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Ranching Heritage Challenge

Foals raised by Ranching Heritage Breeders are eligible for nomination to the Ranching Heritage Challenge.

Ranching Heritage Challenge logo

The Ranching Heritage Challenge highlights the versatility, soundness and willing attitude of American Quarter Horses that are ranch born and raised. First, the goal of the Ranching Heritage Breeders program is to recognize AQHA’s ranching members who have steadfastly continued to maintain the ranching tradition by raising American Quarter Horses for use in working cattle.

Second, through a series of ranch horse competitions and trail trials, the Ranching Heritage Challenge is intended to increase demand for ranch horses by providing an opportunity for ranches and horse owners to compete in a unique ranch horse competition or set of trail trials for a significant purse.

As interest in the program increases, AQHA anticipates having six regional events around the United States – each with a purse in excess of $100,000! These purses will be generated through nominations and sustaining payments for horses in the program and from added money in the form of sponsorships.

Learn about 2013 Ranching Heritage Challenge events.

Ranching Heritage Breeder Qualifications

Foals raised by Ranching Heritage Breeders will be eligible for nomination to the Ranching Heritage Challenge. The Ranching Heritage Challenge will be exclusively for foals bred and nominated by Ranching Heritage Breeders that remain eligible via payments by their owners. By 2013, AQHA anticipates having up to three regional events at stock shows, state fairs, ranch rodeos and other industry events.

Read more about Ranching Heritage Breeders qualifications.

What makes a horse eligible for the Ranching Heritage Challenge?

All foals bred and raised by a Ranching Heritage Breeder will be eligible to be nominated into the Ranching Heritage Challenge. Ranches have the opportunity to nominate weanlings to the program for just $10 before December 31 of its weanling year. Nominations can even be taken along with the foal’s registration papers. Because much of the benefit of the program is adding value to young ranch horses, ranches are encouraged to ensure the horse is nominated and ownership is transferred at the time of sale.

However, as long as the foal is eligible for the program, anyone can nominate and sustain the payments for the horse into the Ranching Heritage Challenge.

Nominate a horse to the Ranching Heritage Challenge.

What is the payment schedule?

Ranching Heritage Challenge enrollments will begin with the 2011 foal crop and the payment schedule will apply to 2011 and subsequent foal crops. All older Ranching Heritage-bred horses will be eligible to compete in events on an entry-fee basis. 

  • Weanling - $10
  • Yearling - $50
  • 2-year-olds - $100
  • 3-year-olds - $150

Starting with 2011 foals, the penalty for missing a payment is double any missed payments, along with the current year's payment. For example, if a horse is nominated as a yearling, the cost would be $70. ($10 x 2 [the penalty for missed weanling payment] = $20 + $50 [current year's payment]). For the best deal, nominate your weanlings now for only $10. 

Nominate a horse to the Ranching Heritage Challenge.

What classes will make up the Ranching Heritage Challenge?

Open Sweepstakes for 4-Year-Old Horses

  1. To compete in the open 4-year-old sweepstakes, both the owner and exhibitor of  the horse must be members in good standing of AQHA.
  2. The open 4-year-old sweepstakes will follow AQHA equipment rules for junior horses.
  3. Equipment, tack, exhibitor attire and turnout of the horse should reflect the ranching traditions of the class.
  4. The Open Division is open to any AQHA member in good standing with any horse regardless of ownership. The open division is for 4-year-old horses as of January 1 of the competition year. The horse must have been raised by a Ranching Heritage Breeder.

Limited Open for 4-Year-Old Horses

This division is for AQHA members with less than $10,000 lifetime earnings in any of the following: National Reined Cow Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, American Cutting Horse Association, Ranch Horse Association of America, American Stock Horse Association or Stock Horse of Texas earnings or less than 25 AQHA or American Paint Horse Association Open Points in Reining, Cutting or Working Cow Horse within the previous 10 years. No exhibitor can have earned more than $10,000 in any individual association.

