Full implementation of the AQHA leveling program started January 1, 2013. While leveling is not mandated for every AQHA show, all shows have the option to level classes.
Learn more about how classes are leveled and find your level at www.aqha.com/leveling.
Q: To determine if I am Novice, do I use my personal lifetime points or just my points over past three years?
A: Novice-level eligibility is determined by Novice points earned in the past three years.
Q: To determine if I am Intermediate, do I use my personal lifetime points or just my points over past three years?
A: Intermediate-level eligibility is determined by points, excluding Novice points, earned in the past three years.
Q: If I point out of Novice during the year, does that mean I must show up in the Intermediate level for the remainder of the year?
A: No, if you are eligible for the Novice level at the beginning of the year, you will be remain eligible to compete in Novice until the end of the year.
Q: To determine if I am an Intermediate, do I use both my Novice and regular (open, amateur, youth, etc.) points, or just my regular points?
A: For example, over the past three years, I have earned about 85 Novice points and two amateur horsemanship points. Even though most of my points were earned in Novice competition, does that mean I am only eligible to compete in the Open level?
In this example, you would be pointed out in the Novice level, but you would have two amateur horsemanship points, therefore, you would be eligible for the Intermediate level.
Q: To determine if my horse is Green (has earned less than 25 points in a particular class), do I add up that horse’s lifetime points in open and amateur only, or do previous Novice and/or Green points count, as well?
A: All lifetime points, excluding Novice-division points, count for Green eligibility and $1,000 in money earned counts, as well. Novice-division points do not count because the Novice level is based on exhibitor record and Novice points won are not tracked on the horse’s record.
Q: If someone has placed in the top three at an AQHA Novice championship show, are they still Novice eligible?
A: Exhibitors who win their class at a Novice championship show are not eligible for Novice in that class for the three subsequent years. Meaning, second- and third-place finishers are still eligible for Novice-level competition.
Q: If someone has won a world or reserve world championship in another breed organization (over 7,500 members), are they still Novice eligible?
A: No, they are not. See Rule SHW245 in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations for Novice eligibility guidelines.
Q: I understand that the number of points at each level will change each year, so in theory, your lifetime points could be unchanged but your level could change if the numbers move up or down. Is that what you mean when you say people may move in and out of Novice?
A: Yes
Q: Is this true: Not only will the point level cut-offs change, but since you’re only using your points earned in the past three years, your point total will also be moving up or down, leading to changes in your level?
A: Yes, this is true.
Q: Is Novice eligibility based on lifetime points? Or will you be able to move back into Novice after you point out?
A: Novice-level eligibility is based on Novice, Intermediate and Open points earned in the past three years. Intermediate- and Open-level eligibility is based on Intermediate and Open points earned in the past three years, excluding Novice points. An exhibitor may move back into the Novice level if his or her Novice, Intermediate and Open point total from the past three years falls within the Novice point range.
Q: Can you move in and out of the Intermediate and Open levels from year to year depending on your performance? And do Novice points count against those levels?
A: Novice-level eligibility is based on Novice, Intermediate and Open points earned in the past three years. Intermediate- and Open-level eligibility is based on Intermediate and Open points earned in the past three years, excluding Novice points. Once an exhibitor points out of the Novice level, if the exhibitor has earned little to no Intermediate-or Open-level points, the exhibitor will be eligible for Intermediate and will not have to show directly up in the Open level.
Q: Will there be two sets of points possible to qualify for the AQHA World Championship Show, i.e. Open and Intermediate/Progressive?
A: For 2013, points earned in Open and Intermediate/Progressive levels will count toward qualification to the AQHA world championship shows. These points will be compiled to determine world show qualification. However, separate finals will not be held at the 2013 world shows for Intermediate/Progressive and Open. High-placing Intermediate and Progressive entries will be recognized at the 2013 world shows.
Q: For my trainer to ride my horse, is the Green eligibility now solely based on points accumulated according to the points on the horse data spreadsheet? Do I add Green points and Open junior/senior points for a total to see if I qualify for Green?
A: Green eligibility is based on lifetime points and money earned by the horse, meaning 25 points or $1,000 earned being the threshold. Once a horse graduates from Green, it may never return to Green eligibility in that class. To see if your horse is Green eligible, refer to its lifetime total of points earned in that class.
