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

Do I have to show, lease, own, ride or take lessons on a quarter horse to attend? No. While we 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.

Do I have to live in Region 5 (DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA) to attend? No. 

Will I get to ride or handle live horses? No.

What does the $35 registration fee include? All paid attendees are invited to participate in the offsite farm tour, lectures, activities, and provided meals on Saturday and Sunday. Each attendee will also receive a conference t-shirt. The youth attendees will also receive their very own copy of the 2026 Region 5 Calendar and be invited to participate in the Saturday night social. Registration does NOT include a hotel room or any food purchases beyond the conference meals and snacks. 

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 3oth, 2026. 

May I only attend one day of the conference? We do realize that the two 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 many people attend? Last year we had over 90 registrants. It was our biggest conference so far. Due to our 2026 conference space we will be capping this year's event at 100. 

How old do youth need to be attend this Youth Conference? Based on previous Region 5 conferences, we recommend youth ages 10–18. We have a variety of activities planned—games, crafts, and team-building—that are designed to be both fun and educational.

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 budgeting and activity/meal planning, chaperones that plan to eat with the group and participate in the activities also need to 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 list a few examples.

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.

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. 

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.

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 a different hotel in the Bel Air-Aberdeen 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 and conference:
• 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 should 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.

February 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 our 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 to Lauren Goolsby by January 30th. 

What if I am not able to come to the conference, can I receive a refund? If you registered for the original January dates, correspondence was sent via email to each adult chaperone with further instructions.

If you registered during the second window for the February dates, full refunds will be issued for cancellations received on or before February 6, 2026. After this date, refunds will not be issued; however, a conference spot may be transferred to an alternate attendee.