The American Quarter Horse Association has released the list of open exhibitors who are ineligible to show horses in Level 2 open classes at the 2015 AQHA World Championship Show, tentatively scheduled for November 6-21 in Oklahoma City. These exhibitors are the highest level of performers of the top 100 exhibitors based on points in individual classes over the past three years.

View the riders list.

Junior, senior and all-ages classes are leveled by the horse’s record (with the exception of open halter and cattle classes, which are level by exhibitor record). For the 2015 AQHA World Show, the open division will be further leveled, as the horse’s exhibitor must also be eligible for the class per the riders list. This requirement only applies to open classes at the AQHA World Show; for all other AQHA shows, any exhibitor may show Level 2 horses.

“The goal of the riders list is to encourage exhibitors who have always had the dream to compete at the world level to do so in a competitive class,” said AQHA Chief Show Officer Pete Kyle, “By adding Level 2 championships to the AQHA World Show, more horses and competitors are recognized for their efforts in the arena.”

The riders list was developed using a statistical formula to determine the top level of exhibitors competing in each open class in the past three years. In addition to the top exhibitors by points, exhibitors earning a world championship and/or reserve world championship title at an AQHA world show in the past three years will also not be able to show in the respective Level 2 open classes (including halter and cattle events) at the AQHA World Show.

“The AQHA Blue-Ribbon Task Force proposed and the AQHA Show Council approved the recommendation to develop a riders list to further level the competition at the AQHA World Show,” Kyle said. “The goal of this decision is to increase participation not only at the World Show, but also at AQHA-approved shows around the world, and reward American Quarter Horse exhibitors for their time and dedication. After the 2015 AQHA World Show, the task force will re-evaluate the list of exhibitors allowed to compete in the Level 2 classes at the AQHA World Show.”

About the Level 2 Championships
On December 1, 2014, AQHA announced that Level 2 classes would be offered at the 2015 AQHA World Show. Level 2 entries will be eligible to win Level 2 championship titles. Level 2 classes will be offered in a one-go-round format. Awards for Level 2 will be awarded after each preliminary.

The qualifying period for the AQHA World Show is August 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015. View a list of the 2015 AQHA World Show qualifying points.

To enter a Level 2 championship class, the Level 2 exhibitor/horse will be required to earn half of the Level 3 qualifying points and must be Level 2-eligible for that show year. Horses/exhibitors eligible for Level 2 and Level 3 will be able to enter both levels. A separate entry fee for Level 2 will be applicable. View Level 2 qualifying points here.

For more information on the 2015 AQHA World Show, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.