The American Quarter Horse Association has released the tentative schedules for the 2022 Nutrena AQHA West and East Level 1 Championships.
- View the Nutrena AQHA East Level 1 Championships tentative schedule.
- View the Nutrena AQHA West Level 1 Championships and AzQHA Pinnacle Circuit tentative schedule.
The 2022 Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships is April 27 – May 1 at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio; and the 2022 Nutrena AQHA West Level 1 Championships is May 18 – 22 in conjunction with the Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Pinnacle Circuit at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona. Exhibitors can only compete at one Level 1 Championships in a year. More than $100,000 in purse and prizes will be available at each show.
Entry forms for the Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships will be available online by the end of January.
To be eligible to enter the 2022 Level 1 Championships, an exhibitor must:
- Be Rookie- and/or Level 1-eligible in the class they wish to enter as of the prior year or January 1, 2021.
- Be an AQHA member at the time of entry and at the time of the 2022 Level 1 Championships.
Additionally:
- If a competitor graduated out of Level 1 and/or Rookie after the 2021 show season, he or she is still invited to enter, as eligibility is based on the 2021 competition year.
- If you have won a Level 1 class at a Level 1 Championships, you cannot show in that same class at future Level 1 Championships, including the 2022 Level 1 Championships. However, you can still show in that class at other AQHA sanctioned shows (excluding the Level 1 Championships) until you meet the level-up requirements found in SHW245. You can still show at the Level 1 Championships in any other class(es) for which you are Level 1 eligible.
- Not have earned a superior award within the past 10 years in a particular class in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members, including AQHA.
- Not have placed in the top 3 at any AQHA world championship show in a particular class.
- Not have won a world, reserve world, national or reserve national championship title in a particular class, excluding Level 1 classes, in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members.
- Not have won a total of $5,000 or more in cash with any equine organization or association by class including earnings reported by QData, Equistat and other verifiable resources.
- Not have competed on an NCEA equestrian team on a scholarship, or ride as a starting exhibitor, in a particular discipline within the past 10 years.
- Not have been an accredited horse show judge or have trained professionally.
Learn more about AQHA Rule SHW245 in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.
Level eligibility is determined on a class-by-class basis. Exhibitors are encouraged to use the online level verification system at www.aqha.com/leveling to determine if they are Level 1- or Rookie-eligible in a particular class. Walk-trot classes do require exhibitors to be Level 1-eligible in their particular class. Exhibitor and horses must be Rookie-eligible in each class to enter Rookie classes in accordance with SHW252.
The AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships, presented by Four Sixes Ranch, will be held with the 2022 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, June 20-25 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The schedule and online entries for the Cattle Level 1 classes will be posted at a later date at www.aqha.com/versatility.
About the Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships
The Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships feature walk-trot, Rookie and Level 1 classes. The shows offer a variety of events and activities for competitors, friends, family and spectators to take part in throughout the show, including free Ride the Pattern clinics taught by AQHA Professional Horsemen. The Level 1 Championships are intended for exhibitors to learn and grow in the show arena while sharpening their horsemanship skills. The shows provide a welcoming environment for AQHA members to be showcased in a championship arena and to compete to earn top prizes for their dedication.
For more information, visit www.aqha.com/level1championships.
