The AQHA Executive Committee has to make difficult decisions to balance the needs of owners, breeders and exhibitors against the long-term future of the American Quarter Horse.
Occasionally, those needs become difficult to reconcile. At the AQHA Convention, the show committee and later the Executive Committee approved several new green classes -- trail, western riding, western pleasure and hunter under saddle -- with the thought that a class for those horses with fewer than 10 points would open opportunities for more horses and owners. However, it was also thought that it would be difficult if not impossible to include those classes at the AQHA World Championship Show.
Green classes are designed for the inexperienced horse and allow both horse and rider the opportunity to progress at a moderate level. Because the World Show is designed to showcase the best athletes, having green classes offered at that level is counterintuitive. We want horses to take part in the World Show after they’ve refined their abilities.
With that in mind, it didn’t appear fair to leave green working hunter as a World Show class, so the Executive Committee decided to just have green working hunter at regular AQHA shows. The Journal reported those changes in the December issue along with the announcement of the new green classes. However, several owners of working hunters met the news with dismay, especially since the changes were scheduled to go into effect this year.
“We want to be responsive to the needs of our owners and exhibitors,” said AQHA President Frank Merrill. “So the Executive Committee listened to the concerns of those competing in green working hunter, and we understand that they have purchased horses and in some instances already qualified them with the thought of competing at this year’s World Show. With that in mind, the Executive Committee approved to leave green working hunter as a World Show class for 2008 only.
“As an important part of our long-term efforts to strengthen AQHA shows, we will go forward with the addition of the other green classes this year. And in 2009, all green classes, including green working hunter, will be a great addition to our shows without putting the pressure on those green horses to qualify for the World Show.”
If you have questions about the new green classes or would like to provide input, call the AQHA show department (806) 376-4811, or write AQHA Senior Director of Shows Charlie Hemphill at chemphill@aqha.org.
WHERE WE ARE
Green classes of trail, western riding, western pleasure and hunter under saddle can be added to AQHA shows beginning January 1, 2008. Green working hunter will continue to be offered.
Green working hunter will be a 2008 World Show class.
In 2009, green classes will not be part of the World Show but will continue to be offered at regular AQHA shows.
