The American Quarter Horse Association recognizes hard-working individuals and their American Quarter Horses at the end of each year through the Association’s high-point awards program.
AQHA annually recognizes the top point earners in each division of every AQHA event. Horses are recognized in the open division, and 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.
“Earning an AQHA high-point award is evidence of the year-long commitment to excellence in the show pen from both horse and rider,” said Justin Billings, AQHA chief show officer. “To earn an AQHA high-point title is no easy feat. Congratulations to all on this tremendous accomplishment, especially during such an unprecedented year!”
In addition to the leaders in each class, AQHA also named the 2020 year-end all-around award winners. Each year, AQHA recognizes the Markel Insurance overall All-Around Youth, AQHA All-Around Youth 14-18 and AQHA All-Around Youth 13-&-Under in the youth division; the AQHA All-Around Amateur and AQHA All-Around Select Amateur in the amateur division; the AQHA All-Around Junior Horse and Senior Horse awards; and leading open-division exhibitor.
•Markel Insurance All-Around Youth and AQHA All-Around Youth 14-18: Midknight Invitation and Jessica McAllister of Southbury, Connecticut
•AQHA All-Around Youth 13-&-Under: Just Call Me Lazy and Emma Dejong of Bargersville, Indiana
•AQHA All-Around Amateur and Select Amateur: Investin A Goodbar and Scott Allen Reinartz of Aubrey, Texas
•AQHA All-Around Junior Horse: Snap It Send It, owned by Kent Ray Taylor of Mesa, Arizona
•AQHA All-Around Senior Horse: Whose Your Bay Bae, owned by Kelly M. Birkenholtz of Newton, Iowa
•AQHA Leading Exhibitor: Chad Evans of Elizabeth, Colorado
To view the list of the current 2021 year-end leaders, go to www.aqha.com/show-leaders.
Changes to Top Year-End Awards Recognition
AQHA has modified the top year-end high-point award presentations in response to member feedback. The new award presentations will highlight winners at their respective AQHA world championship shows in front of more of their family and peers; showcase them on the live webcast during each show, and allow their American Quarter Horses to join them on the arena floor to receive their awards – as a team!
The top Level 3 youth year-end high-point winners, Markel All-Around Youth, AQHA All-Around Youth 14-18, AQHA All-Around Youth 13-&-Under, and top youth Justin Boots Intermediates of the Year will be recognized during the Ford Youth World, slated for July 28 – August 8 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. The top Level 3 open, amateur, and Equestrians With Disabilities year-end high-point winners; AQHA All-Around Amateur; AQHA All-Around Junior Horse; AQHA All-Around Senior Horse; AQHA Exhibitor of the Year; Justin Boots Intermediates of the Year; Nutrena Don Burt AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year; Nutrena AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year; and Most Valuable Professional will be recognized throughout the 2021 Farnam AQHA World and Adequan® Select World, slated for November 1-20 at the OKC Fairgrounds. More details will be shared directly with the top year-end award winners. If you have questions regarding the awards presentations, contact [email protected].
