1.  Require green patterns to be used in all green classes only.

Approved

2. Novice Western Riding must use Green Western Riding patterns

Amended “at Show Managements Option”.

3.  Open Exhibitor Fee:  Raise the existing show processing/drug fee of the current $3 for all

shows held in United States and the current $2 fee for all shows held in California, International and Canada to be a $5 fee for all shows held in the United States except California and $ 4 fee for shows held in California, Internationally and Canada.

Amended to a $4.00 fee for shows held in California, Internationally and Canada

4. Withdraw green classes from the Incentive Fund program.

Approved

5.  To establish a new Lifetime Achievement Award for Show Management.

Approved

6.  Form a Task Force to further discuss the show approval processes, show fees and Affiliate involvement in shows.

Approved

7.  Change rule 450 (t) Performance Classes to read “Holding the saddle horn with either hand will be penalized and may be disqualified at the judges discretion unless covered by specific class rules”.

Approved

8.  Approved Rule 470 (d) Breakaway Roping to read “If the roper is carrying one rope and the roper desires to use a second loop, he/she may recoil provided the rope is still tied by a string to the saddle horn.  If the rope is no longer attached to the saddle horn with the string after the roper has thrown the first loop, it cannot be rebuilt for a second throw.  If the roper is carrying two loops he may use the second loop provided it is still attached to the saddle horn with a string.  If the second loop falls loose, it cannot be rebuilt”.

Approved

9.  Amend rule 441(k) Humane treatment by adding additional verbiage under each discipline section to encourage adherence to and awareness of humane treatment of horses as approved by the Show Council. 

Approved

10. Amend Rule 448(j)(3) Performance Halter to exclude a Register of Merit in showmanship at halter to qualify for performance halter.

Approved

11. Amend Rule 448(j)(3) Performance Halter by allowing a horse with a racing register of merit to be eligible to compete in all divisions.

Approved

12. Allow a horse with any performance register of merit, except showmanship; be eligible to compete in all divisions of performance halter.

Approved

13. AQHA Champions and Performance Halter

A.    Divide performance halter into junior horses age five and under and senior horses age six and over as divisions

B.     Junior and Senior winners show for champion performance halter horse

C.     Performance champion competes for grand and reserve champion halter horse.

Approved

14.  Incentive Fund is not to be paid on points earned at Introductory shows.

Approved

15.  Add a working cow horse class that is just a boxing class for Novice Youth and Novice Amateur only.

Approved

16.  At the “promoters option” they may restrict any wrong numbered cattle across the line in team penning.

Approved

17. In multiple judges shows in the timed events only having one judge who can oversee/judge the class and sign the judges cards. (Show Committee primary from Judges Committee recommendation)

Approved

18.  Amend rule 443 (e) Western Equipment concerning romal to read “Whenever this handbook refers to romal it means an extension of braided or round material attached to closed reins.”

Approved

19. Amend rule 443(h)(2)(e) Western Equipment, Prohibited Equipment, by adding the wording “Chain, wire, metal tie-down or bonnets are prohibited, regardless if they are covered.

Approved

20.  Amend rule 470(g) Breakaway Roping by changing the wording to read “A legal catch is a loop that passes over the head of the calf and then holds on any part of the calf to cause the string to break away from the saddle horn”. 

Approved

21.  Add wording to rule 443 (a) to read “A hackamore must use a complete mecate rein, which must include a tie-rein.

Approved

22. Trail, rule 454B(f), change the third item under “1 point penalty” to read: both front or hind feet in a single-strided slot of space at a walk or jog”.

Approved

23.  Trail, rule 454B(f), add to “1 point penalty” – “Incorrect number of strides, if specified.”

Approved

24.  Trail, 454B(f) Trail, change the fourth item under “3 point penalty” to read: stepping outside the confines of, falling or jumping off or out of obstacle, with designated boundaries, with one foot…and the fifth item under “5 point penalty” to read: stepping outside the confines of, falling or jumping off or out of obstacle, with designated boundaries, with more than one foot.

