Silver Dollar Circuit Show in Las Vegas, Nevada annual March event

In an effort to level the playing field by allowing more exhibitors and horses to compete with others of comparable experience and proficiency, AQHA has developed a Leveling Program, which is scheduled to go into full operation in January of 2013. During 2012, all elements of the new program will be tested and refined to ensure a successful transition from the current competition structure to the new, leveled structure.

Part of the testing of the leveling program is being done at selected horse shows throughout the year. The 2012 Prairie Classic (February 15 – 19, Oklahoma City, OK) and the 2012 Las Vegas Silver Dollar Circuit (March 14 – 18, Las Vegas Nevada) have been designated pilot shows for the AQHA Leveling Program. As such, a number of the classes at the Silver Dollar and the Prairie Classic will be run using the leveled format.

The Leveling Project is the brainchild of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, a large group of AQHA exhibitors, judges, trainers, show managers and other professionals. And, while countless hours have been spent developing the system, it is expected that we will find some challenges in bringing it to fruition. Therefore, it is especially important for AQHA members to offer their feedback and comments throughout the 2012 test year. Please do not hesitate to contact Patti Carter Pratt (806‐378‐4332 or pcpratt@aqha.org) or any of the members of the Blue Ribbon Task Force to provide input.

Leveling will be done on a class by class basis, just as the Novice classes are presently. The number of points needed to pass from one level to the next is based on either the horse’s or the rider’s cumulative points in that class (in any division) over the previous three years. In the Amateur and Youth Divisions, all classes will be based on the exhibitor’s points. In the Open Division, all classes will be based on the horse’s points, with the exception of Halter, Speed Events, and Cattle Classes, which will be based on exhibitor points.

There will be three layers to the Leveling Program. The first will be Novice (leveled by exhibitor) and the Green (leveled by horse). The next level will be Intermediate (leveled by exhibitor) and Progressive (leveled by horse). The upper level will retain the regular name for the class in that division. For instance:

	Present Class Structure	Leveled Class Structure
First Level	Novice Amateur Western Pleasure	Novice Amateur Western Pleasure
Second Level	(none)	Intermediate Amateur Western Pleasure
Third Level	Amateur Western Pleasure	Amateur Western Pleasure

	Present Class Structure	Leveled Class Structure
First Level	Green Trail	Green Sr. Trail
Second Level	(none)	Progressive Sr. Trail
Third Level	Sr. Trail	Sr. Trail

In addition to the leveling, AQHA has established the Rookie classes, which are open to horse/rider combinations in which neither the horse nor the exhibitor has more than 10 Rookie (or regular) points in that event. The classes may be offered at stand‐alone Rookie shows, as well as Introductory shows, All Novice Shows, and regular AQHA shows. Points earned in Rookie classes count only towards graduation from Rookie status and are not counted in determining an exhibitor’s or horse’s level in that class.

The point limits for each level are based on the performance of all point‐earning exhibitors or horses in that class over the past three years. The mean of that population becomes the Novice or Green upper limit and the mean plus two standard deviations becomes the upper limit for the Intermediate or the Progressive level. A list of class levels might look something like this:

NOTE: These are only hypothetical examples; actual point limits for AQHA levels for 2012 will not be available until after November of 2011

Open Classes (points are on the horse)	Green	Progressive	Regular
Junior Reining	0 - 12.0	12.5 - 35.0	35.5 or more
Senior Reining	0 - 14.0	14.5 - 46.0	46.5 or more

Amateur or Youth classes (points on exhibitor)	Novice	Intermediate	Regular
Amateur Showmanship	0 - 16.0	15.5 - 42.0	42.5 or more
Amateur Select Showmanship	0 - 15.5	16.0 - 38.0	38.5 or more
Youth Western Pleasure 14-18	0 - 22.0	22.5 - 57.0	57.5 or more

It is important to note that a horse or exhibitor may show at a higher level than their points would indicate, but they may not show at a lower level. For example, a horse with 16.0 points in Reining could be shown as a Progressive Junior Reiner or in the regular Junior Reining. That horse could not, however, show in the Green Jr. Reining. In addition, each horse or exhibitor level is based on all points earned in that discipline in the past three years, regardless of division.

AQHA will create a special record that shows the total number of points earned in a class (in any division) by horse and by exhibitor in the previous three years. The demarcation date will be November 1st of each year, and any change in the level of the horse or exhibitor will take effect on January 1 of the following year.

A major concern for all horse shows is the length of the day. Running leveled classes concurrently can help keep the day shorter. Whether to run classes concurrently or separately is the decision of show management, within the following guidelines:

1. Rookie and Green Horse/Novice Exhibitor classes may show concurrently, but may not show concurrently with the higher level classes. In addition, the exhibitor may enter both the Rookie and the Novice classes.
2. Progressive Horse and Intermediate Exhibitor classes may show concurrently with the regular classes in that discipline, but the exhibitor may not enter both levels of the same class.

If an entry has more points than the upper limit of the Progressive or Intermediate level for that class, the entry must show in the regular level. If the entry has fewer points than the upper limit of the Progressive or Intermediate level for that class, the entry may choose either the Intermediate/Progressive level or the regular level. Selection of which level is being shown must be specified on the entry form in the Show Office no less than three classes prior to the class being shown. Selection of the level to be shown may not be made at the gate.

The total points available for each level shall be as follows:
Intermediate or Progressive level: The number of points available will be based on the number of Intermediate/Progressive entries in the class.
Regular level: The number of points available will be based on the total number of exhibitors in the class (both Intermediate/Progressive and regular entries).

AQHA LEVELING PROGRAM: PILOT SHOWS FOR 2012