How to Nominate

Submitting a Compelling Nomination

Submitting a nomination to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame is an important responsibility that requires thoughtful preparation, organization, and attention to detail. A strong nomination clearly tells the nominee’s story, demonstrates their lasting impact on the American Quarter Horse industry, and provides reviewers with complete, well-structured information to evaluate the nominee against established criteria. The following tips and common pitfalls are designed to help nominators present a clear, compelling, and well-supported nomination from start to finish.

ENSURE KEY QUESTIONS ARE ADDRESSED

A strong nomination provides reviewers with a complete and detailed understanding of the nominee’s accomplishments and impact. To be considered, the nomination packet must answer the following key questions for humans and horses:

For Human Nominees:

  • Length of AQHA membership and total years involved in the industry
  • Area of impact (e.g., as breeder, competitor, founder, horseman/woman, trainer, jockey, industry contributor, innovator, industry leader, etc.)
  • Notable achievements, including:
    • AQHA-related activities, offices held, and honors
    • Other equine industry activities, offices, and honors
    • Civic activities and honors
    • Most prominent American Quarter Horses owned and their achievements

For Horse Nominees:

  • Breeder, sire, dam, color, gender, years active, owner at time of death, year foaled, year of death
  • AQHA-related activities and honors
  • Other equine industry achievements, awards, and honors
  • Most prominent offspring and their achievements, awards, and honors
  • Notable achievements, such as:
    • All-time leading point earner by class, event and division or all categories combined
    • Dam of any three-time or more AQHA World Champion(s)
    • Leading dam by year of racehorses by money earned and/or champions
    • Leading dam of AQHA Champions (top 5), and alliance money earners (top 30)
    • Leading sire of money earners, winner, wins, Register of Merit (ROM)
    • Leading sire of AQHA Champion(s), point earners all time, World Champion(s)
    • Hall of Famer with PRCA, NRHA, NCHA, etc. (must be AQHA registered)
    • Ranching Heritage Breeder, World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse, World Show Superhorse, etc.

Tips for a Strong Nomination

  • Review Nomination Criteria – confirm the horse or human meets eligibility requirements, including the Three-Year Rule.
  • Designate a Primary Nominator – identify one person to lead the nomination process and serve as the main contact. This person writes the cover letter and introduces reviewers to the nominee, coordinates materials, and manages submission.
  • Gather Strong Endorsements – a nominator requests 3-5 letters of support from people with direct knowledge of the nominee. Letters must highlight accomplishments, industry impact, AQHA involvement, breed integrity, and character.
  • Organize Documentation – include pedigrees, articles and other relevant materials and clearly label each item. Condense lists of awards and performance records into a simple overview to accompany the nomination. Remember, reviewers may not know the nominee, so provide detailed, easy-to-follow evidence to support the nomination.
  • Submit Early – start the online submission well before the April 1 deadline. Check that all documents, letters, and forms are uploaded correctly and completely.
  • Support the Induction Process – be prepared to assist with photos, artifacts, and oral history interviews if your nominee is selected. Attend induction events and act as a liaison for the inductee.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting Weak Letters – clearly explain why the nominee belongs in the Hall of Fame, highlighting accomplishments, AQHA industry impact, influence, and character. Avoid general statements without specific examples.
  • Requesting Endorsement Letters Too Late – strong nominations include three to five letters of endorsement from individuals with direct knowledge of the nominee’s impact. Give letter writers clear guidance and enough time to address the nominee’s contributions, achievements, and AQHA involvement.
  • Uploading Incomplete or Unorganized Documentation – all supporting materials, including articles, pedigrees, awards, and condensed performance records, should be clearly labeled, and well organized. Never assume reviewers are familiar with a nominee, even well-known nominees need clear, detailed, and structured documentation to support their achievements and impact.