The AQHA Level 1 West Championships got underway on Wednesday, April 19th and is running through the 23rd in Las Vegas, Nevada at SouthPoint Hotel and Casino.
Rookie and Level 1 are the two levels of AQHA competition designed for beginner to minimally accomplished competitors, respectively.
CLICK HERE to view The Rock candids kindly taken by Julie Hoefling and others.
The Level 1 Championships were designed to celebrate the accomplishments of these riders and their horses in an environment that provides education and fun competition.
Click on the “Go To” Links below.
GO TO LINKS for West Show
CLICK HERE for Main Page
CLICK HERE for Schedule
CLICK HERE for Classes
CLICK HERE for Patterns
CLICK HERE for Results
CLICK HERE for Competitor Resources
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Want to know what the rules were to qualify for the 2017 Level 1 Championships? Read them below.
Before you can qualify, first you must determine if you are eligible to compete at the Level 1 Championships.
- Eligibility is determined on the class-by-class basis (i.e. you may be eligible for some classes but not others).
- Visit services3.aqha.com/leveling to look up your eligibility, or www.aqha.com/leveling for more information regarding AQHA’s leveling program.
NOTE: “If an exhibitor wins a class at a Level 1 Championship, he/she is no longer eligible to compete in that class at any future Level 1 Championship; however, if an exhibitor is Level 1-eligible, he/she may continue to show in that class in any other Level 1 competition.” (AQHA Rule SHW245.3)
How to Qualify (2017)
To compete at one of three 2017 American Quarter Horse Association Level 1 Championships, exhibitors have four ways to earn an invitation. Qualifying was January 1 through December 31, 2016.
1. MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY, THEN ENTER
- Enter cattle and yearling halter classes before the entry deadline. (No qualification method is necessary for cattle classes or yearling halter classes.)
o Cattle classes will be offered for exhibitors and horses that are eligible for Level 1 as of January 1, 2017, at the AQHA Central Level 1 Championships.
o There is no qualifying method for yearling halter classes; this is because there are no Level 1 weanling halter classes available in which exhibitors may qualify. All yearlings must be registered and parentage verified with AQHA by entry deadline March 15, 2017. No exceptions.
o Call AQHA Customer Service at 806-376-4811 or visit services3.aqha.com/leveling to verify your eligibility.
- Enter Rookie classes before the entry deadline. (No qualification method is necessary for Rookie classes.)
o Rookie classes will be offered for exhibitors and horses that are eligible for the Rookie level as of January 1, 2017, for the AQHA West, Farnam Central or Nutrena East Level 1 Championships.
o The horse you intend to bring for the class must also be Rookie eligible.
o Call AQHA Customer Service at 806-376-4811 or visit services3.aqha.com/leveling to verify your and your horses’ Rookie eligibility.
2. QUALIFY NATIONALLY: Show at 20 AQHA-approved shows.
- Shows will be counted by show numbers on a one-horse, one-rider basis in any class; meaning, the exhibitor can compete in any class level (Rookie, Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3) for qualifying purposes, provided he or she is Level 1-eligible. For questions about how many show numbers a show will count for, competitors should ask the presiding show manager or secretary.
3. QUALIFY NATIONALLY: Place in the top 10 in any Merial AQHA Regional Championships class.
- A top-10 placing qualifies the rider on that horse only.
- If your region does not host a Merial Regional Championships, you can participate in a region that is offering one. For information on participating in another region, visit www.aqha.com/regionalchampionships for the list of 2016 Merial Regionals. Call AQHA Customer Service at 806-376-4811 or log in to AQHA’s member services area and order a performance record on the horse you placed with to verify your top-10 placing.
- Participation in a pointed show held in conjunction with a Merial Regional Championships will count for one of the 20 shows, but will not count for the “regional championships qualifying.”
4. QUALIFY THROUGH STATE OR PROVINCIAL AFFILIATE
If not nationally qualified, an exhibitor can qualify as an AQHA state/provincial affiliate qualifier.
- If the exhibitor’s affiliate has a qualifying method, the exhibitor must qualify through their resident state/provincial affiliate.
- If the exhibitor’s affiliate does not have a qualifying method, the exhibitor must nationally qualify or qualify through another affiliate.
- To qualify through another affiliate, the exhibitor mus be a member in good standing with that affiliate (other than the state/province affiliate you reside in) and be selected by that affiliate as a qualifier. Check with your affiliate on its qualifying method and ask where you stand on their list of qualifiers.
