2023 YEAR END AWARDS PROGRAM

• In all cases, membership must be paid before ANY points will count. The exhibitor/owner is responsible for proving that membership is paid, either by receipt from a show secretary or canceled check.
• In all classes all RIDERS MUST HAVE a membership and the OWNERS of the HORSE MUST also have a membership.
• Points are kept on a horse/rider basis for amateur and youth, if two riders show the same horse, a separate set of points will be kept; if a rider shows two horses, a separate set of points will be kept.
• Qualifying- to qualify for all AzQHA year-end awards you must show in at least FOUR AzQHA Sanctioned Events.

2023 Events: Saguaro Classic, Sun Circuit, April No Bling, Pinnacle Circuit, Sonoita Show, Fall Championships, Dorn Parkinson Memorial Show, and the Az Nationals.

Select Exhibitors: All Select exhibitors must declare if they want their state year-end points to count only for Select points.  Once you have declared to be Select for the year then all State points will be counted as Select points. To clarify; if you declare as a Select and show the same horse/rider combination in an Amateur class your points from the Amateur class will be included in  your Select points.

Awards Offered

Class High Points:

Class must be offered at a minimum of 2 Events AND shown to a minimum of FIVE judges to be eligible for a year end award.

• Open: Champion and Reserve
• Rookie Youth, L1 Youth, Rookie Amateur, & L1 Amateur: 1st-3rd place Awards
• Youth, Amateur,  & Amateur Select: Champion and Reserve

Points earned in the L2 division will be included in the respective Open, Amateur, Amateur Select, or Youth division for year end awards.

Over All High Points 

To win any Over All High point award an exhibitor must have shown in at least TWO AQHA categories within the High Point classes.

• Ranch and Cattle High Point:

Divisions: Open (Champions $1,000 & Reserve $500), Youth, L1 Youth, L1 Amateur,  Amateur, Select (Champion $1,000, Reserve $500, 3rd $250)

Classes to be counted: Halter, Cow Horse, Cow Horse Boxing, Cutting, Roping, Reining, Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, Ranch on the Rail, Working Western Rail and Speed events. All points are counted on one horse/rider combination (owners and riders for open classes must be members).

• Pattern and Rail High Point

Divisions: Open (Champions $1,000 & Reserve $500), Youth, L1 Youth, L1 Amateur,  Amateur, Select (Champion $1,000, Reserve $500, 3rd $250)

Classes to be counted: Halter, Showmanship, Horsemanship, Equitation, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Trail, Hunter under Saddle, Jumping, Working Hunter, Equitation over Fences, Hunter Hack, and  Driving. All points are counted on one horse /rider  combination(owners and riders for open classes must be members).

Ties

Ties in year end points will be broken there will only be one Champion. If exhibitors tie for Champion this will be the tie breaker criteria:

1. Number of shows attended
2. Number of shows attended other than Sun Circuit and Az Fall Championship.
3. Highest number of AQHA points earned by horse/rider combo at qualified shows.

The exhibitor(s) that lose the Champion tie breaker will then all be named the Reserve champion. No other awards will be given to lower placing points.

If the exhibitors tie for Reserve this will be the tie breaker criteria:

1. Number of shows attended
2. Number of shows attended other than Sun Circuit and Az Fall Championship.
3. Highest number of AQHA points earned by horse/rider combo at qualified shows.

The exhibitors(s) that lose the Reserve tie breaker will not be awarded any awards. Only one       Reserve award will be given.

Point System:  Points are awarded 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2, l if there are nine or more in a class.  If there are fewer than 9 entries points shall be awarded based on the number of entries (4 in a class, 1st place receives 4 points, 2nd place receives 3 points, etc.)

Updating points: Points are updated to the AzQHA web site as soon as AQHA has them available. It is up to the exhibitor to contact the point keeper as soon as possible if you feel your points are not correct or missing.  The exhibitor must contact the point keeper before December 1st to have any changes in the year end point standings changed.  We would ask that you check your points after each show that you show in to keep the points up to date for everyone.

View Points