The 2010 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup kicked off in Oklahoma City with the Parade of Teams.

The opening ceremonies of the 2010 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup featured a Parade of Teams.

International and domestic AQHYA members flocked to Oklahoma City for the American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup, which kicked off with the Parade of Teams on the evening of Saturday, July 3.

American Quarter Horses and youth competitors made their way to State Fair Park through the rain and muggy weather for the opening ceremonies, which featured a performance by Native American dancers and a drill team mounted on palominos.

Spread out over the next week, the youth competitors will take part in educational seminars, discipline clinics, leadership training and, finally, competition. Five additional youth from each country were invited by each international affiliate to attend the education and leadership portion of the week’s events and to cheer on their teammates.

Want to get into the excitement of the 2010 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup? Visit the Youth World Cup homepage.

The American Quarter Horse Journal is in Oklahoma City for the Youth World Cup’s online coverage.  Check out the slide show below (click on each photo to see the caption).