Quarter Horse Can Jump: 2013 AQHA Huntfield Derby Series

Speaking of neat new AQHA classes, the 2013 Huntfield Derby Series kicks off next week after a successful inaugural year. Maegan Gossett tells us what we can expect.

From Megan:

This year marks the second year of AQHA’s Huntfield Derby series. Catered for AQHA hunter riders and horses, the competition is open to professionals and non-pros. The first round of each class is a 3-foot classic hunter round followed by an exciting “handy” round where riders can create their own course and add points to their score by increasing difficulty–tight turns, hand galloping, or taking higher jump options. Also in 2013, the series will include a 2-foot 6-inch Novice and a Select (for riders 50 years old and above) class.

Series founders AQHA Professional Horsemen Lainie DeBoer and David Warner expect for the events to grow in size this year. The first event held in Venice, Florida had 19 riders, most of which were non-pro. This series is a great option for hunter riders looking to segue into showing their horses at an AQHA event.

One change is that the non-pro finals will be held in June during the Huntfield Summer Series in Lexington, Kentucky in Rolex Stadium. The open finals will remain at November’s AQHA World Show in Okalahoma City, OK.

Here’s a video of the winning run from the 2012 Huntfield Derby Finals. Check out all those prizes!

[AQHA Video]

Tentative 2013 Huntfield AQHA Derby Schedule

January 31 – Arizona Quarter Horse Association Sun Country Circuit, Scottsdale, Arizona, – $2,500-added 3’ open and non-pro derby

February 16 – Lakeside Arena, Frankfort, Kentucky – 3’ open and non-pro derby and 2’6” Novice and Select derby

April 20 – Lakeside Arena, Frankfort, Kentucky – 3’ open and non-pro derby

June TBA – Redbud Spectacular, Oklahoma City – 3’ open and non-pro derby

June 26-30 – Huntfield Summer Series at Rolex Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky – 2’6” novice and Select derby and 3’ non-pro derby finals

July 13 – Empire State Quarter Horse Association show, Hamburg, New York – 3’ open and non-pro derby

July TBA – Georgia Quarter Horse Association Big A Circuit, Olympic Stadium, Conyers, Georgia – $5,000-added 3’ derby and $500-added 2’6” novice and Select derby

August TBA – National Snaffle Bit Association World Championship Show, Tulsa, Oklahoma –  all-breed 3’ open and non-pro derby

November TBA – AQHA World Championship Show, Oklahoma City – open 3’ derby finals (will be open to non-pro riders)

For more information, you can go to www.aqha.com or the Huntfield Derby Facebook Page for entry and prize information.

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Fleeceworks is a proud supporter of the Huntfield AQHA Hunter Derby Series. Read more about their sponsorship here!