Thinking Outside of the Box: National Quarter Horse League Classes Debut This Weekend in Florida
By: Brittany Bevis
This weekend at the 2014 Fox Lea Farm’s Winter Circuit in Venice, Florida, the debut of a very special set of classes is scheduled to take place, one that has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Quarter Horse community. Kim Farrell of the National Quarter Horse League describes her goals for this newly evolved group with unbridled excitement.
“If we stand back and look at sports in general, sports keep evolving and growing,” Farrell says. “Athletes become more specialized, sports medicine is becoming more innovative, and athletic equipment gets better and safer as technology advances. We see the same with equine sports.”
“These NQHL classes fill the needs of the riders and their equine partners as they grow and become more specialized in their particular disciplines. NQHL offers the opportunity for everyone, both english and western [riders], to enjoy this experience. The NQHL is a venue for riders and horses to demonstrate their strengths. This league of classes enables exhibitors to enter a competition that’s challenging, different, and rewards them for their riding skills in a way that’s different from conventional hunter, equitation, and trail courses.”
What is the National Quarter Horse League exactly? In October of 2013, our readers might remember an interview with Lainie DeBoer where she commented on the sale of the Huntfield AQHA Derby Series to Kim Farrell and the plan to turn the program into a National League that would offer a wide variety of speciality english and western classes.
When trainers, DeBoer and David Warner, founded the Huntfield Derby Series in 2011, their original intention was to offer a variety of hunter level classes, similar to those offered in USHJA, while keeping the competition in an AQHA breed setting. When the first year of competition concluded with the Huntfield Derby Finals being held at the 2012 AQHA World Show, which offered over $40,000 in cash and prizes, news spread quickly. Adding western events to the program in 2014 is just the first step in what is expected to be a very exciting transformation.
“Our goal is to be an asset to AQHA shows,” Farrell says. “Adding western classes completes the objective of meeting the AQHA exhibitor’s needs. Western riders and horses have become just as specialized in their classes as English. The NQHL is a league for everyone!”
“In the beginning, when Lainie DeBoer, David Warner, and I were discussing the future of Huntfield, it was everyone’s dream to expand to include the western specialty classes and their competitors. The American Quarter Horse is known for its high skill levels and versatility. Huntfield series demonstrates how remarkable and adaptable the American Quarter Horse truly is and how it can bring this versatile family of riders together.”
Thus far, the reaction to the formation of the NQHL and the intention to make their speciality classes available at any AQHA show across the country has met with a very positive response. Show managers and associations alike are clamoring to host NQHL classes at their events in 2014. A list of shows that have already signed up to participate includes Fox Lea Farm’s Winter Circuit, Arizona Sun Circuit, Kentucky Winter Series Western, Kentucky Winter Series English, Spring Fling Quarter Horse Shows, Lakeside Arena AQHA Shows, Texas Amateur State Championship, Mid-East Kentucky Shows, Fox Lea Fall Quarter Horse Circuit, and The Kentucky Nationals.
National Quarter Horse League classes that are currently available include the following.
· HUNTFIELD HUNTER DERBY – FINALS & TOP TEN WARDS
· HUNTFIELD LOW HUNTER DERBY –TOP TEN AWARDS PRO & NON PRO
· HUNTFIELD TRAIL DERBY – FINALS & TOP TEN AWARDS
· HUNTFIELD FREESTYLE HORSEMANSHIP –TOP TEN AWARDS
· HUNTFIELD FREESTYLE REINING –TOP TEN AWARDS
· HUNTFIELD YOUTH EQUITATION OVER FENCES EQUINE CHRONICLE MEDAL – TOP TEN AWARDS
· HUNTFIELD AMATEUR EQUITATION OVER FENCES MEDAL- TOP TEN AWARDS
With many different levels of prize money and point scales being offering, the NQHL’s intention is to make these classes accessible to all sizes of shows, Farrell says.
