Wrapping Up the 50th Annual Ford AQHYA World

AQHA

That’s a wrap on the 2022 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show! This year’s Ford AQHYA World was held July 28 – August 7 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. More than 4,400 entries and 157 first time exhibitors attended the 50th anniversary of the show.

AQHYA exhibitors from the United States, Canada, Brazil, South Africa and Sweden competed for 44 world championship, 40 Adequan® Level 2 championships and 13 Nutrena Level 1 Champion of Champions titles.

Event Coverage
If you were unable to join us in Oklahoma City or missed the free live webcast, be sure to check out daily replays and complete show results at www.aqha.com/youthworld. Relive the highlights by watching all of the winning run coverage, courtesy of the Journal. You can also watch the daily Gold Globe Report, brought to you by the Wrangler Network, recapping highlights from each day of competition.

View information on how to order photos from the show. Equine Promotion, the Ford AQHYA World official videographer, emailed exhibitors a link to their run so they can download the video and share it on social media.

New in 2022
For the first time in the 50-year history of the show, AQHA offered all-around titles for both the 14-18 and 13-&-Under divisions; Adequan® Level 2 core classes for 13-&-Under exhibitors; Nutrena Level 1 Champion of Champions classes; and optional jackpots with cash payouts totaling over $77,000, paid onsite at the event.

AQHYA Contests
Action at the OKC Fairgrounds continued outside of the arena, too. The AQHYA Horse Judging Contest, Justin boots and Wrangler jeans decorating, speech and art/photo contests were just some of the contests offered. Throughout the show, Ford AQHYA World teams also competed for points in a team spirit contest. View the contest results.

2022 Parade of Teams
The 2022 youth teams were recognized during the Parade of Teams in the Jim Norick Arena. Also recognized in the arena were the  American Quarter Horse Foundation Scholarship recipients, Ford AQHYA World contest winners and the 2022-23 AQHYA Executive Committee.

Youth Activities Scholarship
The American Quarter Horse Foundation awarded two $1,000 youth activities scholarships to Alexa Gerdes of Dodge City, Kansas, and Cassandre Ehrle of Chino Hills, California. This scholarship is awarded by the American Quarter Horse Foundation to youth members in their last year of youth eligibility. The youth members also had to compete at the 2022 Ford AQHYA World in a Level 3 or Adequan® Level 2 class or in a designated AQHYA competition.

2021 High-Point Recognitions
The 2021 youth year-end high-point winners were recognized during their corresponding classes during the Ford AQHYA World. Watch this video presentation of the winners.

Ride the Patterns Clinics
AQHA Professional Horsemen volunteered their time to give free Ride the Pattern clinics, presented by Nutrena. These popular clinics gave exhibitors the perfect opportunity to learn how AQHA Professional Horsemen would approach a class or pattern. Thanks in part to Nutrena’s generosity to match the amount donated at the Ride the Pattern clinics dollar-for-dollar, the Professional Horsemen Endowment raised over $7,800.

Political Action Committee Auction
The AQHA Political Action Committee hosted an online auction July 29 – August 2 to help raise money to contribute to campaigns of the members of Congress who support the horse industry. The generosity of all who bid in the auction raised $6,600.

AQHAPAC, a separate entity from the Association, relies on individual contributions for funding. In turn, it makes contributions to political candidates who support AQHA and horse industry issues. AQHAPAC is a way for AQHA members to raise money to make a greater financial impact with candidates.

Top Ranching Heritage Bred Horse Award
The 2014 gelding Cat Walks Into A Bar, bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner of Whitesboro, Texas, was named the Top AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horse at the 2022 Ford AQHYA World. Cat Walks Into A Bar is by WR This Cats Smart and out of the Shining Spark mare Sue C Shiner.

The AQHA Ranching Heritage program highlights the versatility, soundness and willing attitude of American Quarter Horses that are ranch-born and -raised. Ranching Heritage Breeders are those operations that have steadfastly continued to maintain the ranching tradition by raising American Quarter Horses for use in working cattle.

Make Plans for Next Year’s Show
Qualifying is already under way for the 2023 Ford AQHYA World. The qualifying requirements will be released at a later date. Find a list of AQHA-approved shows here and don’t delay in earning your spot to compete at next year’s event!

About the Ford AQHYA World

The Ford AQHYA World Championship Show is the world’s largest, single-breed world championship horse show open exclusively to youth exhibitors age 18 and under. This is the pinnacle event for youth competitors from around the world who must qualify for the event by earning a predetermined number of points to secure a spot in each of the classes, representing English, western and halter disciplines, or earn an invitation through their state or provincial affiliate. The show includes Level 3, Adequan® Level 2 and Nutrena Level 1 Champion of Champions classes.

To learn more about the Ford AQHYA World, visit www.aqha.com/youthworld.