Quarter Horse Versatility

Youth and Quarter Horses

The future success of any Organisation or programme rests upon the shoulders of its younger followers. The New Zealand Quarter Horse Association are no exception. Youth competitions in western performance events are held throughout New Zealand during the show season. These events allow youth to compete against their peers and are normally scheduled in conjunction with approved open events.

A youth is designated as being 18 years or under at the beginning of the official show season on I August each year. The classes are held in two age divisions - Junior Youth (I 4 years and under) and Senior Youth (IS to 18 years).

The Youth Quarter Horse World Cup is an international competition held every 2 years and has teams competing from around the world. The competition is hosted by a different country each year.
Each team consists of five youth members and two trainer/managers. The youth compete in ten popular Quarter Horse events. Each event is contested for twice with placing's and medals being awarded for each event and aggregated scores over the two events being used to decide a World Champion and a Reserve World Champion.


Amateur Owners and Quarter Horses

As news spreads about the Quarter Horse's calm disposition and versatility more people become involved in the Quarter Horse and showing. Meeting the needs of such Quarter Horse owners is the Amateur division. For many Quarter Horse owners the amateur division provides performance competition separate from open division competition by professional trainers.

Amateur classes are designed for the non-professional adult who rides and shows their own horse. Most of New Zealand's shows hold amateur division classes in the more popular events.

The New Zealand Quarter Horse Association hold annually in March the All Breeds Amateur Show. This show is open to all registered amateurs owners regardless of which breed of horse they choose to show and is designed to encourage the amateur owner.