The Appaloosa Horse Club recently sent this newsletter out to current ApHC judges and we wanted to share it with our readers. These new changes are an attempt to revitalize the current ApHC show system. With the decline in membership, registration, number of approved shows, carded judges and number of horses showing, the association is attempting to reverse this negative trend. Find out below some of the new changes that ApHC has implemented.
By now, you may have heard of rule changes that will commence in 2016 regarding show approvals, class requirements for ApHC-approved shows and the ApHC guest judge program. These changes are far reaching and comprise a tiered approach to revitalizing the ApHC show system. To understand the need for these changes and the extent of the revision, it’s important to consider the following facts:
Over the past 25 years:
• ApHC membership has declined by 58%.
• ApHC registrations have declined by 78%.
• The number of ApHC-approved shows has declined by 39%.
• The number of horses showing has declined by 47%.
• The number of carded ApHC judges has declined by 32%.
There are varied reasons for these declines; many of which are outside of ApHC control. Nonetheless, declining membership, registration of horses, number of approved shows, number of horses showing and number of carded judges has resulted in declining ApHC resources. This has negatively affected member equity and the ability to provide services and programs to ApHC members.
The board of directors is tasked with the preservation of the Appaloosa breed and the Appaloosa Horse Club. In reviewing these statistics, they understand the need for immediate and unprecedented action to reverse these trends. At their recent board meeting, they discussed a number of initiatives regarding governance, show structure and registration issues. The changes that most directly affect ApHC judges are changes made to show approval rules that will take effect January 1, 2016.
To address a couple of different areas of concern including the high cost of hosting approved shows and declining number of judges, ApHC has created a guest judge program. To participate, judges must be carded with AQHA, APHA, PHBA, PtHA, POA, IBHA, ABRA or any other horse breed or equine organization that the ApHC deems reputable and suitable. For shows that only offer cutting, reining, working cow horse, boxing or jumping, judges must be carded with the appropriate organization including NCHA, NRHA, NRCHA or USEF.
Further requirements of the program:
• There may be a maximum of one guest judge at any ApHC-approved show sponsored or co-sponsored by a regional club or international partner.
• Guest judges may only serve two times in that capacity. After that, they become ineligible until they apply for and receive an ApHC judge’s card.
• Guest judges must be ApHC members and they must pass an ApHC rulebook test prior to judging. • Regional clubs and international affiliates are limited to contracting a maximum of three guest judges per year.
• Regional clubs no longer have the option of the “ghost or phantom” judge for approved shows at which exhibitors could earn double the points from one of the judges.
Currently, the ApHC hires judges that are carded with NCHA to judge the cutting classes at the National and World Shows. ApHC has also hired judges outside the ApHC judging pool for specialty events like the sweepstakes classes at the National Show.
However, the guest judge program will not be used by ApHC to hire judges for the National and World Shows for pointed or medallion-eligible classes. This program is only available, as written in the rule changes, to approved shows sponsored or co-sponsored by an affiliated ApHC regional club or international partner.
In addition, we’ve gone through a process of de-regulation in terms of the classes that may be held at approved shows. There have been changes to regional club requirements, non-pro ownership rules, World qualifying requirements and the creation of territorial high-point competition.
All of these changes have been made in an effort to:
• Encourage more participation at the regional club and international affiliate level.
• Create more entry-level competitive opportunities.
• Allow show management more flexibility in planning shows and increase the potential to reduce costs associated with holding approved shows.
• Offer options to regional clubs/international partners, especially those in remote areas where there are few or no ApHC-carded judges, to host additional events at a lower cost for members and new participants.
If we do nothing, we know what to expect – further declines in all areas until there are no judging opportunities for ApHC-carded judges because there are no ApHC-approved shows. Our intention is to promote the Appaloosa breed, increase the number of ApHC-approved shows and ultimately increase demand for registered Appaloosas to compete at those shows. New, affordable shows mean more opportunities and incentive to show and this drives demand for Appaloosa horses.
These changes, including the guest judge program, will be evaluated frequently to determine if they are having the intended effect. And after a suitable time period during which we hope to see increased metrics, we will re-evaluate the program and consider future changes. By helping regional clubs cut costs, we believe they will offer additional shows. The guest judge program will introduce the Appaloosa breed to qualified judges with the end goal of increasing the number of ApHC-carded judges available to all shows.
Ultimately, we hope that the rest of the equine industry follows our lead in recognizing that judges carded with the organizations we’ve included in our guest judge program and judges carded with the Appaloosa Horse Club have passed through a rigorous process to become credentialed. Many of those on our list are organizations that we work hand-in-hand with at the Color Breed Council Judge’s Seminar so ApHC and the other member organizations are very familiar with the process and level of education required. Should other associations embrace this concept, it will create judging opportunities for all judges – including those carded with ApHC.
The ApHC appreciates the level of dedication that it takes to become an ApHC carded judge and to retain that privilege. These changes are in no way intended to diminish that status or your dedication to the ApHC but rather to solve problems within our industry and stimulate growth. Ultimately, increases in the number of shows will lead to more judging opportunities for ApHC-carded judges. In that spirit, we ask that you partner with us to create a new future for the Appaloosa breed.
Sincerely,
Appaloosa Horse Club
