2015 Merial AQHA Regional Championships Dates Announced

AQHA Publicity

Bring your American Quarter Horse to the 2015 Merial AQHA Regional Championship closest to you and experience an event that will test your skills in a rewarding environment. A perfect highlight to the show season, the Regional Championships are a series of fun events that allow you to compete for a chance to win great prizes from AQHA’s team of corporate partners.

“Merial is proud to continue to be a part of the Merial AQHA Regional Championships,” said Beckie Peskin, Merial associate director equine marketing. “We know that AQHA competitors across the country love these events – as they are a wonderful way for them to get a taste of the big stage.  We wish the best of luck to all competitors and encourage you all to visit www.thestomachtowin.com for some inspiration along the way.”

Awards will be provided by AQHA for first through third place in each of the eight core classes in Level 1 youth 13-&-under, Level 1 youth 14-18, Level 1 amateur and for either Rookie or Select amateur. Winners in each class will receive a Montana Silversmiths buckle. Second-place winners will receive a WeatherBeeta blanket and third-place winners will receive Professional’s Choice SMB boots. Buckles will also be awarded to the Farnam All-Around winner in each division.

Exhibitors can compete in any Regional Championship; however, competitors may only compete in one Regional Championship each year.

“These shows are the best way for exhibitors to get their feet wet in AQHA championship shows,” said Charlie Hemphill, AQHA senior director of shows and new events. “The shows also give Level 1 exhibitors who place in the top 10 in a Level 1 class the opportunity to qualify for the AQHA Level 1 Championships in 2015 or 2016, depending when in the calendar year their Regional Championship falls.”

All dates are tentative and regions may impose entry deadlines.

Region Two
September 17-20
Rapid City, South Dakota

Region Six
July 17-19
Entry Deadline: July 1
Springfield, Massachusetts

Region Five
June 24
Entry Deadline: June 17
Logan Township, New Jersey

Region Eight
June 18-21
Entry Deadline: June 10
Amarillo

Region Nine
June 5-7
Entry Deadline: May 14
Jackson, Mississippi

Level 1 exhibitors who place in the top 10 of a Level 1 class at the Region Five, Region Eight or Region Nine championships will qualify for the 2015 AQHA Level 1 Championships because those shows occur before the Level 1 Championships qualification deadline. Exhibitors who compete in the Region Two or Region Four championships and place in the top 10 of a Level 1 class, will qualify for the 2016 AQHA Level 1 Championships.

To see the show schedules and find out more about each Regional Championship, visit www.aqha.com/regionalchampionships.

The Regional Championships would not be possible without title sponsor Merial. As an official AQHA animal health care partner, Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Whether you care for pleasure horses, racehorses, performance horses or working horses, Merial offers you products to protect them. Learn more about Merial’s official AQHA products.

The shows also wouldn’t be possible without the help of AQHA corporate partners Farnam, Montana Silversmiths, Professional’s Choice and WeatherBeeta.

News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.