Q: Is it true that only Open-level exhibitors/horses gain points from the full class size and Intermediate/Progressive entries only earn points based on the Intermediate/Progressive class size, even when run concurrently or split?
A: Yes, that is correct. The Open-level points are paid out on the total number entered in that class; the Intermediate/Progressive points are based on the number entered in just the Intermediate or Progressive level. The advantage to showing in the Intermediate/Progressive level is 1) you do not have to compete with the Open-level horses or exhibitors, 2) all available points will be paid out in the Intermediate or Progressive level and 3) Progressive, Intermediate, as well as Open, points count for world show qualifying and the AQHA Incentive Fund.
Q: Do I add Novice- and Open-level points to see where I stand on the spreadsheet to determine my eligibility?
A: Your three-year Novice, Intermediate and Open point total will determine if you are Novice-level eligible in that class. Your Intermediate and Open three-year point total, which excludes Novice points, will determine where you stand in the Intermediate or Open levels.
Q:How do I know my level?
A: Refer to “Find My Level” at www.aqha.com/leveling for instructions on how to determine your class levels.
Q: I started showing again about four years ago. I am 62 years old. I have only accumulated eight points in western pleasure. What level would I be able to show at? Back in the 1980s, I earned about 90 points in western pleasure, so I have not been Novice-eligible for quite some time. Would I be able to go back to Novice or does my old show record prevent that?
A: The ability to compete in the Novice level is based on Novice, Intermediate and Open points earned in the past three years and Novice eligibility in accordance with Rule SHW245 in AQHA Handbook. The 2013 Novice-level threshold for amateur western pleasure is 0-29.5 and 0-20 for Select amateur western pleasure. If the points you have earned in the past three years total to eight, you are eligible to compete in Novice western pleasure, as long as you are Novice-eligible under Rule SHW245.
Q: Just how deep do the points go? For instance, if there were 10 horses in a class – eight Intermediates and two Open – and the Open-level riders placed eighth and ninth, would they still get one point for eighth and half a point for ninth?
A: In this situation, the first-place horse is an Intermediate, so it would earn one point. The second-place horse is an Intermediate, so it would earn half a point. In this situation, the Open horses would not receive any points – they would have to place first, second or third to receive points. For further clarification, the Open-level points will be based on the total number of horses entered in the class, meaning the 10 horses in your scenario. The Open points will only go as deep as the total number of entries; two points for first, one point for second, half a point for third. However, in this scenario, there is no third-place Open horse/rider. However, the Intermediate class has eight entries, thus is a one-point class (one point to first place, half a point to second place).
Q: Can you explain the three-year evaluation of what level a rider/horse would be in? Will you still “graduate” out of Novice after X-amount of points? Or could you move in and out of Novice/Intermediate levels based on show success/activity?
A: You will still graduate out of Novice when you have earned the maximum number of points designated for that class level. Novice eligibility is based on Novice, Intermediate and Open points earned in the past three years. Once you have graduated out of Novice, under the new leveling program, you may return to Novice in that class if your points earned in the past three years fall within the Novice-level point range. However, to be able to compete in Novice classes, you must still maintain Novice eligibility in accordance with Rule SHW245 in the AQHA Handbook.
Q: Why was a three-year period chosen as the time on which levels are based?
A: The reason three years was chosen as the time period is to minimize the impact of a single year and at the same time not penalize a horse or rider who have been inactive for a few years and now want to re-enter the show scene. This will allow some of our older show horses to return with new riders in the amateur and youth. It will also allow an open horse to return at a lower level after a long-term lay-off.
Q: What is the rationale behind allowing the highest tier to earn points inclusive of the lower tier exhibitors/horses, but not the other way around? Meaning, if an Intermediate rider places better than advanced riders, they do not get credit in the way of points.
A: If AQHA had simply established separate Intermediate/Progressive classes, the numbers in each class would have been smaller and the result would have been a serious detriment to the Open-level exhibitor. The approach chosen offers a two-pronged motivation structure: The Open-level exhibitor/horse retains the advantage of having strong numbers in the class, while the Intermediate exhibitor/Progressive horse has the advantage of not having to show against AQHA’s top-tier competitions, such as world champions. An Intermediate/Progressive exhibitor/horse may always choose to “show up” in the Open level, thereby taking advantage of the total number in the class, but risk going against the higher-level entries. If, however, that Intermediate exhibitor/Progressive horse does not perceive a high probability of beating the regular exhibitors in the class, it is still possible to earn points based on the number of Intermediate exhibitors/Progressive horses one beats. Thus, under the leveling structure, the Intermediate exhibitor/Progressive horse has a greater likelihood of earning AQHA points.
