What to know about the American Quarter Horse youth championship in OKC
Horse trailers and cowboy hat sightings will be more common next week across Oklahoma City as the 2023 American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show kicks off the annual event’s 15th year in the city.
The show, set for July 28 to Aug. 6 at the OKC Fairgrounds, is the largest single-breed horse show in the U.S. exclusively for youths, said Scott Neuman, the American Quarter Horse Youth Association’s director of competition. He said the show highlights competitors age 18 and under mounted on or leading American quarter horses.
This year, the show will feature youths from 38 states and five different countries. Participants will compete in a number of events, including roping, barrel racing, speed and jumping.
“We use (the show) to encourage youth membership in our association and to really try to immerse young people in a number of different events, and hopefully, foster a passion for life,” Neuman said.
What exactly is an American quarter horse?
With over 6 million horses registered, the American quarter horse is the most popular horse breed in the world. Neuman said these horses gained popularity due to their versatility and gentle disposition, making them suitable for competitors of all skill levels.
For those interested in watching the show, it’s free to attend and will include Western lifestyle shopping, educational booths and opportunities to see the horses up close next to their warm-up pens, Neuman said.
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How the show arrived in Oklahoma City
The first world show hosted by the American Quarter Horse Association was in 1972 in Amarillo, Texas. It then moved around to Tulsa and Fort Worth, Texas, until 2008, when the show found its home in Oklahoma City.
Neuman said the show is hosted in Oklahoma City because of its horse-friendly nature, infrastructure and the organization’s relationship with the OKC Fairgrounds.
“We have a great working agreement with the state, and we love working there,” Neuman said. “It’s central for everyone.”
Last year, the show hosted more than 37,000 attendees, 90% of which were from out of town, according to a report from the American Quarter Horse Youth Association. The organization reported direct spending because of the event as being more than $8 million.
Neuman said the association expects an increase in both show attendees and direct spending this year. He said the American Quarter Horse Youth Association is excited for the show to be in a growth trajectory.
More information about the show, including the times and locations of the events, can be found at https://www.aqha.com/disciplines/showing/shows/championship-shows/youth-world.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: American Quarter Horse Youth Association championship to begin in OKC
