The Western Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association is a large, highly successful regional organization that promotes the values of owning and exhibiting Quarter Horses. This is accomplished through sponsoring AQHA approved Quarter Horse shows, Open Shows, Clinics, Youth Team affiliations, Futurities, and other equine repeated events in the area.

WPQHA produces 26 AQHA approved horse shows over seven weekends, May through August each year. WPQHA also either sponsors or provides facilities for other Breed shows, Open shows, and special equine events such as dressage, special Olympics, National Snaffle Bit Association, and National Reining Horse Association. These events attract nearly 10,000 entries annually.

WPQHA in recent years, has committed nearly a quarter of a million dollars in improvements to a showground that is becoming a premier equine facility. This facility is not Government owned or subsidized. WPQHA is one of the few association owned show grounds in the country.

The WPQHA Futurity is held during the August WPQHA show weekend and involves local and regional breeders of Quarter Horses. This Futurity is an excellent opportunity for local breeders to showcase the products of their breeding programs, whether they are involved with one broodmare or many. The futurity payback is one of the largest in the tri-state area.
WPQHA shows have some of the largest Novice division classes in the nation. New exhibitors in the Amateur and Youth divisions have the opportunity to compete against others, like themselves, who are new at exhibiting Quarter Horses. The novice division, however, does not prohibit Amateurs and Youth from showing in their respective regular Amateur and Youth division classes. The WPQHA also has also introduced an entire Small Fry division for children 11 years & under (lead line- 6 years and under) including Showmanship, Walk-Trot Pleasure, Walk-Trot Horsemanship/Equitation, and Trail.

At WPQHA Shows, the youth division entries exceed the national AQHA average of Youth entries per show. The WPQHA not only seeks to provide competition among the youth, it also seeks to allow the youth to find activities to share within the association. Youth work toward incentives and rewards for achieving personal goals with their horses and within the organization. The WPQHA recognizes personal achievement and character through the Marsha Flaherty Memorial Award for the Outstanding WPQHA Youth. The WPQHA also offers the Congress Traveling Trophy to the WPQHYA team member who places highest at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress.

The WPQHA’s pledge to Quarter Horse Enthusiasts is to provide good, well-run shows offering incentives and premiums to exhibitors at our shows. Come show with the WPQHA!

Application for W.P.Q.H.A. Membership

(Youth fill out page 2 of the general membership application)

WPQHYA Youth Team Requirements