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.

Two Level 1 open stakes classes will return as ancillary classes to this year’s Lucas Oil World schedule. A $1,000-added Level 1 western pleasure class, sponsored by Patrick and Anne Gibson/My Chips Are Hott, is slated for Friday, November 10. A $1,000-added Level 1 hunter under saddle class, sponsored by Twin Acres Ranch/Blake Weis and Kendra Weis, is slated for Saturday, November 11. Both classes will be in the Performance Arena. The deadline to enter each class is 5 p.m. the night before the class is held, and the cost to enter is $100 each, with 75 percent of entry fees (plus added money) as payout.