Weekend Recap From 2018 AQHA and APHA Conventions

The Equine Chronicle had help from several intrepid reporters who traveled to the 2018 AQHA Convention in Jacksonville, Florida and the APHA Convention in Irving, Texas, and the events happened to take place on the same weekend!

Scroll below to see what our EC Bloggers had to say about Convention weekend.

Saturday Snoops with Ruth Ellen at AQHA Convention 

EC Blog by: Ruth Ellen

The day started out with an all new membership meeting format. For the first time EVER, our International affiliates were individually recognized on stage. I think it was a big surprise to most people how long our international members have been supporting AQHA. Mexico has been an affiliate for FIFTY years!

Part of the agenda included (also for the first time at the general meeting) announcing our new Professional Horseman and Horsewoman of the year. Congratulations go to Holly Hover and Dan Trein. Dan was not in attendance due to a recent knee surgery… what a year to miss the convention, Dan! Gretchen Mathes received the Most Valuable Professional award. Well deserved, Gretchen.

The afternoon was filled with various committee meetings; but, after that, an entirely new event took place. Historically, Saturday night has been the awards banquet. This year, the AQHA Foundation presented- Foundation In Paradise. Underwritten by Johnny and Jana Trotter and the Amon G. Carter Foundation, it was a come on in and have some fun kind of event. A twenty dollar admission gave you a pin on flamingo that flashed on and off, food trucks with everything from ice cream sundaes to fish tacos and beef kabobs, and music by the Bellamy Brothers. Four hundred and fifty tickets were sold. It was the most inclusive event, in my memory, that has ever been held at the Convention, and it was a roaring success! Kudos to the Foundation!

That’s it from Saturday Snoops.

Foundation in Paradise with Maggie Bellville

EC Blog by: Maggie Bellville

While day two at Convention was filled with general membership meetings and committee meetings, the day was topped by a fabulous party hosted by the AQHA Foundation. Situated overlooking the water outside, it was a perfect night for food trucks, good fun, food, friends, and the Bellamy Brothers playing. People danced, visited, and supported the Foundation. A trip to the Kentucky Derby was raffled off! Tomorrow is full of committee meetings and topped off by the Hall of Fame induction.

APHA Convention

EC Blog by: Brian Brady

Yesterday continued with more standing committee meetings where discussions ensued and rule change proposals were passed or defeated. There were a lot of passionate opinions related to some of the rule change proposals. Some of the most notable included Performance Halter for the amateur and youth divisions, adding a Top 20 award for the Amateur Walk Trot division, and a modification to the scoring system for Showmanship, Horsemanship and Equitation. Other noted discussions that I heard about, included the possibility of a competition license for SPB horses to compete with regular registry horses.

Yesterday, we also had the opportunity to attend a demonstration of APHA’s horseIQ online education program. This program is designed to educate anyone on the scoring systems that APHA judges use when scoring classes. The program gives detailed explanations along with video clips of each scoring level and maneuver scores. Penalties are explained and demonstrated. We had the privilege to hear this presentation from APHA Director of Judges David Dellin and Judges Committee Chair Sandy Jirkovsky. I thought they did an exceptional job providing the explanations and even providing the judges’ perspective of the show pen. The judges really do want the exhibitors to do well, and I thought they presented with a lot of positive vibes.

I have certainly seen that representatives are passionate about the American Paint Horse Association. There have been a number of arguments, both pro and con, for the current rule change proposals. It is exciting to see the level of commitment the national board of directors have for the association. I’m personally excited to see how the national board of directors vote on the rule change proposals that have been passed through the standing committees.

Click on the links below to view other reports from the dual Conventions.

2018 AQHA Convention Report- 3/2, 3/3– with Maggie Bellville and Kathryn Kope

2018 APHA Convention Report- 3/3– with Brian Brady

Scroll below to view more fun photos from both Conventions!