What’s Your Opinion? – APHA Rule Change Proposals for 2016
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By Megan Arszman
If you’ve ever complained about a decision made by your respective breed association or wish a new rule would be created, last summer, the American Paint Horse Association gave members the chance to submit rule change proposals and let their voices be heard. Now, the association is looking for input from its members on the list of the most recently submitted rule changes.
At the 2015 APHA Annual Convention, to be held February 27-March 2, 2015 at the Dallas-Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle, the proposed rule changes will be reviewed and voted upon for possible inclusion into the 2016 rulebook.
The Process
The APHA prides itself on having a very open process when it comes to rule change proposals, according to President-Elect Ron Shelly. “All the equine associations have different approaches with proposals, but we’re very open,” Shelly explains. “Our members can submit rule proposals and those go through a Rules Committee, which reviews them from the standpoint of whether or not they are clear. If they pass, the rules can be incorporated.”
Once those proposals pass the Rules Committee, they then proceed to the APHA Executive Committee where members try to look at the big picture and make sure the proposals will move the association “forward in a positive direction.” Once rules have passed the Executive Committee, the final set of proposals are published so members have the opportunity to review them and make comments to their respective elected directors. At the 2015 Convention, different committees (i.e., Show and Contest, Breed Registry, etc.) will review their respective proposals. Those committees will then come out with their recommendations to give to the general membership. Then, the elected directors will vote on each and every rule proposal as it comes forward.
“We think the process is extremely democratic—it’s very open and very transparent,” Shelly says. “That way we end up doing what should be a good reflection of at least a majority of the members. There are some rule proposals that make imminent sense to some people, and to some people they don’t make any sense. That’s why we vote with our directors.
“Every member has an opportunity to submit a rule change proposal. I think we have a very good, open, and transparent system, and every member has an opportunity to talk to their directors about how they feel about the proposals, so we get a good vetting on anything that is proposed. When we implement rules, it’s at the will of the membership through the directors.”
The Proposals
In the fall of 2014, APHA posted 46 rule change proposals for review by its membership. We’ve asked a group of horse owners, trainers, and exhibitors for their opinions on a few select proposals.
AM-010: Changes the definition of remuneration for the purposes of Amateur eligibility and standardizes the rules with other associations. The text of this proposed rule states the following: “Payment of entry fees and/or expenses by anyone other than the Amateur, his/her immediate family, or his/her corporation as defined in AM-020.A is considered remuneration.”
APHA horse trainer Cooper Evans: “I think our rules are written to protect the masses, and sometimes there will be someone who might take advantage of the rule. I think it’s great if we can be on the same level with the other associations to rule out any misunderstandings.”
APHA stallion owner and amateur exhibitor Erin Bradshaw: “I agree that amateur eligibility should be consistent throughout the different breeds. I think that’s a smart move because [AQHA and APHA] are so closely run together. Keeping the eligibility more mainstream and consistent across breeds will eliminate confusion and people will know what the rules are [for each association]. That would make things easier for everyone.”
APHA horse trainer Wade Spell: “This would make it easier for everyone to know what the rules are. Then, there’s no question when it comes to eligibility, if we made [the requirements] in line with other breed associations.”
SC-110: Allows show management to accept additional entries in individual working events until the last exhibitor enters the arena. This exception could apply to individual working events such as Trail, Western Riding, Ranch Horse Pleasure, Working Hunter, etc.
APHA amateur exhibitor Megan Ryden: “I’m all for trying to find ways to increase show entries, so I think this is actually a really good idea. It might create extra hassle for the poor stewards at the gate but, overall, I think this could help add entries and make for bigger classes. I know I’ve been guilty of thinking I’d entered a class only to find out I’d forgotten. By the time I realized it, the class had started, and it was too late!”
Wade Spell: “That’s ridiculous… so you can watch everyone else do the pattern and jump in later? Also, [some people] want to be the last one that shows in a pattern. How’s that going to benefit us and bring more people to the table?”
Cooper Evans: “I think that’s a great idea. My only [issue] with that is I hate wasting a judge’s time, no matter what. I don’t want a judge to feel like they’re getting their time wasted because they have to sit there longer. On the other hand, I feel like it’s a good rule change, because we need all the entries we can get. We’re trying to bounce back from the economic downfall of the last few years, so any time people want to enter more classes or spend more money on our association, that’s a good thing. Maybe they’re on a day fee and not paying extra, but maybe they enter the class just to give it a good try.”
“I do think we could see people intentionally waiting to enter at the last minute. If it’s a habitual [occurrence] with the same person continually doing that, there needs to be another rule or maybe someone needs to point out that they can’t continually enter late over and over.”
Erin Bradshaw: “I don’t think this would be a positive change, because there have been issues in the past where exhibitors are competing for all-around awards, and you’ll have people adding horses to either take points away or add points to the class to help someone. I think, if you can enter up until the last horse is in the class, you’re opening up the window to a lot of problems, especially for people who will use and abuse that rule change.”
“I don’t see why you need to do that anyway. Anyone who is at a horse show knows what their horse is capable of and what classes they’re going to enter him in, so I don’t think you’re gaining anything by doing that.”
AM-085: Allows Amateur exhibitors to exhibit a maximum of three horses, rather than two, in individual working events. This could apply to classes like Trail, Western Riding, Barrel Racing, Yearling Longe Line, Team Roping, etc.
Cooper Evans: “I don’t have a problem with this. I think it can be hard on exhibitors, but it’s not a bad thing. It goes hand-in-hand with adding more numbers and money to the association. If you have the money to have three horses in training, and you want to show all three in the same class, then go for it.”
