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MQHA HIGH POINT AWARDS RULES
Revised October 2016
1. There will be an award given for each AQHA approved halter and performance class, including amateur and
youth activities. All youth awards will be divided into two age groups (13 and under and 14-18). To qualify for an
award, a participant must show to five judges in an event.
2. Nine placings in each class will be awarded points on the 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system. For example: nine or
more horses in class, first place is awarded nine points, second eight and so on; with three horses in class, first
place will win three MQHA points, etc.
3. DEFINITION of OWNERSHIP
(3A). An owner shall be defined as the owner listed on the registration papers of the horse or in the case of a
lease the lessee.
(3B). Owner of entry must be a member of the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association, Mississippi Quarter
Horse Youth Association or Mississippi Amateur Quarter Horse Association. In case of multiple ownerships, all
owners must be members of MQHA. Ranches or any business listed as owner are required to have memberships
to qualify for awards. In order to qualify for overall individual high point stallion, mare or gelding champion, or all
around performance awards, owners must be a resident of Mississippi, and a member of MQHA, MAQHA or
When Select and Amateur classes are combined, all State points will be considered as Amateur points in keeping
with AQHA rules.
NOTE: There is no prohibition on an exhibitor winning both Amateur and Select Hi-Point awards if otherwise
qualified.
5. Ownership will be determined from the American Quarter Horse Association records. Example: if you
purchase a horse whose owner is not a member of MQHA, no points will be awarded you until ownership has been
transferred by AQHA into your name.
6. American Quarter Horse Association youth activity general rules will be followed in determining the
eligibility of youth activity contestants for awards.
7. Dues must be paid for points to be awarded. Example: points will not be counted for shows at the
beginning of each show year until dues are paid.
8. There will be a High Point Award for each category in halter (Stallions, Mares and Geldings). Grand and
Reserve points will be given as follows: The Grand Champion of each sex division will receive at least one point
more than any other horse in its sex division (maximum 10 pts). The Reserve Champion of each sex division will
receive as many points as any horse (maximum 9 pts) in its sex division except the Grand Champion. MQHA will so
note the awarding of the title grand and Reserve Champions only when at least three (3) horses of any age are
exhibited in the sex division. Points for halter stallions will move forward to halter geldings should the horse
become gelded during the point year. In addition:
(a) The Austin Moore Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the High Point Open Halter Horse.
(b) The D'Leese Williamson Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the High Point Open Halter Mare.
(c) An award will be presented to the horse earning the most points in two categories of open English
classes. To qualify for this award, the horse must show to five judges in each of the two categories.
9. There will be an Open High Point and Reserve High Point Award (amateur and youth classes are not
counted) given to the horse who earns the most performance and/or points during the year. These points must be
earned in at least three categories as determined by AQHA rules and must be shown to at least five (5) judges in
three categories to be eligible. For these awards, there is no age restriction on exhibitors as long as they compete
in the open classes.
10. There will be a High Point Amateur and Reserve High Point Amateur Award (amateur classes only to
count; novice amateur classes are excluded) given to the rider who earns the most performance and/or halter
points on one horse during the year. The points must be earned in three categories as determined by AQHA rules
and exhibitor must be shown to at least five judges in three categories.
11. There will be a High Point Novice Amateur Award (novice amateur classes only to count) given to the
rider who earns the most novice points on one horse during the year.
12. The recipient of the Amateur Sportsmanship award will be determined by MAQHA popular vote. To
qualify for the MAQHA Rookie of the Year traveling trophy, the rider must be a member of MAQHA who has not
earned an AQHA point.
13. After rules are finalized the first of each show year, no rule can be changed for year-end awards and
qualifying for AQHYA finals during the current show year.
14. November 1, is the start of the show year and will run to the following November 1. Points earned after
November 1, will be carried forward to the new point year. Example: points earned in two-year-old halter classes
will be posted in three-year-old classes. (This excludes 2-yr snaffle to Jr. Western Pleasure)
15. Any member owing money or merchandise to MQHA or MQHYA will be denied all privileges of the
Association until these obligations have been paid. This includes year end awards and participation in any team
events. MQHA may suspend any such member and deny privileges of the association after notification through
the mail thirty (30) days before any action is taken.
AWARDS COMMITTEE RULES
1. A selection of two awards will be presented for consideration for Champion and two different awards for
Reserve Champion. Different awards will be offered for halter and performance winners. Brand and /or source of
award will be determined by Awards Committee.
2. No award may be ordered or purchased without consent of the appropriate division's Awards Committee.
3. All awards to be purchased by one committee to allow for better prices. Deleted November 2015
4. The cost of year end open awards is to be determined by the amount set aside in the awards account.
5. No individual winning an award will be allowed to subsidize cost of any award.
6. Overall award (open, youth, amateur) will not exceed the cost of three times the amount of champion
and/or 1st place award. (Exception - Awards donated by sponsors.)
7. The Reserve All-Around award will not exceed the cost of one half the price of overall award. The cost of
donated overall awards will not determine the amount of the reserve award.
8. All point combining of year end awards must be contained within the division (open, amateur or youth) won.
9. Winners will not be allowed to combine with or exchange with others for award.
MQHYA Year End Award Rules
1. With the exception of Novice classes and Small Fry, all year end awards will be divided into two (2) age groups.
To be eligible for an award in any category, a youth must show to five judges on the same horse.
2. There will be awards given for each event, halter and performance. In the event of a tie the one participant
placing in the most shows will break the tie; if this is a tie, the one with the most first place scores will break the
tie.
3. A Youth All-Around Award shall be presented to the youth with the highest number of points in both halter and
performance classes. A Reserve Youth All-Around Award shall be presented to the second highest placing youth.
