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|  Looking for some friendly competition
APHA-approved shows are a family affair and offer a slate of Amateur and Novice Amateur classes for all types of non-professional horsemen and -women.
From Western pleasure to roping, halter to hunter under saddle, there are a variety of events for you to choose from in the Amateur program. Novice Amateur classes are reserved for those riders with little or no experience in competition. Amateur classes are for those riders who have had show ring
experience, but who do not wish to jump into more-intense Open competition.
If you’re already attending the shows with your children, maybe it’s time you took that first step into the show ring. At APHA shows, every person’s abilities and achievements are supported and respected.
Novice Amateur classes are a fun way for non-professional riders who have been competing in local shows to safely test the waters in breed competition. And if you grew up showing Paint Horses, the Amateur program is an excellent place for you to continue showing after “graduating” from the Youth division.
The Amateur program offers you the thrill and excitement of exhibiting an American Paint Horse in a class of your peers. You have the opportunity to exhibit your horse on a level playing field, without the intimidation of competing against experienced professionals.
Shows have the option of offering a single, all-ages Amateur class or splitting the competition into two divisions, one for Amateur exhibitors ages 19-44 (Classic) and one for exhibitors aged 45 and older (Masters). At the APHA World Show there are several classes offered for both age divisions.
Amateurs and Novice Amateurs compete for a variety of awards on their own horse, or on a horse owned by a family member. Points are awarded in each class, based on the number of horses competing and how exhibitors place in the class. |
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 APHA Amateur and Novice Amateur Card Application
How do I get my Amateur or
Novice Amateur card?
To compete in Amateur or Novice Amateur classes at an APHA- approved show, you must present your Amateur or Novice Amateur Card, or a photocopy of the card, to the show secretary. Amateur and Novice Amateur cards are issued by APHA, and application forms for both divisions are available on the APHA website at apha.com/amateur, or from the APHA Performance Department by calling (817) 222-6447. The fee for either card is $15 and requires a membership to the APHA. The card is valid until December 31 of the year issued. A temporary Amateur Card can be applied for at an APHA-approved show by paying an additional fee.
For complete rules governing APHA, the
exhibition of horses, and the Amateur and
Novice Amateur exhibitor programs, consult
the current APHA Official Rule Book.
Who is eligible?
To qualify as an Amateur or Novice
Amateur, individuals must meet two basic
requirements. First, they must be 19 years
of age or older as of January 1 of the show
year, or be ineligible to compete in the
Youth division. Second, they must not have
accepted remuneration, either directly or
indirectly, during the previous 60 months
(5 years) for any of the following activities:
• riding, driving, showing, training or
assisting in training;
• schooling or exhibiting a horse in competition
or in seminars;
• conducting clinics or instructing another
person in riding, driving, training or
showing a horse in competition;
• judging (any approved horse show judge
is automatically ineligible).
Amateurs or Novice Amateurs may not
show, train or assist in the training of a
horse for which their spouses accept or have
accepted any form of remuneration, either
directly or indirectly, for training, assisting
in training or showing. To be eligible for the
Amateur or Novice Amateur program, individuals
must not accept payment for
expenses.
Any horse shown in APHA Amateur or Novice Amateur classes must be owned by either the Amateur or Novice Amateur, the individual’s immediate family. Family shall include the following: spouse, mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandchild, grandparent, legal ward, in-laws (father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter), stepchild, stepparent, step grandparent, half brother, half sister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, solely owned corporation, ranch or farm.
Please refer to the current edition of the
APHA Official Rule Book for detailed information
on Amateur and Novice Amateur
eligibility requirements.
Who qualifies as a Novice Amateur?
The difference between an Amateur and a
Novice Amateur is show ring experience. In
addition to meeting the basic Amateur
requirements, Novice Amateurs either have
little or no experience in the category in
which they wish to compete. Amateurs, on
the other hand, may have years of experience
showing. As long as an individual has
not accepted remuneration for the activities
previously listed, the exhibitor remains eligible
to compete in the Amateur division.
Novice Amateurs may also exhibit in
Amateur classes.
An exhibitor can qualify as a Novice
Amateur in one or more of 13 categories. To
qualify as a Novice Amateur in a specific
category, the individual must not have earned any of the following:
• 20 performance points in that category
(Youth, Amateur and/or Open
points from any recognized breed or
association are counted)
• 50 Novice Amateur or Novice
Youth points combined in that category
• $2500 in prize money in classes included in that category in any recognized association
• World Champion or Reserve World title in any recognized equine association
Exhibitors may show as Novice Amateurs
for the entire calendar year in which the
card was issued, regardless of how many
points they earn within that year. However,
once a competitor earns the above restricted criteria in a category, they are ineligible to
compete in Novice classes in that category
in following years. |
