The American Quarter Horse Association released the final committee reports from the 2009 AQHA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. They ruled on a multitude of topics including changes to performance halter, adding a scoring system/score sheets for pattern classes, and dealing with inhumane treatment, in addition to many others.
Recommendations are listed under each committee, and the Executive Committee action is listed in bold and underlined. Rules will take effect in 2010 and be included in the 2010 AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.
Below is an edited list of each committee’s recommendations and the Executive Committee action. Click here to see complete list of final committee reports.
SHOW COMMITTEE
General Subcommittee
2. Require green patterns to be used in all green classes only. Approved
3. Withdraw green classes from the Incentive Fund program.
Approved
9. Amend rule 441(k) Humane treatment by adding additional verbiage under each discipline section to encourage adherence to and awareness of humane treatment of horses as approved by the Show Council. Approved
10. Amend Rule 448(j)(3) performance halter to exclude a Register of Merit in showmanship at halter to qualify for performance halter. Approved
12. Allow a horse with any performance Register of Merit, except showmanship, to be eligible to compete in all divisions of performance halter. Approved
AMATEUR COMMITTEE
1. To increase the novice eligibility points in all classes from 25 to 40.
Denied — To increase novice eligibilty points would not be in the best interest for fairness of competition.
2. To allow every state to qualify two amateurs from every class to compete at the AQHA World Championship Show.
Denied – This can be handled by monitoring the number of qualifiers throughout the year, and the qualifying points can be lowered if needed. The qualifying points have been lowered for the 2009 World Show.
5. To amend Rule 408 (b) amateur division approval to read, “management will combine these classes back into an all-ages class when there are less than three (3) entries in amateur or Select classes.”
Approved
6. To automatically combine amateur, Select and youth classes when there are not at least three (3) in the class.
Denied – The Youth Committee took no action on this recommendation.
7. To allow the same horse to be shown by two different exhibitors, one in the Select and one in all-age amateur, in the same class at the same show.
Denied – This would allow a horse to earn two sets of points in the amateur division. The Select division is an age division of the amateur division. When show results are recorded, the points from the all-age amateur classes and the Select classes are recorded as amateur points only. They are not separated by all-age and Select classes.
8. To allow leased horses to be allowed to show in amateur and youth classes.
This recommendation is being sent to the amateur compliance committee to develop the requirements for the lease to try to ensure the integrity of Rule 403 (a) (5). This could be handled through a conference call.
JUDGES COMMITTEE
1. To recommend amending Rule 475(A) and 475(B), to add missed diagonals and incorrect leads to the list of faults for all hunt seat equitation classes. Approved
7. Subcommittee’s recommendations on the scoring system/score sheets for horsemanship, showmanship and hunt seat equitation.
Recommend putting the new score sheets on the AQHA Web site and recommend judges begin to use them and provide feedback. Approved
SHOW COMMITTEE
World Show Subcommittee
1. Each horse qualified will receive one complimentary badge for the owner and one for the exhibitor.
Denied. Not only would this reduce AQHA’s revenue, it could also reduce revenue to Oklahoma City from ticket sales.
2. Require payment for the webcast and continue to make a live webcast.
Denied. A low-resolution version is currently offered free, and it is thought that very few individuals would pay for the service, even a high-speed resolution.
5. Form a task force to allow Regional Experience champions to qualify for World Show.
Denied. Has been discussed several times and Regional Experience Steering Group is divided on this issue since it would change the atmosphere and purpose of the Regional Experiences.
SHOW COUNCIL
1. Leave the World Show entry fees the same as 2007. Approved
5. AQHA Champions and Performance Halter
a. Divide performance halter into junior horses age 5 and under and senior horses age 6 and over as divisions.
b. Junior and senior winners show for champion performance halter horse.
c. Performance champion competes for grand and reserve champion halter horse.
d. Redefine requirements for AQHA champion to be 15 points – must be earned in halter classes with at least two performance halter championships or halter grand championships.
Added from the Show Council:
e. Remove Showmanship from list of approved classes for Performance Halter.
f. Include race Register of Merit for amateur and youth division performance halter.
Approved
From Long-Range Planning Task Force:
6. Green classes are not to be eligible for the Incentive Fund. Approved
7. Incentive Fund is not to be paid on points earned at introductory shows. Approved
12. Amend Rule 441 (k)(6) to read: “Inhumane treatment which results in any bleeding, including but not limited to; the exhibition of a horse that has a cut or abrasion, showing clear evidence of fresh blood in the mouth, nose, chin, shoulder, barrel, flank or hip area (those areas reasonable to believe the injury may have been caused by the rider or equipment) must be considered abuse regardless of how the injury was caused.”
Denied. This wording was discussed and approved by the Animal Welfare Task Force on September 16-17, 2008, and the Executive Committee reviewed during its October meeting, and thought AQHA’s current wording was better.
13. Train drug testers so that they have knowledge to inspect tails.
Denied. The United States Equestrian Federation hires the veterinarians and does the drug testing for AQHA. Since the USEF does not do tail testing, it has not trained veterinarians to do tail testing, and at this time, has no interest in doing so.
14. Develop a steward program. Use specialty and novice judges to act as stewards to patrol barns, warm-up areas, practice pens, etc. during shows and circuits.
Referred to the Show Long-Range Planning Task Force.
15. Enforce the rules and code of ethics. Suspensions and fines should have more impact. Suspensions should include nonparticipation and denial of access to the show grounds for a given number of shows and or days. Suspensions can be retroactive which would result in disqualification from previous show(s). Approved
16. Professional Horsemen need to report to AQHA all conversations concerning abusive actions. Approved
17. Eliminate the 2-year-old western pleasure at the 2010 World Show and replace with a 3-year-old western pleasure class as a “buy-in” class.
Denied. Currently in the American Quarter Horse industry, there are disciplines allowing 2-year-olds to compete and to change the rule would have ramifications to other segments of the industry.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
1. To amend rule 403(a)(1) by adding that a youth may begin showing in the amateur division on August 1 of the year that the individual turns 19 rather than waiting until January 1 of the following year. Once amateur status is acquired, exhibitors relinquish the ability to show in youth classes the remainder of the year.
Denied, since approximately 2,200 youth graduate from AQHYA annually. Only a fraction of those apply for an amateur card with the 4 for 3 membership offer. Additionally, the amateur committee recommended no action.
2. To allow a leased horse to be shown in youth classes with a minimum of a six month approved AQHA lease. Approved
3. To rotate classes at the Youth World Show.
Approved to begin with the 2009 Youth World Show and put the schedule on a three-year rotation where it is the same for three years before the classes are rotated.
8. That all placed or scored classes with more than 100 entries at the Youth World Show bring back 20 plus ties to the finals.
Denied. By allowing 20 plus ties in the finals for the YWS, AQHA will be expected to do that for the World Show and Select World Show.
9. That all pattern classes (western horsemanship, hunt seat equitation, equitation over fences and showmanship) with more than 100 entries utilize three splits for a semifinals with 20 horses returning to the finals.
Denied. As indicated by a poll taken of trainers and exhibitors, the two splits used for the first time in 2008 worked well.
Click here to see complete list of final committee reports.
