Taking place January 8-10, 2018 in the Denver Coliseum, the National Western Horseman’s Challenge will offer schooling time followed by competition phases including individual timed practice rounds, a team competition and a 100% payback individual speed challenge. Obstacles and tasks will vary to accommodate all levels and ages of riders and horses.

The arena, which remains an officially-to-be-named venue, will be approximately 140,000 square feet and include over 600,000 square feet of pavers, as well as serve as a hub for equine events, community events and movie nights. Other details are as follows:

The highest selling item, a breeding to Allocate Your Assets donated by Searles Ranch and Katherine K. Tobin, sold for $1,750. Nearly 80 items were submitted to the auction, ranging from tack and apparel, jewelry, lessons and educational material, to breedings to top stallions and more.

AQHA is currently seeking input on they Leveling Program. Is it working how it was designed? Is it having the desired effect? What changes could be made to make this program more successful?

Natalia DeVencenty from Pueblo, Colo., will join the Horned Frogs after graduating from Laurel Springs High School in May. In 2013, she started showing all-around horses in the AQHA. DeVencenty is AQHYA World and Reserve World Champion, a three-time AQHYA Bronze Champion, three-time NSBA World Champion, three-time NSBA Reserve World Champion, two-time Congress Champion, and two-time Reserve Congress Champion. She showed in Hunter Jumper on the USEF “A” circuit for 11 years, earning herself several state and zone championships. Outside of the show ring, she works for her family business and is a student pilot.

Since January, American Quarter Horse Youth Association members have recorded their progress training a yearling bred by an American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Breeder. Recently, four AQHYA members were named scholarship winners for the 2016-17 AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program.

Following on the heels of a successful 2017 Breeders’ Futurity Platinum program—which awarded $73,000 to Non-Pro halter exhibitors in this elite weanling halter futurity—a few landmark program modifications will make the Platinum program bigger and better in 2018.

Top AQHA ring stewards Gale Little, Tracey Hatakeyama and Bobbie Walton will teach the webinar. The ring steward webinar is part of a full week of webinars hosted by AQHA from December 11 to 15 via AQHA’s new teaching and testing software for judges education. Additional webinars that week include the first virtual AQHA Judges Conference. Judges will receive training and educational materials, as well as re-test for certifications. Re-certifications will be conducted annually via the judges’ education portal.