Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 AQHA Level 1 Championships

AQHA

The 2023 Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships is April 25-30 at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio; and the 2023 Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships is May 16-21 in conjunction with the Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Pinnacle Circuit at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Entry Information

Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships

The entry deadline for the Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships is 5 p.m. Central on March 15. Late entry options are available until 5 p.m. Central on March 31. Unentered horses will not be able to enter after the late entry deadline. Exhibitors who choose to show at both AQHA Level 1 Championship shows cannot compete in the same classes at each event.

• Enter here to compete at the Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships.
• Stalls can be reserved on the entry form.
• RV spaces are currently sold out, fill out the waiting list form here.

Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships

The entry deadline for the Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships is 5:30 p.m. Central on March 31. Late entry options are available through 5 p.m. Central on April 14. Exhibitors who choose to show at both AQHA Level 1 Championship shows cannot compete in the same classes at each event. Unentered horses will not be able to enter after the late entry deadline.

• Enter here to compete at the Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships with the Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Pinnacle Circuit at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Entries for the Pinnacle Circuit will not be taken through this form.
• Stalls can be reserved on ezhorseshows.com.

Schedules

AQHA has released the tentative schedules for the 2023 Nutrena AQHA West and East Level 1 Championships.

• View the Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships tentative schedule.
• View the Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships and AzQHA Pinnacle Circuit tentative schedule.

The judges selected for the 2023 Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships are:

Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships

• Clint Fullerton of Bonner Springs, Kansas
• Garth Gooding of Fennville, Michigan
• Tanya Green of Weatherford, Texas
• Jennifer Kunkle of Cross, South Carolina
• Lisa Ligon of Aubrey, Texas
• Michael Ochetto of Belcher, Louisiana
• Lindsay Soderberg-Geiger of Red Deer, Alberta
• Kelly Stone-Wainscott of Sanger, Texas
• Daren Wright of Chillicothe, Ohio

Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships

• Terry Cross of Weatherford, Texas
• Casey Devitt of Harrodsburg, Kentucky
• April Devitt of Harrodsburg, Kentucky
• Robin Frid of Pilot Point, Texas
• Theodore Grose of Sumterville, Florida
• John Kunkle of Cross, South Carolina

To be eligible to enter the 2023 Level 1 Championships, an exhibitor must:

• Be Rookie- and/or Level 1-eligible in the class they wish to enter as of the prior year or January 1, 2022.
• Be an AQHA member at the time of entry and at the time of the 2023 Level 1 Championships.

Additionally:

• If a competitor graduated out of Level 1 and/or Rookie after the 2022 show season, he or she is still invited to enter, as eligibility is based on the 2022 competition year.
• If you have won a Level 1 class at a Level 1 Championships, you cannot show in that same class at future Level 1 Championships, including the 2023 Level 1 Championships. However, you can still show in that class at other AQHA-sanctioned shows (excluding the Level 1 Championships) until you meet the level-up requirements found in SHW245. You can still show at the Level 1 Championships in any other class(es) for which you are Level 1 eligible.
• If you have not earned a Superior award within the past 10 years in a particular class in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members, including AQHA.
• In addition cannot have placed in the top 3 at any AQHA world championship show in a particular class.
• Cannot have won a world, reserve world, national or reserve national championship title in a particular class, excluding Level 1 classes, in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members.
• Cannot have won a total of $5,000 or more in cash with any equine organization or association by class including earnings reported by QData, Equistat and other verifiable resources.
• Cannot have competed on an NCEA equestrian team on a scholarship or ride as a starting exhibitor in a particular discipline within the past 10 years.
• Cannot have been an accredited horse show judge or have trained professionally.

Learn more about AQHA Rule SHW245 in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

Level eligibility is determined on a class-by-class basis. Exhibitors are encouraged to use the online level verification system at www.aqha.com/leveling to determine if they are Level 1- or Rookie-eligible in a particular class. Walk-trot classes do require exhibitors to be Level 1-eligible in their particular class.

The AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships, presented by the Four Sixes Ranch, will be held with the 2023 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, June 20-24 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The schedule and online entries for the Cattle Level 1 classes will be posted at a later date at www.aqha.com/versatility.

About the Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships
The Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships feature walk-trot, Rookie and Level 1 classes. The shows offer a variety of events and activities for competitors, friends, family and spectators to take part in throughout the show, including free Ride the Pattern clinics taught by AQHA Professional Horsemen. The Level 1 Championships are intended for exhibitors to learn and grow in the show arena while sharpening their horsemanship skills. The shows provide a welcoming environment for AQHA members to be showcased in a championship arena and to compete to earn top prizes for their dedication.

For more information, visit www.aqha.com/level1championships.