Is the Amateur Program For Me?
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Would you like to show your Appaloosa horse at ApHCC approved events, but… 
  • you have never shown at a horse show… 
  • you have only shown at horse shows a few times… 
  • it has been many years since you set foot in a horse show arena… 
  • you have just turned 19 and no longer qualify for the Youth division… 
  • you enjoy showing your own horses and are not a professional horse trainer. 



Amateur Rules
Novice Amature Rules
Awards & Point System
Amateur Horse Awards


englishCome out and enjoy the ApHCC Amateur & Novice Amateur Activities!
The ApHCC offers the Amateur and Novice Amateur Program for ApHCC members such as you! All ApHCC Approved Appaloosa Horse Shows offer Amateur classes especially for those members who have applied for and received their ApHCC Amateur or Novice Amateur card. Only Amateurs or Novice Amateurs are entitled to show their Appaloosa horse in these classes. This program provides an opportunity for Amateur owners to compete with their peers, and to maintain and extend the Appaloosa ownership beyond youth activity years. 
Come out and enjoy the ApHCC Amateur & Novice Amateur Activities !!

Amateur Enrollment Program Quick FAQ's

AMATEUR RULES

1. All individuals entering approved Amateur classes must hold a current ApHCC Amateur card and must be a member 19 years of age or older, in good standing of the ApHCC. Amateurs will be issued an Amateur card and number by the ApHCC. That number must be used when entering approved Amateur classes. The card must be shown at any time requested by show management.

2. The individual must meet the definition of an Amateur as follows: 

A. Has not ever engaged in activities which would make him or her a professional. A professional is an individual who:
a). Accepts remuneration for riding, driving, showing, training, schooling, conducting clinics or seminars, instruction in equitation or horse training, or judging. Prize money is not considered remuneration.
b). Performs the above listed activities for which another person in his or her family, or a corporation which a member of the family controls, will receive remuneration.
c). Performs such activities while accepting remuneration for employment in another capacity for an employer or member of said employer's family who owns, boards, or trains the involved horses.
d). Rides, drives or shows in horse shows any horse for which he or she or a member of his or her family accepts remuneration for boarding or training.
e). Accepts prize money in equitation or showmanship classes.
f). Payment of entry fees or other expenses other than by the Amateur or those persons found in Rule # 765 is considered remuneration.

B. Amateur status shall not be affected by the following:

a). Writing of books or articles pertaining to horses.
b). Accepting payment for stewarding.
c). Accepting reimbursement for expenses without profit.
d). Accepting a small token of appreciation (value not to exceed $100.00) other than money, for riding, driving or showing a horse.
e). Having the occupation of veterinarian, farrier, or owning a tack or feed store or a boarding or breeding stable.

C. Change of status: 

A professional continues to be such until he or she has received Amateur status from the ApHCC. Any person who has been a professional and who desires to be reclassified as an Amateur on the grounds that he or she no longer engages in the activities that made him/her a professional, must so notify the ApHCC in writing. Details for this procedure may be obtained from the ApHCC.


3. The horse or horses used by Amateur contestants in the Amateur classes must be owned and registered wholly or in part by the participant or by a member of the Amateur's immediate family. A horse co-owned by unrelated individuals may be used in the Amateur program by only one of the owners during the show year. Horses owned by a non-family corporation and horses leased to the Amateur may not be used by Amateur participants. Corporate ownership is allowed only if it is all in one family. If there is more than one family involved in the ownership of a horse, and it is a corporation for the purpose of owning a horse, Amateur participation is not allowed.

4. Enrollment in the Amateur program must be applied for annually. The initial enrollment application must be signed by two current members in good standing with the ApHCC that is not related (family) to the Amateur applicant, attesting to the applicant's Amateur status. After the initial enrollment in the Amateur program the Amateur need only to renew their amateur card without the additional signatures described above and pay the renewal fee. Points will be counted only for individuals enrolled in the program.

