AQHA Facts

These AQHA facts and statistics give you a detailed glimpse inside your Association.

2022 AQHA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE                       

President – Dr. Scott Myers of Sharon Center, Ohio

First Vice President –  Kenneth Banks of Schulenburg, Texas

Second Vice President – James "Jim" Hunt of Faith, South Dakota

Member – Jeff Tebow, Piedmont, Oklahoma

Member –Jim Brinkman, Ericson, Nebraska

 

AQHA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – Karl R. Stressman

AQHA

  • Established March 1940 – Fort Worth

  • AQHA International Headquarters – Amarillo

Membership

  • 2021 AQHA Membership – 230,514

  • 2021 American Quarter Horse Youth Association Membership –17,323

Transfers & Registration

  • Horses registered by AQHA since 1940 – more than 6 million worldwide

  • 2021 Registrations – 75,089

  • 2021 Horse Transfers of Ownership – 123,727

Programs

Horseback Riding Program – members log hours spent horseback and earn various awards.

  • American Quarter Horse Division:

    • 2021 Enrollment – 8,245

    • 2021 Awards Presented – 1,228

    • Total Hours Ridden – 294,097

  • All-Breeds Division:

    • 2021 Enrollment – 1,369

    • 2021 Awards Presented – 283

    • Total Hours Ridden – 47,152

AQHA Professional Horsemen – group of dedicated horse-industry professionals devoted to promoting the American Quarter Horse and serving AQHA members by offering training assistance and other professional services in a variety of areas. Horsemen and -women were represented in 24 countries, all 50 states, and 6 Canadian provinces.

  • Number of members in 2021 – 725

  • Number of domestic Professional Horsemen and -women in 2021 – 651

  • Number of international Professional Horsemen and -women in 2021 – 74

AQHA Judges – are held to the highest quality of standards and help improve the quality of welfare of registered American Quarter Horses in AQHA-approved competition.

  • Total number of AQHA judges in 2021 – 1,179

  • Number of domestic judges in 2021 – 683

  • Number of international judges in 2021 – 99

Shows – represent a major segment of the equine industry. American Quarter Horse shows offer youth, amateur, Select amateur and open classes for horsemen and -women the opportunity to compete with their American Quarter Horses, testing their skills against other horses and riders for AQHA halter and performance points, as well as cash awards and prizes.

  • 2021 Total Shows – 1,822
  • 2021 U.S. Shows – 1,663
  • 2021 International Shows – 159
  • 2021 Total Show Entries – 830,368
  • 2021 Total Special Events – 263
  • 2021 Total Special-Event Entries – 11,782
  • 2021 Farnam AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows Entries – 7,522
  • 2021 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show Entries – 5,867
  • 2021 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships Entries – 1,816

  • 2021 AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships, presented by the Four Sixes Ranch – 262

  • 2021 National Ranch and Stock Horse Alliance Championship Show – 683

  • 2021 AQHA Cowboy Mounted Shooting Championships Entries – 83

 

Ranching Heritage Programs – Promoting the ranch horse is the goal of the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders program. Ranching Heritage Breeders are those who breed and raise the ranch-type horse, which still remains at the core of AQHA and epitomizes the breed’s versatility. Ranching Heritage Breeders embody the longevity, integrity and honesty of the ranching tradition.

  • 2021 Ranching Heritage Challenge Total Entries – 628

  • 2021 Total Ranching Heritage Breeders – 436

  • 2021 Total Ranching Heritage Challenge-Eligible Horses – 179,005

 

Races – developed from the village lanes of colonial America, American Quarter Horse racing brings the thrill and excitement of closely competing American Quarter Horses racing at peak speeds near 55 miles per hour. The Bank of America Racing Challenge Program provides more opportunities for American Quarter Horses to continue their racing careers.

  • 2021 Total Starters in American Quarter Horse Races – 11,444
  • Average Purse Per Race – $20,422
  • Average Earnings Per Starter – $10,818
  • Total Purses – $125,940,335
  • 2021 Bank of America Racing Challenge Enrollments – 2,266
  • Total Challenge Purses – $2,732,781
  • Nominator Awards – $91,747

International – serves and supports international members and affiliate organizations through the implementation of innovative programs and services that accommodate a diverse set of needs to enhance the value of maintaining AQHA membership globally. AQHA International accomplished the following in 2021:

  • Translated key resources into the five core languages for international members.

  • Helped AQHA maintain 14% of total AQHA membership (~31,500 international members), as well as 15% of all registered American Quarter Horses (~440,000 registered horses).

