PURPOSE:

The UPHA Classics originated in 1974 to stimulate interest in young horses, and to provide owners and trainers an opportunity to receive substantial prize money. In 1977, the first UPHA Saddlebred Classic Grand Championships were held at the American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City, MO. Now, local qualifying classes, as well as Classic Grand Championships, are held for Saddlebreds, Morgans and Hackney Ponies.

The UPHA Classics is a well-planned and proven program that contributes to the growth and prosperity of the show horse industry. It provides local competition and national championships with substantial prize money for young performance horses and ponies. Breeders, owners, and trainers all benefit from the UPHA Classics. Due to this program, young performance entries have a greater earning power and therefore, can demand higher sales prices.

The UPHA Classics are designed to be prestigious classes. The intent is to promote a high caliber event and generate a greater prize money return for the young show horse. For that to occur, the UPHA Classics must be governed by strict rules and regulations. USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) rules apply in all divisions.

The UPHA Classics are offered in the following divisions:

Saddlebred	Hackney Pony	Morgan
Three Gaited	Hackney Pony Cobtail	Park Harness
Five Gaited	Harness Pony	Pleasure Driving
Fine Harness	Roadster Pony	Hunter Pleasure
Park Pleasure	Pleasure Pony

2010 Saddlebred Classics Eligibility List (.pdf)

2010 Hackney Classics Eligibility List (.pdf)

2010 Morgan Classics Eligibility List (.pdf)

CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

The UPHA Classics may be offered for Three-Year-Olds and Under for the American Saddlebred and Morgan Horse divisions, and Four-Year-Olds and Under for the Hackney Pony divisions.

In order to show in a UPHA Classic, all horses and ponies must be registered with their appropriate breed registry and MUST be shown under their registered name.

UPHA MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

The professional trainer of a UPHA Classic entry must be an Active member of the UPHA, and the current owner of an entry needs to be an Associate member of the UPHA, and membership numbers must appear on the entry blank. If a non-professional is exhibiting the horse, they must be an Associate or Junior member of the UPHA, in good standing, and their membership number must appear on the entry blank.

RULES FOR ENTERING:

A non-refundable Eligibility Fee of $50 paid to the UPHA Office postmarked on or before April 1st of each year. After April 1st, the Eligibility Fee becomes $100 per horse. Payment of the Eligibility Fee will be made in the name of the entered horse or pony and will make that animal eligible to compete in any and all UPHA Classics classes held that year. Eligibility remains with the animal throughout the year should transfer of ownership occur. Eligibility Fees collected will be used as prize money in the UPHA Classic Grand Championships. All Eligibility Fees collected within a breed will be used in that breed's championship classes.

The entry fee for each qualifying class is $100 and is made in two payments. The first payment, the Declaration Fee, is $50 and must be made by the entry closing date of the particular horse show. The second payment, the Starting Fee, is also $50 and is due 24 hours prior to the class, whenever practical. All entry fees, or partial entry fees, are added to the total purse of the class.

A horse may be shown in one or more Classic; however, the Declaration and Starting Fees must be paid for each Classic in which it will be shown. This also applies to showing in more than one division. Fees are nonrefundable in all situations. All AHSA rules apply.

Click here to download the eligibility form

HORSE SHOW REQUIREMENTS & PRIZE MONEY DISTRIBUTION:

The Horse Show hosting a UPHA Classic shall provide a trophy and six ribbons to distribute to the entries. Any horse show wishing to host a Classic must submit a request to the UPHA Office at least 30 day prior to the class. The horse show will receive a result sheet for each class it hosts, and these results sheets must be completed and returned the UPHA Office within 10 days following the close of the show.

Horse shows may choose to host a $250, $500 or $1000 Added Money Classic. The entry fee for all UPHA Classic classes is $100 regardless of the amount of Added Money offered.

Prize money should be distributed as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the Classic. It is recommended that adequate time be allowed to be sure that all entry checks have cleared before the prize money is disbursed.

All monies collected in each Classic will be dispersed in that class. Prize money in a $500 or $1000 Added Money Classic is divided as follows: $300 is deducted from the total, with $100 going to fourth, fifth and sixth places. Of the balance, 50% is paid to first place, 30% to second place, and 20% to third place. If there were only 2 entries, the total prize money would be split 60% and 40%. If only 3 entries show, the total prize money the original percentages would apply, without the $300 deduction. In case of only one entry, that entry would receive 100% of the total.

Prize money in a $250 Added Money Classic would be broken down in the same percentages as the other UPHA Classic classes, however, only $50 would be awarded to the fourth, fifth and sixth places.

UPHA CLASSIC GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

UPHA Classic Grand Championships will be offered for Three-Year-Olds and Under for the American Saddlebred and Morgan Horse divisions, and Four-Year-Olds and Under for the Hackney Pony divisions. Added Money in the UPHA Classic Grand Championships is $12,000 in all Saddlebred and Hackney Pony divisions, and $5,000 in the Morgan divisions. All entry fees collected for the UPHA Classic Grand Championships will be added to the purse of each Championship.

To be Eligible for competition in any UPHA Classic Grand Championship, a horse or pony must have place first through sixth in any UPHA Classic qualifying class, and both the owner and trainer of the entry must be an Active or Associate member of the UPHA.

For further information, please contact the UPHA at 859-231-5070.

UPHA Classics Results Form (.pdf)

Application to Host UPHA Classics (.pdf)