The American Quarter Horse Association is excited to announce the release of OnlineStable.com, a comprehensive, inclusive and all-breeds record-keeping system to help youth stay engaged in the equine industry. AQHA hopes this digital filing cabinet will encourage easy record-keeping from any mobile device and be an accessible and affordable way to reduce clutter, and motivate youth to keep track of any horse-related accomplishments. The system is designed to make life (county record books, scholarship applications and resume builders) easier, and provide a way to support youth involvement with horses.

How did it begin?

At the 2011 AQHA Convention, members voiced concern about declining youth involvement in the horse industry. Immediate action was taken to conduct several months of in-depth research to determine the void in the horse industry, and to address innovative and all-breeds-inclusive ways to reverse the overall decline.

What was learned?

Upon completion of this research, AQHA in 2012 developed a group of advisers comprising the AQHA Youth Activities Committee, the American Youth Horse Council, Certified Horsemanship Association, The United States Pony Clubs Inc. and university extension equine specialists. This group has been reviewing research, raising money and fine tuning products for age-appropriate markets to make the horse and horse activities more available, accessible and affordable to today’s fast-paced and digital family lifestyle.

Along the way, two distinct age groups were introduced and attention was given to develop an all-breeds program for the youngest age group, 5- to 9-year-olds, and to find new innovative programs to keep 10- to 19-year-olds engaged in the horse industry.

Where it is now.

OnlineStable.com was developed to keep 10- to 19-year-olds engaged in horse activity. Additionally, AQHA understands today’s active youth may also manage a different species of livestock, registrations and memberships. OnlineStable.com is designed with this in mind. Today, youth can add cattle, swine and sheep. More species will be added as they grow in popularity and new features will be introduced throughout 2014.

OnlineStable.com gives youth the ability to record everything, have it in one place, and make completing annual record books, scholarship applications, college applications and resumes much easier.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter, watch the AQHA Newscast and visitwww.aqha.com/news.