2016 MEDIA KIT
GENERAL INFORMATION What: All American Quarter Horse Congress When: October 6 - 30, 2016 Where: The Ohio Expo Center 717E 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211
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Novice Amateur Select Horsemanship & NSBA Novice Amateur Select Western Pleasure & NSBA Novice Amateur Select Hunt Seat Equitation & NSBA Novice Amateur Select Showmanship & NSBA Novice Amateur Select Hunder Under Saddle & NSBA NYATT Hunt Seat Equitation & NSBA NSBA 4 & 5 Year Old Open Trail Stakes NSBA 3 Year Old Open Trail Stakes
History: At the May 1966 OQHA Board of Directors meeting, Blair Folck an OQHA past president, reported on his attendance at the Who: Horse enthusiasts, local equestrians, up-and-coming riders Charolais Cattle Congress in St. Louis, Missouri. Folck raved about and world-class competitors from around the world. Competitors the success of the show, and stated that the enormity of the staterange in age from five years old to 60+. Spectators come from sponsored cattle event dwarfed any promotional events that the Ohio, the surrounding states, as well as across the globe and national association had ever done. He further predicted that the include the general public, corporate executives and their families. same type of program could be adapted to Quarter Horses and hosted by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association. Cost: $25 per vehicle for a one-day pass, or $70 per vehicle for the entire show. Fees are regardless of the number of people in His idea was received with mixed emotions by the board of the vehicle. There is no other additional admission charge except directors. Many people were excited about the idea, but others for the Quarter Horse Country Concert, Congress Cutting events, were concerned about the financial liability. The OQHA had Professional Bull Riding, Freestyle Reining, and the Congress only $3,500 in the treasury. After deliberating and reviewing its Masters classes. options, the board agreed at an emergency board meeting in January 1967 to host the Congress under one condition: $10,000 For Tickets: Parking permits can be purchased at the gate. Tickets was to be raised before May 1, 1967, or the show would be for special events, such as the Quarter Horse Country Concert, cancelled. Congress Masters, Congress Cutting Event, Freestyle Reining Folck began presenting the idea of the Congress to individuals and and Professional Bull Riders performances must be purchased in groups, and worked on obtaining commercial exhibit agreements advanced. to attend the show. With much more than the $10,000 goal in signed contracts, the association decided to proceed with the first New for 2016: annual All American Quarter Horse Congress, held on • Para Reining November 3-5 , 1967 at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus, • NRHA Green Reiner Level 2 OH. More than 5,000 horsemen and women came to the first • NRHA Novice Horse Open & Non Pro Level 1 Congress, and the event was a hit, netting the association $15,000 • Congress Open & Non Pro Cutting Futurity over its three-day run. • Heroes on Horses Walk-Trot Supported & Independent • • •
EWD Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle Independent & NSBA EWD Walk-Trot Hunt Seat Equitation Independent & NSBA Small Fry Hunter Under Saddle & NSBA
From its initial three days, the show grew to include more and more events and eventually evolved to the three-week schedule seen today.
Ohio Quarter Horse Association 101 Tawa Road, PO Box 209, Richwood, OH 43344-0290 www.oqha.com | www.quarterhorsecongress.com media@ oqha.com
FACTS - FIGURES - IMPACT All American Quarter Horse Congress Fast Facts
• Largest single-breed horse show in the world • Over 21,000 horse show entries • The show attracts more than 650,000 people to Columbus area • Generates $225 million for the central Ohio economy • Attendees come from every US State, along with several other countries & continents • Nearly $3 million is given away in cash & prizes • Largest Intercollegiate & Junior Horse Judging contest is held at the Congress, with more than 60 teams • 200 registered Quarter Horses are sold at the Super Sale
Other Congress Figures
• The Sweet Shop, one of the favorite Congress food vendors, bakes and sells more than 20,000 cinnamon rolls each year. Throughout the years they have been at Congress, the Sweet Shop has baked and sold nearly half a million cinnamon rolls. They will sell more than 2,250 gallons (36,000 cups) of coffee this year alone • Cox Concessions will go through more thank 526 bottles of Crown Royal Whiskey, producing 9,000 Crown Royal drinks sold at the Congress. Additionally, they will use more than 2,500 pounds of ice during the three weeks of Congress • Harris Leather & Silverworks builds 75 show saddles specifically for the Congress. Each saddle weighs approximately 45 pounds, of which seven pounds is pure silver. Each saddle needs approximately 30 feet of leather and 10 feet of sheepskin to make. It takes one craftsman nearly 280 hours to build a single show saddle. Working eight hours a day, it would take one craftsman approximately 35 days to build one saddle. If one single craftsman built every saddle Harris brings to Congress, it would take seven years • More than 9,000 cubic yards of manure were hauled out of the fairgrounds during the Congress, totaling more than 1,800 tons. It took nearly one additional month after the show ended to finish cleaning up. The average 1,000 pound horse produces nine tons of manure per year. Following that figure, Congress produces as much manure in 23 days as 200 horses produce in one year.