  • Awarded the 2021 International Best Remuda award to Estancia San Rafael of Puan, Argentina.

  • Received Quality Samples Program funding to support activities in Slovenia, Denmark and Uruguay. This is the highest amount of QSP funding the department has received at one time.

  • Hosted 14 virtual International Educational Marketplace clinics, touching all four international membership regions: Canada, Europe, Latin America and Australasia-Africa.To increase international participation at AQHA world championship shows, developed the AQHA World Show Adviser Program to support international members on their journey to compete at an AQHA world championship show.

 

American Quarter Horse Youth Association – designed for American Quarter Horse enthusiasts 18 years of age and younger, established on the premise of expanding youth participation with and knowledge of the American Quarter Horse. AQHYA currently has more than 17,000 members.

  • Scholarships through the American Quarter Horse Foundation, AQHYA programs, youth contests and youth leadership recognition.

  • AQHYA Board of Directors is an elected board of youth leaders who represent and work on behalf of youth members from around the world.

  • AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program showcases the stock being bred and raised by AQHA Ranching Heritage members by matching donated weanlings with AQHYA members.

  • Youth Racing Experience Program gives youth a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating world of American Quarter Horse racing.

  • Youth Excellence Seminar, where youth meet friends from around the world, join in fun workshops and social activities, and grow their leadership skills over three days each summer in Amarillo, Texas.

  • Ford AQHYA World Championship Show is the world’s largest single-breed world championship horse show for youth.

  • AQHYA World Championship Contests develop skills and knowledge, compete for prizes and have fun during the Ford AQHYA World.

  • Horse judging contests challenge youth and young adults to learn evaluation, critical thinking and public speaking along with industry knowledge.

  • AQHLearn, a free online educational platform helping youth learn about horses, funded through the American Quarter Horse Foundation.

  • AQHLead, a young-adult development program for the equine industry’s future leaders, funded through the American Quarter Horse Foundation.

 

American Quarter Horse Association Publications - The American Quarter Horse Journal, established in 1948, was redesigned in 2020 into a lifestyle publication that celebrates the American Quarter Horse and the lifestyle that AQHA’s members have built around their horses. The magazine, which is also now the official member publication of AQHA, goes to all member households eight times a year as a benefit of their membership in AQHA.

  • The Journal contains articles about craftsmen, people and horses in the American Quarter Horse industry, as well as features on ranches.

 

Networks – AQHA keeps horse enthusiasts informed and educated through a variety of media platforms.

  • AQHA.com
  • YouTube.com/aqhavideo
  • Q-Racing Video
  • E-newsletters
  • Facebook – facebook.com/aqha1
  • Instagram – @officialaqha, @officialaqhya
  • Twitter – @AQHA and @AQHYA
  • Pinterest – pinterest.com/aqha1

  • LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/American-quarter-horse-association

 

** All numbers are as of 12/31/21.

American Quarter Horse Foundation

2022 Board of Trustees

President – Dr. Scott Myers of Sharon Center, Ohio

First Vice President –  Kenneth Banks of Schulenburg, Texas

Second Vice President – James "Jim" Hunt of Faith, South Dakota

Member – Jeff Tebow, Piedmont, Oklahoma

Member –Jim Brinkman, Ericson, Nebraska

Appointed Member – Robin Merrill, Poolville, Texas

Appointed Member – Catherine Nicholas, Douglas, Wyoming

Appointed Member – Larry Bell, Midland, Texas

 

Chief Foundation Officer – Chris Sitz

The American Quarter Horse Foundation connects horses and people through charitable giving in order to develop and support programs or initiatives that preserve our horse’s legacy and further the overall well-being of the American Quarter Horse and the people who comprise the Quarter Horse family.

  • Exceeded fundraising goal of $550,000 for Hall of Fame Renewal Campaign with total cash and in-kind contributions of $560,775.

  • More than $78,000 awarded to 27 equine-assisted activities and therapies centers to help them provide freedom and empowerment to their clients.

  • More than $430,000 awarded in scholarships to help youth make their dreams come true by pursuing higher education.

    More than $355,000 was given to grants researching equine welfare, infectious diseases, genetics, performance injuries and reproduction.

  • Honored the classes of 2020 and 2021 during the first American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Reunion Celebration.

  • Successfully reopened the Hall of Fame & Museum in 2021, featuring new and renovated exhibits

Networks – The American Quarter Horse Foundation shares its programs through a variety of mediums.

  • Facebook – facebook.com/aqhhalloffame

  • Instagram – @aqhfoundation

 

** Foundation numbers are as of 12/31/2021.