The new AQHA novice rules that have been implemented effective January 2013 include some major changes regarding novice eligibility at shows across the country. Many individuals in the industry are ecstatic about leveling the field while some are confused and believe some of the new rules are unfair to the true novice rider. GoHorseShow interviewed Patti Carter-Pratt, AQHA Executive Director of Shows, about these changes as well as asked many exhibitors from novices to trainers their opinions about these sweeping changes.
“It is human nature that people don’t like change, but change is better than decline,” says, Patti Carter-Pratt, in reference to the new rules. “AQHA has spent three years refining this program and testing it out at shows. Is it perfect? No, but we have to start somewhere and we are constantly working to perfect the new system. We want to provide past exhibitors who may have stopped showing or took some time off a place to come back and show without being discouraged and having to jump back with the accomplished riders who are showing in the regular classes.”
“Keep in mind, though, that the novice point cap for each class is based on the 90th percentile of points earned or 25 points, whichever is greater,” Carter-Pratt continues. ” By increasing some of the novice point limits, it gives exhibitors more time to show in novice events and build up their confidence before they have to move up to the next level.”
According to GoHorseShow’s understanding of the new novice rules, there is a rolling three year period for exhibitors’ points. Each class has novice eligibility point levels determined and effective by January 1st of each year (SHW: 245.1) So for example-if someone pointed out of hunter under saddle in 2008 and started focusing on the western pleasure instead, that exhibitor would again be eligible for novice again in hunter under saddle in 2013-provided she/he didn’t have more total points in hunter under saddle than the point level for 2013. (Pictured left- Patti Carter-Pratt)
For three years immediately previous to application for Novice eligibility in a particular class, an individual may not have:
- Earned a Superior award for that particular class in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members
- Won a world, reserve world, national or reserve national championship title for that particular class in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members
- Won an international or international reserve title for that particular class in the European Championships or German Championships, regardless of whether the international class in question was an AQHA-approved class
- Won a championship title for that particular class at an AQHA Novice championship show
- Won a total of $5,000 in cash and prizes for that particular class with any equine organization or association
- Been an accredited horse show judge
With regards to the criticism that the new rules may let riders who have won Congress Championships or accumulated massive amount of points during their show career the ability to show in novice classes, Carter-Pratt says that those exhibitors will point out quickly from the novice level.
“I hope that people who think their skill level is above novice will have the integrity to not show in classes if they think it will be unfair to fellow competitors,” Carter-Pratt states. “We want to make a rule that allows many people to become more involved in our association, not a few. We will be closely monitoring the classes and will make changes, if necessary, to make the new rules as fair as possible.”
GoHorseShow also asked several people in our industry about their opinions about the new novice rules. Let’s see what they had to say. Please be sure to take the poll at the end of the story and let us know what you think.
Michele Wilheim–AQHA is working hard to make competion as balanced and fair to the exhibitors as they possibly can. Ideally, I would like to see a five year or even longer period (rather than 3) for the points consideration. Also, in my opinion, former open level exhibitors should be permanently ineligible to show at the novice level in any skill set.
Sharnai Thompson–I would be a novice in the trail and the equitation over fences in 2013. I’m not sure I would feel comfortable showing in the novice events in any division, but these are two classes that I am the least experienced. However, as a youth, I was a Reserve Congress Champion in the youth trail and that doesn’t get factored into the new rules. However, the fact that I would be a novice in the horsemanship in 2014 is a pretty good example of how the novice requirements may not be fully thought out. Due to my extensive show experience, I would not show in the Novice Amateur Horsemanship. It will be interesting to see how some of those loopholes play out during the year. Jason Martin (her trainer) has even suggested that the requirements should have a conscious-based element to it. Something to the effect of asking, “Can you in good faith consider yourself a novice in that event and would your peers consider you the same?” I’m not sure how realistic that is but it’s definitely something to consider. I think the general concept of the new rules make it more attractive for new exhibitors and existing exhibitors to try new events. However, I believe it will take some time to iron out all the kinks.
Shel-b Elmore–I’m concerned about this new leveling system. I’m a novice competitor, having earned only a few points in limited showing in halter and showmanship over the past few years. This year, for the first time in 30 years, I’ll be riding a horse with 9.5 points. I’ve never earned an AQHA point in any riding class so I don’t see how it’s fair that a person who has earned over 500 points can go back into Novice against me. This makes it difficult to feel confident. This just seems unfair and very sobering.
Darcy Reeve–I think the new novice rule is great for our industry. Just because someone noviced out of a class before, does not mean they are forever ready to be showing with the best of the best. People take breaks to focus or other classes, or even other things in their lives, and it’s next to impossible to return to the class at the same skill level as before. With the new rule change, I will be a novice again in horsemanship and showmanship. I really haven’t shown either seriously in ten years, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to start again on a more level playing field.
Karen Evans Mundy–I will tell you the Leveling program is still very confusing to me. As far as the three year waiting period to come back as a novice, the new rule sort of defeats the point of being a novice in the first place. I think if they would increase the points it takes to novice out of a class to say 40 or 50, then, I don’t think that person would need to be in the novice division any more at all. I know some riders that novice out with the 25 points, and in all honesty, they still need to be in novice a little longer. I don’t think sitting out for three years in a class will make you any less of a rider or exhibitor. I do agree if you have placed in the Top three at the AQHA World Show or won a World or Reserve Championship in another breed association, you shouldn’t be able to show in Novice in that particular class.
Rebecca Halvorson–The main thing to commend AQHA and Patti Carter-Pratt for is that they are out there trying for to make the showing better for everyone! Is it perfect? Probably not–but you have to commend them for the extreme amount of time and work they did to accomplish all they have up until this point. Unbelievable! There are two things people look at when they are going to compete in anything–that it is a level playing field and money. I am sure AQHA is trying to make great advances for their members.
Cori Flowers–I am familiar with the new rules. I think they can be considered fair and unfair. My feelings are torn because as awesome as it is to go back and be a novice in classes you haven’t shown in the recent years, it can be looked as unfair. I would be a novice in the western pleasure and hunter under saddle even though I pointed out of those classes in the past. It is fun and exciting for me but since I’m an achieved rider, others could find it unfair. I’m not sure what changes I could suggest, if anything maybe just make the total points to novice out higher, other than that I cannot suggest anything.
Laurel Champlin–Twenty-two years ago I had an AQHA judges card. I sat out for five years to become an amateur. The novice rules state that anyone who ever had a judges card cannot be novice. I think this is unfair because I am definitely novice in many events. I am concerned that the rolling three years will allow many who are not novice to compete in that event. I don’t understand how they can keep me from showing in classes that I have never competed in before but allow people who have won the Congress in horsemanship to be a novice again. AQHA is trying very hard to increase entries, but I’m not sure that this is the way to do it.
Lindsey Gillette–I have very mixed feelings about the new novice rules. I benefited from the program and became a novice again in the horsemanship while my sister, Vanessa, has become a novice again in trail. While we are ecstatic to be novice in these events since we have green horses, I think this aspect of the program is going to have an overall negative effect on the industry. At the Gulf Coast, the Novice Amateur Horsemanship had over 20 entries in it, while at the Gold Coast, there were barely ten. Many big names were back in the Novice Horsemanship pen making the class much tougher than the days prior. I foresee this as deterring the true novice from coming to shows.
Sarah Elder Chabot–I applaud AQHA for seeing a need to create more incentives and opportunities for riders and exhibitors. The leveling program as a whole I think is a really good first step, but, currently, as I understand the novice rules, I am concerned that there will be exhibitors that take advantage of the eligibility thus creating an environment counter productive to the goals of the program. For myself, I am not eligible for novice in Working Hunter, Equitation Over Fences or Showmanship. But as a working amateur, I am really focusing my resources on classes that are going reach my ultimate goals, plus, I don’t want to over-show or over-ride my horse just because I am eligible in another division.
Tara Eubank–I look at it two different ways– yes, there are those who may really not be novice but will get to come back. I understand the concern there, but I also see riders who even at 25 point are true honest novices. Personally, I also know of some who quit because they couldn’t step up and compete in amateur. So, as in any new rule, it’s not fair for everyone, but I honestly feel it will bring back some of the true novices who stopped competing simply because they couldn’t compete before and now have another chance.
Bri Bilecki–I would actually still be able to compete in novice classes since the novice leveling program came out–even though I had pointed out in many events last year. I think it gives those riders who are not entirely novice but still not ready for the next level a little more time to show as a novice to gain the experience they need to move on. It is also beneficial if you have a horse that is young or inexperienced, like mine. I do think that AQHA made a very good choice in making a rule that would not allow world champions from any large breed association to compete in novice classes. I hope that AQHA will do the same for The All American Quarter Horse Congress because it’s basically the same level of competition. I have seen many world and Congress champions go into novice classes giving the real novices no chance at all. Overall, I am happy with the new novice leveling program. Not every new program is going to be perfect, but it’s important to keep an open mind to make the association better for everyone.
Lori Gordon–I think the rule changes are positive especially since the economy has been sluggish. They allow someone who maybe had to step aside for a few years to have a family, go to college, or maybe had financial difficulty be able to dip their toe in the water and get started again. I am pro any new ideas that stimulate entries allowing more exhibitors to show and helping to stabilize or improve our industry.
