In 1974, with a few Quarter Horses being imported into this country, a group of enthusiasts set up the British Quarter Horse Association in order to promote and monitor the breed with a stud book registry for both pure and part bred animals. Shows and events were held and the breed started to become known. Many of these early British devotees are still working with the breed today. In 1997 the name was changed to the American Quarter Horse Association-UK. This is the only Quarter Horse Association in the UK affiliated to AQHA. The number of members is now over 850 and rising fast. Besides holding shows and clinics, offering youth and futurity schemes, riding awards, incentive programs and excellent quarterly journals, details are available on studs, stallions, trainers for horse and rider, horses for sale, tack stores and books and videos.

In the Summer of '98 AQHA-UK sent the very first Youth Team from Great Britain to the Youth World Cup in Texas where they had considerable success, with one member coming home with a gold medal. This is a bi-annual event and Youth members are now working towards the next competition in 2008.

AQHA-UK shows follow AQHA rules with Halter classes, Trail, Western Pleasure, Western Riding and Reining, plus the English classes which include Working Hunter, Hunter Hack, and Hunter under Saddle (the latter are, of course, ridden in English tack). There are a growing number of trainers for both horse and rider and some excellent videos and books. Clinics are held regularly in different parts of the country with both British and American trainers - you do not need to bring a horse or be a western rider to find these both fascinating and extremely informative.

New members of AQHA-UK receive an excellent 'starter pack', full of useful information about the breed and the Association. Perhaps you, too, will join the growing number of people who discover the pleasures and rewards of owning an American Quarter horse!