AQHA Executive Committee Approves Show Committee Recommendations

Rule changes approved at the 2026 AQHA Convention include updates to eligibility, leveling and world championship show policies.

From AQHA:

The AQHA Show Committee met during the 2026 AQHA Convention in March in Las Vegas and made several show-related rule-change recommendations that were approved by the members and AQHA Board of Directors and sent to the AQHA Executive Committee. At its April meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the Show Committee’s rule-change recommendations.

All committee recommendations were reviewed for feasibility, based on a variety of criteria, including but not limited to available resources, budget constraints and necessary computer programming. Careful consideration, discussion, and debate were devoted to each item.

All rules are effective January 1, 2027, unless noted otherwise.

The highlights of the approved Show Committee recommendations are listed below.

Level 2 Eligibility at the AQHA World Championship Show 

The following changes are effective beginning at the 2026 AQHA World Championship Show.

Full AQHA World Show Level 2 eligibility requirements can be found here.

• Level 2 Open Team Roping Eligibility: PRCA cardholders have been removed from the ineligibility list for Level 2 open heading and heeling.

• Level 2 Open Halter Eligibility: SHW247.3: If a horse wins an Open class, except halter, at the Level 2 Championships, the horse is no longer eligible to compete in all Open age divisions and/or all sex divisions of that class at any future Level 2 Championships for the subsequent 3 years. If a horse wins 3 Open halter classes at the Level 2 Championships, the horse is no longer eligible to compete in all Open age divisions and/or all sex divisions of that class at any future Level 2 Championships for the subsequent 3 years. However, if the horse is Level 2 eligible, the horse may continue to show in that class in Level 2 competition.

AQHA Championship Show Level 1 Halter Eligibility  

• SHW246: If an exhibitor wins a class at the Level 1 Championships, except for halter, he/she is no longer eligible to compete in all exhibitor age divisions and/or sex divisions in that class, at that level or lower, at any future Level 1 Championships.

• Additionally, any exhibitor who wins a total of 5 Level 1 Championships in the Youth and/or Amateur divisions is no longer eligible to compete in halter classes at the Level 1 Championships.

• Any exhibitor who wins a Level 2 Championship in a halter class or any combination of 3 or more top 3 Level 2 Championship placings is no longer eligible to compete in halter classes at the Level 1 Championships.

• Any exhibitor who places in the top 3 of a Level 3 World Championship halter class is no longer eligible to compete in halter classes at the Level 1 Championships.

Expansion of the International Lease Program 

The following change is effective beginning at the 2026 AQHYA World Championship Show. 

• The international lease program for AQHA World Championship Shows is available for exhibitors residing in Alaska, Hawaii, and all international countries (excluding Canada, including Mexico). Any International Exhibitor (excluding Canada) eligible to show at an AQHA World Show may extend their World Show invitation by one year to allow for travel and horse lease planning.

Walk-Trot and Small-Fry Classes 

• Level 1 Walk-Trot and Small-Fry classes will now offer Year-End High-Point awards.

• Level 1 Walk-Trot Working Western Rail will be added as an AQHA-approved class. Additionally, as recommended by the Ranching Committee, Level 1 Walk-Trot Ranch Riding and Ranch Trail will be added as AQHA-approved classes.

Level 1 Horse Non-Pro Classes  

• Add SHW238 to provide a single place of reference for eligibility of horses for Level 1 Horse Non-Pro classes and remove SHW370-370.4 Level 1 Horse Non-Pro Showmanship, SHW430-430.4 Level 1 Horse Non-Pro Western Horsemanship, and SHW615-SHW615.4 Level 1 Horse Non-Pro Hunt Seat Equitation.

• SHW238. LEVEL 1 HORSE NON-PRO ELIGIBILITY. Exhibitors must have a current youth or amateur membership. Youth exhibitors are not eligible to exhibit a stallion, see exception for youth ages 14 and older residing in Mexico, South or Central America in SHW215.9. Horse ownership is required per SHW220.

• SHW238.1 Level 1 Horse Non-Pro classes are offered in showmanship, western horsemanship and hunt seat equitation.
• SHW238.2 Horses are eligible to compete if they have not, as of October 31 of the previous show year, earned more than 10 AQHA lifetime points (points earned by the horse from all levels in any division will count excluding introductory/rookie points and are cumulated in determining eligibility) in that corresponding class.
• SHW238.3 Horses placing in the top 3 (Level 1 Horse, Level 2, or Level 3) at any AQHA World Championship Show are ineligible to show in the corresponding Level 1 Horse Non-Pro class beginning the following year.
• SHW238.4 Eligible horses will have the entire calendar year to compete in their respective Level 1 Horse Non-Pro Class.
• SHW238.5 These classes must be held as standalone classes. Standalone classes allow for judges and show staff to create simpler/lower degree of difficulty patterns that are appropriate for horses at this limited stage. This allows for exhibitors to develop these younger or less experienced horses while showcasing their skills in pattern classes competing on horses with similarly limited experience. If a lead change is included in a pattern, it must be designated as a simple lead change.

• Effective June 1, 2026, any horse exhibited in the youth, amateur, or Level 1 Horse Non-Pro division must be solely owned by the contestant showing the horse or the contestant’s immediate family (SHW220).

