Q. What is the Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association and what does it do?

A. Promotion & Showing the American Quarter Horse
The Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association (EOQHA) has for over thirty years attracted competitors from all over Ontario, Quebec and the Northern United States to their AQHA approved events. Competitors compete in a wide variety of events, which includes the elegance of the English Hunter classes as well as the manageability and grace of the Western Performance classes. It is the love of this great breed of horse and the dedication that these animals inspire that brings together the many members of The Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association. Together these members host 3 AQHA & OQHA approved show circuits, where they also hold various educational demonstrations.
EOQHA is dedicated to the promotion and prosperity of the equine industry through out Eastern Ontario, by aiding our sponsors in making their new products visible within the industry, and helping people get the most out of their relationships with their equine friends. The Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association and it’s members truly believe, that there is no better way to spend a weekend, then with good friends, and great horses!!!

Q. What documentation is required in order for me to be able to show at your shows?

A. Memberships & Horse Registration
To compete at any of our AQHA approved horse shows, your horse must be a registered American Quarter Horse, the original registration papers of your horse must be presented to our show secretary at the time you make your entries. Both the owner and the exhibitor must be members of the American Quarter Horse Association, or the American Quarter Horse Youth Association, these membership cards must also be presented at our show office in order to make you eligible to compete. For more information on how to become an AQHA member please visit the AQHA web site.
Being a member of the Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association is not a mandatory requirement for you to be eligible to show, however becoming a member gives you special privileges such as the following:
- Members only, all day show fees at all EOQHA approved shows
- Earn EOQHA points towards year end high point awards
- Receive our EOQHA newsletter which is published as part of the “The Canadian Rider” newspaper
(subscription included in your membership fee)
- Post free classified adds on our web site
An individual EOQHA member is only $30.00 youth, and family rates are also available. Membership forms are available online.

NEW >> Q. What Rules do you follow?

A. EOQHA shows are AQHA approved thus they follow the rules put out annully in the AQHA Handbook of Rules & Regulations.
AQHA members can download a copy of the rule book at http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/handbook.html or you can also request that the book be mailed to you through the web site.

Q. Do you offer any classes for people just beginning to show?

A. AQHA Novice Youth & Amateur Classes
The Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association realizes that everyone needs to start some where. You’ll find that our show’s offer a great environment for both learning and developing new friendships, within the sport. Camaraderie amongst competitors is high and normally you’ll meet many others who like you, are just starting out. EOQHA offers you a full slate of Novice classes. The AQHA Novice Program was established to introduce new and potential exhibitors to AQHA-approved shows and allow them to compete with others with similar skills in the youth and amateur divisions. With the development of the permit, novice youth and novice amateur AQHA and AQHYA Members are now eligible to exhibit any registered American Quarter Horse at AQHA-approved shows without the obligation or expense of owning the horse. Novice youth and novice amateur Members may be issued five permits allowing them to compete in one AQHA-approved show per permit with an American Quarter Horse not owned by them. The permits are absolutely free – it costs nothing but a phone call to receive them. For an application, call the Amateur Department at (806) 376-4888, extension 403. AQHA also has two free publications, which may be helpful in understanding AQHA shows. “Your First Show” and “Showtime, A Guide to Showing American Quarter Horses” will give you a lot of information about entering a show, what to bring, divisions, classes and awards. A recently completed video entitled “Show Me” takes viewers through their first show and explains how fun and easy an American Quarter Horse show can be. The video also is free.
Call AQHA at 1- 806-376-4811 to receive copies of these materials.

Q. I see EOQHA hosts different types of shows, what are their differences?

A. Split Combined, Special Events, & Novices Shows.
SPLIT COMBINED (**S/C**)
Another efficient way for exhibitors to rack up more points is to attend a split/combined show. Any two consecutive shows (like a Saturday and Sunday show) can be combined into one show and split over two days. There are two judges and two sets of points and the class is held only once - a real bonus for exhibitors who are trying to qualify for the World Shows or earn year-end awards. Expect to pay two entry fees which is the norm for most split/combined shows.
SPECIAL EVENTS (**SpEv**)
Want to meet more people who show in the same event as you? A special event just might be the ticket. Special events-as the name implies-may feature two single events like team penning and cutting, barrel racing and pole bending or roping events like team roping and calf roping. The serious and the casual competitor attend these special events. A single set of points is awarded at each special event.
ALL-NOVICE SHOWS (**All Nov**)
Have some fun showing while getting your feet wet at all-novice shows. These events are specially-designed for exhibitors who have not yet earned 40 novice points or 10 performance points which means that you'll compete with people of similar skill levels. All-novice shows are hosted by AQHA state and provincial affiliates, and are usually held as stand alone events or can be held during an open (non-AQHA approved) show.

For More Information on Showing at AQHA Appproved Shows Please Visit the American Quarter Horse Association Web Site At: http://www.aqha.com/showing/guidetoshowing/pdf/UltimateGuideToShowing.pdf

Halter
Halter competition is used as a measure of judging the conformation of the Quarter Horse as a breed. Halter classes are divided by age, and gender. Horses are evaluated for balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics, and degree of muscling. Emphasis is placed on balance, which is the most desirable characteristic. Shown with a leather halter, horses are traveled before the judges so soundness can be evaluated.

