APHA Eliminates 14-18 Age Division- Now 13 and Under and 18 and Under
By: Brittany Bevis
A new year means new rules, and APHA youth exhibitors will notice a big change at the horse show thanks to a rule that was proposed, passed at the 2017 APHA Convention, and went into effect on January 1st, 2018.
YP-075.A.2. – Eliminates 14-18 as an age division for classes. Requires all shows to hold five 13 & Under classes that are not able to be combined.
That’s right. No longer will youth classes be separated into the traditional 13 & Under and 14-18 divisions. Per the new rule, the new age divisions will be 13 & Under and 18 & Under. How does this change things for today’s youth? We reached out to Christine Henry Gillett of APHA’s Performance Department to get the inside scoop.
“In the past, most shows either held all youth classes as all-age (18 & under) or split classes (13 & Under and 14-18),” Gillett says. “This rule means that the youth age divisions for classes are no longer 13 & Under and 14-18, but 13 & Under and 18 & Under.”
“The rule also requires all shows to hold at least five classes for 13 & Under competitors that are unable to be combined, regardless of the number of entries. Also, a 13 & Under exhibitor is given the choice of showing in an all-age youth class or the 13 & Under – and can choose on a class-by-class basis.”
For example, let’s say that Jane is a seasoned competitor in Trail, so she decides to try her hand against the big kids by competing in 18 & Under Trail. However, Jane is not as confident in her abilities in Showmanship; therefore, at the same show, she decides to compete in 13 & Under Showmanship. But, remember, Jane cannot show in both the 13 & Under and 18 & Under in the same class, with the same horse. She must choose which division to compete in. However, it’s different if she has two horses… More on that later.
Gillett explains some of the intended benefits for both Novice Youth and 13 & Under exhibitors. “This allows the 13 & Under kids to show up into the 18 & Under class, if they want the larger class/points or to show in their age division if they wish – instead of being forced to combine, as it was in the past. It is the hope that this change will encourage the 13 & Under youth to ‘show up’ from Novice Youth into the 13 & Under classes to dip their toes into the youth division classes, and it allows them to show with their peers that are at a similar level of experience.”
What about youth who show multiple horses? In group classes, (Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Hack, Hunt Seat Equitation, and Equitation Over Fences) a 13 & Under competitor may show up to two horses, so long as one is shown in the 18 & Under class and the other horse is shown in the 13 & Under class. However, if the class is combined, the competitor must choose which horse to show.
“In the same way as the Amateur rules regarding exhibiting multiple horses in individually worked classes, a youth can show up two horses in any combination in 13 & Under and 18 & Under, as long as a maximum of two different horses are exhibited and that horse is shown one time by any exhibitor in the event,” Gillett says.
Back to our example with Jane, she cannot show in both divisions of a class with the same horse, but she can with two different horses.
In addition to adjusting the showbill slightly, show management will now be required to hold five 13 & Under classes that cannot be combined, at every show. For the purposes of APHA’s year-end awards, the 13 & Under and 14-18 designations will still be used, as based on the age of the exhibitor. All Around and High Point awards will still be calculated by the age of the exhibitor.
What does this mean for the Youth World Show, you may ask? According to Gillett, Youth World Show classes will be adjusted to match the new rules. Now, 13 & Under and 18 & Under designations will be used. This also means that a 13 & Under competitor will have the option of showing in either a 13 & Under class or an 18 & Under class, in a specific event, and on a class by class basis.
There are a few exceptions to the rule, as based on different Zones in the country. See below for the text from the 2018 APHA Rulebook.
a. EXCEPTION: In Zones 12, 13 and 14, the minimum five (5) 13 and Under classes are not required.
2. If Two Age Divisions Are Offered. If two age divisions are offered, it should be for thirteen (13) years and younger and eighteen years (18) and younger. In addition, it is required that a minimum of five (5) classes be offered as 13 and Under, and these five (5) classes cannot be combined. A 13 and Under exhibitor may choose which division to compete on a per class basis but cannot exhibit in both divisions in the same class. See SC-185 D.
a. EXCEPTION: In Zones 12, 13, and 124 the minimum five (5) 13 and Under classes are not required.
3. If Solid Paint-Bred/Breeding Stock Performance Category Classes are offered. One age division should be offered and held for eighteen (18) years and younger. Exception: Solid Paint-Bred/Breeding Stock Youth Showmanship may be divided into age groups (13 and Under and 18 and Under).
B. SPLITTING OR COMBINING AGE DIVISIONS. Show management may combine for split age groups as justified by entries if there is unanimous consent of all involved exhibitors; however, if one division is not a two (2) point earning class, then show management may combine age groups, without unanimous consent of all exhibitors. Exception: Excluding Solid Paint Bred/Breeding Stock Performance Category Classes except for Solid Paint-Bred/Breeding Stock Youth Showmanship. See Rule SC-060/A.
What’s your opinion on this new rule change? Do you think it will have the desired effect?