AQHA World Championship Shows Policies  

The following changes are effective beginning at the 2026 AQHA World Championship Show. 

• World Show Performance Halter: Horses (with the exception of racehorses with two speed indexes of 80 or higher) must qualify, enter, and legitimately compete in a Level 3, Level 2, or Level 1 riding/driving class within the same division (Open, Amateur, or Select). If an Open Level 1 or Level 1 Horse Non-Pro class is used to satisfy this requirement, the horse must have also qualified for a Level 2 or Level 3 riding/driving class in the respective division. 

• Level 3 Class Scheduling: Preliminary goes will be scheduled for classes at the AQHA and AQHYA World Championship Shows which had 45 Level 3 entries in the previous year except for cattle and speed classes which require 25 entries the previous year. This policy will be reviewed annually.

• Affiliate Invitee World Show Qualifying: The top 5 amateur and Select exhibitors/horses, plus ties, in each Level 3 class which do not qualify nationally in each affiliate will receive an invitation to the respective world show class. This also includes the top 5, plus ties, in each Level 3 open class. To qualify through this option, at least one-half point must be earned in the respective class. If the horse (open) or exhibitor/horse (amateur and Select) are Level 2-eligible, they are also able to enter the Level 2 class. This qualifying method will not be added to the horse’s permanent AQHA record.

International Classes  

• Longe Line: Exhibitors may show up to 2 horses in Longe Line classes.

• Punta: Offer Punta as an AQHA-approved class for events held in Mexico with rules provided by the recognized international affiliate as approved by AQHA in Open, Amateur, and Youth divisions.

• Cala: AQHA shows will have the option to offer Amateur and Youth divisions of Cala.

• Halter: Amateur exhibitors in international countries are permitted to show additional horses in Open Grand and Reserve Champion, as long as the original exhibitor leads one of the horses they originally qualified in that class.

Show Approval and Class Categories 

• Ranch Riding Category: Ranch Riding will move from Category V to Category II. For lifetime achievement awards, points earned on or before December 31, 2022, and on or after January 1, 2027, will be counted as Category II for awards. Points earned from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026, will be counted as Category V.
• Show Approval: SHW118: A youth division may be approved separately or in conjunction with an AQHA-approved show for all ages provided a minimum of four approved youth performance events are offered, two of which must be showmanship at halter and either western pleasure or western horsemanship.

Leveling Eligibility of NCEA Exhibitors 

• Add SHW251.10: Any exhibitor who has achieved NCEA All-American status (First Team, Second Team, or Honorable Mention) or any exhibitor who rode in the semi-final or final round at the NCEA National Championship (Dual or Single Discipline), excluded by class (western horsemanship, reining, hunt seat equitation, hunt seat equitation over fences), are ineligible for Level 2. Exhibitors are ineligible to return to Level 2 (by class) until 3 years after the final year of competition on a NCEA equestrian team.
• SHW246.2.5: Level 1 Eligibility, when determining eligibility for a level in a particular class, an individual may not have exceeded the point cap described in SHW245.1 for that particular class. In addition, at the time of application for Level 1 an individual may not have competedbe on an NCEA equestrian team on a scholarship, or ride as a starting exhibitor, excluded by discipline class (western horsemanship, reining, hunt seat equitation, hunt seat equitation over fences). Exhibitors are ineligible to return to Level 1 by discipline until 10 years after final year of competition on a NCEA equestrian team. Once an individual is no longer a member of an NCEA team they are permitted to immediately return to Level 1 if otherwise eligible. 

• Add SHW246.2.6: Achieved NCEA All-American status (First Team, Second Team, or Honorable Mention) or ridden in the semi-final or final round at the NCEA National Championship (Dual or Single Discipline). NCEA All-American and National Championship exhibitors are ineligible for Level 1 for 3 years after being a member of an NCEA team.

Class Procedure and Penalty Updates 

• Showmanship: SHW372: All exhibitors may enter the ring and then work individually or each exhibitor may be worked from the gate individually. When exhibitors are worked individually from the gate, a working order is required. The following maneuvers are considered acceptable: lead the horse at a walk, jog, trot or extended trot, or back in a straight or curved line, or a combination of straight and curved lines; stop; and turn 90 (1/4), 180 (1/2), 270 (3/4), 360 (full turn) degrees or any combination or multiple of these turns, not to exceed 630 (1 3/4) degrees in one turn maneuver. The pull turn is an unacceptable maneuver. The extended trot shall not be used in Small-Fry classes. The judge must have exhibitors set the horse up squarely for inspection sometime during the class.

• Working Western Rail: SHW426.5: Touching or holding the saddle horn during any extended gait is acceptable.

• Working Cow Horse: Amend SHW505.3 to add: Once an exhibitor has committed to circling a cow, if the cow falls down no new cow will be awarded. The exhibitor should complete the run by riding around the fallen cow to fulfill circling requirements. 

• Use of Hand to Instill Fear:  Amend the 5 point penalty in SHW454.4 (Western Riding), SHW464.4 (Trail), SHW797.6.4 (In-Hand Trail) and the 10 point penalties in SHW438.3 (Western Horsemanship) and SHW621.2.3 (Hunt Seat Equitation) to “use of either hand to instill fear or praise.” 

To read all 2026 AQHA Standing Committee reports from the 2026 AQHA Convention, visit aqha.com/convention.