bred” industry
3. little breeders and big breeders, all would gain the advantage of wide spread promotion.

Through the years the structure of the AQHBG has changed and many of the programs have been modified but the basic objectives and goals have remained the same. The AQHBG continues to strive to educate its members on genetics, breeding, conformation, nutrition, training, and health care to produce a quality product that the horse buying public wants. It promotes Quarter Horses and what they can do to the general public. Its marketing program which consists of public auctions sales as well as private sales through inventory listing on the internet web site, printed advertising, and participation in trade shows is built on integrity and honesty.