“The individual shows will be responsible for the prize money for the classes they choose to hold at their event,” Farrell says. “The Huntfield Derby Series will be responsible for the prize money for the Hunter and Trail Derby Finals. A variety of prizes and top ten awards will be offered. All classes, except the Hunter and Trail Derbies, will be an option for horse shows that are held in the Fall to apply to run the finals at their shows if they choose to do so. Regional awards for classes are also an opportunity for sponsorship. We are excited to announce that The Huntfield Youth Equitation Over Fences Equine Chronicle Medal Finals, The Huntfield Amateur Equitation Over Fences Medal Finals, and The Huntfield Freestyle Horsemanship Finals will be held in Frankfort, KY at the Fall Lakeside Arena QH Shows September 26-28, 2014.”
Farrell’s goal for the future of the NQHL is to grow the fledgling series into a valued asset for the horse industry. Eventually, she would love to see Huntfield NQHL classes in every state in the country. Emphasized as a “league for exhibitors,” the NQHL hopes to attract competitors who might have never participated in AQHA breed competitions before.
“Just the other day, I received a phone call from a trainer that primarily participated in Hunter/Jumper USEF shows with Warmbloods,” she says. “The trainer has recently acquired a couple appendix Quarter Horses because he’s excited to start participating in the League classes and AQHA shows. To bring attention to how wonderful AQHA shows are and to grow the participation is exactly what we want to see happen. These classes can help bring recognition and help exhibitors see that AQHA shows can offer similar opportunities that the USEF and other breed shows offer.”
Currently, the NQHL is prepared to hold a National Finals for the Hunter and Trail Derby classes. The location of the Finals will be centrally located in the US and will be announced in the coming months. Throughout the year, competitors will be able to keep track of their points via the NQHL website.
“We have set up a point tracking program that has its own server,” she says. “This link is on the NQHL.com website. Exhibitors will be able to look at overall point standings, point standings from individual shows, and even look at results by riders and/or horses. There is a user-friendly web page that exhibitors and show managers can use to gather information about these classes. They will be able to look at the calendar of events and class specifications.”
Looking towards the future, ideas and suggestions about the evolution of the NQHL are welcomed. Farrell knows that the future of this series will be a learning experience, and she hopes it will grow and change with the industry’s needs.
“One of the things I’ve learned by running events and being in a management position is that it takes a mix of people to see ideas that are outside of the box,” she says. “To grow in the direction the industry desires us to, we are forming committees to achieve this synergy. The committees will help with all aspects: class specifications, educating the industry and shows about the league, rules, points, trophy designs, etc. This will be the exhibitors’ league! If you are interested in being on a committee please e-mail us at: huntfieldnqhl@aol.com.”
The debut of the NQHL Huntfield classes will take place Friday evening at the Fox Lea Farm’s Winter Circuit. First up will be the $500 Freestyle Reining and $500 Freestyle Horsemanship classes. On Saturday evening, the show will hold the first ever Huntfield Trail Derby, which has been generously sponsored by Patty Vatterott and Searidge Farms. The course for the class has been designed by Tim Kimura. The Equine Chronicle Youth Equitation Over Fence Medal class will also debut over the weekend.
“Synergy is the term to describe this year’s Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit,” she says. “Synergy (per Merriam –Webster Dictionary) is the increased effectiveness that results when two or more people or businesses work together. Fox Lea Farm, Mark Harrell Horse Shows, and the support of the exhibitors have created a wonderful Quarter Horse Circuit that all seem to be enjoying. Fox Lea Farm and Mark Harrell Horse Shows is very appreciative of the support we have received from everyone making this circuit stronger than ever.”
“Many companies, exhibitors and farms have sponsored High Point saddles, High Point bridles, circuit awards, NSBA classes, and the show in general. Fox Lea Farm graciously thanks all involved with this circuit. Thank you for positioning us to do what we love to do: produce quality, fun shows for the exhibitors!”
