Amateurs: To Coach or Not To Coach?
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132 – January/February, 2023
By Megan Sacia Ulrich
Whether amateurs should be able to receive remuneration for giving lessons to other horse enthusiasts and upcoming exhibitors has again been a heated conversation among players in the stock horse industry. Both AQHA and APHA have had laborious conversations regarding their amateur rules and rule change proposals within the last year. A recent statement from the American Horse Council (AHC) may again stir the embers of an already smoldering fire.
The statement, released June 17, read: “Due to the decline of youth and young adult involvement with horses over several decades, and for the urgent need to engage youth and young adults in equestrian sports, the Show & Competition Committee calls on all equestrian competition organizations to review their amateur rules, giving greater berth of opportunities for properly certified or supervised amateur exhibitors to provide fee-for-services introductory riding lessons without the threat of losing amateur status.”
The release went on to quote Dr. Billy Smith, the AHC Show and Competition Committee Chair. “The horse community is missing that critical on-ramp for young riders. That same community can solve this problem if it works together, developing strategies that welcome young riders on a worldwide scale,” Smith is quoted as saying.
The American Horse Council represents the horse industry in Washington, D.C. and can lobby on behalf of the industry. Its Show and Competition Committee is comprised of 13 members, including representatives from AQHA, APHA, PtHA, NRHA, PRCA, USDF, USEF and other equine organizations.
The release comes on the heels of heated debate over the rule change proposals regarding this precise issue in both APHA and AQHA, as well as some changes in other organizations.
The rules pertaining to amateur status and remuneration in AQHA’s rulebook state:
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132 – January/February, 2023
