Executive Committee Grants One-Year Reprieve

to Green Working Hunter Class at World Show

The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 13, 2007 – The AQHA Executive Committee announced today that changes regarding green working hunter being removed from the 2008 World Show will be delayed for one year.

The five-member Executive Committee is charged with making difficult decisions to balance the desires of owners, breeders and exhibitors against the long-term future of the American Quarter Horse and the Association.

At the 2007 AQHA Convention, the show committee and later the Executive Committee approved several new green classes – trail, western riding, western pleasure and hunter under saddle – to increase opportunities for horses with fewer than 10 points in each of those classes at regular AQHA shows. However, the additional classes were not intended to be classes offered at the AQHA World Championship Show as green classes are designed for the inexperienced horse and allow both horse and rider the opportunity to progress at a moderate level. The World Show showcases the best athletes, and offering green classes at that level is counterintuitive. The Executive Committee believes horses should take part in a championship show after they’ve refined their abilities.

Leaving green working hunter as a World Show class was not fair to the new classes, so the Executive Committee decided to only have green working hunter at regular AQHA shows. The American Quarter Horse Journal reported those changes in the December issue along with the announcement of the new green classes. Several owners of working hunters were surprised by the news and didn’t realize the change was to take place in 2008.

“We want to be responsive to the needs of our owners and exhibitors,” AQHA President Frank Merrill said. “So the EC 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 EC 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.”

Beginning January 1, 2008, green classes of trail, western riding, western pleasure and hunter under saddle can be added to AQHA shows. Green working hunter will continue to be offered. Green working hunter will be a 2008 World Show class, but in 2009, it will not be part of the World Show and will only be offered at regular AQHA shows.

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 .

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines .