New Criteria for Versatility Award

[Pasogirlz]

NEW CRITERIA FOR VERSATILITY HORSE OF THE NATIONAL SHOW

The award for the Versatility Horse of the National Show will go to the horse that accumulates the most points in the following classes: Versatility, Western Pleasure, trail and Driving.

[SandyMM]

When did they change that??? And _who_ changed it?

[Pasogirlz]

It was in the email I got from PFHA today.

[SandyMM]

What does training for Western Pleasure have to do with driving??? This requires that a person have a full set of English, Western, and driving equipment not to mention show clothes.... Just another way to further limit who can enter/compete for high point... I could _maybe_ see combining Trail, Western Pleasure, and Versatility........ but to add _driving_ to the mix is - well.... nuts!

[SandyMM]

This is just nuts....

NEW CRITERIA FOR VERSATILITY HORSE OF THE NATIONAL SHOW

The award for the Versatility Horse of the National Show will go to the horse that accumulates the most points in the following classes: Versatility, Western Pleasure, trail and Driving.

This is announced 4 months before Nationasl.... plenty of time for a Western Pleasure/Trail rider to run out and buy a cart and harness ($$$$$), different show clothes and teach him/herself and a horse to drive, plus enter even more classes at regional shows (if there are any left) to get qualified......

[Serendipity]

you know it won't be me I do the switching from western to english tack one more tack change and out fit no way plus remember a lot of shows will put all these classes very close together I was beat at the end of the day with just back and forth for western to english.sounds unfair to me

[Serendipity]

plus I have no way and no idea or want to teach driving.the cost alone is way to high

[Pasogirlz]

I wonder if you have to have points in all the different divisions, or if you just have to have the most points over all in any of those divisions combined. :confused

[LynnG]

I believe it is a clarification that stems from the Costume class previously listed as a specialty class...but the costume class points go to the rider not the horse. That is the only real change I know of. Otherwise it is still the same classes that qualify. At least they are recognizing the High Point (Specialty classes) Versatility Horse!

P.S. Lori...I don't believe you would have to show in all classes, but most points achieved from those classes enetered combined. Showing in all improves your chances unless they are all big classes... driving would be the smallest.

[Cindy]

Driving has always been included in the high point award. The difference is that now Costume and Country Pleasure are NOT included in the award. The change was proposed by the Events Committee and voted in by the Board of Directors.

[Pasogirlz]

Thanks for the clarification guys. :D

[britzlove]

JMHO hopefully I don't offend anyone, but a high point award is supposed to be difficult to achieve.

I competed in 4-H versatility, and you never new which classes they would have, you just had a list of like 15 possibles, and then you competed in 4 or 5 depending. It's way different now. But, I loved it. Driving however wasn't one of them, though my Pete does drive, and haul logs and everything. The year I made it to State, I had to do reining, jumping, pole-bending, hunter pleasure and western pleasure. What I loved about it was the ability to really work with my horse, he had to have a whole realm of skills, and me too. I had to be ready to do whatever was asked.

The Paso Fino has the opportunity to really show it's versatility and I like this set up. The AQHA now is somewhat different, but it used to be better. At the local level, you can get some versatility points for a tack change, I don't like that at all. More QH people are moving towards the ranch horse division etc. See, this is a way to set some truly spectacular horses above the rest.

I agree that driving is a difficult skill to master and it is costly. But maybe it's worth it if you think of how AWESOME a team you will be. And years ago, in the early years of the AQHA, it was very common to train a horse to drive first, then ride. It actually does have several really unique benifits to the horse.

I can't replace my Petey. He is my right hand. I would love to go through this journey with another horse. I doubt Pistol has the mind for it, but if I ever get a Paso with this kind of aptitude you bet I'd be all over this. My experience was so special, and our bond so tight. There's truly nothing like it.

Maybe inspiring? I'll be cheering everyone on!

Brittany

[Fino1]

Agree w/Britzlove all the way..........100%

I didn't think points HAD to be in ALL classes.

Judy

[PattiB]

The award is only for points accumulated at the Nationals, although maybe they should have a year end award also :D Since at this point there is only one horse qualified for driving it won't be a big deal unless that horse competes in the other three classes. When I won the Nationals High Point Versatility Award a few years ago it was the driving class that helped me bet Milda for the award.