The entry forms for all three 2016 American Quarter Horse Association Level 1 Championships can now be found online. Unlike past years, the entry forms will not be sent individually and instead can be accessed by visiting www.aqha.com/level1championships.

Based on the 4D system, the winner in each division will take home an Elite Custom Saddle from APHA’s new official performance saddle partner. First and second place in each “D” also earned their share of $2,500 year-end money provided by APHA.

Cindy Butler, Charles Cannizzaro, Timothy Jedra, Valerie Kearns, Keith McDonough, Carla McMullen, Carmen Mayabb, Eric Petersen, Mark Shaffer, and Christina White

The PtHA Wrangler of the Month for January is Kathy Hood of Olsburg, Kansas. Hood is an Elite Amateur exhibitor who has been showing Pinto horses for two years. Hood shows her 5-year old, tobiano gelding, Target To Ride, also known as Target. Together they compete in Pinto, Paint, and Open shows in Kansas.

“The Paint Horse Championships are APHA’s way of encouraging the grassroots exhibitor and rewarding our Paint Horse exhibitors and horses who might not participate at the world level or have not had success at the World Shows.”

Additions to the rulebook for this year include new classes, fewer requirements for show approval, and amended registration rules.

Back by popular demand, the Midwest Horse Fair will feature two nights of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned Rodeo at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI on April 15 & 16, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Keeping inline with the 2016 theme, “The Sky’s the Limit”, each show will be a thrilling spectacle of great family entertainment packed into the 8,000 seat Coliseum.

Taking place Feb. 26-28, 2016, at the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, the event will have professional clinics and demonstrations of numerous riding disciplines, an entertaining colt starting competition, 4-H and FFA horse judging, riding lesson trials, Equine Industry Alliance roundtable discussion and shopping.

AQHA changed the qualifying rules for 2016 only, so you definitely will want to check those out. Long story short: Exhibitors were not required to qualify for the 2016 Level 1 Championships, they only need to be eligible in 2015 to enter.

Southern Belle Breeders’ classes are held at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, AQHA World Show, and APHA World Show. Classes are open to offspring of stallions that have sold in the program. Stallion breedings may be purchased at 50% off the advertised stud fee plus a $100 administrative fee.