With the economy still struggling to get back on track and only a couple of weeks left to get qualified for the AQHA Open and Amateur World Show, we asked several trainers in the industry whether the qualifying points should have been lowered this year. Of course, there was a wide variety of opinions—from some people saying they have not been affected at all by our stagnant economy and that the qualification points should remain the same—to some trainers saying they are struggling to make a living and that their clients are choosing fewer shows to attend resulting in it being harder for them to get qualified.
The largest variations in opinions seemed to vary according to geographical location and/or class discipline. Also, while the entry numbers are down overall this year, the larger circuits are getting bigger while the smaller shows are scrambling to remain afloat. There is no doubt that foal registration, breeding mares, show entries, and memberships are down across all equine organizations, but there does appear to be some recent growth in the US financial system. Hopefully, there will be continued improvement.
Please take the poll at the bottom of the story and let us know what you think!
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Float=”left”]/Media/4/jpg/2010/7/cc83a28e-e697-5c74-ea119cf494e1f9be.jpg[/NPI]AQHA Judge and Trainer Chad Evans of Parker, CO
I feel like the qualifying points are set right. I think that it should be a reasonable challenge to qualify, making it an honor to participate at the World Show. As for taking less horses to the Congress and the World Show, I think that we are taking about the same number as in years past. As a side note, I do worry about some of the smaller/mid size shows and how they are going to make it with the drop in entries. I think that those size of shows really play an important role in our industry.
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Float=”left”]/Media/4/jpg/2010/1/82d91de2-d3bc-0e90-4070a55a20855073.jpg[/NPI]AQHA Judge and Trainer Bruce Walquist of Cleburne, TX
I think all the points need to be lowered. It costs too much to show these days. It cost me $600 for my daughter to show at the Texas Classic in four classes. That is crazy. We need to try to lower the costs as much as possible and lowering the points would help cut people’s costs.
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Float=”left”]/Media/4/jpg/2010/7/cc87698d-f5fd-4a97-1e3ba20b1a6843b6.jpg[/NPI]JT and Katie Mitchell of Pilot Point, TX
Yes! We have had a hard time qualifying this year. I do think they should have lowered them like they did last year. We have a great horse in the 2 Year-Old division. There is never enough horses in that age division to get the points–anywhere we went–and, yet, we cannot beat the Aged horses for the Grand or Reserve to get those points. He has had some Grands and Reserves, don’t get me wrong, but not consistently enough to get 11 points for a 2 Year-old. We are having to pluck them a 1/2 point at a time. I don’t know yet if our numbers are down. We are still months away from those shows (Congress and World Show). But the economy is sure taking its toll on the halter horse crowd!!
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Float=”left”]/Media/4/jpg/2010/7/cc86d4d9-dc69-da77-ab198888bc015ae5.jpg[/NPI]Trainer Lisa Ligon of Purcell, OK
I am not taking any horses to the Congress this year due to expenses. My World Show horses will actually go up this year for the Paints and Quarters both. However, I have a customer running for number one, so, she is taking more horses this year. Once my Quarter customers get qualified, they quit showing. Lowering the points would be helpful. I did not get my junior hunt seat horse qualified. He was injured, and I won’t be able to get him finished. The Junior Hunter Under Saddle classes have been really small at most shows.
AQHA Judge and Trainer Murray Griggs of Fayetteville, AR
I don’t see much of a difference in the number of entries at our horse shows. They appear to be holding up in our part of the country. I think the qualifying points are fine. The World Show is not another horse show. It is supposed to be a prestigious event. The regional shows now are catering to the newer people in the industry. I do find that many people are less likely to take off Thursdays and Fridays to attend shows because they are afraid of losing their jobs. But, overall, we have been lucky and haven’t noticed a real difference and haven’t had problems getting qualified.
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Float=”left”]/Media/4/jpg/2010/7/cc846267-c6e3-6b1e-d4ca4af2eb59b8fb.jpg[/NPI]AQHA Judge and Trainer Brad Jewett of Universal City, TX
Last year was the first year I would have to say I felt the impact. Most of my clients could not afford to send their horses to as many shows. Fortunately, for this year, we have been on at the right time, but still have been short so far from getting a couple more qualified. The thing is that the fewer horses I have qualified makes it even more expensive for the one or two that do get qualified when I end up at the world show come November. Last year, I actually had two qualified but was unable to attend due to expenses for me to be there with such few horses. So, I would have to say yes– I would like to see the numbers lowered for qualification. It’s a tough place to be in for AQHA I’m sure. We all like what are being called the “superpower shows” but it seems all the same horses seem to be getting the bulk of the points. If you want a chance to win a title, you have to compete against that caliber of horse. It’s also a fact a lot of our local club shows are dying out. It used to be you could go show in a two to three point class within 100 miles, but now you’re lucky to get five horses in a class. I’m not sure what the answer is, but I know we all want at least a chance every year to win one of those buckles! It’s disappointing when you’ve done all you could but fall short on even qualifying. But there’s always next year. So we all hope.
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Float=”left”]/Media/4/jpg/2010/7/cc852f24-a325-8a02-2b93add8c301508b.jpg[/NPI]Trainer Cheryl Hawkins of Reddick, FL
I would like to see the points lowered. It has been very hard to get points in Florida this year. The Florida shows have been very small, even with combining the Amateur and the Select Amateur, it only makes for one or two points. It seems people are picking and choosing their shows this year more than ever. The weekend horse shows are very small, but the big long circuits are still good size. I think by lowering the points you will have more horses qualified and you have a bigger turn out at the World Shows. We did get all of our horses qualified this year for the World Show. I think everyone tries to go to the Congress. They might miss a couple of weekend show so they can go. The Congress seems to be the favorite show to a lot of people.
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Float=”left”]/Media/4/jpg/2010/7/cc85aa5d-bf52-1dd8-f95d93a138bbc38a.jpg[/NPI]Hunter Trainer Lainie DeBoer of Forest Lake, MN
I think all the points were fair, except for the Progressive Hunter. It is still growing and we are seeing more and more horses in it at the big shows. The complaint is at the smaller shows they either don’t offer it or it is very small. Other than that, I have had no problems getting points. The shows are a little small in numbers, and yes it is probably due to the economy, but there is a general feeling that things are getting healthier. I am taking about the same number of horses to the Congress and the World. My customers have cut back and are not attending the small shows. It is not so much from the lack of money they have, but the security of having a job–especially during a time where layoffs and down sizing are occurring. They want to keep the one they have.
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Float=”left”]/Media/3/jpg/2010/7/cc8633f2-ade2-0fbf-92647ee48d753b95.jpg[/NPI]Trainer and AQHA Judge Tina Kaven of Gordonville, TX
Personally, I’ve spent much of the year in too poor of health to attempt to accomplish my own goals- but, I think that we need to make it easier for people to enjoy their animals, and participate in horse shows. Yes, I definitely think they should have been lowered. The economy simply is not allowing people to do what they would like to do-or, what they’ve been able to do in the past.
Hunter Trainer Sandy Vaughn of Hernando,
FL
I used to have a waiting list of people wanting to bring their horses
to me. These days it is a struggle getting horses in training. Until
the economy gets better, I think we don’t need to qualify for the World
Shows. I think it would get more people to the World Shows and increase
the entries. I also think the Progressive Working Hunter points need to
be lowered. Many people still don’t understand how this class works and
who is actually qualified to show in this class. Until exhibitors
understand the rules, I think the points need to be lowered. The class
it still too small to warrant the amount of points needed to qualify for
the World Show.
