2008 AQHA Youth World Cup Competition to be held in London, Ontario, Canada

The Canadian Quarter Horse Association is extremely pleased to announce that the CQHA will host the biennial American Quarter Horse Association's Youth World Cup at Western Fair Agriplex in London, Ontario in 2008. This event, first held in Australia in 1986 as the International Youth Quarter Horse World Cup, has become one of the most prestigious equine competitions recognized world wide.

The CQHA is also pleased to advise that one of its own, Patti Carter, of St. George, Ontario, the AQHA/CQHA director representing the province of Ontario, has been appointed Chair of the 2008 AQHA Youth World Cup, by the AQHA. Carter was chosen by her peers to receive the title of AQHA's Professional Horseman of the Year in 2006. She also served as the Team Canada coach at the AQHA Youth World Cup events in Italy, in 2000, and in Amarillo, Texas, in 2002.

The 2008 AQHA Youth World Cup will consist of an eight day event, held July 6th to 13th, 2008, featuring teams of five riders from 18 different countries, including Canada. The event is designed to showcase budding talent in the equestrian world. Competition horses will be supplied by the host country, Canada, providing a unique opportunity to showcase the high calibre of Canadian-bred and Canadian-owned American Quarter Horses on loan for the occasion. The level of difficulty and discipline required to compete at a Youth World Cup event is tremendous. Competitors are not only in foreign settings, they also compete on unfamiliar horses.

The universal love of the Quarter Horse unites competitors and their respective support teams as they rally for success. Competition will be passionate as riders strive for victory in the nine disciplines of Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Showmanship at Halter, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Trail, Western Riding, Reining and Cutting. However, accomplishments will not be measured in medals alone. CQHA hosts, judges, clinicians and handlers will demonstrate and encourage leadership, good sporstmanship, camaraderie and the benefits of teamwork. In addition, teams will participate in skill development clinics and demonstrations provided by some of North America's most accomplished horsemen. A myriad of different cultures and experiences await these young equestrians. May the best horsemen win and all their teammates and fellow competitors be happy for them!

We also invite owners of well-schooled Canadian-bred and/or Canadian-owned registered American Quarter Horses from all across Canada to provide a pool of at least 90 all-around competition horses which will be required to supply all 16 teams for the 2008 event. Preference will be given to horses with some previous competition experience in any of the nine disciplines of Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Showmanship at Halter, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Trail, Western Riding, Reining and/or Cutting. Horse transportation will be partially subsidized and competition achievements will be recorded on the horse's AQHA show records. This will be an excellent opportunity to market outstanding horses for sale to owners, trainers and exhibitors from all around the world. For more information, please contact the Chair, Patti Carter, at patticarter@aqhayouthworldcup.com

The Canada-hosted 2008 AQHA Youth World Cup promises to be a world class event and we invite your participation at every level, as event sponsors, spectators, competitors, horse suppliers, trade show exhibitors, breeders and trainers. Everyone is welcome - you won't want to miss it.

For more information about the2008 Youth World Cup, please visit the event web site at: www.aqhayouthworldcup.com

For more information regarding the Canadian Quarter Horse Association, contact:

Marnie Somers, CQHA President,
Box 1122, Carberry, Manitoba R0K 0H0
Telephone: (204) 834-2479
Fax: (204) 834-3999
Email: marnie@horsescoops.com