By Christine HamiltonThe American Quarter Horse JournalFebruary 18, 2012
Showmanship is just one of many classes offered in the AQHA leveling program test classes at the 2012 Prairie Classic. (Journal photo)
“When you’re testing something, it can go really bad or really good,” says Patti Carter-Pratt, AQHA executive director of shows.
So far, the debut of AQHA’s leveling program in testing at the 2012 Kansas Quarter Horse Association Prairie Classic February 15-19 in Oklahoma City is going very well indeed.
The “pilot” leveling classes are being run concurrently with the official AQHA show, to give the program a trial run for AQHA staff, show management and exhibitors in all divisions. Developed by AQHA show and information technology staff along with AQHA membership through the Blue-Ribbon Task Force, the leveling program seeks to increase competition opportunities for horses and riders alike; it is currently scheduled for full implementation in 2013.
Patti lists what’s made her so pleased with how the testing is going: Exhibitors are jumping in and trying the leveling classes; AQHA staff and show management are working on-the-fly to troubleshoot and run the program; and exhibitors are giving invaluable feedback.
But most importantly, leveling appears to be doing what it was designed to do: Give more recognition opportunities for horses and exhibitors, especially at the mid-range levels – “Progressive” horses and “Intermediate” riders, as they are called in the leveling program.
“The points are going the way we thought they would,” Patti says. “We’re paying more (points) to the Progressive horses (and Intermediate exhibitors).”
Exhibitors “have nothing to lose” in trying leveling at the Prairie Classic. For this pilot show, points are being figured under both the current AQHA system and under the leveling program, and points are being awarded according to whichever system benefits that individual the most. Either way, the points go on the horse’s permanent record.
The point breakdowns under the current system and under leveling are posted for each class results so people can compare how the points are awarded under both systems. AQHA is also offering circuit awards in the Intermediate and Progressive classes.
In the show office, AQHA staff has set up a computer where exhibitors can test drive AQHA’s online leveling look-up system; in one easy step, they can check a horse’s or rider’s level in multiple classes. And there are signs posted around the show with the current leveling breakdown for each class.
Thursday evening of the show, after the first day of leveling classes, AQHA staff and show management called an impromptu “town hall meeting” for all comers, to ask them what they thought about the program so far, with just the open classes having gone.
“We had representation from across the disciplines (from reining to all-around),” Patti says, “including several AQHA Professional Horsemen and members of the Blue-Ribbon Task Force. (It was about) 50 people total, for about an hour.”
AQHA staff and show management got feedback from things such as how the announcers should announce the leveling classes, and whether or not a first-year senior horse shouldn’t automatically be placed in the Progressive level, regardless of the points he’d earned as a junior horse. “These are all things that don’t come up until you actually test something,” Patti says.
After the Prairie Classic, AQHA staff and the Blue-Ribbon Task Force will review what they learned and make what changes they can prior to the next leveling pilot show at the Silver Dollar Circuit, March 14-18, at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. There will also be a presentation at AQHA Convention (also at the South Point) in Las Vegas, March 9-12.
There is the possibility of additional test shows in 2012, this fall.
AQHA Executive Director of Competition and Breed Integrity Tom Persechino, also in Oklahoma City for the show, stresses that the pilot leveling at the Prairie Classic is just the first stage of a year-long testing process.
“Until you get a chance to experience something like this in action, you don’t know what’s going to come out of it,” Tom says. “What people experience here may not be exactly the product that we use in 2013, because we’re trying to work out the particulars of how it does work and how it should work.”
“The feedback from exhibitors (here) has been really positive,” Patti adds. “Both in helpful suggestions as well as getting the word out that it’s working.”
Just ask longtime exhibitor Jill Briggs of Pilot Point, Texas, wife and partner of AQHA Professional Horseman John Briggs. The two have trained and shown multiple AQHA world champions.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect when (leveling) started,” Jill says. “I had read a lot, asked a lot of questions, but I didn’t completely understand it. But I was thrilled when I got here …. It has been so neat to have all those people (from AQHA) here answering any questions.
“The first day, right away, we had a 6-year-old horse that had some health issues last year and wasn’t able to be shown much as a junior horse. We were concerned that he’s no longer ‘green’… but where was he going to fit? He’s not a senior horse that can compete against those top senior horses yet.
“He was second in the Progressive the first day and got three points. That showed us the system will work. It will work for those horses that need a place to show. It will make our clients happy to take those horses down the road to help get them more finished, and give (our clients) something for their money, prizes and points and Incentive Fund money. We were thrilled by it.
“I’m really glad they did a trial show,” she adds. “Because I think that they are finding different ways to improve it just in these few days. … We are taking a small group to the Silver Dollar, and I think one of our reasons for going is the leveling. We’re excited.”