2026 AQHYA World Championship Show Wrap-Up
Youth exhibitors from across the globe competed for world championships, all-around honors and more than $1 million in prizes at the 2026 AQHYA World Championship Show.
Photo courtesy of AQHA.
The 2026 AQHYA World Championship Show brought youth exhibitors from across the globe to OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City, July 31-August 9, to compete for world championships, all-around honors and other prestigious awards inside and outside of the arena.
The 54th anniversary AQHYA World featured more than 5,500 show entries and more than 370 contest entries. With support from the Kimes Ranch Competition Award Fund, the total prize package awarded exceeded $1 million.
From the show arena to youth contests, AQHYA members showcased their horsemanship, knowledge, creativity, sportsmanship and team spirit throughout the 10-day event.
Two exhibitors were crowned AQHYA All-Around champions at the 2026 AQHYA World Championship Show based on their performances across multiple Level 3 youth events.
13-&-Under All-Around
- Champion: Molly Mullady and The Roan Show – Dublin, Ohio
- Reserve Champion: Rose Amala and Snippity Snap – Redmond, Washington
14-18 All-Around
- Champion: Izzy Hostetler and Gimme Ur Best Stuff – Eureka, Illinois
- Reserve Champion: Ava Hathaway and Hezamargaitamachine – Coldwater, Michigan
Read more about the AQHYA All-Around champions here.
Top Ranching Heritage-Bred Horse Award
CR Better Off Tuff and Piper Keller of El Reno, Oklahoma, earned the Top Ranching Heritage-Bred Horse Award at the 2026 AQHYA World. CR Better Off is by Woody Be Tuff and out of High Class Peptolena by High Brow Cat. The 2017 mare was bred by Center Ranch of College Station, Texas, and is owned by Micheal Keller of El Reno, Oklahoma.
Keller and CR Better Off Tuff were the world champions in working western rail 14-18 and box drive, reserve world champions in boxing and ranch riding 14-18 and top five in ranch trail 14-18.
The AQHA Ranching Heritage program highlights the versatility, soundness and willing attitude of ranch-born and -raised American Quarter Horses. AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders are operations that continue the tradition of raising American Quarter Horses for use in working cattle.
High-Point Halter Exhibitor
Jax Weakly of Shelbyville, Illinois, was named the 2026 AQHYA World High-Point Halter Exhibitor. The award is based on the halter horses shown by an exhibitor throughout the AQHYA World and is courtesy of J.L. Robinson and Dewey Smith Quarter Horses. Weakly showed Telarumor to the world championship in 3-year-old mares and Sitting O So Pretty to the world championship in aged mares.
New Sportsmanship Awards
New this year, a daily award recognized outstanding youth who demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship throughout the AQHYA World Championship Show.
- August 1: Annabell Simmons – Scottsville, Texas
- August 2: Colton Thompson – Bentonville, Arkansas
- August 3: Lena Sater – Canton, Georgia
- August 4: Addison Waller – Oviedo, Florida
- August 5: Team Israel
- August 6: Chase Rudd – Mt Hope, West Virginia
- August 7: Hayden Walker – Iliff, Colorado
Beyond the show arena, AQHYA members competed in a variety of contests designed to expand their equine knowledge while developing leadership, communication, creativity and teamwork skills.
Horse Judging Contest
The 2026 AQHYA World Championship Horse Judging Contest, sponsored by Classic Equine, hosted nearly 170 youth participants. First- through third-place individuals and teams in the 14-18 division were awarded money from the Kimes Ranch Competition Award Fund.
Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association Blue earned the AQHYA 14-18 team horse judging world championship. Team members were Ava Fry of Lone Oak, Texas; Grace Fry of College Station, Texas; Kaylee Scott of San Angelo, Texas; and Grace Spooner of Decatur, Texas. Spooner also earned the 14-18 individual horse judging world championship, the coveted gold globe trophy and $5,000 in Kimes Ranch Competition Award Fund money.
North Carolina 4-H earned the 13-&-Under team championship with Leah Grove of Bailey, North Carolina; Ellie Hudson of Morganton, North Carolina; Annie Manning of Nashville, North Carolina; and Grace Matthews of Siler City, North Carolina.
Callie Beach of Shallowater, Texas, representing Lubbock County 4-H, earned the 13-&-Under individual high-point title.
Graham Harris of Chandler, Texas, representing Brownsboro FFA, earned the limited individual division title.
View the full contest results.
Art and Photo Contest
13-&-Under Division
- First place: Ella Stanton with “Eye to Eye” – Ardmore, Oklahoma
- Second place: Sophia Silvestri with “Just Hanging Out” – Wooster, Ohio
- Third place: Bella Bobbitt with “The Teacher” – Jonesboro, Arkansas
14-18 Division
- Tie for First place: Emma Peterson with “The Partnership” – Lyons, Kansas
- Tie for First place: Charli Ohol with “Crowned by Courage” – Lockport, New York
- Third place: Madison McClure with “Companions” – North Zulch, Texas
Grand Champion Overall
- Tie: Emma Peterson with “The Partnership” – Lyons, Kansas
- Tie: Charli Ohol with “Crowned by Courage” – Lockport, New York
Scrapbook Contest
Division 1
- First place: Ohio
- Second place: Texas
- Third place: Arizona
Division 2
- First place: Tennessee
- Second place: Georgia
- Third place: Kansas
Speech Contests
Prepared Speech
- First place: Arena Wells – Stratford, Oklahoma
- Second place: Dallee Robinson – Deleon, Texas
- Third place: Katriel Hwang – Cedar Park, Texas
Impromptu Speech
- First place: Savannah Grace Fry – College Station, Texas
- Second place: Katriel Hwang – Cedar Park, Texas
- Third place: Dallee Robinson – Deleon, Texas
13-&-Under Public Speaking
- First place: Olivia Anderson – Lubbock, Texas
- Second place: Mimi Anderson – Lubbock, Texas
- Third place: Grayson Stout – Joplin, Missouri
Justin Boots and Wrangler Jeans Decorating Contest
Justin Boots Contest
- First place: Arizona
- Second place: Ohio
- Third place: New Mexico
Wrangler Jeans Contest
- First place: Arizona
- Second place: Texas
- Third place: Illinois
Stall Decorating Contest
Division 1
- First place: Ohio
- Second place: Indiana
- Third place: Colorado
Division 2
- First place: Arkansas
- Second place: Kansas
- Third place: New Mexico
Team Spirit Awards
Division 1
- First place: Ohio
- Second place: Indiana
- Third place: Arizona
Division 1
- First place: Arkansas
- Second place: Kansas
- Third place: New Mexico
About the AQHYA World
The AQHYA World Championship Show is the world’s largest single-breed world championship horse show open exclusively to youth exhibitors age 18 and under. This is the pinnacle event for youth competitors around the world who must qualify for the event by earning a predetermined number of points to secure a spot in each of the classes, representing English, western and halter disciplines, or earn an invitation through their state or provincial affiliate. The show includes Level 3, Adequan® Level 2 and Level 1 Champion of Champions classes.
