From February in Las Vegas to the tail end of the year in Florida, AQHA members turned out in droves to support shows, circuits and special events across the United States. Combined, the overall Top-10 AQHA shows saw entries totaling 93,992 in 2018. Rankings were calculated by dividing the total number of entries for each event by the event’s total number of show numbers.
“Congratulations to the show management teams behind these top shows. It’s exciting to look at this list of shows and see both the East and West coasts represented, with shows from up north and down south, spanning spring, summer, fall and winter,” said AQHA Chief Show Officer Pete Kyle.
“These show management teams work hard to provide exhibitor satisfaction and their dedication translated into their show being a major destination for competitors,” Kyle added.
Top Overall AQHA Shows:
All American Quarter Horse Congress, Columbus, Ohio
Arizona Sun Country Circuit, Scottsdale, Arizona
Oklahoma Redbud Spectacular, Oklahoma City
Big A Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
Stars and Stripes Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show, Tampa, Florida
Silver Dollar Circuit, Las Vegas
Cornhusker Quarter Horse Show, Lincoln, Nebraska
SOQHA The Madness Circuit, Wilmington, Ohio
SOJQHA Show, Wilmington, Ohio
Top Equestrians With Disabilities Show:
Chisholm Challenge at the Fort Worth Stock Show, Fort Worth, Texas
Top Level 1 Shows:
Keystone Quarter Horse Show, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
Massachusetts Quarter Horse Association Show, Northampton, Massachusetts
Area 3 Quarter Horse Show, Orangeville, Ontario
Northern Michigan QHA Level 1 Show
NOQHA Level 1 Extravaganza, Findlay, Ohio
Spark Some Fun, Billings Montana
PQHA Level 1 Clinic and Show, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
WVQHA Level 1 Show, Winfield, West Virginia
WSQHA Level 1/ Rookie Event, Monroe, Washington
Suntan Circuit Level 1 Show, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Top Introductory Shows:
Mississippi Congress, Brandon, Mississippi
Center County Grange, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
Center County Grange, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
Mardi Gras Madness, Amite, Louisiana
Valley Riders Saddle Club Intro, Franklin, Indiana
Fundamentally Fun, Bryan, Texas
Candy Apple Classic, Hamburg, New York
Valley Riders Saddle Club Intro, Franklin, Indiana
Color Classic QHS, Windsor, Nova Scotia
Gold Coast Premier Show, Reikorangi, New Zealand
The Coast Classic, Gulfport, Mississippi
Top Dressage Shows:
SDCTA Dressage Among Friends I, Tampa, Florida
Sage Creek Dressage, Heber City, Utah
Sage Creek Dressage, Heber City, Utah
Sorensen Park Dressage June III, East Troy, Wisconsin
Millbrook Farms Dressage Show, Fairfield, Utah
Cool Down Dressage, Pinehurst, North Carolina
Summer Sizzler 3, Newberry, Florida
NCDCTA Autumn Leaves, Raeford, North Carolina
Millbrook Farms Summer Dressage, Fairfield, Utah
Prime Time Dressage, Raeford, North Carolina
Top Versatility Ranch Horse Shows:
Southwestern Exposition, Fort Worth, Texas
Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado
Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado
Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado
NILE Versatility Ranch, Billings, Montana
SAQHA Shamrock Show, Queen Creek, Arizona
Stock Horse Texas Versatility, Bryan, Texas
Hamilton SHTX Show, Hamilton, Texas
Lubbock SHTX Show, Lubbock, Texas
Rose Palace Roundup/Stock Horse of Texas, San Antonio
Alliance Events:
Tulsa Reining Classic, Tulsa, Oklahoma
NRHA Derby, Oklahoma City
NRHA Derby, Oklahoma City
Winter Slide, Ardmore, Oklahoma
Lazy J Arena Pen and Sort, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Lazy J Arena Pen and Sort, Stillwater, Oklahoma
North Texas Penning and Sorting, Whitesboro, Texas
North Texas Penning and Sorting, Whitesboro, Texas
Eastern Slope Slide Event, Castle Rock, Colorado
Rocky Mountain Columbine Classic, Pueblo, Colorado
Special Events:
Houston Livestock Show Barrels/Poles, Houston
Houston Livestock Show Barrels/Poles, Houston
Houston Livestock Show Barrels/Poles, Houston
Houston Livestock Special Event Roping, Houston
Houston Livestock Special Event Roping, Houston
Houston Livestock Special Event Roping, Houston
Oil Can Classic Roping Event, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Dixie National Special Event Roping, Jackson, Mississippi
Dixie National Special Event Roping, Jackson, Mississippi
NPBA Championship, Cloverdale, Indiana
Total AQHA show entries for the top 5 shows in each category can be viewed in the 2018 AQHA Annual Report.
Level 1 competitors can compete with a horse that he or she does not own; however, the overall top ten shows require exhibitors to be the owner or related to the owner of the horse or have an AQHA show lease or permit. If an overall top ten show does not allow permits, an AQHA show lease must be on file with AQHA. Go to Forms and Resources on AQHA.com to download a show lease.
