The event totals are in – these were the top AQHA shows and circuits in 2018.

From The American Quarter Horse Association

From February in Las Vegas to the tail end of the year in Florida, AQHA members turned out in droves to support shows, circuits and special events across the United States. Combined, the overall Top-10 AQHA shows saw entries totaling 93,992 in 2018. Rankings were calculated by dividing the total number of entries for each event by the event’s total number of show numbers.           

“Congratulations to the show management teams behind these top shows. It’s exciting to look at this list of shows and see both the East and West coasts represented, with shows from up north and down south, spanning spring, summer, fall and winter,” said AQHA Chief Show Officer Pete Kyle. 

“These show management teams work hard to provide exhibitor satisfaction and their dedication translated into their show being a major destination for competitors,” Kyle added.  

Top Overall AQHA Shows:

• All American Quarter Horse Congress, Columbus, Ohio
• Arizona Sun Country Circuit, Scottsdale, Arizona
• Oklahoma Redbud Spectacular, Oklahoma City
• Big A Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
• Stars and Stripes Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
• Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show, Tampa, Florida
• Silver Dollar Circuit, Las Vegas
• Cornhusker Quarter Horse Show, Lincoln, Nebraska
• SOQHA The Madness Circuit, Wilmington, Ohio
• SOJQHA Show, Wilmington, Ohio 

Top Equestrians With Disabilities Show: 

• Chisholm Challenge at the Fort Worth Stock Show, Fort Worth, Texas

Top Level 1 Shows: 

• Keystone Quarter Horse Show, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts Quarter Horse Association Show, Northampton, Massachusetts
• Area 3 Quarter Horse Show, Orangeville, Ontario
• Northern Michigan QHA Level 1 Show
• NOQHA Level 1 Extravaganza, Findlay, Ohio
• Spark Some Fun, Billings Montana
• PQHA Level 1 Clinic and Show, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania 
• WVQHA Level 1 Show, Winfield, West Virginia
• WSQHA Level 1/ Rookie Event, Monroe, Washington
• Suntan Circuit Level 1 Show, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Top Introductory Shows: 

• Mississippi Congress, Brandon, Mississippi
• Center County Grange, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
• Center County Grange, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
• Mardi Gras Madness, Amite, Louisiana
• Valley Riders Saddle Club Intro, Franklin, Indiana
• Fundamentally Fun, Bryan, Texas
• Candy Apple Classic, Hamburg, New York
• Valley Riders Saddle Club Intro, Franklin, Indiana
• Color Classic QHS, Windsor, Nova Scotia
• Gold Coast Premier Show, Reikorangi, New Zealand
• The Coast Classic, Gulfport, Mississippi

Top Dressage Shows: 

• SDCTA Dressage Among Friends I, Tampa, Florida
• Sage Creek Dressage, Heber City, Utah
• Sage Creek Dressage, Heber City, Utah
• Sorensen Park Dressage June III, East Troy, Wisconsin
• Millbrook Farms Dressage Show, Fairfield, Utah
• Cool Down Dressage, Pinehurst, North Carolina
• Summer Sizzler 3, Newberry, Florida
• NCDCTA Autumn Leaves, Raeford, North Carolina
• Millbrook Farms Summer Dressage, Fairfield, Utah
• Prime Time Dressage, Raeford, North Carolina

Top Versatility Ranch Horse Shows:

• Southwestern Exposition, Fort Worth, Texas
• Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado
• Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado 
• Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado
• NILE Versatility Ranch, Billings, Montana
• SAQHA Shamrock Show, Queen Creek, Arizona
• Stock Horse Texas Versatility, Bryan, Texas
• Hamilton SHTX Show, Hamilton, Texas
• Lubbock SHTX Show, Lubbock, Texas
• Rose Palace Roundup/Stock Horse of Texas, San Antonio

Alliance Events:

• Tulsa Reining Classic, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• NRHA Derby, Oklahoma City
• NRHA Derby, Oklahoma City
• Winter Slide, Ardmore, Oklahoma
• Lazy J Arena Pen and Sort, Stillwater, Oklahoma
• Lazy J Arena Pen and Sort, Stillwater, Oklahoma
• North Texas Penning and Sorting, Whitesboro, Texas
• North Texas Penning and Sorting, Whitesboro, Texas
• Eastern Slope Slide Event, Castle Rock, Colorado
• Rocky Mountain Columbine Classic, Pueblo, Colorado

Special Events:

• Houston Livestock Show Barrels/Poles, Houston
• Houston Livestock Show Barrels/Poles, Houston
• Houston Livestock Show Barrels/Poles, Houston
• Houston Livestock Special Event Roping, Houston
• Houston Livestock Special Event Roping, Houston
• Houston Livestock Special Event Roping, Houston
• Oil Can Classic Roping Event, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Dixie National Special Event Roping, Jackson, Mississippi
• Dixie National Special Event Roping, Jackson, Mississippi
• NPBA Championship, Cloverdale, Indiana

Total AQHA show entries for the top 5 shows in each category can be viewed in the 2018 AQHA Annual Report.

Level 1 competitors can compete with a horse that he or she does not own; however, the overall top ten shows require exhibitors to be the owner or related to the owner of the horse or have an AQHA show lease or permit. If an overall top ten show does not allow permits, an AQHA show lease must be on file with AQHA. Go to Forms and Resources on AQHA.com to download a show lease.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.