Regional Experience Eligibility Rules

Exhibitor Eligibility.

1)  Unless modified by this Section, an exhibitor’s eligibility to participate at the RE is governed by the rules and regulations set forth in the current AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations. RE eligibility modifications to the rules and regulations set forth in the current AQHA Official Handbook include the following:

(a)  To participate at the RE, an exhibitor, at time of entry through time of RE competition, must be a resident of the region in which they are competing. Proof of residency may be required by RE Show Management.
 
(b)  While current AQHA individual membership is required at time of entry through time of RE competition, an exhibitor’s membership in an individual’s respective State or Provincial Affiliate shall not be required but should be encouraged.

(c)  If an exhibitor placed in the top ten (10) in a halter class at the 2008 FedEx Open, 2008 Bank of America Amateur, 2008 Bayer Select World Championship Show or 2008 AQHYA Ford World Championship Show (Youth World Show), such exhibitor shall be ineligible to compete in any halter class in any Division with a horse of the same sex as the horse that placed in the top ten (10) at the FedEx Open, Bank of America Amateur, Bayer Select or Ford Youth World Show.

(d)  If an exhibitor placed in the top ten (10) in a performance class at the 2008 FedEx Open, 2008 Bank of America Amateur, 2008 Bayer Select or 2008 Ford Youth World Show, such exhibitor shall be ineligible to compete in any Open (Junior or Senior), Amateur, Novice Amateur, Select, Youth or Novice Youth Division classes involving the same event.

(e)  No permits for Novice Amateur, Novice Youth or Amateurs showing a non-family member owned Horse shall be accepted at the Regional Experience.

(f)  Full-time college students will be allowed to show in the region where they are attending school when the college is not located in the same region as their primary residence. The student must show proof of full time status (12 credit hours) to the show secretary upon entry/check-in at the Regional Experience. Failure to produce such proof will make the entry ineligible. The show secretary will then inform AQHA in writing of any hardship entries.
If granted a hardship, The student shall only be allowed to show his/her own horse, or an immediate family member’s horse (according to AQHA rules) at the Regional Experience, even though the ownership of said horse may be in a different region. This exception is made for the college student only and no other exhibitor would be allowed to compete with this horse at that Regional Experience. The exhibitor and/or horse can compete at only one Regional Experience per calendar year.

** 11 & Under walk/jog exhibitors may also show in the showmanship and/or halter classes. They may NOT show in any classes calling for a lope or canter.

Entrants in the AQHA showmanship and/or halter classes must meet all AQHA requirements
for membership and ownership.

Horse Eligibility

2)  Unless modified by this Section, a Horse’s eligibility
to participate at the RE is governed by the rules and regulations set forth in the current AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations. RE eligibility modifications to the rules and regulations set forth in the current AQHA Official Handbook include the following:

(a)  To participate in an RE Open Division class, a Horse, at time of RE competition, must be owned by a resident of the region in which they are competing. Proof of residency may be required by RE Show Management. Ownership must have been established by time of entry in the RE.

(b)  A Horse cannot be shown in the same Open Division class (halter or performance) at more than one (1) RE during the same calendar year.
(c)  If a Horse placed in the top ten (10) in any halter class at the 2008 FedEx Open, 2008 Bank of America Amateur, 2008 Bayer Select or 2008 Ford Youth World Show, such Horse shall be ineligible to compete in any halter class, regardless of age or sex of the horse, in any Division at the Regional Experience.

(d)  If a Horse placed in the top ten (10) in a performance class at the 2008 FedEx Open, 2008 Bank of America Amateur, 2008 Bayer Select or 2008 Ford Youth World Show such Horse shall be ineligible to compete in any Open (Junior or Senior), Amateur, Novice Amateur, Select, Youth, or Novice Youth Division classes
 involving the same event.

First Time Exhibitors

If you have never shown in a Showmanship, Trail, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, or Hunt Seat Equitation class at an AQHA horse show, you are eligible to show in that particular class.  AQHA requests that your attire consists of a plain long sleeve, button down shirt and jeans. No bling.
English exhibitors should wear traditional English attire.  Additionally, your tack should have limited or no silver.  All other eligibility RE rules will apply to these classes.

Still have questions on eligibility? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.