AQHA PROGRAMS

ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL HORSEMEN

AQHA, along with 4aHORSE, has assembled a group of professionals available to help you with any riding discipline or with training your American Quarter Horse. These professional men and women are screened and selected by AQHA. They represent the quality and dedication that is worthy of their profession. Each professional is required to abide by the AQHA Professional Horsemen's Code of Ethics. View the complete list of Professional Horsemen to locate a trainer.

AQHA RIDE PROGRAM

Take part in AQHA's Ride Program, you'll ride horseback through some of the world's most breathtaking places. Plus, you'll meet people just like you who understand what it's like to see the world from a different perspective - on the back of the majestic horse. All riders and all horses are welcome. Visit the Recreation area of this site for a list of trail rides.

AQHF EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH 

The American Quarter Horse Foundation is committed to educating horse enthusiasts about the history, welfare and future of the American Quarter Horse. A gift to educational outreach supports a number of historical and educational programs.

AQHF EQUINE RESEARCH

The care and welfare of the American Quarter Horse is of most importance to the American Quarter Horse Foundation. With nearly four million American Quarter Horses across the world, the need to provide funding for equine research has become a major priority for many owners, breeders, trainers and horse enthusiasts.

AQHF SCHOLARSHIPS

The American Quarter Horse Foundation salutes those students who pursue higher education. For those seeking assistance, the Foundation provides scholarships based on academic merit, equine involvement and financial need. Since its inception, more that $2.9 million has been donated to the AQHF scholarship fund for distribution to nearly 500 recipients.

BANK OF AMERICA RACING CHALLENGE

The Bank of America Quarter Horse Racing Challenge is racing's richest program - the championship series designed for America's Horse.  A total of 69 races take place in 10 regions across the United States, Canada and Mexico throughout the year. American Quarter Horses compete in one of six different types of races, depending on their age and ability. A season ending championships takes place with a total of six championship events and seven undercard races where Bank of America Challenge-enrolled horses are preferred for entry.

BEST REMUDA AWARD

From the earliest trail drivers to the daily work of modern ranchers, no other tool has been more valuable to cattlemen than the working ranch horse. To recognize the outstanding foundation that ranch horses laid for the entire American Quarter Horse industry, AQHA has teamed with Bayer Animal Health to find the Best Ranch Remuda.

Click here for more information.

BREEDER REFERRAL

The American Quarter Horse Association's Breeder Referral Program, a part of 4aHORSE , brings AQHA breeders together with prospective clients looking for all ranges of services from breeding, mare care and foaling to the sale of conditioned horses. View the complete list of recommended breeders in your area.

• The Program
  The Breeder Referral Program was developed at the request of the membership and is overseen by a committee of members who are all American Quarter Horse breeders. More than 100 AQHA breeders were contacted during the development of this program to provide ideas on how AQHA can best help promote breeders and their services to interested customers.
• Customer Referral
  AQHA receives thousands of calls each day from members and nonmembers seeking information about the American Quarter Horse and Association programs. With the Breeder Referral Program, AQHA will be able to direct people looking for horses, foals and breeding opportunities to breeders who can meet their needs.
• To Breeders
  As AQHA breeders, you affect the entire American Quarter Horse industry when you make decisions on broodmare and stallion selections. Your integrity combined with your dealings with customers and other AQHA members set the standard for the entire industry's reputation. By joining the Breeder Referral Program, you pledge to abide by a Code of Ethics that will promote the image of the American Quarter Horse and instill a level of confidence in the industry. Of course, upholding high standards also means participating in programs offered by AQHA that enhance a growing industry. If you have not already, we invite you to enroll your horses into AQHA's Incentive Fund or the MBNA America Quarter Horse Racing Challenge.

HISTORICAL MARKERS

This program acknowledges horses, people and events significant to the breed and AQHA. Since the program's establishment, seventeen markers have been placed throughout the U.S. and Canada helping to spotlight the American Quarter Horse's significance in our history.

HORSEBACK RIDING PROGRAM

Become a member of AQHA's Horseback Riding Program and earn awards ranging from patches and caps to buckles and tack. Just log the hours you spend in the saddle on your American Quarter Horse or another horse breed and watch the awards roll in. There's nothing better than earning gifts and awards for doing what you love...riding.

INCENTIVE FUND

AQHA's Incentive Fund is a multi-million dollar awards program for the American Quarter Horse show industry. You could win money for every point earned in AQHA open and amateur competition. Make sure your American Quarter Horses are Incentive Fund-nominated.

