Quarter Horse
America's Horse Weekly Newsletter
By
May 1, 2008, 13:12

AQHA LOWERS 2008 WORLD AND SELECT WORLD QUALIFYING POINTS

AQHA has good news for members trying to qualify for the Bayer Select, Bank of America Amateur or FedEx Open world championship shows. During its April meeting, the AQHA Executive Committee approved lowering the qualifying points for those three premier events. With these lowered qualifying points, there’s still plenty of time for World Show hopefuls to qualify.

For some, fewer points might mean fewer hours spent on the road during the show season and fewer stops at expensive fuel pumps, something every horse exhibitor can appreciate.

“In these days of increased prices for nearly everything, we want to serve our members in the best ways possible,” said Ken Mumy, AQHA President. “With today’s rising fuel costs, exhibitors are feeling the pinch, and by lowering the points, our hope is that members will be able to qualify more economically. We always look forward to seeing the best competitors at the World Show and want to help people who are World Show bound.”

Building on the excitement and improvements of last year’s Bayer Select, Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open world championship shows, qualifiers are already up compared to 2007. In amateur competition, World Show qualifiers are up 143 from 604 in 2007 through March to 747 this year compared to the same period. There are 184 more qualifiers for the 2008 FedEx Open World Show compared to the same period in 2007. Last year, there were 639 qualifiers compared to 823 this year.

The majority of the increase in qualifiers can be attributed to the popularity of AQHA’s two newest classes, ranch sorting and performance halter. Points will not be reduced for these classes because this is the first full year exhibitors have been able to qualify for these events.

Following is the formula the Executive Committee used for point reductions:
Current Points: Lower By:
2-2.5

N/A
3-5.5

1
6-10.5 1.5
11-15.5 2
16-20.5 2.5
21-25.5 3
26-up 3.5

These qualifying point reductions will apply to the majority of Bank of America Amateur, FedEx Open and Bayer Select World Show classes. Click here for a full list of the new 2008 Bank of America Amateur, FedEx Open and Bayer Select World Show qualifying points.

The 6th Annual Bayer Select World Championship Show takes place August 25-31 in Amarillo. For more on the Bayer Select.

The 35th Annual Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open World Championship Shows take place November 8-22 at the newly remodeled State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.


SUN SHADE
These AQHA-logoed ripstop visors are available in pink and khaki, and are garment washed, with Velcro back strap. Price is $17 each, plus shipping.


SHOP QUARTER HORSE OUTFITTERS FOR OTHER GREAT GIFT IDEAS, APPAREL, BOOKS AND MUCH MORE.


AQHA-APPROVED CLASSES TO
PREMIER AT OPEN HORSE SHOWS
Long considered too competitive, inaccessible or too expensive, AQHA-approved classes branching out this year.

AQHA is introducing AQHA-approved classes to run during any open or 4-H horse show.

In fact, these AQHA classes can be held within other classes at the show. For example, an AQHA member exhibiting a registered Quarter Horse in the open show’s western pleasure class can also receive points based off his or her placing against other AQHA members and their Quarter Horses in that class. The shows are novice driven, but show management can choose to offer open, amateur and youth classes as well.

"These new shows aim to create a friendly and inexpensive show environment for all levels of exhibitors while providing the opportunity for many more American Quarter Horse owners to participate in the AQHA show experience,"says Charlie Hemphill, AQHA senior director of shows.

Click here for more information.

AMERICA'S HORSE POLL
Based on the information in the above item, how likely are you to participate in AQHA-approved classes that are offered at open or 4-H horse shows?

LOCK-IN YOUR MEMBERSHIP FEES WITH AUTO-RENEW
A couple of weeks ago, we told you about a new tool that AQHA has developed to securely store your credit card information and automatically renew your membership on the renewal date.

For you, that means you won’t miss a single issue of America’s Horse magazine, the largest equine publication by circulation in the world; you’ll continually be eligible for AQHA’s corporate partner offers, like Ford's $500 purchase incentive; and you'll get great DVD discounts.

If you are a current AQHA member, click here to securely provide us with your credit card number. We will not charge your card until it’s time for your membership to renew. If you decide you want out of the program, we’ll miss you, but just tell us and we’ll cancel it at any time.

Oh, and the best part of all, you’ll have your current membership renewal fee locked in for three years even if fees go up.

Sign up for auto-renew and you won’t ever have to remember to renew your AQHA membership – ever.

AQHA STATS
$123,042,699
Total American Quarter Horse racing purses in 2007. That’s an all-time record.

$4,000,447.95
Amount of money paid out through the AQHA Incentive Fund for the 2007 show season. The AQHA Incentive Fund pays you to show your American Quarter Horse. However, you have to enroll your horse in the program. The Incentive Fund pays stallion nominators, foal nominators and owners of the competing horses, based on points earned at AQHA-approved shows. Click here to learn more or call (806) 376-4811.

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