Is a Novice Championship Title as Valid as a World or Congress Championship?

By: Brittany Bevis

Now that the AQHA Level 1 Championships have come to a close in Las Vegas and Lexington, social media has virtually been flooded by photos and posts of congratulations, celebration of achievements, and the retelling of fond memories made and new friendships forged. But, as always, there is bound to be a negative nelly or two, who, for whatever reason, chooses a public forum in which to express their annoyance or disappointment with a situation.

Among the topics of discussion is the following: “Is a Novice Championship Title as Valid as a World or Congress Championship?” 

Word choice aside, you could replace “valid” with “important,” “special,” “deserved of praise,” but the main idea is essentially the same. Ultimately, that sameness is what’s sparking the discussion in the first place. Is winning a Novice Championship title the same as winning a World or Congress Championship title? No, not necessarily. But, isn’t that the point?

The Level 1 Championships, formally known as the Novice Championships, were initiated in 2012 as somewhat of an expansion of the AQHA Leveling program. The idea was to give beginning or intermediate level competitors a venue where they could have a taste of the World Show experience, while having the opportunity to compete against those with similar skill levels and show records.

The “leveled playing field” format encourages excitement among a budding generation of horse enthusiasts who perhaps haven’t yet experienced everything that goes along with major breed competition. It also provides the perfect venue for continuing education.

On the other side of the coin, the list of awards and titles a competitor can accumulate nowadays is staggering. You can become an AQHA, APHA, ApHC, PHBA, ect. World Champion, Level 2 Champion, All American Quarter Horse Congress Champion, Color Breed Congress Champion, Pinto World Champion, NSBA World Champion, NSBA BCF Champion, Level 1 Champion, Bronze Champion, Rookie Champion, ect. This brings to mind a similar conversation that took place not too long ago, which posed the question, in an effort to be all-inclusive are we diminishing the value of becoming a World Champion? That’s up to each of you to decide for yourself.

Of course, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and the ability to communicate it without fear of censorship or retaliation. That’s the beauty of freedom of speech. However, it’s important to consider the adage, “Right message, right time, right place.” Commenting on a fellow equestrian’s win photo that you believe a Novice Championship title is not as important as winning a World Championship title, is definitely the wrong message at the wrong time in the wrong place. A little common sense and courtesy goes along way…

In a similar vein, you might enjoy one of our most popular blogs of all time that was written last month: How Unsolicited, Mean-Spirited Criticism Hurts the Horse Industry and Readers’ Overwhelming Response to Recent EC Blog- “Criticism in the Horse Industry.”

The bottom line is that we all had to start somewhere. The Novice Champions of today will in effect become the World and Congress Champions of tomorrow.

Here’s what a few of our EquineChronicle.com readers had to say on the subject.

Mindie Maus- (former novice competitor turned amateur) “I think for open, amateur, as well as youth to qualify for and compete in a World Show is a feat in itself and deserves the title of WORLD CHAMPION. As far as the other types of competitions, they all have their own distinctions that are equally as poignant in their titles and should be looked at as what they are.”

“A Congress Champion is a Congress Champion and a Novice Champion is a Novice Champion. All are very prestigious titles to be held, no matter the name, but if everyone is a World Champion, then the luster of that gold trophy does not carry the same weight as it does if there is only one World Championship.”

“The number of different opportunities are great, however, in my opinion it should be kept separate from World Championship status. I can speak as a former novice and now amateur that the Novice show was a great stepping stone for me, but I don’t in the slightest consider myself a World Champion until I maybe someday make it to the World Show in November. Even being a World Show qualifier and or finalist holds a totally different meaning than any of the others. As the mother of a youth competitor, she feels the same way. She has regional championships, Congress Championships, and Novice Championships, but every day strives for the one she has yet to achieve a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! This is what keeps her drive going to someday be a World Champion like her idol Lacy Watson.”

Makayla Flowers: (former novice competitor turned youth)” I believe that winning a Novice Championship title is at a completely different level than winning at the AQHA World Show. The first thing is there are two Novice Championships, East and West. As for the AQHA World, there is only one! Therefore, in my book, winning a Novice Championship is not equal to winning a World Championship. Second, the competition is on a different level for the Novice Championships as compared to the World Show or Congress. At Congress, the show splits the novice competitors from the non-novice competitors, so we don’t compete against each other. Whereas, at the Novice Championships, we are all novice, at that particular time, competing on the same level throughout the whole show.”

“I think it’s perfectly acceptable to have different levels of champions. It’s all the same, one way or another. You should never look down on somebody because they are Rookie Champion as opposed to being an NSBA World Champion. Yes, they are two different levels of competition, but we are all the same when it comes down to it. We have a love for horses and it’s our goal to be better every time we ride! Having many opportunities to be crowned a “champion” includes people that are either just starting out in AQHA or people who have been with AQHA for years. I love the idea and love that people have the opportunity to strut their stuff all over the country!”

“You’re a champion no matter what. Whether you won a trophy or you went into that arena and showed your horse to the best of it’s ability. We all have bad rides, trust me, but coming from a person who has won at the Novice Championships and at the NSBA World, don’t give up. There’s a trophy out there somewhere for you!”

