WHO CAN COMPETE AT THE 2008 AQHA REGIONAL EXPERIENCE?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

2008 REGIONAL EXPERIENCE  | ELIGIBILITY RULES | WIN THESE GREAT PRIZES

Regional Experiences will be open to exhibitors and owners residing in the respective states or provinces comprising the region. Each exhibitor must be a current AQHA member and all horses must be AQHA registered.  You or your horse cannot show the same class in any division (novice youth, youth, novice amateur, amateur, amateur select or open) at a Regional Experience that you placed in the Top 10 in the preceding calendar year’s FedEx Open, Bank of America Amateur, Bayer Select or AQHYA Ford World Championship Shows.  Additionally, horses or people who might advance to another class because of age and have placed in the top 10 at one of AQHA’s World Shows cannot enter the same class at the regional level.

Can my horse be shown in more than one region by a trainer or family member?

No, a horse can only be shown in one region.  In open, the owner and exhibitor must be from the same region and the horse can only be shown in one region per year.  In youth and amateur, as long as membership, ownership and residency rules are met, the horse can be shown in a different region than the owner's residence.  For example, if you (an amateur) and your trainer (a professional) live in Texas (region 8), you can show your horse in amateur competition at the Region Eight Experience and your trainer may show your horse in open competition at the Region Eight Experience.  If you sell this horse after the Region Eight Experience to someone in another region, this horse may not be shown at their Regional Experience during the same year.  You may ship your horse to any other region where an eligible family member resides to allow a youth or amateur to show your horse in any division if that horse has not competed at a Regional Experience in the same year. See Rule 403 and 404 in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations for complete ownership and eligibility requirements.  Proof of residency may also be required.

I placed in the Top 10 at the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show in Western Pleasure.  Am I eligible to show at this year's Regional Experience?

Yes, you are eligible to show at the Regional Experience in any class except western pleasure.  If an exhibitor finishes in the Top 10 at the previous year’s FedEx Open, Bank of America Amateur, Bayer Select or AQHYA Ford World Championship Show, neither the exhibitor nor the horse are eligible to enter that class in any division (novice youth, youth, novice amateur, amateur, amateur select or open) at a Regional Experience but may enter all other classes.

If I placed in the Top 10 in a class at the Bayer Select World Championships, can I show in that class as an Amateur at a Regional Experience?

No.  Amateur and Select are considered the same division. Therefore, if a competitor placed in the top 10 in Western Pleasure at the Bayer Select, he or she would not be eligible to compete in Amateur Western Pleasure nor any other Western Pleasure class at a Regional Experience.

I have a halter horse that placed Top 10 at a World Show last year.  Is he eligible for the Regional Experience?

No.  Halter horses that placed in the Top 10 are ineligible to show at a Regional Experience the following year.  In halter, a 2-year-old that placed in the top 10 could not be shown as a 2-year-old later that same year at a Regional Experience or in the 3-year-old class the following year at a Regional Experience.

This rule applies to the exhibitor as well.  If you placed in the Top 10 at any of the AQHA World Championship Shows in halter, you are ineligible to compete at a Regional Experience in the same sex division.  For example, if you placed in the Top 10 in 2-year-old stallions, you are ineligible to compete in any stallions class at the Regional Experience.  You are still eligible to compete in any halter class with a mare or gelding for which you qualify.

I placed in the Top 10 in Jr. Trail at the 2007 World Show and my horse will move up to Sr. Trail in 2008.  Can I show that horse in Sr. Trail at a 2008 Regional Experience?

No.  In performance classes, a junior horse that places in the Top 10 cannot be shown in the same class after advancing to senior the following year.  This rule applies to the exhibitor as well.  If you placed in the Top 10 at any of the AQHA World Championship Shows in Jr. Trail, you are ineligible to compete at a Regional Experience in any Trail class, in any division.  You may still show in any other performance class for which you qualify.

I placed in the Top 10 in Hunter Under Saddle at the Youth World Show in 2007.  In 2008, I will advance to amateur competition.  Can I show Hunter Under Saddle at a 2008 Regional Experience in amateur?

No.  Members who graduate out of youth and are now exhibiting in amateur are ineligible for that class (in this case, Hunter Under Saddle). If a youth placed in the Top 10 in the preceding calendar year at the Youth World Show and graduated out of youth to amateur, that exhibitor can not compete as an amateur in that same class at a Regional Experience.

Can I apply for a Novice Permit at one or more than one Regional Experience?

No. Permits for novice amateur, novice youth or amateurs showing a non-family owned horse will not be accepted, under any circumstance, at any Regional Experience.

I live in New York but I am a member and I show with the New Jersey affiliate (NJQHA).  Do I need to also be a member of New York’s affiliate (ESQHA) to compete in a Regional Experience?

No, you are definitely encouraged to join the affiliate in your place of residence, but you are not required to be a member of your affiliate (state or provincial) to participate in a Regional Experience. Although, proof of residency may be required to verify you are a resident of that region.

I am a full time student attending the University of Findlay in Ohio but my residence is in Texas.  Can I compete at the Region Four Experience in Columbus, Ohio or do I have to compete in Region 8?

If you can provide proof of full time status at your university, you can compete in your university's region.  Once your university status has been verified, you and your horse are eligible to compete at the Regional Experience in the same region as your university - even if you and your horse reside in a different region.  You are ONLY allowed to compete in one regional experience and this rule applies ONLY to full time students.