The Virginia Amateur Quarter Horse Association

The Virginia Amateur Quarter Horse Association (VAQHA) is a division of VQHA. Adults who are age 19 or older as of January 1st are eligible to join the Amateur Association unless they train, show or judge horse shows professionally. VAQHA has its own bylaws, officers and budget. We strive to be better horsemen, always keeping sportsmanship at the top of our list.

Become a member by checking the VAQHA box on your Membership Application and submitting $10.00. You can reserve your back number on the same form.

VAQHA has several goals:

• Provide yearend awards for the 3rd and 4th place Amateurs and Novice Amateurs from approved shows.
• Provide 1st through 4th place yearend awards for the 11 and Under Walk-Trot Division.
• Provide the Novice Amateur and Reserve Novice Amateur High Point yearend awards.
• Sponsor Novice Amateur Rookie of the Year Program

Amateur President

Michelle Pratt
540/891-7769

To accomplish these goals, VAQHA raises approximately $3500 each year.
The major sources of this revenue are:

• Exhibitor Back Number: If an exhibitor wants a particular back number for the year, he or she can reserve it through the Amateur Association. The fee is $25 and includes 2 laminated numbers.
• All Age Walk-Trot classes: This new class was started for the first time in 1998 and has been very popular with youth, amateur and professionals. These classes give novice riders another class in which to hone their skills and an experienced rider can school a green horse.
• 50/50 Raffle: We are selling 50/50 raffle tickets from now until the Futurity to:
   
  1.  Support the 11 and Under Awards
  2.  Support the Novice Amateur All Around and High Point Awards
  3.  Support the 3rd and 4th place Amateur Awards
   
  Please contact Michelle Pratt at 540/891-7769 or tmpratt@comcast.net if you would like to help sell tickets or if your are interested in buying tickets.  They are $25 each.

Amateur Sportsmanship Award
Each year VAQHA presents an Amateur Sportsmanship Award to the Amateur who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout the year.The recipient receives a trophy to keep as a memento, a traveling trophy, which contains the names of all recipients since the inception of this award in 1984, and the honor of selecting the recipient for the following year.

• 2006: Kathleen Bettinger
• 2005: Diana Wolfrey
• 2004: Stephanie Jennings
• 2003: JeanLamb
• 2002: Betsy Goodwyn
• 2001: Cory Balsis
• 2000: Amy Mitchem
• 1999: Steven Hurst
• 1998: Carole Davidson
• 1997: Debbie Wenger
• 1996: Frankie Adamson
• 1995: June Rhea
• 1994: Renee Dutton
• 1993: Gerald Speeks

Novice Amateur Division
The Novice Amateur classes are offered at all VQHA approved horse shows.You are eligible to participate in the Novice Amateur classes if you hold a valid AQHA Novice Amateur card.These classes have not only been very popular with those just starting out in the show arena but for those who have shown in other disciplines (dressage, AHSA, etc).

Novice Amateur Rookie of the Year Program
VAQHA sponsors a Novice Amateur Rookie Award at the Annual Awards Banquet. To be eligible for this award you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a member in good standing with AQHA, VQHA, and VAQHA
• Hold a current AQHA Novice Amateur card
• Never have earned any AQHA points in any Novice Amateur, Amateur, Open or Youth performance classes.
• Make your application for this award to the President of the Amateur Association, Kathleen Bettinger by e-mailing her at the address above.
• Obtain at least 12 VQHA points in each of 2 Novice Amateur classes during 2006.
• The Novice Amateur Champion wins a beautiful custom-designed silver belt buckle, which is handcrafted by Harris Leather and Silverworks of North Carolina. The Reserve Champion Rookie, 3rd and 4th places receive handsome prizes as well.

Click here to download the Novice Amateur Rookie Program Application