AQHA Rulebook

Access the official AQHA Rulebook electronically or in print.

The AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations is updated yearly after undergoing careful scrutiny by AQHA. 

The online version of the rulebook contains the most-updated version of the rules. Differences between rules published on AQHA's website and the print rulebook shall be governed by the official rules published on the website.

AQHA's Rulebook answers all your questions regarding AQHA rules, showing patterns, horse markings, equipment guidelines and more.

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How to Change a Rule

As a member-governed organization, AQHA members submit rule change proposals each year. Proposals must be received by December 31 prior to the next Convention and are assigned to the appropriate standing committee, then published in advance for member review.

At the Convention, committees review each proposal, hear members’ comments, debate the issues, and make a recommendation to the membership during the Monday Membership Business Meeting. In this meeting, members have another opportunity to provide input and then vote on each proposal. The committee reports are then forwarded to the new Board of Directors immediately following the meeting.

The Board of Directors reviews the membership recommendations and votes to approve, reject, or amend them. For registration rules and bylaws, the Board’s decision is final. Other rules are forwarded to the Executive Committee for final review, which evaluates the impact of the change and determines whether it can be implemented.

Guidelines for Writing Proposed Rule Changes

Rule change proposals are accepted each year prior to AQHA Convention. View the rule change proposal form.

  • Define the problem and develop as many possible solutions as you can by asking others for input.
  • Choose one possible solution that appears to be the most appropriate and that fits the mission and goals of AQHA.
  • Determine if any other rules would be affected if your proposal were to be adopted, and specify the rule numbers.
  • Submit proper wording for a proposed rule change by typing or neatly printing the exact wording being proposed. If you propose changes to existing language, strike through the words you propose to delete. Type in bold and italics the words you propose to add.

Meritorious proposed rule changes submitted with sufficient documentation and specific explanations detailing reasons for the change will be assigned to the respective committee(s) and included on AQHA’s website with an invitation for members to submit comments. Rule changes submitted without sufficient documentation and specific explanations detailing reasons for the change will not be assigned to a committee. 

febbraio 01, 2019

How Rules are made at AQHA