Most Valuable Horse Awards Return to AQHA World Show in 2009

The American Quarter Horse Journal, July 28, 2009 – At this year’s American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, horses in six of the FedEx open categories will reward their owners with a $5,000 bonus after being named Most Valuable Horse.

The MVH awards recognize the highest point-earning horses in six open divisions: Western, Roping, English, Pattern/Cow, Speed and Timed.

“The Most Valuable Horse awards are designed to showcase the talents and abilities of American Quarter Horses competing in multiple events and reward the horse’s owner with a big bonus,” said AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway. “Rules for the Most Valuable Horse awards have been modified slightly for 2009. Exhibitors are encouraged to qualify in more than one event that comprises the MVH award for those disciplines.”

MVH winners each will receive $5,000 cash and special recognition at the 2009 Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open AQHA World Championship Show at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

The rules for the 2009 MVH awards are as follows:

1. The Most Valuable Horse awards will be given to the high-point horses in six open divisions:

* Western (western pleasure, western riding and trail) * Roping (heading, heeling and tie-down) * English (hunter under saddle, hunter hack, working hunter, pleasure driving and jumping) * Pattern/Cow (cutting, reining and working cow horse) * Speed (barrel racing and pole bending) * Timed (ranch sorting and team penning)

2. There is no formal entry for these 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, and each placing after receives one less point down to one point for 10th place. Additional points are awarded based on the number of entries in the class (see chart below). Performance halter class placings will count as bonus points in the horse’s respective divisions.

3. A horse earning points in two or more classes will be placed over a horse earning points in only one class.

4. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined using the Superhorse tie-breaking system. a. The horse earning points in the greatest number of classes will be the winner. b. The horse earning more points in a halter class will be the winner. c. The horse placing over the greatest number of entries in the classes in which it competed will be the winner.

5. MVH winners will each receive $5,000 cash and special recognition at the show. Although the Featherlite All-Around Amateur and Superhorse awards will remain unchanged, reserve through fifth-place Superhorse will no longer be recognized.

Qualifying for the 2009 World Show began August 1 and continues until July 31, 2009. The show runs November 6-21 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 http://www.aqha.com/magazines.