Approved

25.  Trail, under rule 454B(f) and Western Riding 453 B(f) add under “5 point penalty” “Holding saddle with either hand.”

Approved

26.  Western Riding, rule 453(f), delete the words “and #3” from the 8th item under “Disqualified – 0 score”

Approved

27.  Western Riding, rule 453B(f), add rule under “Disqualified – 0 score”, “Failure to start lope within 30 feet of designated area in patterns 2, 3, 4, 5 and Green Western Riding patterns 1, 2 and 3 (except for novice classes). 

Approved

28.  Change rule 444 (1)(a) English Equipment to read “Spurs of the unrowelled type that are blunt, round or that include a smooth rolling rubber ball and no longer than one inch.”

Approved

29.  Change rule 445 (c) English optional Equipment to read “Gloves, spurs of the unrowelled type that are blunt, round or that include a smooth rolling rubber ball and no longer than one inch and crops and bats are optional.”

Approved

30.  Add wording, “mount and dismount, to rule 475B Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat.

Amended to eliminate the wording “mount and dismount”.

31.  To accept the Dressage task force recommendations including:

      a. Approval

-    Establish at USEF/USDF licensed competitions

-       AQHA class held within existing class starting with Training Level 4

-       AQHA approval fee of $50 sanctioned 60 days in advance

      b. Eligibility

            - Must be AQHA registered horse and current individual member for exhibitor

            - Open, amateur and youth eligibility based on AQHA criteria

            - Competition license fee of $85 for lifetime of horses paid to AQHA

            - Exhibitor must declare division (open / amateur / youth) with AQHA

            - AQHA to supply information to USDF

      c. Awards

                        - At each of the nine USEF/USDF Regional Championship show in 2009 an AQHA trophy will be awarded to the three high-point registered quarter horses competing in championship class with the highest percentage score for open, amateur and youth divisions. Entry must have a minimum 60% score.

      d. Point conversion

- Accept AQHA point conversion from percentage score for Training Level 4 and above.

DRESSAGE SCORE CONVERSION

POINT LIMITS

e.   Create a High Point recognition program for the open, amateur and youth divisions for 1st through 10th place for each division and the highest award to the highest point earning registered American Quarter Horse in each division including points earned in Training Level 4 through Grand Prix.

      f. Judges

            - Accept USEF/USDF licensed judges

            - Must have current             AQHA membership

            - Abide by AQHA rule 438 Judges

Approved

32.  Amend rule 477(e)(1) Open Ranch that this division is open to all horses, regardless of ownership or trainer.

Approved

33.  Adopt a rule in the Working Ranch class that if the rope falls off saddle during the class it would be considered equipment failure thus resulting in a score of zero. 

Approved

34. Amend working ranch horse pattern III by changing the first maneuver to “run past the center marker and do a sliding stip. Back approximately 10 to 15 feet to the center.

Approved

35. Amend working ranch horse pattern III by eliminating the backing at the end of the pattern.

            Approved

36. Adopt from Performance classes, rule 450(t), to allow versatility ranch horse exhibitors to hold the saddle with either hand.

Approved

37.  Form a task force to examine rules and procedures to shorten versatility ranch horse events and also look at other options including circling cow instead of roping and the option to box only with no fence work in the Working Ranch class.

Approved

38. To amend Rule 403 (a) (6) by adding select amateur eligible members who have earned Gold Card status that has not activated the gold card, within their respective individual associations will be allowed to compete in any AQHA amateur class.

Approved

39. To clarify that for an International Amateur to be eligible to compete at the Bayer Select World Show or the Amateur World Show on a leased horse, the individual must have qualified in their international country or receive an invitation for owning the high-point horse in each event without being required to meet the minimum qualifying point levels.

Approved.  The amended words, "for being the high-point exhibitor" were also added for clarification. 

40. To amend Rule 408 (b) Amateur Division Approval to read, "management will combine these classes back into an all-age when there are less than 3 entries in amateur or select classes.

Approved

41. To recommend that judges use scores sheets in scored classes and that the score sheets be posted and submitted by Show Management to AQHA.

Approved