Demographics About Exhibitors
• Most attendees of the Congress are members of AQHA (According to a AQHA Membership Survey) • Average member age is 45 • 80% reside in a rural, farm or ranch area • 77% have attended college or are college graduates • More than 60% are professional owners and managers • Average household income: $103,000 • AQHA members spend 10.39 nights, on average, in a hotel/motel per year • AQHA member travel 3.36 times, on average, on commercial airlines • 81% dine out one to five times a week • Spend an average of $5,272 on fuel a year • 62% own more than one dog • 52% own more than one cat • Own an average of 1.8 computers • Spend 11.34 hours per week on the internet • 35% shop by catalog or on the internet • 97% own at least one cell phone
Financial Impact of the Equine Industry
• 9.2 million horses in the US. 307,000 of which are located in Ohio • More than 70 percent, or 215,000, horses in Ohio are involved in showing and recreation • 4.6 million people are involved in the horse industry • This means one out of every 63 Americans is involved with horses • Direct economic effect on US: $39 billion annually • Indirect economic impact: $102 billion when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account
Ohio Quarter Horse Association 101 Tawa Road, PO Box 209, Richwood, OH 43344-0290 www.oqha.com | www.quarterhorsecongress.com media@ oqha.com
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Small Fry Horsemanship showcases the youngest riders at the Congress. Riders aged nine and under dress in bedazzled show clothes and compete on their mounts. The outfits are a sight to behold and the children are always smiling from ear to ear. The Masters Events include the Equine Chronicle Western Pleasure class and the Equine Chronicle Hunter Under Saddle class. These classes promote and showcase the natural talent of un-shown two-year-olds. The Congress Cutting Event features some of the best cutting horses and riders from across the country. Spectators will be thrilled with displays of extreme altheticism as horses weed cows out from the herd and hold them on the opposite side of the pen. The event includes the Cinch Bridleless Cutting and the finals of the Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting.
Small Fry Horsemanship
Freestyle Reining is often compared to figure skating in that riders create their own pattern to music. This competition combines the athletics and finesse of reining moves with the melodies of popular music in one of the Congress’ most popular events. Competitors (and their mounts) often wear costumes and may include props and actors in their performances. Dummy Roping classes provide an opportunity for young contestants (ages 5-12) to show off their roping skills by roping a plastic steer’s head on a bale of hay. There will be two rounds for the 9-12 year old division and three rounds for the eight year old and under division. The final round for both divisions is sudden death, in which contestants must rope the plastic steer from increasing distances.
National Youth Activity Team Tournament
The National Youth Activity Team Tournament (NYATT) brings together more than 100 teams and 600 youth from state and regional Quarter Horse associations to compete in six events, making it the most popular youth event at the Congress. A maximum of two members from each team can compete in each event. Awards are given at the end of the tournament for both individuals and teams. The All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen is also crowned during this ceremony. The Congress Super Sale is a tradition at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. It has been held every year since the Congress began in 1967. The Super Sale is a place for horsemen and women to purchase some of the finest horses in the world. Only the best and brightest are offered at the Super Sale every year. The All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen Contest brings young women from all over the country to compete for the title. The contest consists of a written exam about the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations, an oral interview and a Horsemanship pattern. The candidates also assist with the Queen’s Style Show, which highlights fashionable Western ear on the runway. Once crowned, the Queen serves as an ambassador to the show, making apperances throughout the year at national events. The Congress website, www.quarterhorsecongress.com, features full show information, schedule, results, ticket information and more. The site has a complete sponsor list, as well as a complete list of classes offered and a daily schedule.
