Effective for the qualifying periods for the American Quarter Horse Association’s 2012 world championship shows, horses will now be required to earn performance points during the respective world show qualifying period in order to earn an invitation to compete in performance halter at any AQHA world show.
For example, for a horse to compete at the 2012 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show in performance halter geldings, it must earn 10 performance points during the May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012 qualifying period.
For the youth, Select and amateur world shows, the required 10 performance points can be earned in any combination between the divisions. Open division points do not count toward youth, Select or amateur eligibility. For example, three points can be earned in youth western pleasure, three points in Select horsemanship and four points in amateur western riding will be allowed, as long as the 10 performance points are earned during a qualifying period for the respective world show.
For open competition at the AQHA World Championship Show, the required 10 performance points must be earned in open performance competition.
Horses that earn performance world championships at any 2011 AQHA world show will receive an invitation to return to the 2012 respective world show. However, those horses will still be required to earn 10 performance points during the qualifying period for the invitation to be honored.
In addition to the new world show requirements, beginning in 2012, to be eligible to earn a year-end high-point award in performance halter, a horse must earn at least 10 performance points in its respective division(s) (youth, amateur, Select amateur or open) during the award year. For example, if a horse has 100 performance halter mare points and 16 western pleasure points, and another horse has 135 performance halter points and seven western pleasure points, the second horse is not eligible for the year-end high-point award in performance halter because it has not earned at least 10 performance points during the year.
