ROCKY MOUNTAIN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION
For over seven decades, RMQHA has epitomized your unwavering passion for the American Quarter Horse. Whether you’re a racer, breeder, shower, rancher, trailblazer, or simply love connecting with fellow enthusiasts and staying abreast of Regional Quarter Horse developments, our association is tailor-made for you. RMQHA assumes a pivotal role in safeguarding and enriching our industry, heritage, education, programs, and events. Join us in our steadfast commitment to championing the American Quarter Horse and supporting our members across the Rocky Mountain region.
Executive Committee
Jimmy Daurio
President
Matt Herrman
Vice President
Kelley Simsonsen
Vice President
Show & Performance
Howie Chavers
Immediate Past President
Larry Terrell
Treasurer
Jill Cook, DMV
Youth
RMQHA Committees
Membership, Media & Marketing Committee
Matt Herrman
(Chair)
Tanner Isaacs
Liz Wilson
Lindsey Brackle
Judy Worrell
Jodie Witt
Financial & Budget Committee
Larry Terrell
(Chair)
Kelley Simonsen
Daniel Barron
Hall of Fame Selection Committee
Jan Guynn
(Chair)
Matt Herrman
Suzy Johnson
Marvin Kapushion
Leslie Lange
Victor Cervantes
Convention Committee
Jodie Witt
(Chair)
Alma Olivas
Lindsey Brackle
Kellie Stoll
Brenda Berlin
Bylaw Committee
Shaun Gloude
(Chair)
Larry Terrell
Kathy Stoker
Executive Committee
Jimmy Daurio
President
Matt Herrman
Vice President
Kelley Simsonsen
Vice President
Show & Performance
Howie Chavers
Immediate Past President
Larry Terrell
Treasurer
Jill Cook, DMV
Youth
RMQHA Committees
Membership, Media & Marketing Committee
Matt Herrman
(Chair)
Tanner Isaacs
Liz Wilson
Lindsey Brackle
Judy Worrell
Jodie Witt
Financial & Budget Committee
Larry Terrell
(Chair)
Kelley Simonsen
Daniel Barron
Hall of Fame Selection Committee
Jan Guynn
(Chair)
Matt Herrman
Suzy Johnson
Marvin Kapushion
Leslie Lange
Victor Cervantes
Convention Committee
Jodie Witt
(Chair)
Alma Olivas
Lindsey Brackle
Kellie Stoll
Brenda Berlin
Bylaw Committee
Shaun Gloude
(Chair)
Larry Terrell
Kathy Stoker
Bylaws
The Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association (“Association”) is composed of members who are interested in every phase of the industry. Through its direct affiliation with the American Quarter Horse Association (“AQHA”) and by working in conjunction with such organizations as the American Horse Council and the Colorado Horsemen’s Council, the Association is continually striving to help the horseman.
The Association has the distinction of being one of the oldest active regional affiliations of AQHA, celebrating 70 years of the organization in 2016. Many of the same individuals who organized AQHA were also instrumental in founding this organization. With this rich heritage and in the same tradition of foresight and determination that made the quarter horse registry the largest in the world.
The Association offers a broad-based program of activities that encompasses the entire Quarter Horse industry. Whatever area of interest you might have or wish to participate in, you will find and be able to play an active part in it.
The Association abides by all AQHA Rules and Regulations as published and stated in the AQHA Handbook.
Bylaws (PDF)
The Association has a representation of Directors on the AQHA Board from the State of Colorado.
The purpose of the Association shall be to promote the breeding, raising, and ownership of American Quarter Horses through quality horse show events, racing opportunities, ranching and recreational activities, and educational programs.
Jill Cook, DMV
I am serving as a RMQHA Race Director because RMQHA and horse racing in Colorado has been an important part of my life and I want to do what I can to improve racing opportunities here. I am an equine veterinarian and started Royal Vista Equine with my late husband Vaughn in 1990. We offered equine reproductive services and stood many top race stallions including Super De Kas, Rocket Wrangler, Special Leader, and Moon Lark just to mention a few. The facility in Fort Collins continues to offer reproductive services as it is leased to Vista Equine Colorado.
We also raced horses both here in Colorado and in many other parts of the country. I think Colorado is a great place to raise top quality race horses and I strive to have better and more fair racing here.
Our daughters Bailey and Jamie showed extensively and one of my favorite things was being a “show mom” and watching them compete. Now my hobby is riding and showing reining.
I am also an AQHA national director and serve on the AQHA Racing committee as well as the director of the RMQHA Foundation. In addition, I serve on the CSU Research Advisory Committee for racing research funds.
Please contact me with questions or suggestions. We need more people involved in preserving our racing industry.
Larry Terrell
Larry Terrell is a lifelong Western Colorado native who lives in Loma, Colorado, just west of Grand Junction. He is a retired CPA from the largest accounting firm in Western Colorado, where he specialized in taxation for natural resources as well as farm and ranch operations.
Larry earned his first Colorado Quarter Horse racing license in 1979, racing primarily on the Colorado fair circuit during his early years. Over time, his racing career expanded across Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, where he achieved his greatest success.
He has also served as Vice President of the race division for the Western Slope Quarterhorse Association, where the association sponsored and managed a 12-day fair circuit race meet, further supporting and growing the sport in the region.
Howie Chavers
I am Howie Chavers. I have degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science. I have been a racehorse trainer for 37 years. My love for horses is the passion that drives me to accomplish any task.
Kelley Simonsen
Kelley Simonsen has been showing in RMQHA shows for close to 40 years as an Amateur exhibitor. Raised in the suburbs of Washington DC her early efforts were focused on English classes. After winning a Western show saddle at the Colorful Colorado AQHA show in Estes Park in the mid-go's she ventured into the Western classes as well. Today she competes as a Select Amateur in the core All-Around classes.
Kelley served on the Board of RMQHA for many years, serving as Vice President of the Show Division from 2013-2016 and as RMQHA President from 2017-2018. With a background in Accounting her focus has been on the financial health of the Association. She is now an Honorary Vice President and currently serves as RMQHA's Treasurer. .
Matt Herrman
My name is Matt Herrman, I am the Ranch Manager for the D&G Ranch LLC located in Platteville, Colorado. The D&G Ranch has been breeding, raising and racing Quarter Horses since the mid 1980’s across three generations. During this time horses bred by the ranch have accumulated numerous awards locally, regionally and nationally for their accomplishments on the racetrack with earnings of over one million dollars.
Throughout my time involved in the horse industry I have served on the RMQHA race board for over 15 years, the Colorado Horseman’s Association board for 3 years, RMQHA Race Vice President for two years and am currently on my 4 th year as an AQHA director. I have dedicated most of my life to the advancement and protection of the equine industry both locally and nationally.
I hold a Bachelor’s of Science degree with an emphasis in business marketing, and a Master’s Degree with an emphasis in Business Management. During my career, I have worked in advertising and marketing on both the agency side as well as the client side. Currently I am a professional farrier servicing over 80 clients and approximately 250 horses in the Denver Metro area. This allows me to keep my fingers on the pulse of the horse industry across multiple disciplines on a daily basis.
In my free time I am a volunteer high school football coach and enjoy supporting my two sons in their activities such as football, baseball, wrestling and theatre. My wife Amy is an elementary school principal in our hometown of Platteville. We are blessed to raise our family on the D&G Ranch property established in 1997 by longtime RMQHA members and my grandparents Richard and Genevieve Herrman. I look forward to the opportunity to continue my service on the RMQHA race board of directors.