Region 5 AQHYA

Do I have to be an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) or state affiliate member? No.

Do I have to show, lease, own, ride or take lessons on a quarter horse to attend? No. While we will use the AQHA, AQHYA and quarter breed as a platform to learn from, we welcome all youth that have an interest in horses to attend this conference to learn more about themselves, horses, and leadership.

Will the attendees ride or handle live horses? No.

What does the $35 registration fee include? Each paid attendee will be invited to the conference educational sessions and receive a welcome bag with a conference t-shirt. Attendees will also be invited to morning doughnuts, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, plus lunch for the road donated by Jersey Mike's Subs on Sunday after the conclusion of the conference. Registration does NOT include a hotel room or any food purchases from the hotel snack pantry, restaurant, or bar.

Will last minute (or day of) registration be available onsite? No. Due to the preparation that goes into this conference, registration will be open for a limited period. Registration will close on January 11th, 2025. 

May I only come for one day? We do realize that the 1.5 day schedule may not be an option for everyone. We are open to a Saturday-only attendance. Please make sure to share that information when you submit your registration. 

If I can only come for a portion of the conference, may I pay for only that portion? No. The registration fee is a flat fee.

How old do I need to be attend this Youth Conference? Based on previous Region 5 conferences and AQHYA YES, attendees activities are suited for children between 10-18 years old.

As a youth registrant, do I have to have an adult chaperone? We appreciate the presence of adult chaperones to help assist with driving to the offsite activities and overseeing smaller individual requests during the conference. To help with the head count and activity/meal
planning, chaperones need to also register.

Does my adult chaperone have to be my parent? No. We welcome Youth Advisors, Extension Agents, 4-H Leaders, Horse Trainers and Coaches, to name a few examples.

How can I pay for my registration? There are two ways to pay for registration, check by mail or PayPal. Specific instructions can be found on the registration form for both options. 

Can I register multiple people using just one form? No. The form was created for individual submissions. However, you may send a single combined payment into pay for multiple attendees. 

How will I know that my paperwork and payment are complete? After the registration and payment are received, attendees will receive a confirmation email within 2-3 business days.

How are the attendees transported to the offsite events? To keep our expenses low, the attendees drive themselves or carpool with an adult chaperone to the offsite activities.

Do I have to stay at the conference hotel? No. We realize that some youth may live nearby, have family in the area, or opt to stay at one of the other several hotels in the State College area. 

How should I dress for this conference? By participating in this conference, you will be considered a representative of the AQHYA. The following clothing guidelines have been established by the AQHYA and are expected to be followed at the hotel:
• Clothing must be clean and free from holes and tears. No bare skin exhibited between shirt and pants/shorts. Skirts and shorts must be at least mid-thigh length.
• Underclothing cannot be visible. No cleavage should be visible at any time. Layered look of a shirt with sleeves over spaghetti strap top is acceptable if sleeved shirt is kept on.
• Hats will be removed by males and females inside buildings. Appropriate footwear and blouse/top to accompany outfit.
• Below are the following items that are prohibited: No garments or buttons with offensive slogans, advertisement, or artwork. No muscle shirts or long chains. No tube tops, halter tops, spaghetti strap tops (exceptions above), off the shoulder tops, low cut tops, backless tops, and sheer shirts. No swimwear visible outside of the pool area.

January can be cold in Region 5, and we do have offsite activities that you will also want to dress appropriately for. Please check the weather to plan for your day.

What size t-shirt should I order? The unisex t-shirts are made of a 50/50 blended material. Most people consider this shirt type to be true to size.

Can I purchase an additional conference t-shirt? Yes. Your request and payment must be submitted by January 11th, 2025. Please contact Lauren Goolsby for further details.   

What if I am not able to come to the conference, can I receive a refund? Full refunds will be issued for cancellations received on or before January 18th, 2025. After this date, refunds will not be issued however a conference spot maybe transferred to an alternate attendee.