SHW400. PERFORMANCE CLASSES. In open competition, an exhibitor may enter one or more horses in a class, but each horse may have only one rider per class. In individual open working events (reining, working cow horse, boxing, western riding, barrel racing, pole bending, jumping, working hunter, trail, tie-down roping, dally team roping - heading, dally team roping - heeling, team penning, ranch sorting and cutting) a rider may:
SHW400.1 Exhibit three horses in a junior class.
SHW400.2 Exhibit three horses in a senior class.
SHW400.3 Exhibit a maximum (total) of four horses in an all-age class. There is no stipulation on the combination of the junior horses and/or senior horses in an all age class. If a junior class and a senior class is combined due to a lack of entries (may only be combined if there are two or less entries in one or both of the junior and senior classes) that class will become an all-age class
SHW400.4 In a leveled class that is run concurrent, an exhibitor may show a maximum of four horses.
SHW400.5 In novice youth, youth, novice amateur, select amateur and amateur in individual working events, (reining, working cow horse, boxing, western riding, barrel racing, pole bending, stakes race, jumping, working hunter, trail, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, dally team roping -- heading, dally team roping -- heeling, team penning, ranch sorting and cutting) an exhibitor may show three horses regardless of sex (except youth, novice youth and novice amateur where stallions may not be exhibited).
SHW400.6 A select exhibitor, in individual working events may show any combination in select and amateur as long as a maximum of three different horses is exhibited and that horse is only shown one time by any exhibitor in that class. For example, a select exhibitor in individual working events may exhibit all three horses in the amateur, all three horses in the select, two horses in select and one in amateur or one in select and two in amateur. A horse may only be exhibited one time in a class in either select or amateur no matter the exhibitor.
SHW400.7 A select exhibitor, in select amateur or amateur classes, may show up to two different horses in group classes (showmanship at halter, western pleasure, western horsemanship, hunter under saddle, hunter hack, hunt seat equitation, equitation over fences and pleasure driving) as long as one horse is shown in the amateur group class and a different horse is shown in the select group class. Should the classes be combined, the select amateur must choose on which horse to compete.
SHW400.8 No horse may be shown in more than one youth or amateur subdivision of any type of event. (Example: A horse ridden in a reining class by a youth in the 11-year-old and younger group cannot also be ridden in a reining class by a youth in the 15-through 18-year-old group). However, the same horse may be shown in a novice class then shown by another exhibitor or same exhibitor in the youth or amateur division.
SHW400.9 No exhibitor 18 years of age or under may be tied, buckled or fastened in the saddle in any manner or by any means during youth or novice youth competition.
SHW400.10 In youth, novice youth and open speed events, exhibitors 18 years of age or under may use a rubber band per foot (maximum width of 1/4 inch) during competition , but may not be tied, buckled or fastened by any other means during competition.
SHW400.11 If there is an elimination, each horse must be ridden in the actual class by the same rider who rode it in the elimination.
SHW400.12 Any horse used at an AQHA-approved show as a helping horse in cutting, heading and heeling must be an American Quarter Horse.
SHW400.13 Holding the saddle horn with either hand will be penalized and may be disqualified at the judges discretion unless covered by specific class rules.