The AQHA Convention gets underway next week at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. AQHA intends for the Convention to be “a place for breeders, trainers, owners and horse lovers of all kinds to get together and swap stories, talk about issues affecting the industry and discuss proposed changes to the way AQHA does business.”

One way to change the way AQHA does business is by proposing agenda items that are discussed and voted on by Committees during the Convention. These agenda items must be submitted using the rule change proposal form and all proposals were due by December 31, 2009.

One of the hot items proposed on the agenda for the Judges Committee which meets Saturday, March 6, is “To approve AQHA Specialized Halter Judges.” There are numerous well-qualified people who are current AQHA Judges, but due to a variety of circumstances that preclude them from being able to judge a World Championship Show (such as they are showing or have clients showing), it is argued that the pool of knowledgeable halter horse judges from AQHA to choose from is small.

It is suggested that applicants would apply and test for an AQHA card to judge halter classes that would only be in effect at World Shows and Special Events. Those applicants approved to test would then go through an extensive testing and educational process that would allow individuals with halter backgrounds (that have no desire to judge other events) to judge halter classes at AQHA World Championship shows and Special Events.

Generally, people in favor of this proposal feel that from this process, AQHA would get highly qualified individuals, confident in their ability to analyze the AQHA halter horse. They want judges who compare horses to a standard rather than rely on personal preference which could be influenced by their background of Cutting, Reining, English, Western, Jumping, etc. They argue that those disciplines would not want a group of halter horse people judging their events.

If you're in favor of this proposal, you may fax a short letter to Wayne Halvorson at 405-282-7807 stating you strongly approve of the proposal to have AQHA Specialized Halter Judges. Address it to the AQHA Executive Committee and AQHA Judges Committee and sign your name and provide your AQHA Membership number.

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