An announcement on Monday by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association that many All American Quarter Horse Congress Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle classes will be opened up to breeds other than Quarter Horses caught plenty of exhibitors by surprise.

According to the announcement, beginning with this year’s event the Congress Masters Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle 2-Year-Old Maiden classes as well as the Futurity and Stakes events will now be open to the following breeds/registries: AQHA, APHA, ApHA, ABRA, IBHA, PHBA and Jockey Club.

“Over the past 49 years the All American Quarter Horse Congress has showcased the greatest horses and most accomplished exhibitors in the world. Every year the most talented horses and accomplished exhibitors make their way to Columbus, Ohio to compete for the title of Congress Champion and the coveted Congress bronze trophy,” said Dr. Scott Myers, Ohio Quarter Horse Association executive director. “I am thrilled to welcome the color breeds to the Congress Futurity and Stakes Program. On behalf of the Congress I want to welcome the color breeds, the owners and exhibitors to Columbus this October and wish the very best of luck.”

Dr. Scott Myers

Many trainers and owners have welcomed the opportunity they feel is ripe for building numbers and furthering the show toward the future. “In a way, I believe this is a sign of where the industry is headed in years to come,” says APHA Judge and Trainer Mike Hachtel, of Collinsville, Texas.

AQHA and ApHC Trainer Dave Archer, of Pilot Point, Texas, says he thinks the move is also a sign of progress. “Entries have been down the past couple of years in classes like the Masters so hopefully opening it up we can get our entries back up to where they use to be and larger classes would mean larger payouts,” he says. “If I have color breed futurity horse ready come Congress time I will definitely bring it to the Congress.”

Tyler Achtenhagen, an AQHA Trainer from Ocala, Florida, agrees that the idea shows promise. “It might be neat for other breeds to get exposed to Congress to see what it’s all about, and it’s and also good for the Quarter Horse supporters to get exposed to the color breed horses,” he says. “The event would be something like NSBA World, but it’s different at the Congress, and something everyone should experience.”

Dave Archer

APHA Trainers Wade and Carly Parks, of Colbert, Georgia, are excited to hear the news: “I think it is very exciting that we can bring some of our colored horses to this prestigious formerly only AQHA show,” Carly Parks says. “Wade and I will definitely be interested in participating with a select group or our Paints that we feel are high enough quality to compete at that level.”

Jeffery Gibbs, who also currently specializes in APHA horses at his Collinsville, Texas facility, approves of the concept, too. “I would definitely take one if I thought it was quality enough to compete there. I think that is a great idea,” he says.

Arturo Maestas, who trains in a Pilot Point, Texas barn mixed with APHA, ApHC and AQHA horses, is open to the idea. “I think it’s great for us that show different breeds along with the Quarter Horses we show. And we will definitely take some of our other breeds there to show in these classes.”

However, questions have arisen about how this new influx of horses may affect an already packed schedule, and whether this is a step in the right direction. Not only would the addition of more horses add to an already two-week-long schedule, but the thought of preserving the integrity of an AQHA-only show has been questioned by many.

Breeder Kerry Bradac, who stands AQHA stallions Open For Suggestion and Hot Diggity Joe, explains that the intent of Congress is to showcase AQHA horses, and the change will alter the show’s reputation.

Kerry Bradac

“The All American Quarter Horse Congress is for QUARTER horses. The futurity classes showcase many of the nation’s top 2 and 3-year-olds. Those youngsters will go on and continue to define our Quarter Horse industry,” she explains. “By inviting all breeds, our prestigious All American QUARTER HORSE Congress will just become another show. Why not do away with the Masters Classes and add a Maiden 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes and a Maiden 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes? If they are concerned about numbers, look at what classes would draw entries vs opening the doors to the other breeds.”

Allison Clark, of Roberta, Georgia, has ridden in numerous Stakes and Futurity classes at the Congress and just last year placed third in the Masters Hunter Under Saddle class. She too wonders about opening up the Congress to other breeds.

“My initial thought is that’s why this is the Quarter Horse Congress,” she says. “And I thought:  that’s why we have a NSBA World Show, to highlight the best of the best in all breeds.”

Others had mixed emotions.

Pat Heeley

This is a hard one because I started going to the Congress as a child to watch in the late 70s. It was a huge deal called the ALL AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE CONGRESS, says Jane Backes, of Dallas, Texas, who owns AQHA stallion Good Machinery and has been breeding AQHA horses for decades.

“I am 100 percent behind doing what it takes to keep our shrinking industry alive and well promoted. If this will help then I will stand behind them and of course will take my horses every year,” she says. “The only thing I do NOT agree with is adding the Jockey Club to the classes. Paints and Apps are a stock type registry. They can and do get judged liked the AQHA horses do. Adding the Jockey Club does not do justice on how a 100 percent Thoroughbred should move judged against how an AQHA or Stock breed Hunter Under Saddle horse should move. They are apples to oranges where Quarters, Paints and Apps all have the same foundation.”

Pat Heeley, of Van Meter, Iowa is also open to the idea but had reservations. “I think it’s a good idea and will be really good for the industry, but I can also see it posing a conflict for those of us with more customers wanting us to take their App horses up there to show.”

In addition to opening up some classes at the Congress, the OQHA also announced some other changes to the Masters Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle classes including:

• A guaranteed $30,000 to the winner of the Masters Western Pleasure and $15,000 to the winner of the Hunter Under Saddle. Last year the winner of the Masters Western Pleasure was awarded $50,000 and the winner of the Masters Hunter Under Saddle earned $25,000.
• Entry fee is $3,500 for the Masters Western Pleasure and $2,500 for the Masters Hunter Under Saddle. Last year the entry fee was $5,000 for the Western Pleasure and $4,000 for the Hunter Under Saddle.
• 100 percent of the entry fee will be paid back in both Masters classes.
• Both Masters classes will be run as a futurity class instead of a slot class with no limit on the number of entries.

Heeley thinks allowing unlimited entries is a great idea. “I think it should be open so whoever wants to show can,” he says. “If they are lowering the entry fee I guess it would only make sense to lower the guaranteed purse so I guess that makes sense. However, $3,500 is still a lot of money for people to wait all year to take a chance on a maiden 2-year-old. Maybe if the entry fee were more like $1,000 they would get significantly more people.”

Clark was disappointed in the decrease in the amount guaranteed to the winner of the Hunter Under Saddle and worries the move could be a risk to the horses.

“The $15,000 seems ridiculous,” she says. “They (the horses) have to be on the road and that expense does not make that check big enough to hold a good one back.  It actually might make that one that could wait, get forced, just to have some return going down the road.”