g) Excellent lope – has a round back with an effortless
strong, deep stride with the rear legs and a flat swing
with the front legs. He keeps a level top-line, a relaxed
yet alert and confident appearance and correct but soft
in appearance. A special horse with a great lift and selfcarriage.
82.10 Back-up
a) Poor back-up – is resistant and heavy in front. May
gape mouth and throw his head or back crooked.
b) Average back-up backs straight and quietly with light
contact and without hesitation.
c) Good back-up – displays balanced and smooth flowing
movements. Backs straight with self-carriage without
gaping the mouth, with light contact and without
hesitation.
83. PERFORMANCE CLASSES
a) A two-year-old cannot be shown in any performance
class, or at any AQHA sanctioned event, prior to
January 1 of its two (2) year old year, except in
Showmanship at Halter, Hunter In Hand, 2 year old Led
Trail and 2 year old Lunge Line;
b) Team penning are all-age classes only;
c) Only junior horses five-years-old (5) and younger can
be exhibited in junior classes;
d) Only senior horses six-years-old (6) and older can be
exhibited in senior classes;
e) Junior and senior classes, junior and hackamore/snaffle
bit classes or all three classes (senior, junior and snaffle
bit/hackamore) may be combined only when there are
two or less entries in one or both divisions, or all-age
classes split at the direction of the judge and the show
management with the unanimous consent of all
exhibitors involved in the class (or classes) in question.
If a show wishes to combine a junior and senior bit
reining class and has a hackamore/snaffle bit reining
class, the hackamore/snaffle b