Why Should Youth End at 18? – Modifying Youth Ending Age

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92 – May/June, 2018

By Delores Kuhlwein

Everyone knows that the youth division in breed associations is capped at age eighteen. That’s just the way it has always been, and it coincides with other adulthood milestones for a youth, such as arriving at the age to vote, buying a house, getting married, or joining the service.

However, as the landscape shifts in the equine industry, change is often a healthy necessity. A proposal has been popping up in conversations across the country, including on the floor of the AQHA Convention, about how to retain our youth exhibitors. One such idea involves extending the youth division to 21 years of age, coinciding with other benchmarks like the right to rent a car, a hotel room, or legally being able to drink or smoke.

It’s a controversial issue, but one that deserves some thought. Should a youth be forced to experience the transition to the amateur ranks at the same time he or she is experiencing other hurdles in life? Or, should the industry try to retain the youth just a bit longer by extending or adding a division?

In this feature, we explore the initial contents of the proposal and offer some thought-provoking support for keeping youth as youth, just a little bit longer.

RETAINING ASSETS

The youth population is a huge asset to our industry, and it’s an asset that’s often moving on to spend money and talents elsewhere, following their departure from the youth division. The fact that it happens frequently as a final departure is a conversation point among many in the industry.

Many can attest to the immense amount of pressure felt by these youth, especially those in the 14-18 division, as they’re given a finite amount of time to accomplish their goals and dreams. With a looming deadline approaching, and discussions about college and a career on the horizon, the majority must make a choice of whether or not to continue competing. A select few, with the help of parental financial assistance, are able to continue into the amateur ranks. However, that’s a small percentage. The majority must sell their horses when they head off to college. But, what if the youth division was extended an additional three years, say to the age of 21?

Click here to read the complete article
92 – May/June, 2018