The American Quarter Horse Journal, July 19, 2007 – The American Quarter Horse Youth Association will crown the first champions in performance halter and ranch sorting as the new classes make their debut at the Ford AQHYA World Championship Show.

The Ford Youth World will be held August 4-11 in Fort Worth, Texas. The show is the largest single-breed horse show in the world devoted exclusively to youth. This year 1,978 entries have been taken for the event compared to last year’s 1,921. AQHYA members have qualified to compete in Fort Worth. The Ford Youth World is the pinnacle event for AQHYA members. Contestants travel from across the globe to compete for 33 world championship titles. This year, Brazil, Italy, Venezuela and Canada will be represented at the Ford Youth World.

In addition to being the title sponsor, Ford also supports youth scholarships by giving away a 2007 F-150 Super Cab FX2 Sport valued at almost $30,000. The truck will be raffled off by AQHYA Affiliates. Proceeds from the raffle benefit the AQHYA scholarship fund and youth activities in the affiliates.

This year’s Ford Youth World saw an increase in national qualifiers in nine of the classes offered. Yearling mares, 2-year-old mares, working cow horse, heading, heeling, reining, western horsemanship, jumping and team penning have seen an average increase of more than three qualifiers per class from last year. AQHYA members will be vying for the coveted gold championship trophy in one of 33 classes.

Youth may qualify for the Ford Youth World either nationally or through the state or province they represent. To qualify nationally, exhibitors must earn a specified number of points in their event of interest by competing in qualifying shows throughout the year. Points are assigned to competitors based on their placing in each class at qualifying shows.

The second way for AQHYA members to qualify is through involvement in their state or provincial affiliates. Each state has its own criteria that members must meet. Youth can earn their way to Fort Worth by participating in fund raisers and leadership activities, as well as showing.

The horses won’t be the only contestants showing off their skills. AQHYA members also will be competing in contests to showcase their knowledge and talents. This year, the team demonstration speech category was added to the lineup of horse judging, horse bowl, talent, speech and scrapbook competitions.

On Saturday, August 4, AQHYA members who have earned year-end high-point honors in various disciplines will be recognized during the annual AQHYA Awards Banquet. More than 25 youth will be recognized during Saturday’s banquet, which also will feature the annual AQHYA talent competition.

Before the competition heats up in the arena, AQHYA members will have the opportunity to cool down and meet fellow competitors at an ice cream social on August 3. Ice cream will be served from 4-5 p.m. in the Auction Arena at Will Rogers Memorial Center. There will be games and door prizes.

AQHYA boasts a membership of more than 31,000 young people, including members from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. AQHYA is the largest, single-breed youth association in the world and provides a variety of programs to youth 18 years old and younger, which encourage participation with the American Quarter Horse breed. In 2008, the Ford Youth World Show will usher in a new era as it moves from Fort Worth to the new State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

For more information on AQHYA and the Ford Youth World, contact AQHA at (806) 376-4811 or visit www.aqhya.com .

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines