2026 AQHA Leveling Questions

The American Quarter Horse Association launched 2026 AQHA leveling point ranges online. Exhibitors and horse owners can begin to determine their eligibility for next year’s show season.

View the 2026 leveling point ranges.

Point ranges identify the levels that exhibitors and horses are eligible for when competing at AQHA shows. Owners and exhibitors can view the new point ranges and compare their show record for an approximation of the levels for which they are eligible in the 2026 show season. View answers to AQHA member questions submitted about changes made to 2026 leveling below.

Q:  I was expecting to be able to continue as eligible in Level X and now see that I am no longer eligible.

A: Thank you for that question. The Leveling program has been in existence for more than a decade, so we have very valuable data that was analyzed for this most recent release. 

Coming out of the AQHA Convention from the AQHA Show Committee, which is composed of more than 100 AQHA members, was a directive for data review and recommendations based upon these data. The committee members wanted to ensure that the "playing field" was adjusted by exhibitor and horse, given the results of leveling over those 10+ years of information. In addition, the Show Committee wanted to make sure those exhibitors that are performing at high levels within their respective levels be "graduated out" when appropriate based upon objective and standardized criteria. 

To accomplish this, a Leveling Task Force composed of individuals with backgrounds diverse in leveling history, statistical analysis, competitions of all levels, show rules and show management undertook a two-plus-year review of everything leveling related. The proposed results were then brought back to Convention and presented to the Show Management Sub-Committee as well as the overall Show Committee, the proposed results then went to the AQHA Show Council after Convention and were reviewed by that group. 

All groups approved the results and, from there, the recommendations were sent to the AQHA Executive Committee, which approved the findings that were published. A very thorough process was undertaken to arrive at the new levels. A much more "honed" analysis led to those results. 

Remember, regardless of what level you are in, you can be assured those in your level are your show peers. Show results data will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis and levels will be adjusted based upon the findings of those reviews. One should not assume or try to predict what level you may want to remain in, because based upon numbers of participants class by class and how you perform in the review cycle, those levels may change. However, remember they are highly analyzed, objectively reviewed with recommendations to ensure that competitions are fair to all, based upon your success in the show ring.

Visit www.aqha.com/leveling to learn more about how level eligibility is determined and for more insight on AQHA levels, which range from Rookie for beginning competitors to Level 1 for the minimally accomplished, Level 2 for the moderately accomplished and Level 3 for the highly accomplished.