With the help of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, AQHA made some substantial changes to the leveling program for 2014. Most notably, changing the names of the leveling to Level 1, 2 and 3 and changing the three year rotation for individuals being able to go back to Level 1 to ten years after they have pointed out.
CLICK HERE to read about all the significant rule changes to the leveling program.
GoHorseShow talked to several people in the industry to see what they think about the overhaul of this program. Let’s find out what they had to say. Also, let us know what you think about these new changes by voting in our poll at the bottom of the article and in the comment section.
Joni Nelson–I have always supported the leveling. It’s a fantastic program. It’s a bit confusing to understand at first but once you do, I think it’s a great stepping stone from the novice to your “open” classes. I am glad to see AQHA trying to find a “fix” to the novice rule so that it is more fair to newcomers. I am trying to still understand the 2014 guidelines for the leveling, but at the AQHA World Show, I’ll try and sit down with Patti Carter-Pratt and have her answer a few of my questions. Sometimes that’s just what you need to do if you don’t quite understand! I really like the change that you can look up your horse or your name in the database and it will automatically tell you what you are eligible for, thank goodness!
Meg DePalma–I feel that the changes to the leveling program for next year are a step in the right direction. However, I do believe that the damage done with this year’s program is going to be hard for many exhibitors to forget. The angered feelings that many have shared…for the true novice competitors being extremely discouraged to step foot in the ring could be overshadowed by the outrage some trainers and exhibitors alike have shown for those accomplished riders who chose to show as a novice. There seems to be a lot of bitterness, so hopefully the new 10 year waiting period will keep people honest. My personal theory has always been, if I want to become a better, more accomplished rider I need to compete against the best. Show against the horsemen/horse women that one day I’d like to become!
Stephanie Lynn–For one thing, as a trainer, I could never suggest that my rookie exhibitor pursue a horse with no show record. This has been a problem for me since inception of the Rookie rules. As for the rest of leveling, I am concerned for the rider who never intends to show on a national level, compete at a World Show or even travel out of their area. With the ten year lookback and not being able to earn one point in that 10 year period after moving into Level 2, I hope we do not lose riders. It will depend on how competitive Level 2 riders are in any individual exhibitors area. Letting people feel that they have a place to compete is what is important. This will take a little bit of time to get a feel for. Horse show managers are the people who really have to hustle. Do they have software in place to handle this? How can horse shows be ready with a 60 day notice of the roll-out?
Bonnie Sheren–I think the 2014 changes in the leveling program are a huge improvement over the 2013 rules especially in the Novice/Level 1. AQHA listened to the concerns of the majority of its showing members and made the necessary changes. Closing the loopholes of having World and Reserve Champion, top tens and superiors able to show in novice has made it more encouraging and fair for real novices. I still don’t know why it has to be so complicated with a 10 year “go-back”. Why not just have a point cap for each novice class of maybe 50 points and you are out for good–no need for a go-back at this level at all. I feel that the emphasis should be on Level 2–perhaps a championship Level 2 show instead of a Novice Championship Show. This would encourage people who point out of Novice but do not feel competitive, for whatever reason (horse, finances or time), against the top tier amateurs, to achieve attainable goals and keep these people showing. This is the level that people should be allowed to go in and out of after a period of time of inactivity in a certain event. There has always been and will always be individuals who purposefully try to stay in Novice/Level 1 as long as they can but by making it worthwhile and exciting to get to and show in Level 2 perhaps we would have less of that happening. I do think Levels 2/3 still need some tweaking with regard to how class points are figured. I think it only works for the larger shows. My experience at the smaller shows was that out of a class of 20-25 in Select and Senior Trail only three entered the intermediate or progressive level. It definitely did not work in my favor. So for next year, unless there is some incentive for Level 2, I will probably take my chances in Level 3. But all in all a big, big improvement!
