With the December 31st, deadline coming up for submitting rule changes to AQHA, GoHorseShow asked many individuals what rules they would like to see changed. We received a wide variety of answers involving topics such as: the lease program, three rider rule, novice program eligibility, drug rules, performance halter, adding classes, posting scores, and combining world shows to name a few. Don’t forget to submit your rule changes by the end of the year in order for them to be presented at the AQHA Convention in Las Vegas in March. Let us know what you would like to change!
Judge and Trainer Suzy Jeane–I have gotten my Christmas wish with the new leveling program–All about it!
Trainers Dave Miller and Scott Jones–We’d love to see a Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle class added to the AQHA World Show.
Show Manager Barbara Fisher–I would like to delete the rule that show management has to have awards 1st thru 6th place for every class. The shows cannot afford to do this any more.
Rebecca Halvorson–I have mixed emotions about the railwork in horsemanship and equitation. I think they need it in big shows or maybe over 20 in the class but a lot of times it makes a rider move down in the placings rather than go up, so, I think it should be optional in a class of less than 20.
Select Amateur Brister Shum–Scoring for Showmanship and Horsemanship is based on 0-20 per the rule book. I would like to add to this rule: Scores will be recorded by the judge, and made available for viewing by the exhibitors. (in much the same way as it is currently done at the world shows) We can see our trail scores at most shows! I would love to see our scores for these classes as well.
Trainer Anne Shafer–I would like to see the rule change go back to having to own the horse you show instead of anyone being able to lease a horse. I understand the meaning for it, but I don’t think it makes the playing field fair for everyone.
Show Manager George Kane–One that comes to mind is the Select Amateur division. We need to do like PHBA and create more entries by letting them show in both the select and amateur classes. Also, I think the Introductory show points need to be allowed to count toward qualifying for the World Show.
Trainer and AQHA Judge Jim Searles–The number one rule I would like to be looked at and changed would be the 12 hour bute/banamine drug rules. I think it is necessary for our older all-around horses. And you can’t medicate our all-around horses when there first class is at 8:00 and there last class is at 10:00, everyday.
Trainer and Judge Karen McCuiston–The rule I would like to see changed, or actually repealed, is the current rule which exempts novice western riders from disqualification for failing to execute a minimum number of lead changes. While I absolutely support rules which encourage entry level riders to compete at AQHA events, western riding is not an entry level class. It’s a class that specifically showcases lead changes, a skill set that takes time and experience to learn. We expect novice reiners to stay on pattern (there’s no exemption for too many spins or for rolling back the wrong direction) and we expect novice ropers to actually catch the steer or calf (novice ropers only get the same two chances youth and amateurs receive), so I think it’s inconsistent and unfair that novice western riders are currently not required to actually change leads.
Trainer Troy Green–I would love to see the Select World Show combined with the Open/Amateur AQHA World Show. Right now there are four possible world shows if you count the NSBA. That’s spreading folks pretty thin with travel in a weak economy. Now, I have heard that there is talk of a novice world show. If numbers/entries are a concern, consolidation makes more sense instead of spreading us more thin. There have been many times that I have had only one or two select amateurs that won’t make the trip to the select world because they know they are footing the bill. If the select classes were at the open/amateur world show that would make a difference for many I feel.
Trainer Stephanie McAlexander–I think they need to re-evaluate the youth world qualifying procedures. They went from two per state per event to four, now talking of being able to use slots for events without participation for other events. I realize they are trying to increase participation, and I appreciate that. However, I’m not sure how they can maintain the prestige of qualifying. If they want to make it about participation, maybe revamp it entirely to qualifying based on a certain number of shows attended. Otherwise, keep it contained to ensure the quality and performance of the exhibitors and horses. Give the kids something to aspire and work for.
Trainer and AQHA Judge Jerry Erickson–I am sending in a rule proposal requesting that they revisit the three horse rule for individual events. For many reasons, I think it was a good rule and unfortunate that they removed it so quickly. I do not think the rule was abused and I do think it was beneficial to larger classes, more entries for respective horse shows and much happier clients who were able to see their horse shown.
Trainer Keith Miller–I think the novice eligibility rule needs to be looked at. It does not seem right that people coming into AQHA from another breed association are able to obtain novice eligibility so long as they have not won a world championship in another association. Yet, when an AQHA member joins another breed association, they are denied novice status based upon the number of points they have earned in AQHA. There needs to be a reciprocal amount of points between all breed associations so that there is a clear-cut novice division based upon experience (ie the number of people they have competed against and beat).
Amateur Joanne Garnett–I would like to see weighted tails be allowed. I would also like to make it so if you haven’t shown a class in over five years you can go back to being a novice in that class. As much as competition has changed over the years I think it could increase entries in the amateur. We allow trainers to sit out five years and come back maybe we should allow amateurs to sit out 10 years and come back to novice to get them showing once again in some of the classes they are currently not showing in.
Select Amateur Susie Johns–One thing as a Select rider and having sons that show amateur. I would like to see the same horse be allowed to show in both an amateur class and the corresponding amateur select class at the same show. Obviously the riders need to be different, but I know in my situation it would allow for me and my sons to show at the same show with no conflicts, and it could also increase the class sizes of both the amateur and select at the show. I know the NSBA World Show allows amateurs and selects to show the same horse in their respective divisions, ie. my son Jeff and I both showed the same horse in trail at the NSBA World Show. He showed in Amateur Trail and I came back later on and showed that same horse in the select trail.
Judge Kelly Boles Chapman–Medications rule — the zero tolerance language is really obsolete….has not kept up with science and technology. Today, we can identify a micro-level of synthetic substance in the half-life of a cell. Problem is, we can’t identify if there is a competitive advantage to the medication or drug of any kind….particularly if it is 90 + days out from the last administrated dose. The governance in this area has to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of scientific measurement in today’s world.
Assistant Trainer to Gil Galyean, Aaron Moses–I think one area that needs to be addressed is the rules regarding performance halter. It seems to me that for a horse to be eligible to show in a performance halter class at a given horse show, it must also compete in a performance class at that show. For instance for a horse to qualify for the performance halter at the AQHA world show it must also qualify and show in a performance event such as western pleasure, reining, etc. I think this would prevent this class from becoming too specialized and would promote a horse that is capable of competing at a high level in more than one event.
Trainer Cleve Wells–A Performance halter class this year at the AQHA World Show had only five horses in it, meaning three out of five got a world show trophy. That’s not right. Exhibitors in other classes work a lifetime for a world trophy. I believe classes with less than 15 should only get one trophy per five horses shown.
