Nutrena AQHA World Championship Show: Animal Welfare Reminders
One of the main goals for AQHA is to protect and preserve the welfare of the American Quarter Horse in all settings, including in competition environments. Image credit: Shane Rux Photography, courtesy of AQHA.
From AQHA:
The 2024 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows are right around the corner – November 1-20 in Oklahoma City. These prestigious events highlight the versatility of the American Quarter Horse in a show setting with exhibitors and their American Quarter Horses from around the world convening in one location to compete for the coveted gold globe. One of the main goals for AQHA is to protect and preserve the welfare of the American Quarter Horse in all settings, including in competition environments.
A reminder for the Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World, AQHA will be conducting conformation alteration testing of the neck and tail. Some things to note about conformation alteration testing:
- Neck testing will be conducted to determine if a horse is Fit to Compete and horses will be tested prior to the finals.
- Testing to determine if a horse is Fit to Compete will be accomplished using thermography to determine if the horse’s neck is normal. Additionally, the testing veterinarian will palpate and flex the horse’s neck to determine if there is any pain and to determine the level of flexibility.
- Horses determined Not Fit to Compete will have the option to withdraw from the class or be disqualified.
- Horses determined Not Fit to Compete that wish to return to competition must be retested after 12 hours.
Additionally, horses in pre-selected classes and placings will be tested for compliance of VIO330-VIO334 of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations as it pertains to normal tail function and carriage.
Furthermore, each horse named world champion, as well as horses in pre-selected placings in the finals and draws in prelims, will be tested for the presence of forbidden substances as specified in VIO300. AQHA’s drug testing program is designed to ensure that horses competing in AQHA-sanctioned competitions are doing so in a manner that will promote the safety and well-being of all horses competing and ensure the enforcement of fair and equitable rules and procedures.
In the furtherance of AQHA’s animal welfare objectives, AQHA stewards are present at all times during AQHA championship shows. AQHA stewards play an active role in reinforcing and upholding the health and well-being of the American Quarter Horse as AQHA’s utmost concern. Stewards inspect every horse and their equipment prior to entering the show pen in addition to monitoring the barns and schooling areas while providing assistance to exhibitors with questions.
Conformation alteration, use of controlled substances, or abusive training practices to gain a competitive advantage are never condoned by AQHA. Above all, the American Quarter Horse’s welfare is paramount and the continual development of procedures that ensure humane treatment of all horses and animals involved with AQHA events – as well as fair competition – supersede all other concerns.
For more information, view the official AQHA rulebook or visit www.aqha.com/animal-welfare. Another resource to review is the 2024 AQHA Guidelines and Rules for Drugs and Medications to understand how AQHA rules on drugs and medications apply to competition. To access the online medical report form, visit www.aqha.com/mrf.