Freestyle Reining
Bronze Trophies
Ohio Quarter Horse Association 101 Tawa Road, PO Box 209, Richwood, OH 43344-0290 www.oqha.com | www.quarterhorsecongress.com media@ oqha.com
SHOW SCHEDULE Thursday, October 6 Reining Friday, October 7 Cutting & Reining
Saturday, October 15 Working Hunter, Western Yearling Longe Line, Small Fry Freestyle Reining, Equestrians With Disabilities Sunday, October 16 Working Hunter, Equitation Over Fences, Hunter Classic, English Yearling Longe Line, Halter, Small Fry, Equestrians With Disabilities
Saturday, October 8 Cutting & Reining
Monday, October 17 Working Hunter, Equitation Over Fences, Jumping, Hunter Hack, Halter, Yearling Longe Line, Western Pleasure, Small Fry, Western Pleasure
Sunday, October 9 Cutting & Reining Monday, October 10 Cutting & Reining
Tuesday, October 18 Pleasure Driving, Western Riding, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Halter, Hunter Hack
Tuesday, October 11 Cutting & Reining Wednesday, October 12 Roping, Tie-Down Roping, Cutting Thursday, October 13 Calf Roping, Breakaway Roping, Dummy Roping, Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting & Bridleless Cutting Friday, October 14 Ranch Riding, Heroes on Horses, PBR
Wednesday, October 19 Pleasure Driving, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Riding, Horsemanship, Intercollegiate Judging Tournament Thursday, October 20 Trail, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Youth Halter, Youth Horsemanship, Youth Equitation Friday, October 21 Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, Youth Halter, Youth Western Pleasure, Horsemanship
Ohio Quarter Horse Association 101 Tawa Road, PO Box 209, Richwood, OH 43344-0290 www.oqha.com | www.quarterhorsecongress.com media@ oqha.com
SHOW SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 22 Youth Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Halter, Youth Equitation, Congress Super Sale Sunday, October 23 NYATT Competition, Hunter Under Saddle, Halter, Western Pleasure Monday, October 24 Western Pleasure, Amateur Halter, Youth Horsemanship, Youth Horsemanship, Youth Trail, Youth Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Hunter Under Saddle Tuesday, October 25 Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Horsemanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation Wednesday, October 26 Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Trail, Equitation, Showmanship
Thursday, October 27 Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Equitation, Pole Bending, Barrel Racing Friday, October 28 Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Equitation, Pole Bending, Barrel Racing Saturday, October 29 Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Equitation, Western Riding, Pole Bending, Barrel Racing Congress Masters Classes presented by Equine Chronicle & Cinch Sunday, October 30 Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Barrel Racing, Pole Bending
A full schedule is availale online at www.quarterhorsecongress.com
Ohio Quarter Horse Association 101 Tawa Road, PO Box 209, Richwood, OH 43344-0290 www.oqha.com | www.quarterhorsecongress.com media@ oqha.com
PRESS PROCEDURES Credentials: To obtain media credentials, please fill out the media crendentail form, and send the completed form back via e-mail, fax or postal mail. All media credential requests must be received by September 26th, so that all necessary information can be sent to you prior to the show. Our office will close on September 28th to move to the Ohio Expo Center and we will be unable to send out media credentials after September 26th. Parking: Admission for the Congress is a per-vehicle fee. OQHA provides a one Entire Event pass per publication or station. Parking passes provide free admission to all Congress events and exhibits, except for the Quarter Horse Country Concert, Congress Cutting events, Professional Bull Riding, Freestyle Reining, and the Congress Masters classes. Please note that parking permits are provided as a courtesy to members of the working media. Misrepresentation or misuse of Congress parking permits will result in a publication/station’s denial of future media credentials.
late orders or pick-ups will be accepted. Professional Bull Riders Tour: To obtain press credentials for the Professionals Bull Riders performance, media must contact their office directly. Visit www.pbr.com/media/press for more information. Obtaining Results: All show results will be posted on our website, www.quarterhorsecongress.com/results. Printed copies and digital copies of results are available upon request. Photography and Videography: The show’s official photographer and videographer are the only parties permitted to provide others with competition videos or photos. Anyone selling photos to a third party is in violation of this policy. Additionally, we ask that all media remain outside of all show pens, and clear of entrance and exit gates. Media are limited to taking photos and videos from the stands, in warm-up pens or walking the grounds; please do not disturb exhibitors who are preparing to show.
Scheduling Interviews: If you would like to arrange interviews with Congress officials or exhibitors prior to, during or after the Congress, on-site, by phone or other means, we will be happy to assist in making arrangements. Please refrain from approaching exhibitors who are about to enter the arena to compete, as this is equivalent to preparing to go on the air live. Also, please note that members of the news media are not permitted to enter the arena Freestyle Reining, Masters & Cutting Tickets: A maximum of two during competition. The show grounds encompass 360 acres and tickets per publication/station to each event (Freestyle Reining, it is sometimes difficult to locate officials and/or specific exhibitors Masters and Congress Cutting Event) are available at no charge. All on short notice. Please call or e-mail the Press Office to get your tickets must be pre-ordered on the media credentials form. Tickets interview scheduled promptly. must be picked up no later than 3:00pm the day of the event. No Upon Arrival: All media must stop at the Press Office, located in the Celeste Center, to sign in and pick up your complimentary copy of the Congress Souvenir Program and media credentials. Additional background information, news releases and assistance with setting up interviews will be available as well.
Ohio Quarter Horse Association 101 Tawa Road, PO Box 209, Richwood, OH 43344-0290 www.oqha.com | www.quarterhorsecongress.com media@ oqha.com
CONTACT US The All American Quarter Horse Congress is hosted by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association. Thank you for covering the All American Quarter Horse Congress. We hope to make your efforts as simple as possible. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please visit the Press Room. Enjoy the Show!
Email: media@oqha.com Website: www.quarterhorsecongress.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/quarterhorsecongress Twitter: @oqha Instagram: @oqha Telephone: (740) 943-2346 ext 124 (614) 294-0244 (October 6-30, 2016)
Ohio Quarter Horse Association 101 Tawa Road, PO Box 209, Richwood, OH 43344-0290 www.oqha.com | www.quarterhorsecongress.com media@ oqha.com