During American Quarter Horse (AQHA) Convention March 15-18 in Las Vegas, the AQHA Board of Directors and members approved registration rule changes and modifications.
Per the Association’s bylaws, the board of directors have the final authority when it comes to AQHA’s bylaws and rules of registration. Rule-change recommendations from all the other standing committees were reviewed and approved by the board of directors. Those recommendations go to the AQHA Executive Committee for review, modification and/or approval at the April meeting.
The Nominations and Credentials Committee denied one member-recommended rule change to modify Article II Section 5 to forgo the physically present requirement and allow members to vote online or by paper ballot.
The AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee discussed 23 proposed rule changes.
The agenda item that generated the most discussion addressed by the Stud Book Committee was AQHA’s move to digital registration certificates. The rule change, which was approved at the 2022 AQHA Convention, required AQHA to move to digital registration certificates beginning with foals born in 2024. However, due to a large amount of input from members in 2023, the Stud Book Committee revised the plan, and the implementation of digital registration certificates was to begin with foals born in 2025.
After members voiced their concerns on the rule’s implementation again prior to the 2024 AQHA Convention, citing frustrations with AQHA technology and internet access, as well as the desire to keep paper certificates, the committee came up with a new plan for moving to digital registration certificates, which was approved by the members and the board of directors: The committee recommends delaying the implementation of digital registration certificate until January 1, 2027, with the following resolution:
Other rule changes recommended by the Stud Book Committee–and approved by the members and board of directors–include:
The additional eleven standing committee reports will be reviewed by the AQHA Executive Committee, and approved rule-changes will be released at a later date. Additionally, rule-change recommendations from the AQHA Animal Welfare Commission will also be reviewed by the AQHA Executive Committee in April.
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