SHW100. AQHA SHOW APPROVAL is a privilege, not a right, granted or rejected at AQHA's discretion on an annual basis according to continuous evaluation of the applicant, including, but not limited to competence of show management, enforcement of AQHA rules, quality of show, and service to AQHA members.
SHW100.1 AQHA reserves the right to approve only the number of shows per calendar year it deems appropriate for the same organization or management.
SHW100.2 An "AQHA-approved event" means an official class of competition or show with results that are accepted by AQHA in its records as official.
SHW100.3 AQHA will issue a statement of official approval of the proposed special event or show, or notify the organization or individual making the application, of reasons for not approving a show or special event.
SHW100.4 Lack of approval of any certain class in a proposed show need not invalidate the recognition of the remainder of the show.
SHW100.5 All approved classes must be open to any American Quarter Horse owner meeting age, ownership and eligibility requirements. Membership in AQHA and/or AQHYA for youth competition is the only mandatory membership.
SHW100.6 To compete in an AQHA-approved class, a horse must be entered in the class with show management prior to the start of the class.
SHW100.7 The exhibitor must accurately complete entry forms and assumes responsibility for any errors.
SHW100.8 A horse entered in the wrong class may be transferred to its correct class after the judging program has been printed.
SHW100.9 Any contestant withdrawing from a show after entering shall forfeit any fees and all go-round money which may be credited to him at the time of his withdrawal; except that in case of incapacitating sickness or injury to himself or his horse, or serious illness or death in the contestant's family, all prize monies won by him to that point shall be paid.
SHW100.10 Any AQHA-approved show which fails to pay for services rendered by third parties in connection with the holding of the approved shows (i.e. judges' fees, cattle charges, facilities, insurance or drug testing fees, etc.) or pay premium monies to exhibitors can be denied AQHA approval for present and future shows. The show manager and/or show secretary and sponsoring organization and/or its representatives can be denied privileges of AQHA and suspended from membership.
SHW100.11 Barrels shall not be used as markers in any event except barrel racing.
SHW100.12 Chairs shall not be used as markers in any events.
SHW100.13 In speed events, drags will be conducted every seven head; show management may drag more frequently if desired.
SHW100.14 One of the individuals designated on the show approval application as show manager or show secretary for approved shows and special events must have attended an AQHA show management seminar within five years preceding the date of the scheduled show.
SHW100.15 Alliance approved managers and secretaries are not required to attend a show management seminar in order to hold an AQHA alliance event.
SHW100.16 Show management that fails to follow any AQHA rules, which may or may not result in the disqualification of an exhibitor or exhibitors, may be fined a $10 fee per disqualification. In the Versatility Ranch Horse Competition, the $10 disqualification fee only applies one time and not for each one of the five classes.
SHW100.17 Show management delinquent and/or habitual in submitting 1) show approval requests, 2) results 3) incomplete information or 4) failing to submit electronic results will be reviewed by the AQHA Show Council.
SHW100.18 Show management is not allowed to add to the total number of approved shows.