AMARILLO, Texas - If there is anything constant-it's change. And nowhere is that more evident than in the 2001 renewal of the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show.

The AQHA World Championship Show kicks off in less than three weeks and already several important changes have been implemented to this legendary and prestigious show.

Announced last month, the World Show will start one day earlier beginning Saturday November 3 and continuing through Saturday, November 17 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

The World Show has grown to be the largest single-breed world championship horse show and is regarded as the premier showing event in American Quarter Horse competition. The now, 15-day event brings out the best in American Quarter Horse competition--all of which are hopeful to walk away as a world champion.

The 2001 AQHA World Championship Show will feature 3,525 entries in 86 classes under three divisions-western, English and halter. Prizes, including cash, nearly reached $2 million for the 2001 version.

New for 2001 - additions to the show include:

Educational Seminars
Designed specifically for new and veteran horse enthusiasts, the Educational Seminars are a weekend course full of valuable education. Clinicians will focus on issues such as basic health and nutrition, conformation analysis and performance analysis. There's a Kid's Corner featuring the Rising Star CD-ROM. Flavored with a few tips from professionals and industry representatives, these seminars are sure to present ideas that will benefit every horse owner. The Educational Seminars will be hosted by the American Quarter Horse Foundation booth located in America's Horse Learning Center in Carriage Hall, November 7-14.

Team Wrangler
This year at the AQHA World Championship Show, we will introduce the Members of the newly created Team Wrangler. Announced earlier this summer, Team Wrangler was created through a joint effort of AQHA with assistance from AQHA Corporate Partner, Wrangler. Team Wrangler is a yearlong competition featuring Members of the AQHA Association of Professional Horsemen. The AQHA Professional Horsemen chosen to compete on Team Wrangler will hail from both racing and show disciplines within the American Quarter Horse industry and will make their debut here at this show during Wrangler Night, Thursday, November 15.

World's Greatest Groom
A new addition to this year's AQHA World Championship Show honors those behind-the-scene soliders who work intensely to prepare each exhibitor for their moment in the arena. The World's Greatest Groom Contest, sponsored by Giovanni Camuso of Kailua, Hawaii, is open to professional grooms, mom and dads, husbands, wives and friends that support AQHA competitors. Eligibility requirements include assisting a current AQHA Member with grooming responsibilities. Groom cannot be currently showing or riding horses competitively in AQHA events for a minimum of five years prior to November 13

Silver Spur
This year's show will also feature the crowning of the 2001 MD Barns Silver Spur winner. From 150 nominees, the top three candidates will be introduced and the winner will be announced and awarded a $20,000 MD Barns gift certificate and a hand-crafted Montana Silversmiths belt buckle. First and Second Runners-up will be awarded a $5,000 MD Barns gift certificate and a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle. The three finalists are:

Steel Dust
Also announced during a special reception will be the 2001 Steel Dust Award winners, an AQHA program that is designed to recognize outstanding coverage and promotion of horses, people and events within the American Quarter Horse industry by television, newspapers, magazines, radio and AQHA Affiliates.

AQHA World Show Sale
Professional Auction Services Inc., of Leesburg, Virginia, returns as the management company for the World Show Sale. Scheduled for November 15-17, the sale will be held in the Made In Oklahoma Building at State Fair Park and will begin at 10 a.m. daily.

AQHA Trade Show
From "horsewares" to "housewares," the year's AQHA Trade Show is sure to fulfill anyone's Christmas shopping needs. The newly expanded Trade Show brings more than 150 manufacturers and retailers to the Travel and Transportation and International Trade Center Buildings at the State Fair Park, November 4-17. The trade show area in the Travel and Transportation Building features an expanded concession area, completed with seating and live coverage of World Show activities via television. Visitors to the trade show area in the International Trade Center Building not only have access to live World Show Coverage, but can also find the World Show restaurant and lounge.

Open competition will begin on Saturday, November 10 and continue through Saturday, November 17 with the presentations of the OKC Leading Owner Award, the Professional's Choice Leading Exhibit Award and the Sooner Trailer Superhorse Award on Saturday.

Other activities throughout the two-week period include Farm Tours that give sightseers an opportunity to visit Oklahoma's leading breeding and training facilities, as well as presentations of the Sooner Trailer All-Around Amateur (November 9), OKC Leading Owner, Professional's Choice Leading Exhibitor and Sooner Trailer Superhorse Awards (all November 17).

The 2001 AQHA World Championship Show is sponsored by The American Quarter Horse Journal, Bayer, Centaur HTP Fencing Systems, GMC Sierra, Justin Boots, Markel Insurance, MBNA America®, MD Barns, MCI, Montana Silversmiths, Nutrena, Professional's Choice, Sooner Trailer, Tex Tan and Wrangler.

For more information on the AQHA World Show contact AQHA at (806) 376-4811or visit AQHA's Web site at www.aqha.com.