Explanation of APHA’s New Membership Requirements For 2015
Take care of 2015 APHA membership requirements to avoid competition hiccups
PHJ press release by: Jessica Hein
Beginning in 2015, both the recorded owner of a horse competing in APHA-approved shows as well as its exhibitor must have a current APHA membership to be eligible to show. This will help speed up show results posting, simplify show manager identification requirements and reduce processing and postage costs when it’s fully implemented on January 1, 2015.
The membership requirement for horse owners was passed in February 2014 by the APHA Board of Directors for inclusion in the 2015 Official APHA Rule Book. The exhibitors’ membership requirement has been in effect for many years, but the Executive Committee revised APHA’s existing policy earlier this year to require individual memberships for exhibitors. Joint or farm/ranch memberships will no longer satisfy the exhibitor’s membership requirement.
- Reduces cost and improves productivity and efficiency
- Simplifies and increases speed of show results processing in the APHA office
- Simplifies requirements for show secretaries to verify memberships at shows
- Eliminates the need for processing and mailing of exhibitor cards to individuals who use a joint or farm/ranch membership
The new membership guidelines, which go into effect January 1, are outlined below—exhibitors who plan to show in January are encouraged to renew their memberships as early as possible to avoid competition hiccups. Questions about the new membership requirements can be directed to the APHA MemberCare Department at (817) 222-8455 or via showing@apha.com.
2015 Membership Requirements for APHA-Approved Competitions
- Exhibitors: All exhibitors must have a current individual membership to be eligible to show. Joint and/or farm/ranch memberships will no longer satisfy the membership requirement. This rule is effective January 1, 2015.
- Owners: Horse owners must have a current membership that is an exact match to the horse’s ownership on record with APHA at the time of showing to be eligible to compete. No other related memberships will be accepted to satisfy the membership requirement. This rule is effective January 1, 2015.
NOTE: For show leases, the lessee functions as the horse’s owner of record for competition membership requirements.
Example 1: Horse owned by John & Jane Doe, and exhibited by Jane Doe
Two memberships will be required: John & Jane Doe (joint membership) to satisfy the ownership requirement, and Jane Doe (individual membership) to satisfy the exhibitor requirement.
Example 2: Horse owned by Flying P Ranch (ranch owned by John Doe), and exhibited by John Doe and Jane Doe
Three memberships will be required: Flying P Ranch (farm/ranch membership) to satisfy the ownership requirement, John Doe (individual membership) to satisfy the exhibitor requirement and Jane Doe (individual membership) to satisfy the exhibitor requirement.
Example 3: Horse owned by Flying P Ranch, show leased by Painted Horse Ranch (owned by John Smith) and exhibited by John Smith’s daughter, Sally
Two memberships will be required: the lessee, Painted Horse Ranch (farm/ranch membership), to satisfy the ownership requirement and Sally Smith (individual membership) to satisfy the exhibitor requirement. When a show lease is in effect, the lessee functions as the horse’s owner of record for competition membership requirements.
