In 2019, to be eligible to compete in any Paint Horse Championship halter class in any division, an exhibitor cannot have placed in the Top Five in a halter class at an APHA World Championship Show within the last 10 years (2009-2018) or won a Paint Horse Championship halter class the previous year. 

In 2019, Robin Merrill of Poolville, Texas, was elevated to AQHA honorary vice president and also appointed to the American Quarter Horse Foundation Board of Trustees in 2019. Merrill is serving as the first appointed member to the Board of Trustees. She has also served on the Foundation Council, and was the Council’s chairwoman from 2001 to 2004.

“Last year, we had a wonderful response to our inaugural event,” said Don Falcon, executive director of WCHA. “After seeing two really nice classes last year and then having the continued support of AQHA, we wanted to take these junior weanling classes to the next level.”

The individuals selected as the 2019 AQHA West Level 1 Championships judges are:
-Bobbie Jo Stanton of Shawnee, Oklahoma
-Holly Hover of Cave Creek, Arizona
-Alisa Proefrock of Cedarburg, Wisconsin
-Rob Meneely of Conyers, Georgia
-Carolyn Rice of Moorpark, California
-Jeff Greaves of Galva, Illinois

The American Buckskin Registry Association World Championship Show is scheduled for July 23-28 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Entries will be accepted and stalls may be reserved online or by regular mail. The stall and pre-entry deadline is June 1st. 

Auburn was well represented among the NCEA Riders of the Year, as Taylor St. Jacques is the 2019 Equestrian On The Flat Rider of the Year, Taylor Searles is the Horsemanship Rider of the Year and McKayla Langmeier is the Co-Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Year.

The board voted to add language to the existing rule to include: A Solid Bred or Breeding Stock horse will be eligible for Color classes only if the horse’s sire or dam has regular registry papers with one or more of the following associations: APHA, ApHC, ABRA, IBHA, PHBA or POA. A PtHA solid registered horse is not considered a Color horse unless it is also registered with one or more of the afore mentioned breed associations.

“I have really been struggling for the past couple years to keep things together, both mentally and physically. I had truly lost my purpose in life and was simply going through the motions from day to day without any passion or motivation. This clinic allowed me to put my current state of affairs on hold (remove the cell phone, the stress, the headaches, and the bad people) and surround myself with encouragement and good caring people. That simple break allowed me enough room to refocus, find myself again, and chase a dream. It felt like a fire was ignited in me again that I thought was dead.”

“The Adequan® Select World is one of the most prestigious events in the equine industry for competitors ages 50 and older,” said Patti Carter, AQHA senior director of judges. “It is our goal to bring a talented roster of judges together to judge the show, and we couldn’t be more proud of the highly qualified group of individuals selected for this year.”

Edgar, after leading the first day of competition of the USEF/Cacchione Cup, then clinched the win with a flawless work-off round and won the coveted national championship. “I have never in my life cried after a round,” said Edgar. “I came here with a goal and I wasn’t going to let anything affect that and I accomplished it. We’re so lucky. The people who brought horses here have been absolutely amazing. It’s been a great, great experience.”