AQHA Debuts Most Valuable Horse Awards at 2008 FedEx Open World Championship Show

New awards recognize high-point horses by division.

The American Quarter Horse Journal, June 30, 2008 – There will be some new stars at this year’s American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show as AQHA debuts Most Valuable Horse  Awards for high-point horses in several open divisions.

The MVH Awards recognize the highest point-earning horses in six open divisions: Western (western pleasure, western riding and trail classes); Roping (heading, heeling and tie-down); English (hunter under saddle, hunter hack, working hunter, pleasure driving and jumping); Cutting, Reining and Working Cow Horse; Speed (barrel racing and pole bending) and Timed (ranch sorting and team penning).

“The American Quarter Horse has always been the star of our World Shows – that just goes without saying,” said Bill Brewer, AQHA Executive Vice President. “We’re happy to expand our award system to reward our equine stars. We want to recognize our hard-working American Quarter Horses and salute those who excel in their chosen disciplines.”

There is no formal entry for the MVH Awards. Each World Show open division entry is automatically entered and points are distributed according to the placing in the class. First place is worth 10 points down to one point for 10^th place. Additional points are awarded based on the number of entries shown in the class. See Chart 415 for the point distribution system used to calculate AQHA points found in the AQHA Official Handbook. Performance halter class placings will count as bonus points in the horse’s respective divisions.

MVH winners will each receive $5,000 cash, roses courtesy of Rio Roses and special recognition at the show.

The Featherlite All-Around Amateur and Superhorse Awards remain unchanged and will be presented to the horse earning the most points in a minimum of three events in two categories. Reserve through fifth place Superhorse will no longer be recognized.

The 2008 Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open AQHA World Championship Show runs November 7-22 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.