This year, the American Quarter Horse Association is introducing a trial run of rookie classes created by the AQHA Blue-Ribbon Task Force to make the transition from 4-H, open showing or no show experience at all less intimidating and more comfortable for exhibitors. The goal of theses classes is to reach AQHA members of all ages and riding levels. By developing true entry-level classes, AQHA plans to introduce new AQHA members, as well as members who have never shown, to the AQHA show scene.
To compete in these classes, you must be an AQHA member. However, AQHA is offering a free 90-day trial membership to all rookie competitors provided they have not been an AQHA member in the last three years. If you are planning to show, please fill out the novice application and bring it to your show.
The rookie classes will be offered for youth-, amateur- and open-division classes. Horse and rider combinations that have earned less than 10 AQHA points in that particular class can compete in that rookie class, as well as the corresponding novice class. Horse and rider combinations that have earned more than 10 AQHA points in a class will no longer be able to enter that rookie class but can continue to compete in the corresponding novice class until they reach a total of 25 AQHA novice points.
The AQHA rookie classes will tentatively be available at nine AQHA shows for the 2011 show season:
May 21 in Caseyville, Illinois
June 17 in Columbus, Montana
July16 in Colfax, North Carolina
July 27 in Carp, Ontario
August 13 in Colfax, North Carolina
August 27 in Augusta, New Jersey
November 5 in Williamston, North Carolina
November 25 in Perry, Georgia
The first show to test-pilot rookie classes was April 2 in Colfax, North Carolina, at the “No Bling” Novice/Rookie Show and Instructional Clinic. The show, which went very well, offered rookie classes in both youth and amateur showmanship, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, western pleasure and horsemanship.