Ashley Enoch-Scott–I appreciate the direction that AQHA is trying to go with allowing stepping stones to get to amateur, but I don’t feel that we should have a three year rule. I am still a novice in everything except hunter under saddle, equitation, and showmanship–at least according to the old rules. Now, I am now eligible to go back in showmanship and I am an intermediate in the equitation. I would not expect anyone who has only been out of the show scene for a few years with hundreds of points to go back into novice. I think AQHA should reconsider that three year rule and either make it longer or just do away with it. It’s ludicrous that someone with more points than I could ever dream of earning can sit out for a few years and go back into novice. Now the other side to that is someone who has been sitting for say 10 years or longer. Show styles have changed in that time, I am sure the confidence has gone down, and it’s just plain nerve wracking. That would be the instance where I would think it would be acceptable to go back into novice. AQHA was on the right track with adjusting the points allowed to give us a little more time to get comfortable with that event, but they really should look into the three year rule that is making it a mess. I have heard from numerous people that they will not be showing now because of the fear of competing against true amateurs.
Darla Lee–I have very mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I think its great for people who have been out of the business for a while who are trying to break back in. On the other hand, I think some new competitors may think its unfair to show against others that have been in the business for years. I feel anything that discourages new customers is bad for the horse business. I think the best thing is to give all the new rules some time and see how they affect the weekend shows. Those shows will really prove if it will be successful. Until I have seen the rules in action, I would have a hard time suggesting changes. I would only want AQHA to try to make these rules as simple as possible for our customers to understand. So many classes and catagories can be very confusing. Change is always scary but our industry has certainly evolved a lot and this just may be the next step toward the future.
Angie Proctor-Reichert–AQHA’s new novice rules are an added bonus for exhibitors. This will certainly level the playing field at the larger shows and open-the-door for a lot more exhibitors to place in a particular class. For example: With the old rules, a class like Congress Nov Am Western Pleasure class may have 200 entries, but only the” top ten” are rewarded which leaves 190 entries that may have had a fabulous ride, but got the gate so no points, no prizes, because there is only room for the top ten. The new rules allow room for expansion of points and prizes to be handed out. By dividing into levels, this opens the door for more points to be had and many more prizes to be won on each level. However, not every show has the entries that Congress does! Unfortunately, for every Ying, there is a Yang! At the smaller shows (leveled or non-leveled), we may see a lot of Amateurs showing back at the novice level which will make the novice classes huge and may make the already-small-amateur classes even smaller unless the Associations make it cost effective so the Novice riders will ride back in the amateur classes. This can be done by offering flat fee shows so the exhibitor pays one fee and rides all day at no additional cost. If I was going to change this rule in any way, I would like to see the leveling rules at only the shows that feel they are large enough to offer leveling classes.
Michelle Tidwell–I thought that the leveling program was going to help with the transition from Novice to showing in the Youth or Amateur classes. I hope that this does not keep people that are just beginning from getting discouraged by thinking they will be showing against people that have much more experience in the particular class. I could understand if someone did another class for a few years and went back to a class they became an intermediate again but not all the way back to being a novice. At least if they have placed in the Top 3 at the AQHA World Show or have earned 5,000 in prize money in a certain class, that does prevent them from maintaining their to novice status.
Maggie Bellville–Funny you should bring it up. I am at a show, brought my print outs, and I thought I was okay for a novice class. What I didn’t realize is that you have to add your three year amateur points to your three year novice points to determine your novice eligibility. I showed in the novice class and boy did everybody get crazy! Other exhibitors pulled my papers and complained to management. I called AQHA and finally understood how it works. But I think there will be a lot of this. I think self policing is helpful because we have to help each other or we will not really know what we placed and points we earned. There will be growing pains, but I will say novice will grow and people will go for the recognition within their ability levels.
Tiina Volmer–I am only eligible for Novice Amateur Trail. I was eligible before the rule change. I think it’s great that AQHA is trying to increase the numbers and get more people motivated to show. We all know how expensive it is to show horses and that the people who show consistently have a competitive edge. It is nice to know when you show that you have a chance to get your name called. The novice will definitely be more competitive but there is the rookie program that the people just starting to show AQHA have a place to go. There will probably be some bumps in the road to get all the kinks out, but I think we are on the right track to increase interest in showing our lovely quarter horses.
Jason Wanderer–I favor the novice changes; I sold my last horses in 2003 and have barely sat on one since then. At the suggestion of my trainer Leslie Lange, I purchased Hezan Investment for the specific purpose of getting back in the saddle and re-acclimating to showing in the trail and western riding after a 10 years hiatus. With the new rules I have the opportunity to show in the novice amateur trail and western riding with exhibitors of a similar level as a stepping stone to the Amateur division of these classes in 2014. The only suggestion I would have is to amend the rules to NOT allow exhibitors who have earned a combination (youth, novice, amateur and open) of 50 lifetime points in a specific class to ever be eligible as novices again in that class as I believe if an exhibitor has achieved that many points they have a good grasp of the fundamental skills required to show in that class.
GoHorseShow would like to thank Patti Carter-Pratt, Jason Wanderer, and Michele Wilheim for their help with this article. We would also like to know your opinion. Please vote in our poll shown below.
