Ohio Quarter Horse Association

What Ohio Quarter Horse Association does

The Ohio Quarter Horse Association (OQHA) is a non-profit breed association organized in 1951 and headquartered at 6325 Quarter Horse Drive in Columbus, Ohio. It serves as Ohio's official state affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), supporting an addressable base of 53,000+ registered Quarter Horses in the state and over 1 million Quarter Horse owners nationally. OQHA operates through three principal divisions: OQHYA (youth members 18 and under), OAQHA (amateur exhibitors), and OQHF (the Ohio Quarter Horse Foundation, a non-profit arm delivering scholarships, crisis assistance, and equine welfare programs). The organization is co-organizer of the All American Quarter Horse Congress — the largest multi-breed horse show in the United States — held annually at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

OQHA's core offerings center on a membership and points-tracking system spanning Open, Amateur, Youth, Level 1, Novice, and Mt Trail divisions, supported by a distributed show circuit operated through regional affiliates (EOQHA, NOQHA, SOQHA, OMIQHA). Signature programs include the Congress NYATT youth team, Judging/Hippology/Horse Bowl/Speech competitive teams, the Ohio Queen Contest (established 1961), the Annual Trail Ride and Mt Trail Challenge (19th year in 2026), the Congress Cup charity golf outing, and the Ohio Quarter Horse News magazine. The technology layer is limited to standard digital platforms for membership management, event registration, and communications — there is no proprietary technology, AI capability, or API infrastructure.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring annual membership dues (subscription model), event and show entry fees (transaction-based), multi-tier event sponsorships ranging from $250 to $4,000 (e.g., Event Sponsor at $4,000 down to Tee Box at $250), and foundation-related fundraising and youth program fees. Distribution occurs through direct member services at the Columbus office, a regional affiliate show circuit across Ohio, and national pathways via the AQHA network and Congress. OQHA is governed by a Board of Directors with Kelli Diaz as President and Justin Billings (formerly AQHA Chief Show Officer) as CEO, supported by a 6-person staff handling executive, congress, membership, marketing, and treasury functions.

Name

Ohio Quarter Horse Association

Legal name

Ohio Quarter Horse Association

Website

https://oqha.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ohio Quarter Horse Association is a non-profit breed association founded in 1951, serving as Ohio's official affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association. It provides membership, points tracking, shows, youth development programs, and scholarships to Quarter Horse owners, breeders, trainers, and exhibitors across Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Breed Association

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Horses and Other Equine Production (11292)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Equine breed association
• Quarter horse registry
• Youth equestrian programs
• Membership associations
• Horse show competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for OQHA, OQHYA (youth division), and OAQHA (amateur division). Members receive points, year-end awards, access to shows, and eligibility for scholarships.
2. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from events including Congress Cup Golf Outing, Annual Trail Ride, Mt Trail Challenge, and various horse shows. Multiple sponsorship tiers available from $250 to $4,000.
3. Show and Event Fees: Entry fees and related charges for Ohio Quarter Horse shows, affiliate events, and competitions organized by OQHA and its regional associations.
4. Youth Programs and NYATT Teams: Revenue supporting youth competition teams including the Congress NYATT (National Youth Activity Team Tournament) team and AQHYA World Show team participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ohio Quarter Horse Association (OQHA) is a 501-style non-profit breed association organized in 1951 that provides membership services, points-based competition programs, and youth development pathways for American Quarter Horse owners, breeders, trainers, and exhibitors in Ohio. Its core offering is an annual membership (across Open, Amateur, and Youth divisions) tied to a multi-class points system that drives participation in affiliated shows and access to year-end awards, scholarships, and national AQHA events.