Janae Walker Bronson–It seems like AQHA actually listened to the feedback from its members in making the changes to the Novice program. The changes address many of the concerns I had in the program, including the rolling three year lookback period for determining if you were novice eligible and excluding those that had earned a superior in another breed from novice eligibility. I have had many starts and stops to my own show career, and it had always been a goal to “graduate” from the novice division in the classes in which I compete. Last year’s rules made that goal impossible because I could never really novice out. I like the idea of the 10 year period without earning a point in a class to be eligible for novice again. If you have gone 10 years without earning a point, you probably do need to step down a division. I do think the challenge is in the interpretation and enforcement. Some people will always look for loopholes or figure that that they won’t get caught, or if they do, no one will report it or AQHA will not be willing to enforce it. While it is easy to look up your AQHA record, it isn’t as easy to look up other breed’s World Show results or show records. I am encouraged, however, by the steps AQHA has made with the announcement of these changes, and I am looking forward to getting back into the show ring in what I hope is my last year of novice eligibility in the hunter under saddle for a very long time!
Michele Wilhelm–I’m very happy to see the changes in the Rookie levels. The changes will give beginning exhibitors the opportunity to show experienced horses, minimizing the likelihood of green horse/green rider combinations. I also like the new ten year wait period before returning to Level 1 after having previously “pointed out”. Ideally, I would have liked to have seen a permanent prohibition against Level 3 exhibitors ever returning to Level 1. I am, however, concerned that January will be here in no time and many shows may struggle to adapt their schedules, reporting software, and awards schemes in time for a successful kick off . That said, I trust AQHA to provide us the necessary guidance and support to transition as smoothly as possible.
Missy Thyfault–When we attended a leveled show earlier in the year, I did feel it was a program that was heading in the right direction but needed some serious clarifications. I do believe AQHA has addressed most of those issues as it reads. One sticking spot for me is that I feel that the rookie points should be based on the rider having ten points and not at all on the horse. In most circumstances, we as trainers would not willingly put a new rider on a horse with only ten points. To put it in common sense terms green + green = black and blue. And we don’t want to discourage true rookie riders when they are entering the industry. We want them on a steady, experienced mount that can pilot them out of the rookie standings while building confidence and graduating to the next level. I think the rookie category will still be weak unless this changes. Otherwise, I feel these changes that have been made are all positive. I truly love our industry and hope these changes bring in the results that will strengthen AQHA shows.
Tara Lombardo Anderson–I feel that it’s a positive concept, however, I feel the presentation of it is very confusing. It seems to have become complicated instead of simple and fun. I feel AQHA has good intentions of having the inexperienced showman’s best interest. People like simplicity. They want to come to the shows and have fun. I feel that we can keep it simple by having a novice, youth, amateur and open divisions. I feel that the novice qualification points should be raised so that true novices, whether it be because of riding ability and knowledge, quality of horse, or inexperience in the show pen, have the opportunity to show more so that they can learn and improve at the horse shows and build their confidence in the show pen. I feel this is a more encouraging and positive way to prepare novices to move to the next level of showing in the regular youth or amateur classes. Showing is for fun, but it still needs to have a little bit of a challenge with possibilities of setting goals so that we can all strive to improve, excel, and succeed. That’s what will keep us coming back.
Lori Bucholz–First of all , I applaud the Blue Ribbon Task Force members who dedicated their time and expertise to help initiate the leveling program. Whether it’s ultimately successful or not, a lot of people put a lot of their personal resources into the program to make it work and for that we should be thankful. Anyone who helps make the industry better should be thanked. Now, that being said, I think the recent changes that have been made are good. Specifically the changes with regard to those who are past World Champions, top-ten winners, etc. not being allowed to show again as a novice, is a great step forward. If you’ve won a World Championship in an event, no matter how much time has elapsed since the win, you will still have that skill set. The novice level, or whatever you want to name it, should be just that- a level for those who have just begun showing in that class. The renaming of the levels is more “user friendly” and is somewhat easier to understand. I’m not sure how many shows will actually opt to include the leveling classes, as it is not a mandate for show managers. Anything that will increase our horse show entry numbers is great, but the costs associated with the leveling need examined. What is the quantitative definition of the program’s success? I hope that the program will bring exhibitors back to the horse shows in droves. I also hope that those who show will always strive to get better and more successful through the time-tested factors; work, education and experience.
Renee Leggett–I feel that AQHA is trying to take steps in the right direction to build back up the show numbers and encourage more people to show. I think that the leveling is very helpful to give exhibitors a chance to earn more points and feel like they could be able to compete with exhibitors with the same level as theirs. I think it will encourage people to try a class they may have not wanted to before or to bring more exhibitors to the shows because they feel that they would be able to earn more points in a class. AQHA did a good job explaining the system and made it more “user friendly. I’ve heard numerous people say they are very happy to have the leveling at shows to “spread the wealth” of points among the exhibitors. I think it will result in larger classes which in this economy, every point matters.
