Horse Shows Can = Big Business

Horse shows are big business. The recently-concluded American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show passed out $2.2 million in prize money and attracted over 3,000 entries. That's just the prize money, think about the hotels and the food and the other expenses competitors and their families shelled out.

Blockquote>Honors ride in from horse show

The American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show was held Nov. 6-20. "The AQHA World Championship Show is the premier event for AQHA members," said Bill Brewer, AQHA executive vice president.

The AQHA World Championship Show is the largest, richest single-breed world championship horse show in existence, with nearly $2.2 million awarded to 3,059 entries from 49 states, five Canadian provinces, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Mexico and United Kingdom.

To qualify for the invitational event, horses must have earned a pre-determined number of points in AQHA-approved shows from Aug. 1, 2003-July 31, 2004. Highlights from the AQHA World Championship Show are scheduled to air on AQHA's weekly television show, "America's Horse," on the Outdoor Life Network, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. and again Dec. 12 at 5.

The American Quarter Horse Journal will have the results of the AQHA World Championship Show in the January 2005 issue.