ANNOUNCER GUIDE Silence is not golden. An announcer sometimes wears many hats at an AQHA event. He may be the timekeeper, scorekeeper and housekeeper. However, it s important to remember that an announcer also can be a key person in keeping the show running smoothly and on time, in addition to providing your message to exhibitors and spectators. Below are several suggestions to include in announcer scripts for a versatility ranch horse competition. SAMPLE OPENING AND WELCOME STATEMENT Good morning and welcome to the [event name]. The versatility ranch horse competition was developed by the American Quarter Horse Association along with several groups and organizations who wanted an event to showcase the talents of the working stock horse. The first event was held in January 2002 and since that time, AQHA versatility ranch horse competitions have been held coast to coast. You ll find this competition exciting as the versatility of the working ranch horse is demonstrated in six classes ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch reining, ranch cutting, ranch cow work and ranch conformation. Champions are crowned in each class, but consistency is the name of the game as an all-around champion is determined by the highest placing horses and rider across three categories. Four divisions are offered for exhibitors to compete in open, amateur, cowboy and youth. CLASS DESCRIPTIONS Class descriptions are key in letting the audience and exhibitors know what s coming up next. The fact sheet in the VRH marketing kit has a complete description of each class. Scoring can be explained plus other elements of the competition such as a list of the trail obstacles. Patterns for the working ranch horse category are available to show management and can be distributed along with the entry list and score sheet handout. Here are some things to remember about each class: Ranch Riding For ranch riding classes, horses show individually, and the class can be conducted inside or outside an arena. In this class, judges are looking for relaxed, responsive horses with soft and cadenced gaits. The horse should make timely transitions in a smooth and correct manner, plus the horse should be soft in the bridle and yield to contact. Ranch Trail Obstacles found in a ranch trail pattern are approximate to those found during the course of everyday work. Judges are looking for a gentle, well-trained, responsive and well-mannered horse that can correctly navigate and negotiate the course, and to do so in a correct and efficient manner. Rule SHW561 outlines the class, including mandatory and prohibited obstacles. Ranch Reining Ranch reining measures the ability of the stock horse to perform basic handling maneuvers. This class can be held with or separate from the ranch cow work class; if the two are held together, they are still scored and placed as individual classes. This is a summation of what the judges are looking for in ranch reining: To rein a horse is not only
to guide him but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Ranch Cutting Similar to other cutting classes, ranch cutting is judged on the ability of the horse to work a cow by separating it from the herd and holding it. The objective is to cut one or two cows, based on the division. For open, cowboy and amateur division competition, there is a two-minute limit where each exhibitor must work two head, with the option of working the full two minutes. In youth competition, on the other hand, there is a one-and-a-half-minute time limit where the exhibitor must work one cow but has the option of working the full minute and a half. Ranch Cow Work When it comes to the ranch cow work class, riders have the choice between ranch cow work or limited ranch cow work for youth and amateur exhibitors, where riders are allotted one minute and forty-five seconds to complete the work. There are three parts to the limited ranch cow work: boxing the cow; setting up the cow and driving it down the fence to the opposite end of the arena; and boxing it at the opposite end of the arena. For ranch cow work, there are three parts to the class: boxing, fence work and roping or circling. The horse and rider must accomplish all three parts in three minutes. Ranch Conformation To be eligible to compete in the ranch conformation class, the horse must be shown in at least one class in one of the other categories the day of the show. Judges are looking for balanced, structurally correct horses with adequate muscling. Exhibitors show their horses in a good working halter rope, braided, nylon or plain leather exhibit the horse at a walk and trot, then line up for inspection by the judge. FILLERS There are many opportunities throughout the day to promote programs, inform spectators and exhibitors, and thank sponsors. Try to keep each announcement to 30 seconds, which is the standard length of radio spots. The next page includes scripts about AQHA programs.
AQHA Incentive Fund SAMPLE AQHA SCRIPTS Are you looking to make some easy money? Then the AQHA Incentive Fund is your opportunity to gain extra income and recognition by simply nominating and showing Incentive Fund horses. Owners of horses enrolled in the AQHA Incentive Fund are eligible to receive money earned based on all-around versatility ranch horse points earned during the year. Sires of horses competing in the versatility ranch all-around competition, which are Incentive Fundnominated, also can earn yearly dividends for their owners. The AQHA Incentive Fund awarded more than one-point-seven million dollars to participants this past year, with each point worth more than fifteen dollars. Foals from this breeding year sired by Incentive Fund-nominated stallions are eligible to be enrolled into the program, and the nomination period for stallions ends November 30. Log on to aqha dot com slash incentive fund for more information. AQHA Awards There are plenty of awards waiting for exhibitors who compete in versatility ranch horse competitions. AQHA year-end high-point awards are awarded in the open, amateur, limited amateur, cowboy and youth divisions based on the number of points earned from January 1 to December 31 of each year. All points earned also appear on the horse s show record and the exhibitor and owner s records. Simply visit aqha dot com and go to the member section to print the show records. The American Quarter Horse Journal For the latest information about the American Quarter Horse industry, check out The American Quarter Horse Journal, the official publication of AQHA. The Journal has been serving the American Quarter Horse industry since 1948, and each month you can find information about training, health care and upcoming events. Launched this spring, ranch horse competitors can also enjoy AQHA s new Ranch Horse Journal. This quarterly magazine is dedicated to American Quarter Horse ranch horse competition. Readers will enjoy articles about health and ranching business, plus stories of legendary horses and coverage from ranch horse competitions, rodeos and sales. Visit aqha dot com magazines subscribe to learn more.
#1 Ranching Heritage Breeders Program Ranching Heritage Breeders are AQHA member-owned ranches and individuals who represent longevity, honesty and integrity in raising quality American Quarter Horses. These ranches uphold ranching heritage traditions. Ranching heritage breeders must own and breed a minimum of five American Quarter Horse mares used to produce ranch horses and must maintain a remuda of horses used to operate a working cattle operation to be approved. The ranch also must have received an AQHA ten-year breeder award to be eligible for the program. Find out more including a list of Ranching Heritage Breeders visit aqha dot com slash ranching. #2 Zoetis Ranching Heritage Challenge If you enjoy ranch horse competitions, then the Zoetis Ranching Heritage Challenge is for you. An exclusive opportunity for Ranching Heritage bred-horses, the Zoetis Ranching Heritage Challenge is a way to showcase ranch-bred American Quarter Horses. The Ranching Heritage Challenge consists of three classes in four divisions open, cowboy, amateur and youth. To be eligible, horses must have been bred by a Ranching Heritage Breeder, plus all payments must be complete in order to compete. Those payments also generate the purses for ranching heritage challenge events. There s more than ninety-thousand up for grabs at this year s six events, plus a twenty-sixteen finals will be held in twenty-seventeen in conjunction with the Zoetis Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. To find out more about the Zoetis Ranching Heritage Challenge, go to aqha dot com slash ranching.
The Ranch Horse Journal The American Quarter Horse Association is launching its newest publication exclusively for the ranch horse. The Ranch Horse Journal is a quarterly, subscriber-based print magazine dedicated to the ranch horse and ranch horse competition. The magazine features: Hands-on training articles specifically for ranch competitions Health and business articles Coverage from ranch horse competitions and sales, including versatility ranch horse, ranch riding classes, ranch rodeos, as well as stock horse and ranch horse associations Intriguing stories about legendary ranch horses, AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders and ranch horse competitors Go to aqha dot com slash magazines to subscribe.