2008 AQHA Speed Event Series

New for 2008 is the addition of two sets of AQHA youth stake race classes.

"With the lowering by AQHA of the points needed to qualify for the youth world, it is now possible that youths just attending these special events can qualify for the AQHA youth world in stake race" said SPBA secretary Tim Parker. Parker added "as a result, we decided to add the stakes race to each show to help the kids who are looking to qualify for the big trip to Oklahoma City."

SPBA expects that all shows will be American Quarter Horse Association, Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association and National Pole Bending Association approved.

Show secretary Shawna Shaver reports that "AQHA membership is only required for AQHA classes and not for the $100 added 3D pole bending jackpot which is run at every show. Exhibitors can show any horse in the open pole bending jackpot, whether or not they are registered quarter horses."

Because these shows are National Pole Bending Association approved as local qualifying shows, any NPBA member who attends two of these shows is automatically qualified to attend the NPBA National Championship Show in Murfreesboro, TN each May. The NPBA National Championship Show includes a $10,000 added 3D Open Pole Bending, the highest paying pole bending in the world, as well as youth, amateur and futurity classes.

In addition to AQHA and NPBA approval, these shows will be approved by PCQHA for its year end program if exhibitors are members of PCQHA. "The PCQHA buckles beautiful and are highly sought after. Almost every year the winners of the pole bending, and barrel racing buckles have run at the SPBA special events to get a jump on the competition" said Marc Ristow , a SPBA director as well as a PCQHA director.

New for 2008 is that the SPBA special events will also be a part of new Central California Quarter Horse Championship Year End Awards. The CCQHC award program is designed to give people who cannot haul all over the state a chance to win year end buckles. Only AQHA approved shows in Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Watsonville and Reedley (and the special events in Atascadero) will count toward the CCQHC year end awards. In order to qualify for the CCQH awards program, you must be a member of either the San Luis Obispo County Quarter Horse Association or the Quarter Horse Exhibitors Association of California which are jointly sponsoring the CCQHC.

Memberships for AQHA, PCQHA, NPBA, SLOCQHA and QHEAC will be available at the show.

More Information & Show Entry Forms are available at this link.