Q: Will you still be able to enter the Novice level and Open level and/or Green, junior and senior classes, as is currently the case?
A: Yes. If you are a Novice-/Green- level exhibitor/horse, you can also show in the Intermediate- or Open-level class at the same show. Additionally, Rookie and Novice classes may be held concurrently and the exhibitor may enter both classes concurrently. Intermediate-/Progressive-and Open-level classes may be held concurrently, but the entries must choose which level they are entering.
Q: It appears that the amateur classes will be further subdivided by allowing Novice Select, Intermediate Select and Open Select in addition to the regular Novice amateur classes. Is this true?
A: The leveling options will be up to the show management. If show management feels that the customers for that show would benefit, a show could offer an Intermediate Select level, as well as an Open Select level with an Intermediate amateur level and Open amateur level.
For example:
1. Novice amateur showmanship 2. Intermediate Select amateur showmanship 3. Select amateur showmanship 4. Intermediate amateur showmanship 5. Amateur showmanship
This type of configuration might be advantageous to shows that have very large showmanship classes. On the other hand, if a show regularly experiences smaller showmanship classes, that show might want to avoid the leveling altogether and just offer the Novice- and Open-level showmanship classes.
Q: How is all of this going to be reflected on my horse’s show record in terms of points, Registers of Merit, etc.?
A: It will be reflected the same as always. A horse that places first in Intermediate will be reflected that way on its show record. Keep in mind that a point is a point – once 10 points (earned in Intermediate, Progressive and/or Open levels) are earned in a class, a Register of Merit will be awarded, like always.
Q: How is this program going to affect the points eligible for the AQHA Incentive Fund?
A: With the leveling program in place, there are more places for exhibitors to compete and be competitive. Therefore, more horses are able to take advantage of the Incentive Fund program. Simply put, the leveling program, will essentially be “spreading the wealth” among more exhibitors and horses. This will create a larger market to sell horses, another positive aspect to the leveling program.
Q: Which level can I earn AQHA Incentive Fund points in?
A: Points earned in Intermediate-, Progressive- and Open-level competition count for Incentive Fund payout. Points earned in Rookie, Novice and Green will not count toward Incentive Fund earnings.
Q: I have earned 36 Novice points in the last three years in showmanship, which indicates that I am now a Novice amateur under the new leveling program. Is that my correct level?
A: Yes, you are Novice-eligible in showmanship. Keep in mind that to compete in Novice, your three-year point total must fall in the correct point range and you must also hold a Novice membership card; see Rule SHW245 in the AQHA Handbook for Novice eligibility guidelines.
Q: If a show I am attending does not offer leveled classes, am I then considered an amateur?
A: As long as you meet the amateur membership requirements outlined in Rule SHW225, you will always be considered an amateur. Your points earned in a particular class in the past three years determine which amateur level you are eligible to compete in. That only means that the level your points earned falls under is the lowest level you may enter; you always have the option to “show up” a level or two. Shows have the option to level classes and show managers choose how to level their shows based on what will best benefit competitors. Before the leveling program was implemented, the majority of AQHA shows offered Novice-, as well as Open-level classes (i.e. youth, amateur, Select amateur and open). This will continue to be the case, although shows may now offer Intermediate-level classes. If you are a Novice this year in showmanship, you are a Novice all year in showmanship. Should you prefer to show up in the Intermediate level, but the show you are attending does not offer Intermediate, you still have the option to compete in the Novice level or show up in the amateur class.
Q: What does the leveling program mean for the AQHA Novice championship shows? According to the old point system, I was an amateur, but according to the new point system, I am still a Novice. Can I attend a Novice Championship Show?
A: You may attend a Novice Championship if you have qualified for a Novice Championship. Qualifying methods include competing at 20 shows (show numbers), placing in the top 10 in a Novice class at an AQHA regional championship or qualifying through your affiliate.
Learn more about how classes are leveled and find your level at www.aqha.com/leveling.
Submit questions about the leveling program to AQHA Executive Director of Shows Patti Carter-Pratt at [email protected] or via the AQHA Facebook page.
