Our Foundations

National Foundation Quarter Horse Association

Promoting Versatility and Preserving the Quarter Horse of the past for tomorrow

FOUNDATIONS

NFQHA was formed in 1995 and is a full service horse breed association dedicated to preserving and promoting the National Foundation Quarter Horse, while working to retain the original Quarter Horse breed characteristics as described by AQHA founder, Robert Denhardt.

NFQHA has members in all 50 states plus 28 foreign countries.

Courtesy: Robert Dawson photography

As of Dec 31st, 2009 NFQHA has received 33,394 Research / Certification applications and has 13,133 household memberships. (One membership covers all family members at the same address).

National Foundation Quarter Horses were originally known as ‘Bulldogs’ or 'Steeldusts'. These horses were famous for intelligence, kind, willing, trainable dispositions, good bone and foot, extreme hardiness, and natural cow sense - all attributes conducive to Versatility.

Horses registered with AQHA that carry a minimum of 80% Quarter Horse blood, and meet all other NFQHA requirements, are eligible for National Foundation Quarter Horse Certification.

We do the research for you! We research back 11 generations and provide you with a list of every registered TB found.

When your horse is Certified with NFQHA he has a genuine claim to the coveted National Foundation Quarter Horse title, with written proof of his
actual National Foundation Quarter Horse blood percentage.

See examples of NFQHA Foundation Certificate and Blood Analysis Fact Sheet.

To retain the unique and outstanding qualities of the National Foundation Quarter Horse, NFQHA encourages all its members to:

“Breed the Quarter Horse Back into the Quarter Horse”.

The National Foundation Quarter Horse Association’s goal is solely to promote and help perpetuate the Bulldog Type National Foundation Quarter Horse, best known for his Versatility.

NFQHA Philosophies

NFQHA is founded on the philosophy that the more Quarter Horse blood a horse carries, the more Quarter Horse traits it will exhibit. These traits include a high degree of intelligence, a calm, quiet, kind, and willing disposition; and a heavily muscled body with a low center of gravity, carried on sound bone and feet. NFQHA believes these mental and physical traits combine in the National Foundation Quarter Horse to form the world’s most Versatile horse.

NFQHA Principles

NFQHA has a commitment to its members to adhere in every way to the goals and philosophies that it is founded on, and will not deviate from those stated goals and philosophies. NFQHA will at all times promote the Versatility of the National Foundation Quarter Horse, and will not be part of promoting any events that do not further a using, doing, Versatile horse. NFQHA also has a commitment to its members to provide a show environment that promotes equality between exhibitors.

NFQHA Standards

NFQHA will provide standards in its research certification criteria, and standardization in its shows and show rules, to best showcase the unique and valuable Versatile attributes of the Bulldog Type National Foundation Quarter Horse, and provide a friendly show environment for its members.

NFQHA Goals

NFQHA was formed for the sole purpose of promoting and perpetuating the National Foundation Bred Quarter Horse. Each step taken since the inception of the National Foundation Quarter Horse Association, has been made with a commitment to these goals. It is the philosophy of NFQHA that by encouraging people to use and breed National Foundation Quarter Horses that the demand, and thus the future of these wonderful horses will be ensured. To that end, NFQHA is not just “breeder oriented”, or user and show oriented, but a combination of these. A balance between the reputable breeder and the owner that buys and uses these outstanding horses is the position we are striving for, as one relies on the other.

When Robert Denhardt formed AQHA in the early forties it was to preserve the bulldog type horse commonly referred to in those days as Steeldusts, or Bulldogs. These horses exhibited the unique traits of a low center of gravity (length of legs not exceeding the depth of the heart girth), exceptionally heavy muscling, powerful hindquarters, deep ‘V’ between the forelegs, good bone and foot, a quiet trainable disposition, and a high degree of intelligence and natural cow sense. These traits combined to set apart the “Bulldog” as a unique individual easily distinguished from other equine breeds.

That special horse has long endeared itself to its many loyal fans. The conformation that enabled the forerunner of today's Quarter Horse to leave the starting line in a colonial match race with such blazing speed was the same conformation that allowed the later Quarter Horse to catch and turn a cow with so little effort, and to stay sound doing it. The great mind of the early Quarter Horse allowed it to remain calm and cool after as many as 20 false starts in a race, thus remaining competitive. That disposition enables the Quarter Horse to mentally contend with being expected to perform a myriad of duties, and events. The quiet, intelligent National Foundation Quarter Horse can quickly “fire up” to catch a cow, and just as quickly return to a calm, quiet state, saving his (and his rider’s) energy, to complete a full day of hard work.

NFQHA’s show rules have been written with the goal of showcasing the working ability, and versatility, of the National Foundation Quarter Horse, and to provide a friendly, down to earth show atmosphere for National Foundation Quarter Horse owners. The emphasis is at all times on versatility, and no English events are sanctioned. The horses are to be shown in working condition, with natural manes and tails, and in servicable tack. Silver, glitter, and sequins are not allowed, and only the horse is judged, not the handler or rider. Because NFQHA promotes the using horse, blemishes and scars resulting from injury are not penalized.

To retain the unique and outstanding qualities of the National Foundation Quarter Horse, NFQHA encourages all its members to: “Breed the Quarter Horse Back into the Quarter Horse”.

NFQHA Statement of Purpose

Formation