NOVICE AMATEUR

5. This is an entry level program to introduce the beginning Amateur exhibitor to ApHCC activities. 

a). The Novice Amateur cannot have earned a combined total of 50 or more points in open, amateur, or youth divisions at any recognized breed, AHSA, or CEF approved shows. Points earned in youth leadline, walk-trot or any halter classes are excluded in determining eligibility.
b). Novice Amateur status must be applied for annually on an honor basis and will be in effect for the calendar year regardless of points earned in that year.
c). When a Novice Amateur wins a National title, they will no longer be eligible for Novice status at the end of that calendar year, Halter classes excluded.

6. A former professional exhibitor that is reclassified as an Amateur may not enter the Novice Amateur division.

 a). Points earned in the Novice classes cannot be used for any available amateur division awards.
b). Novice classes will be judged in accordance with ApHCC rules. For each Novice class held at a show the corresponding Open Amateur class must also be offered. A Novice Amateur may enter either the Novice Amateur or Amateur Division for each class but not both at the same show.

7. If an individual is considered a Novice Amateur upon application, he/she will be considered a novice for that calendar year.

Amateur Point and Award System

8. For these classes the "AMATEUR" receives the points: English Showmanship, Western Showmanship, Western Equitation, Bareback Equitation, English Equitation - Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat Equitation, Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences. Points will be given to sixth place in Amateur classes. Contact the ApHCC for a copy of the point scale.

9. Awards are presented in each of the 7 above listed classes as follows:  

SUPERIOR AMATEUR: This title is awarded to the Amateur exhibitor who has earned 50 or more points in any one recognized Amateur class where the handler's ability is judged. An Amateur may receive this title for each separate Amateur exhibitor event in which he/she has earned 50 points.

SUPREME AMATEUR: This title is awarded to the Amateur exhibitor who has earned 100 or more points in any one recognized Amateur class where the handler's ability is judged. An Amateur may receive this title for each separate Amateur exhibitor event in which he/she has earned 100 points.


10. Annual Amateur Awards  

ANNUAL HIGH POINT AMATEUR AWARD: The Amateur earning the most National points in each of the Amateur events as listed in rule 698.

AMATEUR HORSE AWARDS

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11. The "AMATEUR HORSE" will receive points in the following Amateur classes: Halter, Suitability for Dressage, English Pleasure - Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Hack, Working Hunter, Jumper, Trail, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Reining, Barrel Race, Pole Bending, Flag Picking, Native Dress, Keyhole Race, Heading & Heeling, Rope Race, Breakaway Roping, Calf Roping, Cattle Penning, Team Penning, Working Cowhorse, Steer Daubing, Figure 8 Stake Race, Cutting. Points shall be earned in Amateur Horse classes up to sixth place, depending on the number of entries in the class. Contact the ApHCC for a copy of the point scale.

12. Amateur Horse Awards are as follows:

SUPERIOR AMATEUR HORSE: This title is awarded to the Amateur Horse who has earned 50 or more points in any one recognized Amateur Horse class. An Amateur Horse may receive this title for each separate Amateur Horse event in which it has earned 50 points.
SUPREME AMATEUR HORSE: This title is awarded to the Amateur Horse who has earned 100 or more points in any one recognized Amateur Horse class. An Amateur Horse may receive this title for each separate Amateur Horse event in which it has earned 100 points.
AMATEUR CHAMPION VERSATILITY AWARD: Awarded to the Amateur Horse that earns 250 Amateur points. Points to be earned in both Amateur Western and Amateur English with no less than 75 points in each group of classes. Seals will be added for each 100 points earned after the award is given.
AMATEUR WESTERN HORSE OF THE YEAR: Total points earned in a year in performance events using Western tack. These points must be earned in 3 or more different Western classes, eg. Amateur Western Pleasure, Amateur Trail, Amateur Reining, Amateur Barrel Racing.
AMATEUR ENGLISH HORSE OF THE YEAR: Total points earned in a year in performance events using English equipment. Points must be earned in 2 or more different classes, eg. Amateur English Pleasure, Amateur Hunter Hack.
ANNUAL HIGH POINT AMATEUR HORSE AWARD: The Amateur horse earning the most National points in each of the Amateur Horse events as listed in rule 702 will be named that year's High Point Amateur Horse for that event.

Go to Amateur/Novice Amateur Enrollment Form