Amateur Awards

The KyAQHA encourages all members to participate in the KyQHA Year-end Awards Program which gives awards to the high point earners at the end of the year. Points are awarded throughout the year to exhibitors who have nominated their horse and show at KyQHA approved shows. Awards are given to all-around high point earners, high point earners in each class and high point earners in separate categories. The awards banquet is held at the KyQHA Convention the first Saturday in December. Awards in the past have included saddles, silver buckles, blankets, sheets and jackets. In 2006 over $15,000 in awards and money were given to members who participated in the program.

Amateur nominees must be members of KyAQHA and KyQHA to be eligible for year-end awards. A nomination form must be completed and returned with a copy of your horse's registration papers and nominee's AQHA membership card to KyQHA before points will count. Nominees must show in a class five times, or three times in open shows, to be eligible. A nominee receives one point for every horse he/she places above plus one for himself/herself up to a maximum of 45 points per class.

Points will count beginning the day after the Kentucky Futurity Show in October and run through the next Kentucky Futurity weekend. Points earned throughout the year are counted as long as the nomination form, necessary fees, papers, and cards are sent in by the end of the Kentucky Classic show in June. If the forms are submitted after the Classic Show, points will start to accumulate on the postmark date. Only KyQHA-approved AQHA and open shows held in the state of Kentucky will count for points. Special event shows WILL NOT count toward All-Around Awards.

Download the KyAQHA Year-End Award Nomination Form.

The KAQHA presents three of its own awards at the year-end awards banquet in December: Rookie of the Year, Hardest Worker Award, and the Mary Dooley Sportmanship Award.

Rookie of the Year - The Rookie of the Year is awarded to the Novice Amateur and horse combination who has not earned AQHA amateur or novice amateur points, according to AQHA records, prior to the start of the current point year (beginning Oct. 4). Only KyQHA-approved AQHA shows count towards this award. Persons may nominate for this award by filling out and submitting the KyQHA Year-end Nomination Form.

Hardest Worker - This award is selected by the KyAQHA membership at the annual membership meeting in December by secret ballot. This award should go to the member deemed to have contributed a substantial amount of time and effort towards the success of the organization and its endeavors.

Sportsmanship - This award is named in honor and memory of Mary Dooley, a KyAQHA member who epitomized sportsmanship in KyQHA competition. The recipient is selected by the KyAQHA membership at the annual membership meeting in December by secret ballot. This award should go to the member deemed to best represent a sportsmanlike attitude while participating in competitive activities of the Quarter Horse industry.