Nomination submissions for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 have closed. Nominees selected for induction will be notified in December 2024. Inductees will be recognized with a formal class announcement at the 2025 AQHA Convention in Las Vegas and the upcoming induction celebration scheduled for September 12-13, 2025 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas.
Hall of Fame nominations for the Class of 2026 will open January 1, 2025 and must be submitted online by April 1, 2025.
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame's mission is to honor those humans and horses that have made a transformational impact upon AQHA and the American Quarter Horse industry. Both horse and human inductees should have made a historically significant influence upon their respective fields or disciplines, and the horse should have shown great accomplishment in those areas. The lives of human inductees should reflect their enduring influence upon their field or discipline, and should show the highest level of character and integrity.
HOW TO NOMINATE
The Hall of Fame inducts a limited number of horses and humans (including an eligible AQHA Past President) annually. All candidates for induction must be nominated under the following guidelines and sorted into one of two categories, as specified below:
1. Member-Submitted Nomination: AQHA members are encouraged to submit a nomination packet for horses or humans whose activities and/or achievements have impacted the American Quarter Horse industry. Candidates must meet the following qualifications for nomination:
Horse
- Horse must be deceased.
- Horse must be recognized through the American Quarter Horse Association breed registry. This may include an American Quarter Horse and/or Thoroughbred as outlined within the current AQHA Rulebook.
- Horse must be outstanding for a multitude of years as a sire, dam, competitor OR brought exceptional visibility to the American Quarter Horse breed.
Human
- Person may be either living or deceased.
- Person is a member in good standing with the American Quarter Horse Association and/or has made a significant impact on AQHA and the industry.
- Person whose activities occurred during the existence of AQHA (i.e., post 1940).
- Person's activities should be outstanding over a multitude of years and contributed to the advancement of the American Quarter Horse industry.
- Person has conducted themselves in a positive way that is becoming of the honor of Hall of Fame induction.
The "three-year rule" allows a nominee to be considered for induction for a maximum of three selection years (consideration period) before rotating off the evaluation schedule. The human or horse must be re-nominated after a three-year interval before being eligible for future consideration and/or induction. To verify a nominee's eligibility based on the "three-year rule," please contact us at (806) 378-5021.
2. AQHA Past President: An AQHA Past President will be automatically inducted into the Hall of Fame five years after his/her term of office.
- The Hall of Fame Committee will not consider any AQHA Past President through a Member-Submitted Nomination prior to the five-year anniversary of his/her presidency.
NOMINATION PROCEDURES
All eligible candidates for nomination must be sorted into one of two identified categories (i.e., Member-Submitted Nomination or AQHA Past President) and must adhere to the established procedural guidelines for the nomination process. All candidates fulfilling the requirements for nomination will be reviewed through multiple rounds of evaluation and are eligible for consideration using the "three-year rule." Click here for additional nomination information.
Hall of Fame nominations are evaluated through multiple rounds of review based on five criteria and recommended by the Hall of Fame Committee for annual induction. Click here for more information on the evaluation procedure.