Just one more way of showing how versatile this breed is!
December 13, 2009
Dressage will become an official event approved by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) from January 1.
The association has been researching and studying dressage for nine years, with input from the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
From January 1, AQHA-registered horses, shown by exhibitors who are current individual members of the AQHA, will be eligible to earn points at USEF/USDF dressage competitions.
The AQHA has created a high-point recognition programme for the AQHA open, amateur and youth divisions for the top ten placings in each division, with the highest award to be given to the highest-point-earning registered American Quarter Horse in each division, including points earned in Training Level 4 through Grand Prix.
There are certain requirements of the USEF/USDF competitions before exhibitors can earn points with the AQHA. Competitions will complete a short application and pay a fee of $US50 per competition for approval from AQHA.
This must be received by AQHA at least 60 days in advance of the competition. USEF dressage judges must have an AQHA membership in order for the points earned by the competitor to count. Each competition, with the name of the judge(s), will appear in the Show Calendar of at least one issue of the American Quarter Horse Journal.
The AQHA has more than 300,000 members and more than 5 million horses are registered worldwide. It is the world's largest breed registry.