AQHA Welcomes Dressage
April 29, 2009
In 2010, American Quarter Horses will have one more event in which to shine — dressage.
Rugged Lark paved the way for American Quarter Horses in dressage.
I would like to thank everyone for all your comments on the blog. I’ve enjoyed reading the comments and appreciate you taking time to offer encouragement and ideas. I’ve been busy since my last post. I’ll give you a quick update before I share some big news.
On official AQHA business, I traveled to Waco, Texas, to the Varsity Equestrian National Championships. I also attended the National Reining Breeders Classic in Katy, Texas.
While at the NRBC, I witnessed lots of enthusiasm and excitement among reiners. In fact in the FEI Concours de Reining International or International Reining Competition, of the 23 pre-entries for the jog inspection, the horses were about equally distributed between U.S. and international ownership. The CRI was the first event on the journey to qualify the U.S. team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, next year in Lexington, Kentucky, an event you won’t want to miss!
I also travelled to Oklahoma to move my 87-year-old mom into a rehab facility. She recently fell and broke her hip while feeding her horse. She spent the cold spring night outside with her horse waiting to be rescued. My mom is very popular at the AQHA World Show when she arrives with her famous cinnamon rolls. Your prayers for her are much appreciated.
Thanks to Don Darks, a dressage enthusiast and AQHA member from Elkton, Maryland, for writing in a comment on my last blog post about dressage. Here is some more information about the recent Executive Committee approval for the event.
After a nine year process of discussion, meetings, research and a task force, American Quarter Horses will have one more venue in which to “officially” shine – dressage.
During the AQHA Executive Committee meetings held April 20-22 in Amarillo, AQHA committee reports from the San Antonio Convention were presented for final approval. From the show committee, the dressage task force recommendations were approved.
The steps AQHA will be taking include:
- Establishing at USEF/USDF licensed competitions an AQHA class held within the existing class starting with Training Level 4** with an AQHA approval fee of $50 sanctioned 60 days in advance.
- To be eligible, the horse must be AQHA registered and the exhibitor must have a current individual membership.
- Open, amateur and youth eligibility based on AQHA criteria
- Competition license fee of $85 for lifetime of the horse paid to AQHA
- Exhibitor must declare division (open/amateur/youth) with AQHA
- AQHA will supply information to USDF
- At each of the nine USEF/USDF Regional Championship shows in 2009 an AQHA trophy will be awarded to the three high-point registered American Quarter Horses competing in the championship class with the highest percentage score for open, amateur and youth divisions. Entry must have a minimum 60 percent score.
- AQHA will create a point conversion from percentage score for Training Level 4 and above.
- Create a High Point recognition program for the open, amateur and youth divisions for first through 10th place for each division and the highest award to the highest point earning registered American Quarter Horse in each division including points earned in Training Level 4 through Grand Prix.
- AQHA will accept USEF/USDF licensed judges that must have current AQHA membership and abide by AQHA rule 438 for judges.
**There are 10 levels of dressage competition – Intro Level, Training Level, 1st Level, 2nd Level, 3rd Level, 4th Level, FEI Prix ST. George, FEI Intermediate I, FEI Intermediate II and FEI Grand Prix.
American Quarter Horses are very well suited for dressage — they didn’t earn the nickname as the world’s most versatile horse by chance! Many American Quarter Horses are competing successfully in the event. Last June, an article appeared in America’s Horse about Honey Bright Dream, a 14.3 hand American Quarter Horse that is competing in dressage. The article appears on page 44 if you’d like to read more.
AQHA has teamed with the United States Dressage Federation in their All-Breeds Award to give American Quarter Horses and their riders recognition for their accomplishments. American Quarter Horses are eligible for awards through this program.
In the March issue of the USDF Connection, an article appeared about American Quarter Horses and their suitability for dressage. To increase awareness, AQHA teamed with the USDF at the 2008 AQHA World Show to present a Pas de deux showcasing reining and dressage. With American Quarter Horses gaining popularity worldwide with their involvement in international reining competitions including the FEI World Equestrian Games, more people are learning about our horses’ great dispositions and athletic ability. Opening these new avenues for American Quarter Horses will open additional markets.
These rule changes involving dressage will take effect in 2010 so you have some time to perfect your piaffes and passages.
The AQHA staff is working to get all the changes together, and we will be sharing that with you in the very near future at www.aqha.com.
