It has been a busy few weeks at AQHA. In May, the AQHA Executive Committee and the Executive Directors met in Utopia, Texas, for a planning session.
During the three-day meeting, we examined AQHA’s standing committees, international growth, membership growth, new revenue sources and creating a user-friendly handbook. AQHA staff will be working on plans for these areas.
To celebrate my daughter Stacey’s graduation from Texas A&M University, and mine and Robbyn’s 35th wedding anniversary, the three of us traveled to Spain for a family vacation. We had a great time and made some wonderful memories.
Now summer is upon us and that means the show season is heating up.
Last June, the first AQHA classes at 4-H and open shows were held in Ohio, and there have been 37 introductory shows held so far. These shows have offered many new exhibitors a glimpse into AQHA shows.
While AQHA was criticized by some affiliates and show managers for taking away exhibitors from AQHA shows — that was never the intent. AQHA introductory shows were created to reward exhibitors at open shows who were showing registered American Quarter Horses. Once these exhibitors earn AQHA points and feel the success of the show ring, we hope to encourage them to move up to AQHA shows.
We have received many messages from exhibitors saying thanks for the introductory shows and that they love having the AQHA experience at these shows. Not only are the shows a great place to cultivate new AQHA show exhibitors, they also offer a place for new judges to gain experience.
Many people are craving an entry point into AQHA shows. The new green classes are filling a void and have proven to be very popular. In 2008, AQHA had 44,000 entries in green classes. These new classes offer a great opportunity to introduce exhibitors and horses to a new class. We started with green working hunter and now also offer green western pleasure, green trail, green western riding and green hunter under saddle. Check out the 2009 Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations for more information on the green classes.
Changes will be made to the incentive fund payout in 2010. Points earned in introductory shows and green classes will no longer be eligible for incentive funds.
Whether an exhibitor is showing in an introductory show, an all-novice show or a novice class for the fist time, they are enrolled in AQHA’s free AQHA’s Show Up! campaign. The more shows an exhibitor attends, the more they are rewarded. After the first show, the exhibitor receives a letter explaining the program and a specially designed jacket patch.
Other rewards include:
* an AQHA showing jacket patch and AQHA cap after the fifth show,
* an AQHA showing jacket patch and AQHA jacket after the 10th show,
* an AQHA showing jacket patch and AQHA barn plaque after the 15th show,
* and an AQHA showing jacket patch and Professional’s Choice saddle pad after the 25th show.
As an added bonus, the top novice youth and novice amateur competitor attending the most shows in a calendar year will win their pick of a Tex Tan western or a Collegiate English saddle!
All rewards are available the first calendar year of an exhibitor’s first AQHA show. In 2008, 4,779 patches were sent to first-time AQHA exhibitors. Bring your friends to AQHA shows and help them earn great prizes!
We also work with members of AQHA’s Professional Horsemen’s Association to encourage new exhibitors. AQHA provides buck slips to Professional Horsemen to give to exhibitors at open and 4-H horse shows. The buck slip is good for one class entry up to $50. AQHA reimburses show management after they return the buck slips with their show results.
Show Me
American Quarter Horses excel in the show ring. To help AQHA members make the most of their show dollars, AQHA’s Marketing Department developed Accounting for the Arena, a brochure combined with a downloadable Excel spreadsheet to help exhibitors save money, track expenses and still enjoy the show experience.
If you’re looking for a show near you, visit the online show calendar. Remember, full show information can be found each month in The American Quarter Horse Journal. Each month, The Journal features great articles on health and training tips from the pros.
You can also get tips on showing at America’s Horse Daily. Sign up for the free showing newsletter at americashorsedaily.com/category/horse-showing/.
Have an opinion about a show? Let us hear from you. I encourage you to take advantage of our show survey form. You’re welcome to make copies and have them available at all the shows you attend. Let us know what you think, and we’ll pass along the information to show managers to help improve the show experience.
We continue to examine how we do business and in July we will have a long-range planning session for shows. One thing we know we have to keep doing is introducing new people to the American Quarter Horse and all the opportunities there are to enjoy these great animals. I hope you and your horse get to spend some great time together this summer.
For more, please visit AQHA.com.
