Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 AQHA Level 1 Championships

The 2024 AQHA East Level 1 Championships is April 22-28 at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio; and the 2024 AQHA West Level 1 Championships is May 14-18, immediately following Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Pinnacle Circuit, May 11-14, at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

Entry Information

AQHA East Level 1 Championships

Entries opened February 1 and the entry deadline for the AQHA East Level 1 Championships is 5 p.m. Central on March 15. Late entry options are available until 5 p.m. Central on April 1. Unentered horses will not be able to enter after the late entry deadline. Exhibitors who choose to show at both AQHA Level 1 Championship shows cannot compete in the same classes at each event.

• Enter here to compete at the  AQHA East Level 1 Championships.

• Stalls can be reserved on the entry form.

• RV spaces are currently sold out, fill out the waiting list form here.

AQHA West Level 1 Championships

Entries opened February 1 and the entry deadline for the AQHA West Level 1 Championships is 5 p.m. Central on April 1. Late entry options are available through 5 p.m. Central on April 15. Exhibitors who choose to show at both AQHA Level 1 Championship shows cannot compete in the same classes at each event. Unentered horses will not be able to enter after the late entry deadline.

• Enter here to compete at the  AQHA West Level 1 Championships with the Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Pinnacle Circuit at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

• Entries for the Pinnacle Circuit will not be taken through this form.

• Stalls will be reserved through ezhorseshows.com.

Schedules

AQHA has released the tentative schedules for the 2024 AQHA East and West Level 1 Championships.

• View the AQHA East Level 1 Championships tentative schedule.

• View the AQHA West Level 1 Championships tentative schedule.

The judges selected for the 2024 AQHA Level 1 Championships are:

AQHA East Level 1 Championships

Gigi Bailey of Maribel, Wisconsin

Leonard Berryhill of Talala, Oklahoma

Rick Christy of Reddick, Florida

Shawn Hays of Tupelo, Mississippi

Lyle Jackson of Cochrane, Alberta

Larry Little of Mebane, North Carolina

Gretchen Mathes of Harwinton, Connecticut

Bennie Sargent of Paris, Kentucky

Melissa Sexton of Okanogan, Washington

AQHA West Level 1 Championships

Kerry Allen of Rockville, Virginia

Jamie Dowdy of Marshfield, Missouri

Buddy Fisher of Abilene, Texas

Jennifer Kunkle of Cross, South Carolina

Jonathan Meilleur of Hamburg, Pennsylvania

Daren Wright of Chillicothe, Ohio

To be eligible to enter the 2024 Level 1 Championships, an exhibitor must:

• Be Rookie- and/or Level 1-eligible in the class they wish to enter as of the prior year January 1, 2023

• Be an AQHA member at the time of entry and at the time of the 2024 Level 1 Championships.

Additionally:

• If a competitor graduated out of Level 1 and/or Rookie after the 2023 show season, he or she is still invited to enter, as eligibility is based on the 2023 competition year.

• If you have won a Level 1 class at a Level 1 Championships, you cannot show in that same class at future Level 1 Championships, including the 2024 Level 1 Championships. However, you can still show in that class at other AQHA-sanctioned shows (excluding the Level 1 Championships) until you meet the level-up requirements found in SHW245. You can still show at the Level 1 Championships in any other class(es) for which you are Level 1 eligible.

• If you have not earned a Superior award within the past 10 years in a particular class in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members, including AQHA.

• In addition cannot have placed in the top three at any AQHA world championship show in a particular class.

• Cannot have won a world, reserve world, national or reserve national championship title in a particular class, excluding Level 1 classes, in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members.

• Cannot have won a total of $5,000 or more in cash with any equine organization or association by class including earnings reported by QData, Equistat and other verifiable resources.

• Cannot have competed on an NCEA equestrian team on a scholarship or ride as a starting exhibitor in a particular discipline within the past 10 years.

• Cannot have been an accredited horse show judge or have trained professionally.

Learn more about AQHA Rule SHW245 in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

Level eligibility is determined on a class-by-class basis. Exhibitors are encouraged to use the online level verification system at www.aqha.com/leveling to determine if they are Level 1- or Rookie-eligible in a particular class. Walk-trot classes do require exhibitors to be Level 1-eligible in their particular class.

The AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships, presented by the Four Sixes Ranch, will be held with the 2024 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, June 16-22 at the Tri-State Fairgrounds in Amarillo, Texas. The schedule and online entries for the Cattle Level 1 classes will be posted at a later date at www.aqha.com/versatility.

About the AQHA Level 1 Championships
The AQHA Level 1 Championships feature walk-trot, Rookie and Level 1 classes. The shows offer a variety of events and activities for competitors, friends, family and spectators to take part in throughout the show, including free Ride the Pattern clinics taught by AQHA Professional Horsemen. The Level 1 Championships are intended for exhibitors to learn and grow in the show arena while sharpening their horsemanship skills. The shows provide a welcoming environment for AQHA members to be showcased in a championship arena and to compete to earn top prizes for their dedication.

For more information, visit www.aqha.com/level1championships.

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.”