Erin Bradshaw: “They are always talking about how numbers are down at horse shows. What better way to get your numbers up than by inviting someone to show more than two horses, if they have a third? I don’t think you have anything to lose by allowing an amateur to show an additional horse. That could add to numbers at the smaller shows and the World Show. This gives you more of an option.”
Megan Ryden: “If an exhibitor has three horses they want to exhibit in the same event, I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t be able to show all three. It adds entries to the show, which will add additional funds to the club putting on the show. As far as I can see, it’s a win-win!”
AM-205-2: Changes Novice Amateur reinstatement period from 10 years prior to reapplication to five years prior.
Erin Bradshaw: “I think 10 years is a little long, and you’ll lose people if they have to wait. 10 years is a long time, especially in the horse business. If anyone told me I have to wait 10 years to do something, I’m just not going to do it, and I will find another avenue for my time and money. If you make the period shorter, that’ll encourage more people. If someone is a novice, that person is a novice. If there’s a five- or 10-year wait, what’s the difference? I think a five-year period is more than enough time, and 10 years is way too long.”
Mary Malsch: Although I haven’t been actively showing for a number of years, I would not favor this rule change. I think once you have pointed out of novice, you have demonstrated a level of skill that should require you to move up into the amateur ranks, even if you sat out for a number of years and want to return to the pen. You still have that skillset that separates you from a true beginner. I would be a prime example of that—I’ve shown only once in the past five or six years, but I still have my Reserve World Championship buckle from the novice division, I have a lot of points, and I still have the experience. There are still people getting into this for the first time, and that’s what the novice category is for. It’s for when people are just starting out.”
Wade Spell: “I don’t think that’s going to work. There are too many good riders who may be out for only four to five years that could take away [awards] from people who are true novices. For example, I’ve got people who have been out [of the industry] for about five years who can show the [heck] out of a horse, but they took time off due to work or having a kid. When they come back, they’re not a true novice. It’s just not fair.”
Megan Ryden: “I feel strongly about this one – I firmly oppose making the reinstatement period five years. The Novice Amateur program is such a wonderful way to give new or novice members a place to exhibit their horses against competitors of similar experience. I feel that the last thing we should do is ‘unlevel’ the playing field for these truly novice exhibitors by bringing back exhibitors who were successful enough to point out of the division. A five-year hiatus could definitely make even the most seasoned exhibitor rusty, but I don’t feel that it’s enough to take them back to novice status. My hope is always that those novice exhibitors continue to keep coming back and showing and not be so intimidated that they don’t want to come back. I hope the novice division stays as an introductory division that breaches the gap between those with little to no show experience and the more experienced amateur division.”
Cooper Evans: “I have some clients that would love this because they have not shown in some classes in the last five to ten years. I do think they might have a slight upper hand because they have shown in that class in the past and maybe have more experience than someone who is a true novice and still new to the sport. At the same time, I have some ladies who are intimidated to go into some of those classes they haven’t shown in [in a while] and that keeps them from entering the classes.”
AM-210: Allows an Amateur to show a non-owned horse in Novice Amateur classes. The text of this rule change proposal includes the following: “A horse exhibited in Novice Amateur classes does not have to be owned by the exhibitor showing the horse, however, in order to be eligible for the various APHA points, titles and awards sponsored by the APHA and for exhibiting at shows sponsored by the APHA (i.e., World Show), the horse must be owned by the Amateur and/or the Amateur’s family (mother, father, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, in-law (brother, sister), legal guardian, grandparent or step-grandparent), family owned corporation, ranch or farm.”
Cooper Evans: “I think it’s a good idea. I think the idea behind it is to help get someone new into the sport, so they’re borrowing a horse to get a first-hand experience. I think it’s a good idea to keep it limited to the novice division, so amateurs aren’t swapping horses all of the time.”
Erin Bradshaw: “I do not agree with this proposal at all. Every time you open a window for people to show horses that are not owned by them, in addition to the rules and guidelines set by the APHA, you’re creating a fiasco. You already have so many people filling a class (which goes back to what I was saying about SC-110). By doing something like this change, you’re opening a window to chaos. What’s going to end up happening to the real novice amateurs, who really do own their horses and have maybe waited the five or ten-year period to be novice again, if someone can just show up and hop on someone else’s horse and show in the novice classes? Why can’t they do that in any class? If you’re going to allow that in the novice amateur classes, you might as well allow that to happen in every class. They’re creating a problem by doing that. It goes back to people taking advantage of a rule. I think that takes the fairness out of it.”
AM-310: Creates a new Platinum Amateur Division for Amateurs 50 and over.
Wade Spell: “That doesn’t make sense, so there would be a division for ages 45-50? Or is it just 50 and over only? That’s not smart either. They should make it 55 or 60+.”
Mary Malsch: “The numbers are so small, it wouldn’t make any sense to add a Platinum division on top of the Masters. Honestly, 45 and over is just fine. If they don’t think 45 is the right cut, and they want to move it to 50, then I’d support that. Two cuts are plenty, but if they want three cuts… that’s just crazy. I don’t see anyone benefiting from that because the numbers are getting difficult to get in the younger division anyway.”
Cooper Evans: “I think the separation should be further from 45. I think the 45-50 age range is too close, but if the Platinum division started at 60 and over, I think there is a big difference between a 45 year-old and 60 year-old. I do think maybe there is a need for another split, however, this year at our World Show, the Classic Amateur classes and Masters Amateur classes were so small that I don’t know if we should have more of a split. If we just had the regular Amateur and then moved the Masters to 50 and over, like AQHA, that’d be best.”
Let Your Voice be Heard
What are your thoughts? There is still some time to voice your opinions about these and other rule change proposals with your local director before the Annual Convention. Please keep in mind that this is simply a brief introduction into just a few rule change proposals. To view the full text of each proposal, and text for all 46 proposals, visit APHA.com