Product overview

Ohio Quarter Horse Association is a breed association offering a unified portfolio of membership programs, competitive events, and youth development initiatives. Core offerings include OQHA Membership with an associated points tracking system spanning multiple divisions (Open, Amateur, Youth, Level 1, Novice, Mt Trail), the OQHYA youth program featuring Judging, Hippology, Horse Bowl, and Speech teams, and the Ohio Quarter Horse Foundation providing scholarships and crisis assistance. Signature annual events include the Congress Cup Golf Outing, Annual Trail Ride with Mt Trail Challenge, Ohio Queen Contest, and NYATT Team participation at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. The association also publishes the Ohio Quarter Horse News magazine and maintains an Official Handbook of rules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OQHA Membership & Multi-Division Points Program Annual membership program granting members access to the OQHA points tracking system spanning Open, Amateur, Youth, Level 1 Non Pro, Novice Amateur, Novice Youth, Mt Trail, Youth World Show Team, and Youth Congress Team categories, plus eligibility for affiliated Ohio shows and year-end awards.
• OQHYA Youth Membership Program Youth division membership (ages 18 and under) offering participation in shows, competition for AQHYA World Show Team and Congress NYATT Team, year-end awards, Judging/Hippology/Horse Bowl/Speech teams, and OQHF scholarship eligibility.
• OAQHA Amateur Membership Program Amateur division membership for non-professional owners and riders, providing entry into OAQHA amateur shows, amateur points accumulation, year-end awards, and access to amateur-specific programming including the Ohio Queen Contest.
• Ohio Quarter Horse Foundation (OQHF) Programs Foundation pillar offering three programs: the OQHF Scholarship Program for OQHYA/OAQHA/OQHA members pursuing higher education, the OQHF Crisis Fund for members affected by hardship, disaster, or illness, and Health & Welfare initiatives for the American Quarter Horse.
• Congress Cup Golf Outing Annual charity golf outing organized by the Ohio Quarter Horse Foundation at Rattlesnake Ridge Golf Club to generate funds for annual OQHF scholarships. Multi-tier sponsorship packages from $250 (Tee Box) to $4,000 (Event Sponsor).
• OQHA Annual Trail Ride & Mt Trail Challenge Annual trail ride event combining guided and self-guided rides through Ohio woodlands, paired with the Mt Trail Challenge competition. The 2026 event marked the 19th year of the trail ride series (hosted by Creek Side Horse Park).
• Ohio Queen Contest Annual competition selecting a young horsewoman to represent OQHA at equine functions. Selection is based on horsemanship ride (20%), written exam (40%), and personal interview (40%). Program was established in 1961.
• OQHA Congress NYATT Team Program National Youth Activity Team Tournament (NYATT) team that competes at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Qualification runs February-July, with requirements for meetings, shows, and point accumulation.
• OQHYA Judging, Hippology, Horse Bowl & Speech Teams Competitive youth teams that train and compete in halter and performance class judging (Judging), horse-related knowledge (Hippology), equine trivia (Horse Bowl), and public speaking (Speech), with competition at AQHYA World Show and the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $125,000 in year-end prizes awarded to 2025 winners
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Markel InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing services to Ohio members. Beth Himes attends OQHA events to share information about insurance services available for Ohio members through this partnership.
• Creek Side Horse ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOQHA affiliate that donated $2,000 to OQHA. Hosts the OQHA Annual Trail Ride and Mt Trail Challenge events at their facility in Waynesburg, Ohio. The successful 19th year of trail ride events was celebrated in 2026.
• Boo's Kitchen of DelawareminorOthersCatering vendor providing meals for OQHA Annual Picnic events. Located in Delaware, Ohio.
• All American Quarter Horse CongresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOQHA is a key organizer of the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the largest multi-breed horse show in the nation, held annually at Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio.
• American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization. AQHA Service Center located at OQHA office in Columbus, open first week of each month. OQHA members compete for AQHA world championships and participate in AQHYA national youth programs.
• Eastern Ohio Quarter Horse Association (EOQHA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional OQHA affiliate hosting shows including EOQHA Spring It On Show and EOQHA Fall Classic. Participates in Affiliate Social Hour at OQHA Annual Meeting.
• Northern Ohio Quarter Horse Association (NOQHA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional OQHA affiliate hosting shows including NOQHA Spring Extravaganza, Summer Six Pack, and Fall Extravaganza.
• Southern Ohio Quarter Horse Association (SOQHA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional OQHA affiliate hosting The Challenge and The Madness shows, including large circuit shows at World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.
• Martz FamilycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerous sponsor of the Congress Cup charity golf outing organized by Ohio Quarter Horse Foundation to raise funds for youth scholarships.
• Ohio Quarter Horse FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization dedicated to giving back to the American Quarter Horse industry. Supports education through scholarships, crisis assistance, and equine welfare. Pillar of the OQHA ecosystem.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Quarter Horse Association: The national parent organization for the Quarter Horse breed. Directly comparable as the umbrella body whose rules, world shows, and professional horseman directory OQHA extends into Ohio, with a far larger staff and member base.
• American Paint Horse Association: National breed registry and association for Paint Horses. Same breed-association business model (membership, points, shows, youth programs, world show) as OQHA but at national scale and for a different breed.
• Appaloosa Horse Club: National breed association for Appaloosa horses, with a comparable membership, youth, show-sanctioning, and magazine publishing model. Functions as a peer breed association competing for similar exhibitors.
• United States Equestrian Federation: National governing body for equestrian sport in the U.S. Comparable as the umbrella organization sanctioning competitions, tracking members, and producing publications that intersect with OQHA's amateur and youth segments.
• Arabian Horse Association: National breed association for Arabian horses offering membership, regional affiliates, youth programs, and competitive shows — a directly analogous business model operating at national scale.

Direct peers

• National Snaffle Bit Association: Discipline association for show horse competition in Western and English events. Comparable as a rule-making, points-tracking, member-based equestrian organization serving exhibitors and trainers.
• Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association: Breed-specific association running shows, points, youth programs, and publications for a single horse breed — highly comparable operating model to OQHA.
• National Reining Horse Association: National equestrian discipline association focused on reining competitions. Operates a similar affiliate-state model, sanctioning shows, tracking points, and running youth programs analogous to OQHA's structure.
• All American Quarter Horse Congress: The largest multi-breed horse show in the U.S., held at the Ohio Expo Center and co-organized with OQHA. Operates on the same competitive-showing model and shares the same membership and exhibitor audience.

Regional players

• Texas Quarter Horse Association: State-level Quarter Horse association that mirrors OQHA's exact operating model (membership, points, youth, shows, affiliate regions) but in Texas — a comparable regional peer in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oh-quarter-horse-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ohio Quarter Horse Association