When does leveling start?
AQHA will have two pilot shows in 2012 that will test the leveling program. Those shows are the Kansas Quarter Horse Association Prairie Classic, February 15-19 in Oklahoma City, and the Nevada Quarter Horse Association Silver Dollar Circuit March 14-18 in Las Vegas. Leveling will go into full effect in 2013.
How do I know my level?
Every year, beginning on November 1, AQHA will recalculate the point ranges that determine show levels. The level point ranges are calculated from all point-earning exhibitors or horses in each class in the previous three years combined. The new point ranges will be announced annually on January 1.
AQHA is testing a system that will allow AQHA members to log into AQHA services and look up their and their horse's points and level eligibility. If you have any questions about your or your horse's level eligibility, you may contact AQHA customer service at (806) 376-4811. If you earn more points in a year than your level's point range, you may continue competing in that level for the rest of the year. Remember to check your level eligibility on January 1 to be sure which levels you or your horse may show in.
In the January 2012 issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal, in the article “A Level Outline” it says your level in a class is based on either your horse’s points or your points in that class accumulated over the previous three years.I started showing again about four years ago. I am 62 years old. I have only accumulated eight points in western pleasure. Does that qualify me for the leveling program? I could not show novice because in the 80’s when I showed I had around 90 points in western pleasure.Of course we know how EVERYTHING has changed since then. I am learning a whole new way of showing and riding western pleasure! The horse I have been showing is one that I raised and we both only have eight points! Do I get to go back to three years or does my old show record prevent that?
According to the way leveling is set up right now, you would be eligible to show Intermediate in both Select western pleasure and amateur western pleasure. You can find the point ranges online at www.aqha.com. That’s where your eight points earned in the last three years come into play.
As the program is now, you can’t show in Novice, due to your overall lifetime points earned. However, moving forward, once leveling is in place and you are showing Intermediate, if something happens to you or your horse and you don’t show in a three year period, or you don’t earn any points for three years, you would be able to drop back to the Novice level.
Remember, the leveling program is in its testing phase now – the Prairie Classic (February in Oklahoma City) and the Silver Dollar (March in Las Vegas) are testing shows for the leveling classes. The Blue Ribbon task force and staff will take what they learn there (from the standpoint of the software and how the program affects exhibitors) and see what needs tweaking. That way, by January 1, 2013, the program that appears will be the best it can be.
Watch for the Journal’s April all-around issue – they’ll have an analysis of what comes out of the first pilot show in that issue.
Just how deep do the points go? For instance, if there were 10 horses in a class - eight Intermediates and two open - and the open level riders placed eighth and ninth, would they still get one point for eighth and half a point for ninth?
In this situation the first place horse is an Intermediate, so it would earn one point. The second place horse is an Intermediate, so it would earn half a point. In this situation, the open horses would not receive any points – they would have to place first, second or third to receive points.
For further clarification, the open/regular level points will be based on the total number of horses entered in the class, meaning the 10 horses in your scenario. The open/regular points will only go as deep as the total number of entries; two points for first, one point for second, half a point for third. However, in this scenario, there is no third place open level horse/rider. However, the Intermediate class has eight entries, thus is a one point class (one point to first place, half a point to second place).
Will my Intermediate/Progressive level points count towards qualifying for an AQHA world show?
AQHA and the Blue-Ribbon task force are investigating opportunities for Intermediate/Progressive level horses and riders to compete at an AQHA world championship show. To compete in an open level class at an AQHA world championship show, the horse or rider must earn points in the open level of the respective division. Stay tuned to www.aqha.com/showing for new information on the leveling program.
Can you explain the three-year evaluation of what level a rider/horse would be in? Will you still "graduate" out of Novice after X-amount of points? Or could you move in and out of Novice/Intermediate levels based on show success/activity?
You will still graduate out of Novice when you have earned the maximum number of points designated for that class. Once you have graduated out of Novice, you may not return to Novice in that class. You can, however, move between Intermediate (or Progressive) and open, based on the total number of points you earned during the most recent three-year period. The reason three years was chosen as the time period is to minimize the impact of a single year and at the same time not penalize a horse or rider who has been inactive for a few years and now wants to re-enter the show scene. This will allow some of our older show horses to return with new riders in the amateur and youth. It will also allow an open horse to return at a lower level after a long-term lay-off.
What is the rationale behind allowing the highest tier to earn points inclusive of the lower tier exhibitors/horses, but not the other way around? Meaning, if an Intermediate rider places better than advanced riders, they do not get credit in the way of points.
If AQHA had simply established separate Intermediate (or Progressive) classes, the numbers in each class would have been smaller and the result would have been a serious detriment to the regular level exhibitor. The approach chosen offers a two-pronged motivation structure: The regular exhibitor retains the advantage of having strong numbers in the class, while the Intermediate exhibitor has the advantage of not having to show against AQHA world champions. An Intermediate (or Progressive) exhibitor may always choose to “show up” as a regular, thereby taking advantage of the total number in the class, but risking going against the higher level entries. If, however, that Intermediate exhibitor does not perceive a high probability of beating the regular exhibitors in the class, it is still possible to earn points based on the number of Intermediate exhibitors one beats. Thus, under the leveling structure, the Intermediate exhibitor (or Progressive horse) has a greater likelihood of earning AQHA points.
Will you still be able to enter the Novice level and open level and/or green, junior and senior classes, as is currently the case?
Yes. If you qualify for the Novice, you can also show in the Intermediate or regular level. Again, you can show up but not down.
Based on the charts, it appears that the amateur classes will be further subdivided by allowing Novice Select, Intermediate Select and open Select in addition to the regular Novice amateur classes.
The leveling options will be up to the show management. If show management felt that the customers for that show would benefit, a show could, offer an Intermediate Select level and as well as an open Select level with an Intermediate amateur level and regular amateur.
Learn more about the AQHA show leveling program.
For example:
1. Novice amateur showmanship 2. Intermediate Select amateur showmanship 3. Select amateur showmanship 4. Intermediate amateur showmanship 5. Amateur showmanship
This type of configuration might be advantageous to shows that have very large showmanship classes. On the other hand, if a show regularly experiences smaller showmanship classes, that show might want to avoid the leveling altogether and just offer the Novice and regular showmanship classes.
How is all of this going to be reflected on my horse's show record in terms of points, Registers of Merit, etc.?
Same as always. A horse that places first in Intermediate will be reflected that way, even if they place seventh or eighth in the class within the class.
How is this program going to affect what points are eligible for the AQHA Incentive Fund?
With the restructuring of the AQHA Incentive Fund program in 2012, it is predicted that more funds will be available for Incentive Fund eligible horses in 2013 and beyond. When the leveling program is in place, there will be more places for exhibitors to compete and be competitive. Therefore, more horses will be able to take advantage of the Incentive Fund program. Simply put, the leveling program, will essentially be “spreading the wealth” among more exhibitors and horses. This will create a larger market to sell horses, another positive aspect to the leveling program.
Which level can I earn Incentive Fund points in?
Riders and horses may compete in Intermediate/Progressive and open levels in amateur, Select amateur and open divisions to earn Incentive Fund. Points earned in Rookie and Novice will not count towards Incentive Fund earnings.
The overall goal of the new show leveling program is to get more new people involved in showing their American Quarter Horses and drive the showing market in a strong direction. If you have questions about the show leveling program, contact the AQHA competition department at (806) 376-4811.