In 2012 World Champion hunter trainers, David Warner and Lainie DeBoer, are offering a hunter derby series at several AQHA shows throughout the country. The International Hunter Derby was introduced five years ago by a USHJA High Performance Hunter Committee supported by George Morris. The goals of the class were to bring back hunters to their traditional roots of being in a hunt field, improve horsemanship skills, increase spectators, and develop new sponsorship.

The Derby Series has been a huge success for the USHJA and has developed into a National Hunter Derby series, with over a hundred derbies taking place each year throughout the country with over one million dollars offered in prize money.

"It has increased sales of horses, improved horsemanship especially with the Youth, and it has grown sponsorship with all of its exposure," DeBoer says.

After watching the success of the USHJA, DeBoer and Warner felt that the derby series could be easily utilized with American Quarter Horses. They got together and created the class based off the USHJA model. The two trainers also developed a criteria for the types of shows that would hold their event. A high quality horse show that still needs to grow, a good facility that could offer quality footing and appropriate jumps, and horse show management that would showcase the derby as a separate class.

"When word got out that we were starting up a Derby series, we were approached by many horse shows as well as potential sponsors wanting to be a part of this inaugural event," Lainie told GoHorseShow. "We have chosen seven this year alone, culminating in a finals this Fall."

Their goal for the finals is to offer over $25,000 or more in cash and prizes, and to make it a beautiful event for both exhibitors and spectators. When thinking of the best possible venue for the finals, the most appropriate place is the World show, which represents the highest standard in our industry showcasing top American Quarter horses.

"We would like to offer the finals, in barn 6, at the AQHA World Show as a special event after the hunters have completed showing," Lainie says. "The AQHA World Show, as well as the AQHA's support would give us a platform for this class to really show the beauty and athleticism of the American Quarter Horse. I currently have a proposal submitted to AQHA to help make this happen."

Here is a list of the current derbies this year:

Fox Lea Farm January 14th

Prairie Classic, OKC, Feb 18-19 one round each day

Virginia Classic, April 5th evening class

Lakeside Arena, Frankfort, KY April 13

Ledges, Beloit, Ill June TBA

Lexington, KY June TBA

NSBA World, Tulsa, OK August 15-19

Finals TBA

The exhibitor would have to compete in one derby throughout the year to earn a berth in the finals. A buy in option will be offered at a premium price for the finals for exhibitors that have not qualified. There will be a sliding scale for the entry fee into the final depending on the exhibitors participation throughout the year.

Monetary goal: Each qualifying horse show would offer $1,000 in prize money and the final would offer $10,000 in money earnings.

The Derby will be a two round, numerically scored format. The first round would consist of a classic hunter course. The second round would be a handy hunter round with bonuses throughout the course. The two scores will be combined for the overall final score. The class will be open to Pro and Non Pro exhibitors on AQHA horses. A cash bonus will be given to the highest scoring non-pro exhibitor at the finals.

Everything is not set in stone, so please stay tuned for more details! Click here for visit the Hunter Derby series Facebook page.