Exhibitors can look forward to an expanded offering of American Quarter Horse Association Versatility Ranch Horse classes in 2016. New this year, all AQHA shows can offer one or all seven Versatility Ranch Horse classes along with their regular roster of AQHA show classes.

In VRH competition there are four categories and seven classes: 

• Category I: VRH ranch riding, VRH ranch trail
• Category II: VRH ranch reining
• Category III: VRH ranch cutting, VRH ranch cow work, VRH limited ranch cow work
• Category IV: VRH ranch conformation

And VRH classes are offered in the following divisions:

• Open
• Amateur
• Youth
• Cowboy (see Rule SHW552.3)

Whether show management chooses to offer a handful of VRH classes or host a full-fledged VRH event affects the points and awards that exhibitors are eligible to earn.

• AQHA points can be earned in each of the individual VRH classes.

o   These points count toward qualifying for the Zoetis AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships.

o   These points are not eligible for payouts from the AQHA Incentive Fund and will not count toward AQHA Register of Merit, Superior, AQHA Champion, Supreme or year-end high-point titles.

• AQHA points can be earned for VRH all-around placings.

o   To be considered for a VRH all-around award, exhibitors must show in three categories, including ranch conformation and one Category III class.

o   VRH all-around titles are awarded to the top finishing open, amateur (competes in amateur ranch cow work), limited amateur (competes in limited amateur ranch cow work), youth and cowboy.

o   Only the all-around points count toward AQHA ROM, Superior, AQHA Champion, Supreme and year-end high-point titles, as well as Incentive Fund payouts.

Zoetis VRH World Championships

As mentioned above, exhibitors can qualify for the Zoetis VRH World in individual classes. Champion titles will be awarded at the Zoetis VRH World for each class, but the world champion title will only be awarded to the all-around winner in each division. Meaning, to be eligible to win a VRH world championship, an exhibitor must qualify in three categories, including ranch conformation and one Category III class. 

VRH world champions will be awarded in the following divisions:

• Open
• Amateur (competes in amateur ranch cow work)
• Limited amateur (competes in limited amateur ranch cow work)
• Youth
• Cowboy

Be sure to refer to Rules SHW555-566 in the 2016 AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations, which provide more insight on Versatility Ranch Horse, including class descriptions and judging procedures.

To learn more about the Zoetis VRH World, including qualifying and upcoming show dates, visit www.aqha.com/versatility.  

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