The American Quarter Horse Association recognizes hardworking individuals and their American Quarter Horses at the end of each year through the Association’s high-point awards. With the introduction of AQHA’s leveling program in 2014, the Association can recognize more individuals and horses for their accomplishments in the show arena.
AQHA annually recognizes the top point earners in each division of every AQHA event. Horses are recognized in the open division, junior and senior; while youth and amateurs competing with any one horse are recognized in their respective divisions.
The divisions are further broken down into Rookie, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
“An AQHA high-point award is evidence of exhibitors’ and horses’ year-long commitments to excellence in the show pen,” said Pete Kyle, AQHA chief show officer. “To win one of these awards is no easy feat. Congratulations to all on this tremendous accomplishment.”
To view the list of 2017 year-end leaders, go to the Showing section of www.aqha.com/services, click “Show Leaders List” and then click “2017 Show Leaders Archive.” In addition to the leaders in each division, AQHA also named the 2017 year-end all-around award winners:
• Markel Insurance All-Around Youth: Ellexxah Ireland Maxwell of West Mansfield, Ohio, and Zips Bossy Chip
• AQHA All-Around Amateur: Brandy Baldwin-Bunting of Stanton, Michigan, and Ms Mae Flash
• AQHA All-Around Junior Horse: Cruize, owned by Sam Mierzejewski of Grove City, Ohio
• AQHA All-Around Senior Horse: Heza Radical Zip, owned by Bonnie Sheren of Studio City, California
• AQHA Leading Exhibitor: Blake Weis of Moberly, Missouri
Throughout the show year, The American Quarter Horse Journal tracks performance statistics mined from the AQHA database. Every month, the latest standings are tabulated and presented in the Journal, as well as online through the subscriber portal.
The year-end Leaders Lists by class for Rookie, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in open, amateur, Select and youth will appear in the April Journal. However, because the celebration for the Level 3 high-point winners has moved, the Journal’s features on the Level 3 year-end high-point winners, which consist of short bios and photos of each winner, are moving as well.
The 2017 open, amateur, Select and Equestrians With Disabilities year-end high-point winners will now be featured in the November Journal, coinciding with the new AQHA Awards Celebration, which is November 11 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, during the 2018 Lucas Oil AQHA World Championship Show.
Because the Level 3 youth winners are recognized at the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show, the short bios and photos of the 2017 Level 3 youth high-point winners will be showcased in the August Journal, the issue that will be circulated during the 2018 Ford Youth World.
For more information on the year-end show leaders, visit www.aqha.com/highpoint.
