AQHA Leveling Program Debuts

Showmanship is just one of many classes offered in the AQHA Leveling Program test classes at the 2012 Prairie Classic. (Journal photo)

by Christine Hamilton of the American Quarter Horse Journal

The pilot testing of the fledgling AQHA program gets a big thumbs-up from exhibitors.

“When you’re testing something, it can go really bad or really good,” says Patti Carter-Pratt, AQHA executive director of shows.

So far, the debut of AQHA’s leveling program in testing at the 2012 Kansas Quarter Horse Association Prairie Classic February 15-19 in Oklahoma City is going very well indeed.

The “pilot” leveling classes are being run concurrently with the official AQHA show, to give the program a trial run for AQHA staff, show management and exhibitors in all divisions. Developed by AQHA show and information technology staff along with AQHA membership through the Blue-Ribbon Task Force, the leveling program seeks to increase competition opportunities for horses and riders alike; it is currently scheduled for full implementation in 2013.

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