AQHA members have until December 31, 2017, to submit items for the 2018 convention, but if you believe there is a need for a major rule change, the Association encourages members to submit items earlier to give Association staff and/or committees and councils more time to prepare materials and communicate potential changes before the convention in March 2018. AQHA standing committees will meet at convention to consider the submitted items.

Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure: Plentylicious, owned and exhibited by Carolyn Goodfellow
Amateur Western Pleasure: Zipintomy Appointment, owned and exhibited by Barb Hazell
Senior Western Pleasure: Supremely Addicted, exhibited by Deserie Rieu, owned by Greg Gavelin
Youth Western Pleasure 14-18: Love My Charisma, exhibited by Tessy Rupert
Novice Amateur Western Horsemanship: Simply Encountered, exhibited by Devon Smith, owned by Cathy Glover
Youth Hunter Under Saddle 14-18: Love My Charisma, exhibited by Tessy Rupert, owned by Marcel Rupert
Amateur Hunter Under Saddle: Fancy N Titefitnjeans, owned and exhibited by Lorena Pahl
Junior Hunter Under Saddle: Only The Best Choclat, exhibited by Deserie Rieu, owned by Dannell Charbonneau
Solid Paint-Bred Hunter Under Saddle: LP Tallented Cowboy, exhibited by Nicole Gauthier, owned by Mikayla Sinclair
Amateur Walk-Trot Showmanship: I Want A Cowboy, exhibited by Kirsten Lemieux, owned by Debby Zad
Amateur Halter Geldings: Hes A Lopin Addiction, exhibited by Caitlyn Malyk, owned by Laura Malyk
Youth Halter Geldings: Dont Ask Me, owned and exhibited by Hallie Malcolm
Aged Geldings: SPP So Saint Telusive, owned and exhibited by April Greening-Romeo
Aged Mares: Crusin For Cocktails, owned and exhibited by Shelley Pregitzer

Earlier in the year, AQHA hosted a photo contest, encouraging all AQHA members to submit photos of an American Quarter Horse. More than 1,000 entries were received, and AQHA and American Quarter Horse Hall Fame & Museum staff selected 150 to be displayed at the 2017 AQHA Photography Show & Sale, October 27 – November 25 at the Museum.

To be approved as a Ranching Heritage Breeder, ranches must have been breeding American Quarter Horses for at least a decade, though many participating ranches have actually been around for centuries. There’s other criteria that must be met in order to be approved, like using horses for daily ranch work, which keeps the program true to its roots.

New for 2017, ranch and show class seminars are designed to help professionals and non-pro exhibitors alike step up their performances through rulebook education.

More than 4,800 entries from the United States, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are competing for 99 world championships and 90 Adequan® Level 2 championships at this year’s event, November 2-18.

To date, more than 350 youth exhibitors ages 5 to 18 have earned just under $500,000 in scholarship funds at the show; 76 of those exhibitors have already redeemed more than $100,000 of those funds and had them sent to public and private colleges all over the country.