4. The All-Around Youth, at the end of the show year, will receive an award equal to three times one championship
award. The reserve All-Around Youth will receive exactly one-half the amount of the All-Around Youth.
5. The High Point Speed Event Award will go to the high placing horse in timed events. The high point speed event
horse award will include all events that are timed. This youth will receive an award equivalent to the Reserve All-
Around Youth award. A Reserve All-Around Speed Event Award will be awarded the second place timed event
horse, and will be awarded exactly one-half the High-Point Speed Award.
6. A Novice All-Around Award will be presented to the youth with the highest number of Mississippi points in
Novice youth classes only. This youth will receive an award equivalent to the Reserve All-Around Youth award. A
Reserve Novice All-Around Award will be presented to the second highest placing youth in Novice youth classes. A
Reserve All-Around Novice Award will be awarded the second place Novice All-Around horse, and will be awarded
exactly one-half the High-Point Novice Award.
7. Out of state members are not eligible to win All-Around or Reserve All-Around Performance Awards, High Point
or Reserve High Point Speed Awards, or High Point or Reserve High Point Novice Awards.
MISSISSIPPI QUARTER HORSE YOUTH ASSOCIATION YEAR-END AWARDS
1. Ownership of the horse exhibited by a youth will be determined by AQHA records.
2. Points will be awarded on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis with the number of points awarded the winner never
exceeding the number of horses in the class.
3. No points will be awarded until the dues are received are paid.
4. Points will be awarded on a one-youth, one-horse basis. Should a youth change horses during the year,
no points will be carried forward. EXCEPTION: In the event a horse dies, the youth may purchase a new horse,
designate that horse to replace the one that died, and carry forward any points earned in showmanship,
horsemanship, hunt seat equitation and equitation over fences classes only.
5. Any member owing money or merchandise to MQHYA or MQHA will be denied all privileges of the
Association until these obligations are paid.
6. MQHYA points will start from November 1 of the current year and will end October 31 of the
following year.
NATIONAL YOUTH ACTIVITY TEAM TOURNAMENT (NYATT)
1. The National Youth Activity Team Tournament (NYATT) team shall be selected in the same manner as the
Youth World Show qualifiers using MQHYA approved shows only.
2. In order for a youth to qualify for the NYATT team, he/she must be a current member of MQHYA as of the
point qualifying deadline.
3. See Rule 12 for AQHYA World Championship Show
4. Two alternates shall be selected in each category using the same selection process as stated
5. Points earned at MQHYA approved shows between the dates of January 1 and July 1 shall be used to
compute qualifiers.
6. Team members must participate in the Congress NYATT opening ceremonies and must exhibit in the
NYATT class (or classes) in which he/she is entered in order to be eligible to receive any NYATT awards. A team
member will forfeit any awards if he/she does not exhibit without a valid reason presented to the Youth Advisor
before the competition begins.
7. In order to participate on the NYATT Team, youth members must participate in at least half the youth
fund raising projects.
8. Youth exhibitors intending or planning to participate as a state qualifier in either the AQHYA World Show
or on the NYATT team must turn in a letter of intent on or before April 30th. It is the responsibility of the
exhibitor or prospective exhibitor to be aware of this requirement. No exceptions or appeals will be accepted.
AQHYA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
1. In order for a youth to qualify for the world championship show, he/she must be a member of the
MQHYA and AQHYA and recorded as such with AQHYA prior to May 1
2. MQHYA and AQHA points will be counted from May 1 to April 30.
3. Two youth will be selected, first from the list of MQHYA points, and a then two youth will be selected
from the list of AQHA points with the exception of Showmanship, Horsemanship and Western Pleasure (Refer to
Rule #9). Horses that have no qualifying points (MQHYA or AQHA) may not be allowed to participate in any class,
regardless, even if no entries exist.
4. An alternate horse(s) in each event shall only be considered the alternate for the event after the AQHYA
World Show registration deadline. Alternates shall be selected from the list of MQHYA points.
5. AQHA points must be earned in youth classes, as open points do not count.
6. Should there be a tie in MQHYA points, AQHA points shall be used to break the tie; should there be a tie
in AQHA points, MQHYA points shall be used to break the tie.
7. Should one youth be high point in both MQHYA and AQHA points, that youth will fill the list from MQHYA
points. The youth with the second most AQHA points will then be the other youth to qualify.
8. A member of MQHYA who qualifies nationally according to AQHYA guidelines will be eligible in addition
to the four state representatives.
9. Showmanship, Horsemanship and Western Pleasure will qualify on AQHA points. The youth with the
most in-state AQHA points will be selected first. The youth with the most AQHA points (total in-state and out-ofstate)
will be selected second. In case of a tie, the one with the most state points (MQHYA) under the 9-8-7-6-5-4-
3-2-1 method will be selected. Mississippi points will count only in the case of a tie and for alternate selection.
10. A committee of three consisting of the MQHA president, youth advisor, and youth committee chairman
will oversee the youth projects and functions. Each youth who plans to be a part of the youth team must
participate in all youth sponsored projects designated toward the World Show Team.
11. Parents of youth who qualify must sign an agreement to reimburse the MQHYA all fees paid for the
youth if he fails to participate without a valid reason. Valid reasons to be ruled upon by above committee. There
will be no withdrawls for classes entered once the youth has arrived at the AQHYA Finals without a legitimate
reason to be determined by the Youth Advisor.
(Change for 2003)
12. Youth exhibitors intending or planning to participate as a state qualifier in either the AQHYA World Show
or on the NYATT team must turn in a letter of intent on or before April 30th. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor
or prospective exhibitor to be aware of this requirement. No exceptions or appeals will be accepted.
13. In order to participate on the World Show Team, youth members participate in at least half the youth
fund raising projects.