Anne Shafer–Several of the changes made are definitely a step in the right direction. Though it will take some time to adjust, changing the names to Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 will simplify things in the long run. I also believe sitting out for 10 years before being able to return to Level 1 makes more sense. Overall, it is nice to see the association reach out to the membership to make decisions. Change is never easy, and I know there will still be kinks to work out, but nothing gets better until you step outside the box!
Chelsea Carlson-I believe the leveling program for 2014 will be a great step for the future of AQHA. I was a big fan of the addition of the intermediate/progressive classes and was sad to see them temporarily go because of misunderstanding and other complications that arose. Being a trainer now, and having to strategize on which horses I’m competing on in which classes, it’s exciting to tell owners that their horse is eligible to go in another class I previously wouldn’t have entered them in. For example, it’s a tough decision to put a green senior horse in the senior class when you know the other horses in that class have more experience in the pen and under their belt. The new “Level 2” class will give that green senior horse a shot at doing well without the pressure of the more experienced horses. It levels the playing field for horses and riders. Which in turn, I hope, will invite more people to join and experience all that AQHA has to offer.
Kirsten Farris–While I completely understand the purpose behind AQHA wanting to put a leveling system into place, it is never going to make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. For example, if a Level 1 rider in hunter under saddle purchases a 20 time World Champion, they are still eligible for participating in the Level 1 classes. Personally, I don’t have an issue with that because even a seasoned horse doesn’t march around the show pen by itself. In fact, the Level 1 rider may have more pressure to make that horse look good because it is well known and people may judge it based on how they know it can perform. To me, what makes a rider a Level 1 vs an Open rider is time spent in the show pen. I think the USEF does a good job of handling ‘leveling’ issues by having green classes determined by calendar year participation as well as having rated shows. The issue for AQHA is not that the average person does not feel that they can be competitive at the ‘big shows’, they really don’t want to spend the ‘big show’ money to go to a big circuit, even with leveling in place. USEF is not trying to offer a one size fits all approach at all shows, and the level of judges, entry fees etc… are in line with the level of show that you attend, however, I also understand that their model may not fit the mission of AQHA.
Jason Wanderer–The 2013 Novice eligibility criteria only took in account points during a limited time period (i.e. 3 years) but fell short by not addressing past achievements (i.e. Superior Awards and World Show Placings). The revised 2014 criteria now include stipulations regarding these past achievements, a longer time period as well as high level collegiate achievements (NCE or IHSA ) creating a level playing field and very welcoming Novice division.
Janet Fraser–2014 will be my second year showing. I personally am in favor of the rule change, I feel that I am truly a novice rider and should be competing against other novice riders. These new rules make me believe that AQHA is listening to its exhibitors and doing its best to level the playing field. Bring on 2014!
Karen Evans Mundy–I am so glad to see the new changes to the Leveling program. I especially like the new changes they made to the novice eligibility. I understand that AQHA was trying to get more participation back to the show ring, however people that had no business showing in novice classes were becoming a novice again. I think that was very unfair and discouraging to the “Real” Novice exhibitors. As the program was prior to the changes, it seemed very confusing to most people I spoke with. I think the the changes are much easier to understand and are much more fair.
Eric Mendrysa–I think that the new leveling program is definitely a step in the right direction. My fear is that it continues to get more complicated by grandfathering in the three year rule, and waiting until an exhibitor points out to be eligible for the 10 year rule. It’s seemingly harder and harder to define what a novice truly is, why not implement the 10 year rule now? I would like the rule to be structured to where true beginners are encouraged to come show and feel that it’s a level playing field.
Rosie Clarke Sheffer–I think the leveling is a fair way to compete and hopefully will encourage greater participation. I’m glad AQHA lengthened the time for moving down the levels to 10 years. With the three years too many seasoned youths and amateurs were novices again winning in both divisions, defeating the idea of leveling.
Hillary Roberts–I think it is a great idea for exhibitors who are new to the show pen. It will definitely help to give them confidence showing against those with their same skill level. My only comments would be that it seems that it will make for a longer show day.
