How Is the South Dakota Quarter Horse Association Connected to AQHA?

Updated

The South Dakota Quarter Horse Association (SDQHA) is a state-level quarter horse organization whose stated mission includes promoting the American Quarter Horse, and its leadership roster lists several members holding national AQHA-related titles. The connection shown on sdqha.com is primarily through people and shared purpose rather than through a formally described affiliation agreement. The page does not spell out an official charter, licensing, or governance relationship with AQHA, so the specific terms of any affiliation should be confirmed with the organizations directly.

What SDQHA Says It Is

SDQHA describes itself as a non-profit organization "dedicated to developing and providing beneficial services and opportunities for all horse enthusiasts." Its stated goals include:

  • Educational programs
  • Recognition programs
  • Recreational opportunities
  • Monitoring of equine public policy
  • Fostering industry relations
  • Marketing, promotion, and publicity of the American Quarter Horse

That last item is the clearest stated link to AQHA's core subject matter: the American Quarter Horse breed. The mission language positions SDQHA as a state-level body working in the same breed space, not as a separate breed registry.

The AQHA Connection Runs Through Named Roles

The most concrete evidence of a connection on the page is the list of national directors and AQHA-titled positions held by SDQHA-affiliated people:

Role listed on sdqha.com Name
National Director Debbi Holmes-Stockstill
National Director Kristen Gonsoir
National Director Dean Johnson
National Director James Hootman
National Director Larry Larson
National Director At-Large James Sutton
National Director At-Large Heather Sutton
National Director Emeritus Janet Hansen
National Director Emeritus James Hootman
AQHA Honorary Vice President Georga Sutton
AQHA Past President Jim Hunt (2025)

The presence of "National Director" and "National Director At-Large" titles indicates that people connected to SDQHA serve in national-level roles. The page also lists an "AQHA Past President" and an "AQHA Honorary Vice President," which are AQHA titles rather than SDQHA titles.

What the Page Does Not Establish

The site excerpt does not state:

  • Whether SDQHA is an official AQHA affiliate or chartered state association
  • Any dues, membership, or registration relationship with AQHA
  • Whether SDQHA membership requires AQHA membership
  • Any formal agreement, reporting line, or governance structure between the two organizations

Because those details are absent, the safe reading is that SDQHA operates as a South Dakota quarter horse organization with members who also hold national AQHA roles, and with a mission that includes promoting the breed. Anyone who needs to know the exact affiliation status — for example, to determine whether an SDQHA event counts toward AQHA points or whether membership in one organization affects the other — should verify that with SDQHA or AQHA directly rather than infer it from the website.

How to Use This

If you are trying to understand the relationship before joining, competing, or volunteering:

  1. Treat SDQHA as the state-level organization for Quarter Horse enthusiasts in South Dakota.
  2. Note that several of its listed leaders carry national AQHA titles, which suggests an active working relationship at the people level.
  3. Confirm any affiliation-dependent question — points, eligibility, reciprocal membership — with the organizations themselves, since the page does not answer it.

The site's "Message Us" contact option is the starting point for those questions.