AQHA - Show Leveling
The
American Quarter Horse Journal, October 3, 2011 –
In late July, the American Quarter Horse Association Executive Committee
approved the AQHA competition leveling plan, which was developed and recommended
by the AQHA Blue-Ribbon Task Force that has met numerous times since September
2010 to address AQHA’s show structure. Full implementation of the plan will
take place in 2013.
Leveling
program changes include more and different levels, including new Rookie and
Intermediate showing levels; more and different awards; and two novice
championship shows.
Leveling involves these new levels:
-
Rookie (based on the exhibitor and horse’s experience/points
combined and designed to be the true entry into AQHA competition)
-
Novice (based on the exhibitor’s experience)
-
Green (based on the horse’s experience)
-
Intermediate (based on the exhibitor’s experience)
-
Progressive (based on the horse’s experience)
-
Open
“It’s
exciting, and what I really love is that it’s definitive,” said AQHA
Executive Director of Shows Patti Carter-Pratt. “Every sport has a
handicapping system, and this is AQHA’s handicapping system.”
This
year, AQHA tested Rookie
classes at 10 AQHA-approved shows to much success. In 2012, the
Rookie horse and exhibitor level will officially be implemented, and Rookie
classes within shows will be another option for show organizers to consider when
planning their 2012 schedules. Rookie classes can be offered in open, amateur
and youth.
Two other new levels are based just on the rider or just on the horse. The
Intermediate level will be tabulated on exhibitor points, while the Progressive
level will be based on a horse’s points. And the Intermediate and Progressive
points will count toward AQHA world show qualification, year-end high-point
awards and the AQHA Incentive Fund. These levels will be implemented in 2013.
Throughout
2012, AQHA will be testing the leveling program by running scenarios on shows
that have been held and in some instances, testing both exhibitor and horse
leveling at various shows. Two such leveling test-pilot shows are the Prairie
Classic in February in
Oklahoma City
and the Silver Dollar Circuit in March in
Las Vegas
.
Testing allows the show department to make any needed modifications before full
implementation. The testing period was the primary reason AQHA’s Executive
Committee opted for the phased-in approach rather than full introduction in
2012. As with any new program, there will be modifications that are inevitable
and Carter-Pratt said they want to identify as many of those before the entire
leveling program goes live.
“The goal is to have six or seven test-pilot leveling shows,” Carter-Pratt
added. “These shows will be carefully analyzed to make sure the system works
the way it’s intended and for show managers to have the chance to become
familiar with the new formats.”
The overall goal of the new show leveling program is to get more new people
involved in showing their American Quarter Horses and drive the showing market
in a strong direction. If you have questions about the show leveling program,
contact the AQHA competition department at (806) 376-4811.
AQHA is scheduling show manager workshops throughout the fall and into 2012. A
show management workshop is slated for October 15 in
Columbus
,
Ohio
, in conjunction with the All American Quarter Horse Congress. A third workshop
will take place in
Dallas
in mid-December. Dates for 2012 workshops will be announced this fall. To sign
up for one of the workshops, visit http://www.aqha.com/Showing/Content-Pages/Resources/Show-Managers/Seminars.aspx.
American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo
,
TX
79104
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