The American Quarter Horse Association recognizes hard-working individuals and their American Quarter Horses at the end of each year through the Association’s year-end high-point awards program.

The top point earners in each division of every AQHA event are recognized annually. Horses are awarded in the open division, and youth and amateurs competing with any one horse are acknowledged in their respective divisions. The divisions are further broken down into Rookie, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3, as well as by age division of junior and senior for horses in the open division and amateur and Select amateur in the amateur division. 

“Earning an AQHA high-point award is evidence of the year-long commitment to excellence in the show pen from both horse and rider,” said Justin Billings, AQHA Chief Show Officer. “To earn an AQHA high-point title is no easy feat and is permanently etched in the AQHA history books. Congratulations to all on this tremendous accomplishment!”

In addition to the leaders in each class, AQHA also named the 2021 year-end all-around award winners. AQHA recognizes the AQHA All-Around Youth 13-&-Under, AQHA All-Around Youth 14-18 and the Markel Insurance Overall All-Around Youth in the youth division; the AQHA All-Around Amateur and AQHA All-Around Select Amateur in the amateur division; the AQHA All-Around Junior Horse and Senior Horse awards; and leading open-division exhibitor.

• Markel Insurance Overall All-Around Youth and AQHA All-Around Youth 14-18:  Jillian Stopperich of Venetia, Pennsylvania, and One Hot Big Leaguer
• AQHA All-Around Youth 13-&-Under: Emma Gore of Croton, Ohio, and KM Genuinely Best
• AQHA All-Around Amateur: Ellexxah Maxwell of West Mansfield, Ohio, and Best Cowboy Around
• AQHA All-Around Select Amateur: Laina Banks of Schulenburg, Texas, and Strawberri Wine
• AQHA All-Around Junior Horse: Strutin To The Blues, owned by Rodger Call of Midway, Utah
• AQHA All-Around Senior Horse: Hez Blazin Trouble, owned by Bonnie Sheren of Studio City, California
• AQHA Leading Exhibitor: Anthony Montes of Aubrey, Texas

To view the list of the current 2022 show leaders, simply go to www.aqha.com/show-leaders.

Top Year-End Awards Recognitions

The top year-end high-point award winners along with their equine partners will be showcased at their respective AQHA world championship show in front of their family and peers. The recognitions will be streamed on the live webcast during each show and will also give exhibitors the opportunity to accept their award with their American Quarter Horses on the arena floor as a team!

The top Level 3 youth year-end high-point winners, AQHA All-Around Youth 13-&-Under, AQHA All-Around Youth 14-18, Markel Insurance Overall All-Around Youth and top youth Justin Boots Level 2 Exhibitor of the Year in each age division will be recognized during the 2022 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show, slated for July 28 – August 7 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. The top Level 3 open, amateur and Equestrians With Disabilities year-end high-point winners; AQHA All-Around Amateur; AQHA All-Around Junior Horse; AQHA All-Around Senior Horse; AQHA Exhibitor of the Year; amateur Justin Boots Level 2 Exhibitor of the Year in each age division; Nutrena Don Burt AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year; Nutrena AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year; and Most Valuable Professional will be recognized throughout the 2022 Farnam AQHA World Championship Show and AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), slated for October 27 – November 19 at the OKC Fairgrounds. More details will be shared directly with the top year-end award winners.

If you have questions regarding the awards presentations, contact highpoint@aqha.org.