2024 AQHYA World Run Down

That’s a wrap on the 2024 AQHYA World Championship Show! This year’s AQHYA World was held August 2-11 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Showing a 5 percent increase in entries over last year, the show hosted 5,200 entries and 563 exhibitors, including 220 youth who attended for the first time. In addition to show entries, 225 AQHYA members also competed in contests offered outside the arena for gold globes, scholarships and more. 

AQHYA exhibitors from Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States competed for 44 world championship, 40 Adequan® Level 2 championships and 24 Level 1 Champion of Champions titles.

Event Coverage
If you were unable to join us in Oklahoma City or missed the free live webcast, be sure to check out daily replays and complete show results at www.aqha.com/youthworld. Relive the highlights by watching the daily Gold Globe Report, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal and the AQHA Marketing Team, recapping highlights from each day of competition and behind-the-scenes stories.

View information on how to order photos from the show shot by Shane Rux Photography. Equine Promotion, the AQHYA World official videographer, emailed each exhibitor a link to their run so they can download the video and share it on social media.

AQHYA Contests
Action at the OKC Fairgrounds continued outside of the arena. The AQHYA Horse Judging Contest, Justin Boots and Wrangler Jeans Decorating, speech, scrapbook, stall decorating and art and photo contests were just some of the contests offered. Throughout the show, AQHYA World teams also competed for points in a team spirit contest. View the contest results.

2024 Parade of Teams
The 2024 youth teams were recognized during the Parade of Teams in the Jim Norick Arena. Also recognized in the arena were the American Quarter Horse Foundation Scholarship recipients. Scholarship recipients received more than $440,000 in total! AQHYA World contest winners and the 2024-25 AQHYA Executive Committee and directors were also recognized during the event.

Youth Activities Scholarship
The American Quarter Horse Foundation awarded two $1,000 Youth Activities Scholarships to Hannah Burkholder and Kurtlee Smith. These scholarships are awarded to youth members in their senior year of high school who successfully participated at the AQHYA World in a Level 3 or Adequan® Level 2 championship class or have competed in a designated AQHYA championship competition.

Ride the Patterns Clinics
AQHA Professional Horsemen volunteered their time to give free Ride the Pattern clinics, presented by Nutrena. These popular clinics gave exhibitors the perfect opportunity to learn how AQHA Professional Horsemen would approach a class or pattern. Thanks to Nutrena’s generosity to match the amount donated at the Ride the Pattern clinics dollar-for-dollar, the Professional Horsemen Endowment raised $2,080.

Top Ranching Heritage-Bred Horse Award

The 2017 red roan mare CR Better Off Tuff, bred by Center Ranch of Centerville, Texas, was named the top AQHA Ranching Heritage-Bred Horse at the 2024 AQHYA World Show. CR Better Off Tuff, who is by Woody Be Tuff and out of the High Brow Cat mare High Class Peptolena, is owned by Michael Keller and was shown by Piper Keller of El Reno, Oklahoma.

The AQHA Ranching Heritage program highlights the versatility, soundness and willing attitude of American Quarter Horses that are ranch-born and -raised. Ranching Heritage Breeders are those operations that have steadfastly continued to maintain the ranching tradition by raising American Quarter Horses for use in working cattle.

Make Plans for Next Year’s Show

Qualifying is already under way for the 2025 AQHYA World. The qualifying requirements are available now. Find a list of AQHA-approved shows here and don’t delay in earning your spot to compete at next year’s event!

About the AQHYA World
The AQHYA World Championship Show is the world’s largest single-breed world championship horse show open exclusively to youth exhibitors age 18 and under. This is the pinnacle event for youth competitors around the world who must qualify for the event by earning a predetermined number of points to secure a spot in each of the classes, representing English, western and halter disciplines, or earn an invitation through their state or provincial affiliate. The show includes Level 3, Adequan® Level 2 and Level 1 Champion of Champions classes.

AQHA news and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more information visit www.aqha.com/news or tune into our Podcast, “Let's Talk AQHA.”