When multiple World Champion trainer, Denny Hassett of Topeka, Kansas trots under the “Gateway of Champions” arch, down the chute into the bright lights of the World Show arena in Oklahoma City this year, he will be not only be leading Halter horses but riding as well on longtime customer, Debbie Brehm’s Western Pleasure horse, Sure Feels Good in Junior Western Pleasure.

Hassett who has shown at every single World Show since its very first year in 1974 has only shown Halter horses at the event since 1989 when his business shifted to focus on primarily Halter horses.

“I said before I retired I wanted to show in the Western Pleasure there one more time,” he says. “I guess I am going to get my chance!”

Hassett has seen many changes over the years to the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show. As the event approaches for yet another year from Nov. 7-22 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, it is interesting to reflect on how the show actually got started over 40 years ago, what trends have changed and just how far it has come over the years.

Back before the World Championship Show was held winning Honor Roll titles, stock shows and the big state fairs were considered the grandest merits to a horse’s record, but there was not an invitational show that brought winners from all parts of the country to compete against each other. So at the 1973 AQHA Convention, the idea for the first World Show came into being.

“Back then I remember people really being excited about the first World Show,” Hassett says. “Everyone was looking for something new. Although the World Show has been a great asset to the industry, I do believe it has taken some credit away from other big shows from that time like the big stock shows and fairs.”

The first World Show was held in Louisville, Kentucky at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center from Nov. 13-16, 1974 and was sponsored solely by Ponderosa System, Inc. It drew 692 entries from 40 states and five provinces of Canada and competitors were offered more than $111,00 in prize money. Entry fees for the event were $100 per class.

In comparison, last year the AQHA World Show boasted over 3,400 entries from all of the United States and several countries around the world. Although the entry fees have significantly increased at $350 for an open class and $200 for amateur excluding a few exceptions which are higher, it also now gives away over $2.4 million in prizes with a whole host of corporate sponsors for the event.

AQHA Director of Shows and Judges, Pete Kyle says he is expecting the entry numbers to be slightly up this year from last.

“We are up 200-250 entries over last year,” he explains. “I am always glad o see an increase. We are trying new positive things this year at the World Show.”

Improving every year, the AQHA World Show continues to add new classes and highlights to the event. For the first time this year, Level 1 formally known as Green classes will be added in Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle and the World Conformation Horse Association will be holding new owner, breeder, exhibitor stakes classes to the event. Also for the first time this year, AQHA will be allowing exhibitors to bring sale horses on the grounds.”

“Right now there are 18 entered in the Western Pleasure and 22 in the Hunter Under Saddle,” he says of the added Level 1 classes. “We are expecting quite a few more as you can enter these classes up to a day and a half before the class shows.”

Comparatively, Hassett recalls a positive turnout and enthusiasm from exhibitors at the first World Show.

“I took several horses for the first World Show and I recall the numbers being really good,” he says. “Of course back then we rode a lot of the Halter horses we showed as well.”

Take Tardys Bar Maid 1 for example, owned by Cole and Son Thomison of Wichita, Kansas and shown by Chris Barnes was crowned the World Champion the first year in the 2-year-old Mares as well as Junior Western Pleasure.

Much differently than today’s ensemble of 24 judges and five judged system of throwing the high and low card out, back then there were a total of six AQHA-approved judges selected to place horses. They included Sunny Jim Orr, Harold Hudspeth, Jack Kyle, Marten Clark, Clyde Kennedy and J.D. Craft.

Four of these judges were used simultaneously for Halter classes and three judges were used in the performance classes. Interestingly, the judges’ names were shaken out of a container to select which judges would be picked for each class so no one knew who would be judging each class.

Some of the biggest names in the Quarter Horse history were seen at the first AQHA World Show like Impressive winning the Aged Stallion class shown by Chuck McDowell, Opie’s Pride winning the Aged Mares with Greg Whalen at the lead and Sonny Go Lucky winning the 2-year-old Stallions shown by Jerry Wells.

And what is now called Hunter Under Saddle was then named Bridle Path Hack Hunt Seat. The first World Champions named in the Junior division of the class were Jon Riker owned by W.B. Taylor shown by Maryanne Taylor and in Senior was won by Laredo Lark owned by Cynthia Jones and shown by Chris Manion.

Interestingly, the Junior and Senior Reining World Champions were both shown by Bob Anthony and owned by C.T. Fuller with High Proof winning the Junior and Tawny Cody winning the Senior Reining.

And just like today where at the AQHA World Show, owner’s names can be among the stars like Terry Bradshaw and Lyle Lovett for example, country music star Lynn Anderson’s yearling filly Lady Phase was crowned the World Champion in Halter.

Instead of awards being presented from the middle of the arena, there was an awards banquet held on the final night of the show where each World Champion was presented a World Champion trophy from Ponderosa President Jerry Office.

Also at the first World Show there total of 90 commercial exhibits for horse enthusiasts to shop at and AQHA had an exhibit area to help members with cares and concerns just as they do now.

McLelland’s Saddlery of Lake Worth, Florida was not at the very first World Show but they did start as a vendor at AQHA World Shows since the late 70s and at the Quarter Horse Congress in 1969. Today, they are still a vendor at both major events. To put into perspective the difference in tack style and prices, owner Ted McLelland described some the dramatic differences.

For instance, a top-of-the-line show Halter for a standard size horse was sold for around $200. These show halters were buck-stitched and some had sterling overlay with a very different look of today’s show halter, which are valued at around $2,000. Similarly, the show saddles also had lacing and minimal silver went for $1,500-$2,000 where as today the same quality show saddle is valued at $15-$20,000.

Although Cynthia Cantleberry of Paso Robles, California did not attend the very first World Show, she did attend the second one also held in Louisville and every one thereafter in Oklahoma City where the show was officially moved in 1976. Through the years she has seen many changes but even after all this time she is still so excited to show and notes she will be showing until she just unable to ride. She is planning on showing this year in Working Cow Horse, Reining and Ranch Horse Pleasure.

“The facility in Oklahoma City was really pretty western back in the beginning. There was no heat and not even insulation in the barns. I remember icicles falling down from the roof on the horses,” she says. “Now the facility is just great. We have come a long way since back then! I am really looking forward to it still.”

At every World Show there has been entertainment acts for exhibitors. At the first one, the Mexican charros who were all members of the Mexico Quarter Horse Association performed various acts. This year Pete Kyle encourages exhibitors to attend the parties and live bands on the weekends.

He also encourages enthusiasts to check out the World Show Sale held on Nov. 15 that is up in numbers from last year and will offer a new bonus program this year that will enable horses that are purchased in the sale to be automatically qualified the show for a fee of $1,000. Also on the same weekend this year, AQHA will be offering tours of the show for local youth groups to get a good feel of what showing Quarter Horses is all about.

Check back for continued coverage of the AQHA World Show

For results as they happen visit: www.aqha.com/worldshow