Cowboy Class for 4-Year-Old and Older Horses

  1. The cowboy class is designed for working ranch cowboys and full-time employees of Ranching Heritage Breeders riding 4-year-old and older horses. The rider of the horse must either be an owner, family member or full time employee of the Ranching Heritage Breeder that owns the horse. Employees must have been employed for a minimum of 90 days prior to competing in the Ranching Heritage Challenge. Horses must have been bred by a Ranching Heritage Breeder.
  2. The cowboy class will run as a separate class and requires its own entry fee.
  3. Equipment, tack, exhibitor attire and turnout of the horse should reflect the ranching traditions of the class. 
  4. For the cowboy class, 4- and 5-year-old horses are considered junior horses and may be shown according to AQHA junior horse equipment rules. Six-year-old and older horses are considered senior horses and must be shown according to senior horse equipment rules.
  5. The rider must be an AQHA member with less than $5,000 lifetime earnings in any of the following: National Reined Cow Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, American Cutting Horse Association, Ranch Horse Association of America, American Stock Horse Association or Stock Horse of Texas earnings or less than 25 AQHA or American Paint Horse Association Open Points in Reining, Cutting, Working Cow Horse or Versatility Ranch Horse within the previous 10 years. No exhibitor can have earned more than $5,000 in any individual association.

Amateur Division Eligibility

  1. Must meet AQHA Amateur eligibility and ownership requirements as described in the AQHA Handbook of Rules and Regulations and possess or purchase an AQHA amateur card.
  2. Amateur classes, 5-year-old horses are considered junior horses and may be shown according to AQHA junior horse equipment rules. Six-year-old and older horses are considered senior horses and must be shown according to senior horse equipment rules.
  3. Amateur exhibitors will follow the Ranch Horse Heritage Challenge rules with the option of circling rather than roping the cow.


Ranching Heritage Challenge Class Rules

This class should exemplify the reining ability, cow sense and roping ability of the ranch horse. Each contestant will perform individually, first in the reining pattern and then releasing one cow into the arena.

  • Each exhibitor will be allowed a maximum of six minutes to complete the class. At the four-minute mark there will be a two-minute warning whistle. When the six-minute time limit has expired, the exhibitor will be required to exit the arena.
  • The class will be judged in three parts: the reining, the cow work and the roping portion. At the end of the performance, the scores for the three portions will be added together for the final score. Rules for scoring the reining portion are defined in Section 451 of the AQHA Official Handbook.
  • The reining portion will be performed first using the prescribed pattern. Each contestant will perform the required pattern individually and separately.
  • Rules for scoring the cow working portion are defined in Section 452 of the AQHA Official Handbook. After the exhibitor has completed his reining pattern, he will call for the cow to be turned into the arena. Upon receiving the cow, the contestant shall hold the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for sufficient time to demonstrate the ability of the horse to contain the cow on that end. After a reasonable amount of time, the contestant shall take the cow down the fence, making at least one turn each way on the fence. A three (3) point penalty will be assessed for a horse refusing to turn or hanging up on the fence. Judge may blow the whistle at any time to terminate the cow work if in his opinion unsafe or dangerous conditions exist. A score of zero in the cow work segment will be given if the work is not complete at that time. The exhibitor should then continue with the roping segment of the class.
  • Exhibitor must then rope the cow and bring it to a stop. In the roping portion of this class, the horse will be judged on three (3) maneuvers: 1. the ability to trail, 2. the ability to rate, 3. the ability to stop the cow. Additionally, a two-loop run will receive a penalty of three (3) points and a no-catch run will receive a penalty of five (5) points. It is not necessary that the roper catch for the contestant to receive a score in the roping portion. However, if there is no catch, a five-point penalty must be subtracted from the roping score accumulated prior to the catch (i.e., if a horse trails and rates its cow but no catch is made, or if rider loses his rope after the catch is made, the horse will receive the score it has earned up to the point of the catch minus five points). Any blatant disobedience for a circumstance that is not listed results in a five (5) point penalty, and a horse will be disqualified for excessive schooling at any time in the arena or whipping or hitting the horse with the rope. There is to be no dragging. The exhibitor is allowed only two throws. In order for a catch to be legal, the loop must hold in front of the cow’s shoulders. A amateur exhibitor has the option of circling the cow in the middle of the arena in both directions in lieu of roping; however, circling the cow is considered a lesser degree of difficulty and should be factored into the score.
  • For the entire class – reining, cow work and roping – an average score will be 210 points – 70 points per section. If the contestant fails to attempt any part of the class, he or she will receive a zero for the entire class.
  • Riders may either have their rope tied onto the horn of the saddle, or they may dally.
  • The judge may, at his discretion, award new cattle, to enable the contestant to show his horse’s ability on the cow, based on the following criteria:
  1. The cow won’t or can’t run
  2. The cow won’t leave the end of the arena
  3. The cow is blind or won’t yield to the horse
  4. The cow leaves the arena.

Amateur Trail Trial Rules

AQHA is in the process of finalizing trail trial rules.

What is the expected pay-out for the event?

The payout will be based on the number of horses nominated and paid into the program for that year. In time, AQHA anticipates having six regional events across the United States – each with a purse in excess of $100,000.