As I am writing this, our AQHA crew is headed to QuarterFest in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, our biggest new event geared to recreational riders. QuarterFest is a three-day, education-packed celebration where AQHA members and horse enthusiasts from around the world will gather May 1-3 for fun, entertainment and festivities to honor the world’s most versatile horse. A special thanks to our sponsors – Tractor Supply, B&W Trailer Hitches, John Deere, Justin Boots, Merial, Nutrena, Professional’s Choice, Bank of America, Montana Silversmiths, Farnam, Breyer, La Cense Montana, Priefert Ranch Equipment and Wrangler.
Happy trails,
Don Treadway Jr.
AQHA Executive Vice President
Learn the many reasons you should be a member of the world’s largest equine breed registry. Join AQHA today!
Comments
26 Comments on “AQHA Welcomes Dressage”
April 29th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Mr. Don Treadway,
Many thanks for your efforts on behalf of AQHA
One big question. Are you doing anything on behalf of old and unwanted horses? We, here in Montana are trying hard to push the Governor into signing the bill to pave the way for a horse processing plant. We need all the help we can get.
Thanks
Amory Hubbard
April 29th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Hi Don, I want to wish AQHA the best of luck at the upcoming QuarterFest. I am very proud to be a member of the Committee where the idea was hatched. It is bold, fresh step to include more horse enthusiasts and benefit our sponsors. I wish Arizona wasn’t quite so far away so I could attend this year. But I will being keeping close tabs on everyone through the blogs and updates from friends that are attending. Good luck and have fun! Lolli
April 29th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Hi Don – I am tickled pink that AQHA is stepping up to support Quarterhorses in Dressage. I let my membership to the associatioin lapse a couple of years ago when it seemed that nothing much was happening, but I will be re-joining soon!
Best regards
April 29th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Mr. Treadway, I’m very excited about Dressage as an approved event. I do not currently ride in Dressage, although I use many of the basic principles in my Western training. I think I’d better start shopping for a Dressage saddle. What interests me so much about the event is that it scores each performance, thereby giving rider and horse a personal best to improve upon each time.
Thanks also to the Executive Committee for demonstrating that the association takes Quarter Horse welfare very seriously. Now, if y’all could manage to do something to stop the illegal practice of tail blocking for once and for all, that would be greatly appreciated. What we need to create is a culture in which the well-being of our Quarter Horses becomes paramount, and wins and awards considered nice to have when earned for good performances, but not worth the sacrifice of the horse and one’s ethics.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Is there any possibility that the AQHA recognition of Dressage could be lowered to include Levels 1, 2, and 3? I took a look and Level 4 is very advanced; only an elite handful of people and horses would be eligible for it.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Oops, my bad; I misunderstood. A friend explained to me:
That Training Level 4 is NOT the same thing as Level 4; that the AQHA will recognize horses showing as low as Training Level 4
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
This is great news about the AQHA finally recognizing dressage! I’m a dressage enthusiast with a registered Appendix QH, and I gave up my membership because of the previous lack of recognition and involvement. There’s now a good chance that I’ll become a member again.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:32 am
I’ve been out of the horse world for about 20 years but have a niece who wants to show. What’s up with the tail extensions? We’ve been told that we’ll be laughed out of the class if our horse is not sporting one. ?? Also, there has apparently been some change to the lope. It seems that it’s some type of 4 beat gait as oppposed to 3. ???
May 5th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
THANK YOU. I have been raising QHs that seem to excel at dressage. I didn’t intend for that to happen, but it did. People who have purchased my horses, ride them in dressage, and have been successful and VERY happy. They spread the word about their level-headed horses being Quarter Horses and are proud of it. Now that I have my own 17.1+ hand (non-appendix) stallion, I am thrilled at the prospect of including him in dessage events, too. I’ve been waiting a long time for dressage inclusion as a AQHA recognized event. Thank you!!!!!!!! And thank you again.
May 5th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I have ridden quarterhorses for over 40 years and enjoy competing with them in eventing, jumping and dressage. I currently have an Appendix QH that is competing in Training Level Test 4 and First Level Test 1. However, I live in Canada, and although I am a Life Member of AQHA and the Canadian Dressage Assoc. has the same requirements and uses exactly the same tests as the US, I see if we live in Canada and compete we will not be recognized. Are there any plans to change this?
May 6th, 2009 at 4:31 am
I couldn’t agree more! I love to ride dressage on my quarter horse and he loves it too! I rode my paint using their PAC program to get points on him from dressage. Its about time! Thanks to Lynn Palm for her efforts over the years to help get this done.
May 6th, 2009 at 4:58 am
I’m soooo happy to hear about QH’s getting official recognition from the USDF and the role the AQHA had in bringing this about. I got my first QH about two years ago, never having been a fan of the breed, and now I’m a total convert! I think they’re the biggest bargain and the “best kept secret” in the horse world! Athletic, willing, sane, and did I mention SMART?!!! I’m surely not the only one who sees a connection between reining and dressage as superstar Anky van Grunsven has been riding with reining teachers. I’m looking forward to seeing lots more QHs strutting their stuff in dressage!
