Westark Horse Show Association, Inc. has been in existence and a member of the Arkansas State Horse Show Association since 1980, and has always promoted a family atmosphere where everyone in the family from young children to adults can show their horses. The purpose of the association is to promote and encourage a family and friendly atmosphere in which people can work together to stage quality horse shows for this area and to qualify entries for the annual Arkansas State Championship Horse Show held Labor Day weekend at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock Arkansas. This show is held to benefit Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Westark has over one hundred member families. In 2008 there were 10 shows held in western Arkansas with contestants traveling from as far west as Eastern Oklahoma and as far east as Little Rock Arkansas.

Westark is one of 12 regional horse show associations that cover the state of Arkansas and sends its top five contestants in all events except halter to the state championship show in Little Rock on Labor Day weekend.

Westark offers halter classes, including showmanship at halter, pleasure classes and speed events, with the pleasure and speed events being broken down into age groups, with three age groups for exhibitors under the age of 18 and offers the same events for adults. There is also a lead- line western pleasure class for children, and three pony classes for children under ten riding ponies 52 inches and smaller. There are also two classes for fast and slow gaited pleasure horses. The show season ends with the annual year end awards banquet in December where members receive the rewards for their efforts throughout the show year.

The association is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of five board members, and the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers are experienced horse people and most have been members of Westark for many years. The President represents Westark on the Board of Directors of the Arkansas State Horse Show Association.

The association has experienced a lot of growth over the past five years, and has become one of the leading horse show associations in the state. The members always do well representing Westark at the State Championship Show and Westark members have taken home many awards including several state championships, and three state show high-point awards since 1992.