The Program - The American Quarter Horse Association Incentive Fund is easy money for those who breed and show American Quarter Horses. The Incentive Fund is the richest payout program of its kind with more than $4 million paid to stallion owners, foal nominators and show horse owners in 2007. This is your opportunity to gain extra income and recognition by simply nominating and showing Incentive Fund horses. It's that easy.

Who's invited to be a part of the AQHA Incentive Fund? Well, the guest list includes stallion owners, foal nominators and show horse owners.

Stallion owners - The benefits of enrolling your Stallion in the Incentive Fund grows with each foal crop. Enroll your stallion each year by November 30 prior to the breeding season and his foals are eligible to be nominated to the Incentive Fund. You'll earn 10% of your stallion's nominated foals' lifetime Incentive Fund earnings, plus your stallion will be included in the free listings of Incentive Fund stallions in the Member's Area on AQHA's Web Site. Stallion owners pay a fee each year based on the number of mares listed on the previous season's breeding report. It's an investment that really pays off!

Foal nominators - By breeding your mares to Incentive Fund enrolled stallions or by purchasing foals that are by Incentive Fund stallions, you can reap more monetary rewards by nominating the foals to the Incentive Fund. Foal nominators earn 10% of the foal's lifetime Incentive Fund earnings. Even if you sell the foal, you still receive his earnings because you are the nominator.

Show horse owners - When you buy an Incentive Fund-nominated horse and show in AQHA-approved events, you'll earn 80% of the point value for every point earned in Open and Amateur competition. In 2007, the point value was $29.03, resulting in a record $4 million in total payout money. Always look for the Incentive Fund-nominated seal on an American Quarter Horse's registration papers.

Stallion Nomination Fees
(Based on the number of mares listed on the previous year's Stallion Breeding Report)

1 mare	$100	26-30 mares	$900
2 mares	$200	31-35 mares	$1,000
3 mares	$300	36-40 mares	$1,100
4 mares	$400	41-50 mares	$1,250
5-10 mares	$500	51-60 mares	$1,500
11-15 mares	$600	61-80 mares	$2,000
16-20 mares	$700	81-100 mares	$2,500
21-25 mares	$800	101 or more mares	$3,000

Foal Nomination Fees

After a foal reaches two years of age or earns half a point or more in AQHA events, he is ineligible to be nominated.

Show Horse Owners Payout
The value per AQHA show point was $29.03 for 2007. More than 137,798 points were earned for a total of $4,000,447.95 distributed among 9,900 Incentive Fund participants. It's fun money just for showing. Here's an example:

VITAL SIGNS ARE GOOD earned 605 points in AQHA events for the year. 
605 points x $29.03 = $17,563.15 total earnings for IMA MONEY MAKER
10 % goes to the stallion nominator - $1,756.32
10% goes to the foal nominator - $1,756.32
80% goes to the nominated horse owner - $14,050.52

JUSTIN/AQHA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Amateur and Youth with the highest point totals will be recognized as respective Rookies of the Year for each state/province. To be eligible for the award, the exhibitor cannot have won any AQHA points (in open, youth, or amateur) prior to the year of the award. The Amateur winner and the Youth winner will both receive a trophy belt buckle and a certificate for apair of Justin boots.

LEADERSHIP AQHA

The mission of Leadership AQHA is to strengthen the American Quarter Horse industry through leadership development.

Leadership AQHA is an innovative program that educated individuals on the opportunities and challenges of the horse industry and AQHA.  Participants are taught leadership skills through instruction and direct application into their own lives, as well as provided a glimpse into the inner-workings of the American Quarter Horse Association.

LIMITED RIDER

The American Quarter Horse Association offers the Limited Rider Program just for AQHA Amateur and Novice Amateur members wanting to try something new. The Program is a “class within a class” and allows Amateur exhibitors to compete in a different event and learn different skills competing against people with similar skills.

 MARKETING AND MEDIA AWARDS

The purpose of AQHA’s Marketing and Media Awards is to recognize people and organizations that help market and promote the American Quarter Horse and related activities. The goal of this program is to cultivate a positive public image of the American Quarter Horse and the Association.

Category winners receive a specially designed Lisa Perry Bronze featuring a Steel Dust-type American Quarter Horse.

YOUTH RACING PROGRAM

If you're hooked on the fast-paced excitement of American Quarter Horse racing or want to get in on the action, check out the AQHYA Racing Experience. It's all about the hoof-pounding, heart-racing excitement of the horse racing world. Get a behind-the-scenes view with the industry's leading horsemen, racetrack professionals and American Quarter Horse athletes.