The American Quarter Horse Journal, October 15, 2009 – A little more than 20 years ago, a Texan and Australian met in Dallas to discuss kids and American Quarter Horses. That meeting resulted in the American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup, a kids-n-horses event that is held every two years and is hosted by a different country each time.
What began as a competition between Australian and U.S. youths has evolved to include kids from a number of countries – 17 countries are expected for the 2010 Youth World Cup, July 3-11 in Oklahoma City.
“In the past when the Youth World Cup was hosted by the United States, the event was always held in Amarillo – AQHA’s hometown,” said David Avery, AQHA director of international programs. “In 2010, we’re moving the event to Oklahoma City to give our international members the opportunity to see the facility where many of AQHA’s champions are crowned. With the horses and AQHA Professional Horsemen available in the Oklahoma City area, we think it will be an inspirational and educational experience for the youths participating in the Youth World Cup.”
Each Youth World Cup team consists of five American Quarter Horse Youth Association members plus a coach. The youths take part in eight days of educational seminars, riding and showmanship clinics, leadership training and competition. Alternate members of the teams attend the educational and leadership seminars. The host country provides the horses for competition. Each team draws a pool of six horses to use throughout the two-day competition. Each horse is ridden at least once in each class.
The exhibitors compete in cutting, hunt seat equitation, hunter under saddle, reining, showmanship at halter, trail, horsemanship, western pleasure, western riding and a versatility class. Participants receive medals for each class both days and an overall award is also given for each class.
All AQHYA members are eligible to participate, provided they meet their home country’s qualification guidelines.
For more details on the 2010 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup, contact Sarah Smiddy at ssmiddy@aqha.org.
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.
