SHW118. YOUTH DIVISION APPROVAL. A youth division may be approved separately or in conjunction with an AQHA-approved show for all ages provided a minimum of four approved youth performance events are offered, two of which must be showmanship at halter and either western pleasure or western horsemanship.
SHW118.1 To have an approved youth halter division, halter classes must include individual classes for yearling, 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and 4-year-old and older American Quarter Horse mares and geldings, as well as performance halter for AQHA registered mares and geldings.
SHW118.1.1 A Grand Champion and Reserve Champion must be selected for each sex in youth halter classes having three or more entries.
SHW118.2 Show management will have the option of combining age groups into 2 and under and 3 and over with the unanimous consent of all exhibitors to be affected.
SHW118.2.1 Classes may be combined only if there are 2 or less entries in at least one of the halter age groups to be combined.
SHW118.2.2 Once halter age groups are combined and additional entries are taken, it is mandatory that halter age groups be split to the originally requested classes should 1/2 point or more become available in each age group. Performance Halter would continue to be offered as a separate class.
SHW118.3 Show management has the option to offer youth weanling halter classes for both mares and geldings.
SHW118.4 Age group limits in youth events may be set by show management. For horse show purposes, the age of an individual on January 1 of that year shall be maintained throughout the entire year. (Example: A youth who has a birthday in July, and is 18 years of age on January 1, must show throughout the entire year as an 18-year-old.)
SHW118.5 It is recommended large classes be divided into age groups to provide more equal competition. Age divisions however, do not apply to halter classes.
SHW118.5.1 If there is to be one class, undivided, the age group is to be 18 and under.
SHW118.5.2 IF there are to be two classes, the age divisions must be 1) 13 and under and 2) 14 -- 18.
SHW118.5.3 If there are to be three classes, the age divisions must be 1) 11 and under; 2) 12 -- 14; and 3) 15 -- 18.
SHW118.5.4 Age groups may be combined at a show, at the direction of the judge and the show management with the unanimous consent of all exhibitors involved in the class only if there are 2 or less entries in one or both of the age groups to be combined.
SHW118.5.5 The 11-and-under age group may never be combined with the 15-18 age group.
SHW118.5.6 When the 11-and-under and 12-14 age groups are combined, that class shall be reported and shown as 14-and-under.
SHW118.5.7 When the 12-14 and 15-18 age groups are combined that class shall be reported and shown as 12-18.
SHW118.5.8 Age groups may never be split at the show.
SHW118.5.9 Once age groups are combined and additional entries are taken, it is mandatory that age groups be split to the originally requested classes should 1/2 point or more become available in each age group.