May 6th, 2009 at 5:00 am
And p.s. wouldn’t it be just awesome if Anky’s next horse was a QH?
May 6th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I am very excited about AQHA and USDF/USEF. I am concerned however about the requirement that judges at USDF/USEF shows must also be AQHA members. I do not know of very many USEF judges that are AQHA members, so I am hoping this entire program is not sabotoged before it even begins. Why is that a necessity? Why can’t we just have AQHA classes at USDF/USEF shows using USEF judges?
Also, would like to see Dressage classes at actual AQHA breed shows. Will that be a possibility?
May 6th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Like SimplyDressage, I’m very happy to see the AQHA acknowledge dressage. But like others I wonder about the requirement that the judges be AQHA members? That would be less than a handful of judges that would meet that requirement. Also I’m another Canadian, and am wondering if in the future there will be any way for those of us showing our QH’s north of the Border to receive recognition?
Linda
May 6th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I, too, am thrilled to hear of AQHA’s joining with USDF to recognize our wonderful Quarter Horses!
I second Simply Dressage’s request for dressage classes at AQHA shows. My hubbie shows in Trail and Horsemanship classes, and I’m left out with my guy because we like to do dressage. It would be nice to be able to go to shows together!!
Cheryl
May 8th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Try Lynn Palm’s Allure saddle, I just got one and it’s amazing, really fits my QH great and wonderful feel!
May 8th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I also question the AQHA membership requirement for Dressage judges! AQHA membership brings very little added value to the resumes of Dressage judges, who have undergone extensive preparation and training to become licensed. Therefore, there will be no incentive for them to acquire AQHA memberships. I would strongly encourage AQHA to dispense with this requirement, unless you decide to grant honorary AQHA memberships to them.
I see others have commented they would like to see Dressage classes at AQHA shows. All that would do, I think, would be to cause the evolution of specialized, fake Quarter Horse dressage, with drugs, tail blocking, and abuse! In the world of rated hunter shows, Quarter Horse show hunters aren’t considered “real” and likely the same thing would happen if there were dressage classes at AQHA shows.
May 8th, 2009 at 11:54 am
>
And p.s. wouldn’t it be just awesome if Anky’s next horse was a QH?
>
Anky’s use of rollkurr would fit in nicely with Western Pleasure tail blocking.
May 8th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Wow Lil Peck, so positive!!
May 8th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
LOL, call me “cynical” and “realistic.” I’m looking forward to dressage as a way to leave behind the uglier aspects of AQHA show culture, and I think that AQHA recognition at Dressage shows is going to draw a lot of interest from others like myself. It is going to be BIG!
May 11th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Simply Dressage, thank you for that information. Looks like we’d all better send some “thank you’s” to Mrs. Harris! Awesome!
May 11th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Something else to look ahead to: planning a Western Dressage program like the Morgan people have with USDF.
May 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I’m thrilled about this! I have only had 2 horses – both Bert bred QHs. I had the first for 22 of his 30 years. We started competing in Dressage when he was 24/25 – with great success – at Training Level. I wrote an article that was published in the July 2007 America’s Horse. I support an award for older dressage horses in his name because I found him to be such an inspiration. The one I have now is just starting out at recognized shows this year – he just turned 7. I wouldn’t own any other breed and am so glad that the AQHA is recognizing yet another talent QHs have! I can’t wait to ride this test in 2010!
Thank you!!!
May 13th, 2009 at 8:41 am
For anyone that missed it, it seems to have been deleted??????????????? Here is the info. I posted that Lil Peck was thanking me for.
Hi Lynn:
I am very excited to see AQHA starting to accept dressage and offer AQHA dressage classes at USDF/USEF shows.
My questions are:
Why does a USDF/USEF judge have to be an AQHA member? I think this is going to create a problem since most dressage judges are not AQHA owners, much less members.
Quote:Yes, however, judges will not have to pay for a membership. An AQHA member, Carol Harris has honored to pay all membership for USDF judges needed, so any quarter horses showing in USDF shows can get the AQHA record/points. In 2010 convention, we are going to propose Dressage to be a Special Event. Then USDF/USEF judges will have an incentive to get an AQHA membership, as they can judge other shows and get jobs judging at a AQHA special event. Lynn Palm :Quote
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:03 am
[...] with dressage, reining is a challenge. It takes many hours of practice and plenty of skill to even get a score of [...]