Christin Ashley Carter (recently crowned Level 1 EAST Champion in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure)– “I think winning a Novice Championship is certainly as ‘valid’ as winning a World Championship or Congress Championship. Just because we happen to be novice doesn’t mean our achievements should be discounted. We still spent time traveling and qualifying, worked hard at home and at the shows preparing, and were judged based on the same high standards as those who won Congress and World titles. Just because we are novice riders doesn’t mean our championships aren’t valid. The competition might not be as steep as those who show in the Open classes at the World Show, but if you win a novice class at the Congress, how is it any different than winning the Novice Championships?”

“I understand that people think it’s watering down the concept of being a ‘champion.’ However, if you look at the variation in classes and levels, it gives you a better idea of the horse’s true abilities. A horse who has won a Congress title multiple times at an Open level will be seen differently than a horse who has won multiple Novice Championships – because the level of competition and the level of the rider were different. As a novice rider, most of us start with a horse that’s competitive at the novice level but likely won’t hold up in amateur classes. We might ‘upgrade’ to one that can hold its ground against horses with stronger skills. The different types of championships show where you and your horse fit in. Who knows, a horse that’s won a novice title could be a Congress and World Champion as well… Just because we’re novice riders doesn’t mean the horse wasn’t/won’t be a World Champion or Congress Champion later down the road!”

“At the end of the day, any time you compete in a class, no matter what level you’re competing in, and you achieve your own personal goals (not breaking gait, not falling off, not hitting a pole, not missing a lead change, ect.) you’re a champion in my book. As sportsmen, we should all be supportive of each other and our achievements rather than fighting over what’s notable and what’s not. Nobody is saying a true World title means less because the Novice riders now have championships as well! It just gives us an opportunity to show against the best horses and riders at our level and get excited about it… Just like trainers and amateurs do! We deserve that opportunity without being belittled for our efforts.”

Justin Wheeler– (Horse Trainer) “For Novice exhibitors, a Level 1 Championship is equally as rewarding as saying they’ve won a ‘World’ title. However, I do believe that the two are not the same. In my opinion, the Level 1 Championships are the best thing AQHA has done for our industry. It has allowed newcomers to see what it’s like to compete at a large, championship style show- similar to that of a World show. Qualifying merely takes 20 national judges, or 10 thorough your state, which is an affordable introduction to the larger shows. It has given the novice exhibitors a ‘bar’ to achieve, has helped them set goals, and given them something to strive for- all of which are necessary to keep our industry growing.”

“Most of those competing at the Level 1 Championships are truly novice exhibitors, and the classes are large, so, for them, it’s a great title and should be considered so. The question I ask myself now is ‘how do I ask my customers to go up another level from here?’ Oh yes… the World show. A World title is earned by a different set of standards: you must win points, you must haul more, you must be invited to compete with the best of the best. Earning a World title is much different than a Championship title- as it should be. There is nothing to take away from a Level 1 exhibitor for their hard work, and they should be recognized accordingly. But there is also a higher respect for a World Champion, and this is also necessary for progress, as exhibitors and as an industry.”

“I think the Leveling program, as it currently stands, is a great move for all. It has given the “middle” class horses and riders somewhere to stand. We all need a goal that’s achievable to keep us motivated, to be better and to work harder and also, of course, to attend more shows. If we all received a “participation” award, what would that give us besides the tangible prize. How would that inspire us to be greater? I think the biggest mistake our industry could make would be to level the playing field even more by recognizing Novice Champions as “World” Champions. It would take away the meaning of any title won by either side. There are several opportunities now to be a champion, whether it’s a Level 1, Congress, NSBA, or World Champion. All should be commended but all should not be equal.”

Brittany Morgan– (former novice competitor turned amateur) “A champion is a champion. Novice riders have worked just as hard to get to that point in their riding, and I believe it adds a confidence boost to help get you to the next level, which at times can be very daunting for people. Many other breeds have Novice or Level 1 Championships, so I think it’s great AQHA has started also. We should all support the Novice or Level 1 Champions because they worked just as hard to earn their titles.”

“As far as having many different championship titles, I think it’s great! There are too many talented riders and horses, and maybe one day you were just having a bad show. Instead of being down on yourself about it, you now have more oppertunites for a title. They all hold their own special meanings, and we shouldn’t compare. Some people may never show at a World Show in their life but win NSBA and Congress titles. I think some issues have come up because people are calling the Level 1 Championship winners ‘World Champions,’ when they technically are called Novice Champions, but that’s for AQHA to sort out. As a rider who showed at the Novice/Level 1 Championships during the first year, it was a great experience and a fabulous confidence boost that has for sure helped me be where I am now in my showing.”

Jennifer Cansdale- (mother of youth competitor) “I do think a novice title is as important to the person as winning the title as a congress or world title. For some in our industry, the Novice Champion show is as far as their budget will allow. Not everyone has thousands of dollars to travel the country qualifying for and then traveling to the World Show or all the way to Ohio. I was at the Novice West show this past weekend and the excitement not only on the winners’ faces but on the other people that competed in general was priceless.”

“I think it’s nice they give awards in so many different categories, i.e. Rookie, 13 and under. It gives everyone an equal playing field. The 12-year-olds get to compete against other 12-year-olds and not in some cases 19-year-olds. I think by giving all these different chances for everyone to be a winner it gets everyone excited about going to the shows. If you constantly go to shows where you don’t have a chance at winning sooner or later your going to stop wanting to go and spend all your money.”

What does being a champion mean to you?