2021 National Championships


Scottsdale Arizona Sun Circuit will once again hold the wildly popular tournament style competitions in Horsemanship, Equitation and Showmanship. Exhibitors who make it to The Four in each class and division will receive an embroidered black leather bomber jacket. Champions will be presented a National Championship trophy buckle.

The Tournament is an event that no serious exhibitor will want to miss. With the building excitement of each round, the abundant recognition, and the ultimate goal of claiming the Championship, the Tournament injects a good deal of fun and fame to the horse show experience.

Rankings for 2020 will be announced after January 1  to determine the 64 eligible exhibitors for the National Championships of Showmanship, Horsemanship and Equitation to be held at Sun Circuit February 27-March 7, 2021. Due to the cancellation of many of the participating events there were no summer rankings announced.

Tournament Format
All qualified individuals who are on the Final 2020 Ranking List are eligible to compete in that class and division of the Tournament held at Sun Circuit. Exhibitors will show concurrently with the corresponding regularly scheduled Sun Circuit classes to the first set of judges and the high scoring 16 will be  recognized and promoted via media as having achieved the Sensational 16.

For the second round of the tournament, The Sensational 16 as well as all  other exhibitors will show to the second set of Judges as a part of the regular draw at Sun Circuit.  After the class, the high scoring Exceptional 8 will be specially recognized and receive National Championship hats.

Round three of the tournament welcomes The Exceptional 8 back to the arena along with all the regular class entries showing to the third set of Judges at Sun Circuit.

The conclusion of those classes will recognize the highest scoring exhibitors as The Four and they will be awarded embroidered bomber jackets at center arena and promoted through all of Sun Circuit’s media channels.

All eyes will be on the National Championship rounds where The Four in each class and division will compete in a head to head format with the highest ranked remaining exhibitor competing against the lowest ranked remaining exhibitor and the second highest ranked remaining exhibitor against the third highest ranked remaining exhibitor. Then the winner of those two battles will come back to compete against each other to be named National Champion and receive a trophy buckle.

Tie breakers. First Tie Breaker- Highest score dropping one judges score. The judges who’s score count should be announced prior to the start of the class.
Second Tie Breaker- Highest score dropping 2 judges scores.
Exhibitors who aged out of a division are automatically eligible for their new division.  
Eligible Paints and colored horses will run in a separate draw immediately following the AQHA class.  AQHA, APHA and NSBA ownership rules must be followed to exhibit in the classes.
Youth
Youth show only twice to 4 judges in the classes at Sun Circuit The first time they show we will name the Sensational 16. The Second time they show we will recognize the Exceptional 8. Immediately following that presentation, The Four Youth in each class will be announced.

How Does Ranking Work?


Exhibitors who placed in the top 5 circuit standings at  Top 20 AQHA participating shows, NSBA World Show, AQHA World Shows, and Color Breed World Shows were listed for members of the Ranking Committee to rank.

The overall rankings were formulated by compiling individual rankings from each Committee Member. This anonymous group is comprised of judges and trainers who are actively involved in these industries throughout the United States. They were regionally selected to give fair and balanced coverage across the country to rank Youth, Amateur and Select exhibitors in each of  the three classes. Committee members could also choose to add any other exhibitor who they believed excelled in the event.

Good luck to all exhibitors.