I think it may be possible to attract more youth to show AQHA if the requirement to own or lease a horse were removed for Rookie and Novice youth. Parents may be reluctant to pay for the large expense of a horse in addition to lessons, show expenses for a child who may only want to participate for a short period. If these new to showing youth could ride a trainer's school horse and have some successs it may prolong... more »
Why don't we try to see if we can get celebrities to endorse AQHYA in a special campaign to make youth everywhere more aware of AQHA and AQHYA and increase in popularity and membership? We can see what celebrities are popular among the youth and see if we can get them in particular to endorse.
I think that AQHA needs a youth social media coordinator. This person would try to encourage more youth the join AQHA and become more involved. They would help manage the AQHA youth Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter pages. As a participant in the 2013 AQHA Young Horse Development Program, I was able to reach out to other youth about the program by creating a Facebook page, "Megan D'Andrea and Willow 2013 AQHA... more »
I strongly feel that the stallions to be eligible for breeding and foals to be registered should under go an evaluation to be accepted as breeding stock. The American Quarter Horse is in dyer need to under go change. A chance to perfect it's stock and preserve the quarter horse. An effort to stop poor breeding choices and discourage and educate the members is being made. This needs to continue. Horses need to be registered,... more »
AQHA needs to approve and set rules for youth judging teams that are not part of FFA or the 4H. I say this because we know children who do not have either available to them. They are interested in starting in youth judging teams. They have the backing of a local horse club. AQHA has been called several times and asked about this without any results. I feel that it should be looked into and something made available... more »
I would LOVE to see a program that allows Quarter Horses to earn credits from open shows like that offered by APHA called the Paint Alternative Competition Program. Not everyone can afford to attend Quarter Horse shows and quite frankly, not every Quarter Horse can win at them. This type of program rewards those horses and riders/exhibitors to be recognized for their hard work, dedication and achievement on a different... more »