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AQHA Rule Changes

AQHA rule changes that will affect competitors in halter, stake race, showmanship, open and Novice classes.

The American Quarter Horse Journal
October 24, 2011

Stake Race

Stake race will be a class at the 2012 Built Ford Tough AQHYA, Adequan Select and Bank of America Amateur world championship shows. (Journal photo).

The American Quarter Horse Association Executive Committee recently approved some changes that will affect AQHA competitors.

The following changes to show-related policies and rules have been approved and are effective January 1, 2012:

  • Novice: Novice amateur and Novice youth competitors may show two-handed with a snaffle in any class with any age horse.
  • Stake Race: Stake race will be offered for youth, amateur and Select competitors. Stake race will be a class at the 2012 Built Ford Tough AQHYA, Adequan Select and Bank of America Amateur world championship shows.
  • Halter: The use of lip chains is allowed in youth and amateur halter classes. Exhibitors of stallions 1 year of age and older in the open division will also be allowed to continue to use lip chains. However, no lip chains of any sort, in any division (open, amateur or youth) will be allowed in classes for weanlings and/or performance halter. Also, lip chains are not allowed in any division in the versatility ranch horse conformation class.

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  • Showmanship: Showmanship whips (dressage whips, etc.) will not be allowed at AQHA shows for showmanship schooling purposes. War bridles, or like devices, or any type of wire or rope over a horse’s head will not be allowed at AQHA shows.
  • Open Division: In individual open working events – see Rule 450 (m) – a rider may exhibit a maximum of two horses in a junior class and two horses in a senior class. A rider may exhibit a total of four horses in an all-age class, but there is no requirement for the number of junior horses and number of senior horses that a rider may show in an all-age class.

If you have any questions regarding these rule modifications, contact the AQHA Competition Department at (806) 376-4811.

For more information, visit www.aqha.com/showing.