Horse Illustrated Magazine

That’s a wrap on the largest American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Show in history! During the 2020 Farnam AQHA World Championship Show; AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan; AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals; and the Adequan Level 2 and Nutrena Level 1 Championships, more than 7,500 entries, 2,100 exhibitors and 2,700 horses competed for nearly 150 Farnam AQHA and Adequan Select world championships, and nearly 150 Adequan Level 2, Nutrena Level 1 and AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals championships. The event, which was November 2-21 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, was held in accordance with local, state and federal coronavirus mandates and was closed to the general public.

Those who misssed the event can check out the results and winning runs at www.aqha.com/worldshow. You can also find the daily Gold Globe Reports, including the top moments of the show on AQHA’s Facebook page.

The most anticipated awards of the event were presented to the Farnam AQHA Superhorse, AQHA All-Around Amateur, AQHA Select All-Around Amateur, OKC Leading Owner, The American Quarter Horse Journal Reserve Leading Owner and the top AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses at the show.

This year’s show featured a variety of exciting events, including the:
◆ $151,000-added Halter Bonanza, courtesy of 10-year cumulative breeders Steve and Kathy Headley, 30-year cumulative breeder Linda Gordon and 30-year cumulative breeders Terry and Tammy Bradshaw
◆ $50,000 Pleasure Versatility Challenge, brought to you by Terry Bradshaw Quarter Horses
◆ $25,000 open and amateur working western rail classes, sponsored by Headley Quarter Horses
◆ $15,000 Western Pleasure Challenge
◆ $5,000 Zimeta 3-year-old western pleasure stakes

The AQHA also added four additional stakes classes to the show–working hunter under saddle, ranch trail, western dressage and dressage.

AQHA Professional Horsemen volunteered their time to give 15 free Ride the Pattern clinics, presented by Nutrena. These clinics gave exhibitors and spectators the perfect opportunity to learn how AQHA Professional Horsemen would approach a specific class or pattern at the show. You can watch the previously recorded clinics on AQHA’s Facebook page. Thanks in part to Nutrena’s generosity to match the amount donated at the Ride the Pattern clinics, the Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund raised more than $12,000. The AQHA Professional Horsemen also hosted an online auction, which raised more than $31,000 for the Professional Horsemen Crisis Fund. Donations can be made to the Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund online.

2020 AQHA World Farnam Superhorse

The 2020 Farnam Superhorse is Dancin N The Dirt, owned by Sandy Vargo of Plain City, Ohio. The 2011 bay gelding, by Hot N Blazing and out of Caught You Dancin, was bred by AQHA Professional Horsewoman Leslie Vagneur Lange of Greeley, Colo. Dancin N The Dirt earned 33 points and was shown by AQHA Professional Horseman Chuck Briggs of Azle, Texas. Dancin N The Dirt won the world champion title in senior working hunter, reserve world champion titles in senior hunter hack and senior pleasure driving, and placed 10th in performance halter geldings. Dancin N The Dirt and his connections received a trailer, courtesy of Sundowner Trailers, an original Lisa Perry bronze, and a rose bouquet. Read more about the top five 2020 Farnam Superhorses.

Farnam All-Around Amateur

Lauren Stanley of Visalia, Cali., earned the title of 2020 Farnam All-Around Amateur. Stanley showed the American Quarter Horse Extremely Good Stuff, owned by Jeff and Garrett Crivelli of Visalia. The 2013 red roan gelding, by Extremely Hot Chips and out of Shes Got The Goodstuf, was bred by Brad and Corrine Borton of Bridgeton, N.J. Stanley and Extremely Good Stuff earned 54 points. They won the world champion title in horsemanship, reserve world champion title in showmanship, placed sixth in amateur trail and seventh in amateur aged geldings. Stanley received a one-year use of a Sundowner trailer, an original Lisa Perry bronze, and a rose bouquet. Read more about the top five Farnam All-Around Amateur exhibitors.

AQHA Select All-Around Amateur and Gene Graves Super-Select Special Recognition

The 2020 Select All-Around Amateur is Scott Allen Reinartz of Crossroads, Texas. Reinartz showed his American Quarter Horse Investin A Goodbar. The 2009 sorrel gelding, by Ima Zippo Good Bar and out of Foxy Asset, was bred by AQHA Professional Horseman Jim Dudley of Columbia, Mo. Reinartz and Investin A Goodbar earned 44.5 points. They won the world champion title in Select amateur trail, reserve world champion title in Select amateur showmanship and placed third in Select amateur pleasure driving. The pair were also finalists in Select amateur performance halter geldings. Reinartz received a prize package that included a one-year lease of a three-horse Sundowner trailer, Lisa Perry bronze, and a rose bouquet. Read more about the top five AQHA Select All-Around Amateur exhibitors and Gene Graves Super-Select Special Recognition Award recipient.

Oklahoma City Leading Owner

The Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau Leading Owner is awarded to the owner who has the highest number of points accumulated for their horses entered at the 2020 Farnam AQHA World in both Level 3 and Adequan Level 2 classes across the amateur and open divisions. The owner must have three horses entered at the show to be eligible. This year’s Oklahoma City Leading Owner was Dan Fox of Chino, Cali. Fox earned 135 points with 10 American Quarter Horses during the show. The American Quarter Horse Journal Reserve Leading Owner was Warren English Jr. of Sturgis, Mich., who earned 96 points with his five American Quarter Horses.

Top Ranching Heritage Bred Horses

AQHA recognizes the top Ranching Heritage-Bred horses at the Farnam and Adequan AQHA World. The owners and breeders of the top-placing AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses each received $250. The owners also received a specially designed trophy. Learn more about the four American Quarter Horses that earned the top Ranching Heritage-Bred awards at this year’s show.

About the 2020 AQHA World Show

The Farnam AQHA World is the premier event in the equine industry. The Farnam AQHA World hosted the 2020 AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan; AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals; and the Adequan Level 2 and Nutrena Level 1 championships, which were held in accordance with local, state and federal coronavirus mandates. The show featured three weeks of exciting competition, educational opportunities and a bountiful trade show. For more information, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.

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

Further Reading

• Breed Profile: American Quarter Horse