The Nutrena AQHA East Level 1 (Novice) Championships will be moving to the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, for 2015, according to an announcement on the center’s website. The East Level 1 (Novice) Championships last year were held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee while the SmartPak AQHA West Level 1 (Novice) Championships were held in Las Vegas. The AQHA announced last year that the association would begin receiving bids for the 2015 site. The AQHA has not yet made an announcement on the locations for the championship shows but the qualifying period is listed as July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

The Virginia Horse Center facility has been undergoing a revitalization in previous years, which has resulted in the acquisition of other major events.

“Things are looking very good going forward,” said VHC treasurer and board member Tom Clarke. He pointed out that the horse center has 80 shows scheduled for this year, up from 73 last year. Although it lost its number one show, the Arabian Sport Horse, the horse center has succeeded in landing the Sallie B. Wheeler/U.S. Hunter Breeding National Championship and the AQHA Novice Futurity Championship Horse Show, according to the release.

In January the facility won its bid to place in a conservation easement 77.6 percent of the VHC campus, or 445 of 573 acres. The Rockbridge County Economic Development authority gave its approval for the easement, expected to generate $1,980,000 in proceeds from tax credit sales through the Virginia Land Preservation Tax Credit program. VHC officials want to use the savings to tackle long-overdue repairs and maintenance items that have been largely neglected since the equine facilities were developed more than 25 years ago. Clarke said the easement transaction would allow the center to move forward this year with making nearly $2 million in capital improvements.

The center includes 600 acres, a 4,000 seat coliseum, eight barns to accommodate 1,200 horses, 19 show rings including two large indoor arenas, cross-country and combined carriage driving courses, campgrounds, and full catering and café services. The Virginia Quarter Horse Association hosts the Spring Breakout Circuit and the Virginia Classic (home of the Hylton Maiden Western Pleasure Class).

To read the press release visit http://www.horsecenter.org/About/News.aspx