Many of our readers enjoyed our story from August 2012 which detailed Brian Isbell’s return to the show pen as a Non Pro. Isbell debuted in the Non Pro Classes at the 2012 NSBA World Show with his horse, David Buckham, a registered APHA. They won both the Open and Non
Pro BCF 3 to 6 Year-Old Color Hunter Under Saddle Classes.
As a follow up to that story, we wanted to update our readers regarding Isbell’s recent suspension from APHA. The Association requires that a former professional sit out a mandatory five years in order to return to non pro competition. According to APHA, Isbell was suspended due to falsifying his amateur application and remuneration restrictions relating to activities during the mandatory five year waiting period.
Amy Stapleton, Director of Amateur Activities at APHA, first informed Isbell of the Association’s concerns after receiving a complaint from a member of the Association. In a letter to Isbell dated October 12, 2012, APHA included documentation of three possible violations noted as Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C. Click here to view the documents.
From the 10/12/2012 letter from APHA to Brian Isbell—
It has been brought to the attention of the APHA Performance Department that you may be ineligible for APHA Amateur status. The documentation we have received is enclosed with this letter.
Exhibit A is the NSBA Trainer Sale ad in the January 2009 NSBA Way To Go magazine, advertising your services as a trainer:
Per Rule AM.010.A.2.a.:
- For a period of 60 months (five years) prior to the date an application for Amateur status is received in the APHA office, an applicant may not have shown, ridden, judged, trained or assisted in training a horse for remuneration, either directly or indirectly; not received remuneration for instructing another person in riding, driving or training a horse; nor received remuneration for instructing another person in showing a horse in competition; nor solicited for any of the above.
Exhibit B is a write-up for The Mane Event Equine Expo in October 2009 listing you as a clinician. We have confirmed with the event organizers that clinicians at these events are paid; and are also aware that you were unable to fulfill your obligation. However, per Rule AM-020.A.2.a as listed above, this solicitation for training is in violation of eligibility.
Exhibit C is your 2012 Amateur application. When you applied for your APHA Amateur status in August of 2012, you answered “No” to the question: “Are you now, or have you ever been approved as a horse show judge by any breed or show association?”
We have learned that you were a carded NSBA judge from 1997 until February 21, 2011. This is in violation of Rule AM.010.A.3:
- Judges Ineligible. Any approved horse show judge is ineligible. [For a period of 60 months (five years) prior to the date of application for Amateur status.]
Upon learning of the suspension, GoHorseShow contacted Isbell for his side of the story. According to Isbell, he did not realize that he was still on the NSBA Trainer Sale list. He claims that no one bought his training during his wait period to be eligible to show in the amateur division again.
Additionally, we talked to NSBA Executive Director, Dianne Eppers to verify Isbell’s statements. Eppers did confirm that Isbell’s name was on the Trainer Sale list during the five year mandatory wait time to be eligible to show in non pro events and that no one bought his training during this time period.
Eppers points to the verbiage in the Trainer Sale Application form that states, “Your donation will be renewed automatically each year by the NSBA unless we get a written request to withdraw your name. We will notify you each year when your training sells and we will also tell you who purchased it.”
Isbell explained to GoHorseShow.com that since his training did not sell, he was not notified that he was on the list. He also claims that he did not realize it was retroactive and his name would appear on the list every year unless he wrote a letter to be removed from the list.
With regard to remaining on the NSBA Judges list, Isbell explains in his defense that, “I never got re-certified when they started making judges go to the Color Breed Council, and I did not consider myself an active judge during my five year wait time. I never judged a show during this time period, and, again, since I never re-certified, I didn’t think I would remain on the list.”
Eppers does state that, “NSBA judges are required to re-certify with the association once every three years. Isbell wasn’t officially taken off the list until 2011.”
As far as the clinic issue addressed in Exhibit B, Isbell’s states that while it was advertised that he would be teaching at the clinic, he actually decided against going because he realized it would hurt his chances to get his amateur card.
“I did a clinic for them in 2006 or 2007. They had asked me to do another in 2009–originally, I had said yes, but, then, decided that it would derail my wait of becoming a non-pro. So I declined. However, they had already advertised. I never received payment or a retainer from them for the 2009 event,” Brian states.
Isbell continues to insist that he does not believe he did anything wrong and that he refuses to pay the fine levied by APHA.
“This is nothing but a witch hunt,” states Isbell. “I did not receive any money during this time period, and I did not realize I was still on the lists during my wait period until recently. I probably won’t show ever again because I am too busy with my job, personal relationship and non-profit to go through the hassle of trying to clear my name.”
While Isbell may consider his suspension a witch hunt, APHA is obligated to research any complaint that comes into their office. According to Cindy Grier, APHA’s Director of Compliance and Planning, Isbell has not responded to their repeated requests for an explanation.
“Brian did not respond to our letter, nor to the other multiple letters (some by certified mail), emails and phone calls we made to him asking for his explanation,” Grier states.
AQHA sent Isbell an inquiry letter which he claims he responded to. As of April 18, 2013, he has not heard back from them or the NSBA.
Photo © Larry Williams
