National Horsemanship Champions at Arizona Sun Circuit

 

Saturday at Arizona Sun Circuit in the Equine Chronicle Arena, the much awaited National Championship Horsemanship Final Four were announced, and they faced off early in the evening to determine the winners of the tournament for the Amateur and the Select Amateur divisions.

This year’s National Championship saw a few changes – instead of using summer and end of year rankings, the changes allowed all exhibitors in the named classes to be eligible for the 2024 National Championship.

 

The Final Four Select Amateurs:

April Gentry and Hez Simply Western

Kent Ray Taylor and Snippity Snap

Susan Wilson and Hez Blazin Trouble

Dan Yeager and Nothing Myst

 

 

 

 

The Final Four Amateurs:

Katie Jo Jones and Im ExtremelySchmancy

Eric Mendrysa and Never Sudden

Paige Rogers and Ima Savvy Investment

Parris Rice and Its Southern Blues

 

 

 

When the dust settled, two talented winners were crowned:

Select Amateur: April Gentry and Hez Simply Western

Amateur: Katie Jo Jones and Im ExtremelySchmancy

 

The rules for the National Championship, from Arizona Sun Circuit:

All exhibitors entered in the AQHA Amateur, Select and Youth 14-18  Showmanship, Horsemanship and Equitation will be eligible to compete for the 2024 National Champion title and the Final Four honors.

Tournament Format

The tournament style competition will remain in place. Exhibitors in the Amateur and Select Amateur divisions will have to be in the top sixteen of all judges composite placings after the first round of competition, in the second round of competition the 16 will be reduced to the Elite 8 then in the 3rd round of competition The Four will be determined. In the Youth pen after the first round of competition the Elite 8 will be named, of these 8 after the next round of competition The Four will be named. Each round of competition will run concurrent with the respective AQHA class.

As in the past when The Four are determined the competition will move to the head  to head competition with matches between the highest composite placing of the 4 in the last round of competition and lowest composite placing of the 4 in the last round of competition. The middle two composite scores will match up for the semi -final round of competition. A tie in determining of the final Four exhibitors will be broken by the selected tie breaker judge. Ties in previous rounds of competition will advance. The winners of the semi finals will then compete in the Final round to determine the National Champion. As in the past The Four exhibitors in each division and discipline will be awarded leather jackets and the National Champion will receive the title and National Champion buckle.