Performance Halter
Beginning in 2007, AQHA competitors can compete in performance halter classes, which will be offered in open, amateur and youth. The class will be open to horses of all ages with separate classes for stallions, mares and geldings in open and amateur. Youth will show mares and geldings. A horse may not show in the age division halter class and the performance halter class at the same show in a particular division. A performance Register of Merit is required before a horse is eligible to compete in performance halter. A performance ROM is awarded to a horse that wins at least 10 points in one or more AQHA-approved performance classes in a particular division (open, amateur and youth). For example, a horse must have a performance youth ROM before showing in a youth performance halter class. A racing ROM makes a racehorse eligible for performance halter in only the open division.

Showmanship at Halter
Showmanship at halter, a class for youth and amateur exhibitor’s only, is designed to judge the exhibitor’s ability to fit and show a horse at halter. Exhibitors perform a routine similar to showing in a halter class. However, instead of the horse being judged, the exhibitor is evaluated for his/her showmanship skills. Judges evaluate the grooming and fitting of the horse and the expertise of the exhibitor in presenting the horse to the best of his/her ability.

Western Pleasure
Western Pleasure is one of the most popular AQHA show events. A top western pleasure horse should be, as the name implies, a pleasure to ride. Contestants compete simultaneously, traveling around the perimeter of the arena in both directions, at a walk, jog, and lope. A pleasure horse has a free flowing stride of reasonable length in balance with it’s conformation. Riders are to show the horse reining with one hand unless said horse is 5 years of age or under when they are permitted to be shown in a snaffle bit or hackamore.

Western Riding
This class judges the ability if a horse to change leads precisely, easily and simultaneously, using both hind and front legs. Contestants enter the arena and follow one of four patterns consisting of a log and a series of pylons. The horse and rider must also change gaits- from a walk to a jog to a lope- through out the course. Judges look for a horse that responds promptly to the rider’s commands, is well- mannered and has grace and good disposition.

Trail
The maneuverability of a horse through an obstacle course is judged in trail competition. The course is designed with numerous obstacles, testing the skill of the horse to handle certain situations that might occur on an outdoor trail ride. It is mandatory for the rider to open and pass though and close a gate, maneuver the horse while walking, jogging, or lopping through a series of logs, and backing the horse through a desired space. Other obstacles may include, crossing a small pond or ditch, taking items out of a mail box and putting them back, crossing a wooden bridge, or putting on and tacking off a rain slicker. Scoring is based on the horse’s willingness, ease, and grace in negotiating the course.

Reining
To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but to control his every movement. In reining, a rider is required to negotiate one of 11 AQHA- approved patterns, which includes prescribed maneuvers of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes, and circles at a lope. The horse should be willfully guided with little or no resistance. The horse is judged on movements, mastery of pattern and attitude, and is scored 0 – infinity, with a score of 70 denoting the average.

Barrel Racing
Barrel racing is one of the most exciting speed events in all Quarter Horse competition. Exhibitors race against the clock, following a course consisting of three barrels is a triangular “cloverleaf” pattern. Time starts when the horse’s nose crosses the starting line. Contestants must choose either the right or left barrel, circle it, and go on to the next barrel, competing the course after circling the third barrel at the top, and racing back to cross the finish line. Barrels are permitted to be touched but if knocked down during the course of the run, a five second penalty per barrel is added. The rider’s hat must be on the rider’s head when they start the course and if it at anytime is lost during the course of the run a five second penalty is added to the total time.

Hunt Seat Equitation/ Horsemanship
Hunt seat equitation is an English class designed to test the equitation of amateur and youth contestants, not the performance of the horse. As in horsemanship, the Western equivalent to equitation, each rider must work a predetermined pattern of maneuvers, such as a changing in gaits (walk, trot, canter), traveling in a figure-8 pattern and backing up. Top riders return to the arena as a group and are judged on the rail, performing gait changes at the judges discretion. Emphasis is placed on the rider’s ability to sit in the saddle correctly, hold the correct riding posture and control the horse.

Hunter Under Saddle
Hunter under saddle is the preliminary class for English riding disciplines, and judges evaluate the way of going of a hunter-type horse on the flat at a walk, trot, and canter. Exhibitors in this event must wear traditional English attire consisting of a hunt coat, breeches, high English boots, and hunting cap. Horses circle the perimeter of an arena, performing each gait called at the judge’s discretion. Particular attention is paid to the smoothness of gait, free flowing stride and willingness to perform.

Hunter Hack
Hunter hack is the transitional English class between hunter under saddle and working hunter, and requires a horse to move freely and easily while jumping small fences. Horses are required to jump two fences ranging from heights from 2’3” to 3’. After completing the jumps, the horses are shown at a walk, trot, and canter along the rail. Horses are judged on manners, way of going, and style over fences.

Pleasure Driving
Pleasure Driving is an event that exhibits the horse’s diversity. Horses are harnessed to a two-wheeled cart and exhibited at the walk, park gait, and road gait in both directions of the ring. They are on the rail as if they are out on a “Sunday drive”. Exhibitors dress accordingly, with ladies wearing formal dresses and men wearing suits. Judges look for horses that are a pleasure to drive. A pleasure driving horse should carry itself in a natural, balanced position with a relaxed head and neck. Its poll should be level with, or slightly above the height of the withers. Maximum credit will be given to the horse that moves straight, with free movement, manners and bright expres

This page was last revised March 4, 2008.