Frequently Asked Questions

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1. I'M RIDING A SR HORSE THAT'S BEEN SHOWN BEFORE, CAN I SHOW
     IN THE AQHA GREEN CLASSES?

         Yes you can as long as, your horse has not won more than 10 points or
earned more than $1,000 in that event. Points from all divisions are cumulative
in determining eligability. Novice points do not count. Horses in western events
can be ridden in a snaffle bit or bosal and can be ridden two handed regardless
of the age. For complete rules, look "here".

2.  I'M 49 YEARS OLD NOW, AND I TURN 50 THIS SUMMER, CAN I SHOW
     IN AMATEUR SELECT THIS YEAR?

      You can enter Amateur Select classes the day you turn 50 unlike other age
divisions which require you to be a specific age as of January 1 of the current year.
Keep in mind, however should there be less than three entries in any Amateur
or Amateur Select class, the two classes will be combined into an all ages
(Amateur) class.

3.  I'M A NOVICE AMATEUR, I'M OVER 50, CAN I SHOW IN AMATEUR
     AND AMATEUR SELECT CLASSES AT THE SAME SHOW?

          No, Amateur Select is part of the Amateur division, therefore you must
chose to show in either Amateur or Amateur Select in each individual class.
However, you can show in both divisions at the same show.

         For example: Josey is a Novice Amateur, aged 50. At the same show, under
the same judge (s) she could show in Amateur Showmanship and Novice
Amateur Showmanship, she could not show in Amateur Select showmanship
(she's already entered in an amateur class). She could show in Novice Amateur
western pleasure and Amateur Select western pleasure, however she could not
show in Amateur western pleasure (again, she's already entered in an amateur
class). It's really not as confusing as it sounds, just remember you can only
show in each individual class in either Amateur or Amateur Select, and you'll
do fine.

4. MY SON/DAUGHTER AND I OWN A QUARTER HORSE THAT'S
     REGISTERED IN BOTH OUR NAMES, CAN WE BOTH SHOW HIM/HER
     AT THE SAME SHOW?

         Individual AQHA or AQHYA memberships are required for all exhibitors
in any AQHA approved show. Please refer to AQHA rules 102, 222 (a) and
402 of the AQHA Official Handbook relating to acceptable membership for
participating in this AQHA circuit.

         Novice Youth, Youth, Novice Amateur, Amateur – To exhibit in these
classes you must present a CURRENT membership card (or photocopy) at
the time of entry or you must purchase one from the show secretary.
All Other Exhibitors: May exhibit in the Open Division by presenting their
CURRENT membership card (or photocopy) recorded in their personal,
individual name at the time of entry OR they must purchase AQHA membership
from the secretary.

*** Individual memberships are memberships in one person’s name. Joint,
Corporate, Ranch, etc. memberships are not acceptable. Show secretary
must inspect the required card (or photocopy) in every case and cannot accept
verbal statements or “promises” from the exhibitors. ***

5. WHAT'S A GATE ENTRY AND WHY DON'T YOU ALLOW IT?

          A gate entry is when you enter a class at the in gate and not through the show
secretary. Due to specific class requirements that need to be verified, AQHA does
not allow gate entries and has stated so in the rule book:

     AQHA Rule 433 (c):   To compete in an AQHA-approved class, a horse
must be entered in the class with show management prior to the start of
the class. The exhibitoris responsible for errors on entry blanks. A horse
entered in the wrong class may be transferred to its correct class after
the judging program has been printed.

        POST ENTRIES, however are allowed. If you wish to add a class after you've
submitted your initial entries to the show secretary, you may do so by entering that class,
prior to the start of the class, at the show office, through the show secretary.

6.  MY HORSE HAS AN OPEN ROM, CAN I SHOW HIM/HER IN YOUTH
     PERFORMANCE HALTER?

    Yes, as of January 1, 2010 you may show a horse with any performance
Register of Merit, except showmanship, to be eligible to compete in all
divisions of performance halter.

7. CAN I SHOW THE SAME HORSE IN BOTH OPEN HALTER AND
     PERFORMANCE HALTER AT THE SAME SHOW?

     No, sorry you can't do that either, AQHA rule 448 (j) (5): "A horse may
not show in the age division halter class and the performance halter class at the
same show in a particular division". This means if your aged horse has an Open
ROM, you can only show in your appropriate aged halter (stallion/mare/gelding)
class or the appropriate Performance Halter (stallion/mare/gelding) class, not
both.

8. MY HORSE HAD EARNED A YOUTH/AMATEUR ROM BEFORE I  BOUGHT
     HER, CAN I SHOW HER IN PERFORMANCE HALTER?

     Yes, you can, as long as your ROM was not earned in showmanship alone.
For further rules regarding Performance Halter, please refer to the 2010 AQHA
Rule book.