The American Quarter Horse Journal, April 15, 2009 – Just starting your horse-showing career? Reach your showing goals at one of the AQHA Regional Experiences this spring or summer. AQHA’s Regional Experiences give you an attainable target in a fun, learning-friendly environment. Come and learn from our clinicians – and then up your goals for next year!
AQHA started Regional Experiences in 2005 to give people who are excited about competing with American Quarter Horses a fun way to show in a less stressful or intimidating environment. Since then, the events have grown and offered people of all levels a new way to compete. Even those seeking more knowledge are finding Regional Experiences a great place, with educational sessions offered for any horse enthusiast. Another great addition is that of the Region 11 Experience in Germany.
Regional Experiences are open to exhibitors and owners residing in the respective states or provinces comprising the 11 AQHA regions. 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 Ford AQHYA 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. For more eligibility details and frequently asked questions about the Regional Experiences, visit www.aqha.com/association/experience/faq.html.
But these events aren’t just about competition. At each of the events, which are managed by the AQHA state, provincial or international affiliates in each region, exhibitors and visitors can attend educational seminars and clinics, shop at a trade show and socialize with fellow American Quarter Horse enthusiasts.
For those who do compete, more than $135,000 in prizes is up for grabs! Go to www.aqha.com/association/experience/prizes.html to view the prizes.
Hardship applications are available for an exhibitor who wants to compete at a Regional Experience in a region of which they are not a resident or to show a horse in a region of which the owner is not a resident. Application for hardship must be submitted to AQHA on or before the pre-entry deadline of the Regional Experience they want to attend. The application must then be approved by the chair of each region involved. Go to www.aqha.com/association/experience and click on 2009 Regional Experience Hardship Application.
Regional Experiences start in May – so get ready for great fun at an Experience in your region. Here are the dates, locations and contact information for this year’s Regional Experiences:
REGION ONE EXPERIENCE
July 22-26
Idaho Center
Nampa, Idaho
www.region1experience.com
Contact Tracy Adams - (206) 383-6679 or (206) 842-1047
REGION TWO EXPERIENCE
September 24-27
Central States Fairgrounds
Rapid City, South Dakota
www.region2experience.com
Contact Debbi Holmes - (605) 883-4259
REGION THREE EXPERIENCE
July 15-19
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
St. Paul, Minnesota
www.region3experience.com
Contact Bill Horton - (319) 240-3520
REGION FOUR EXPERIENCE
July 16-19
Ohio Expo Center
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.oqha.com/regional/
Contact Ohio Quarter Horse Association - (740) 943-2346
REGION FIVE EXPERIENCE
July 23-26
New York State Fairgrounds
Syracuse, New York
www.regionfiveexperience.com
Contact Rick Shiffler - (717) 269-8611
REGION SIX EXPERIENCE
July 7-10
Eastern States Exposition
Springfield, Massachusetts
www.r6aqha.com
Contact Donna Rosciti - (401) 647-5588
REGION SEVEN EXPERIENCE
June 4-6
Reno Livestock Events Center
Reno, Nevada
www.aqharegion7.org
Contact Carol Whittaker - (520) 907-8286
REGION EIGHT EXPERIENCE
CANCELLED
www.aqha.com/association/experience/2009_region8.html
REGION NINE EXPERIENCE
August 13-16
Mississippi State Fairgrounds
Jackson, Mississippi
www.mqha.org
Contact Garry Woodruff - (662) 887-1351
REGION TEN EXPERIENCE
May 14-17
T. Ed Garrison Arena
Clemson, South Carolina
www.region10experience.com
Contact Randy Ratliff - (336) 282-5235
REGION ELEVEN EXPERIENCE
June 11-14
Paaren/Glien, Germany
www.europeanexperience.eu
Contact Melanie Koenig at +49 6021 58459 10
Ulli Vey, DQHA at +49 6021 58459 0
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
