Adult Amatures & Brand Ambassadors (or sponsors)?

[LittleFox]

Trying to gain some clarification on what is and is not allowed in AA as far as being a brand ambassador or sponsor goes? I have read the guidelines, but am still a bit confused.

I see other people that are competing as amature that have sponsors (but call themselves brand ambassadors?). Is there a distinction? What quantifies which as which?

Can the barn you ride at be sponsored without it affecting your own AA status, even though you would potentially get items from your barn to use?

I’m definitely wanting to stay on top of the rules and be in the clear so I wanted to get any information I could and hopefully a little help in making sense of the rulebook and any semantics therein. And to simply make sense of all the conflicting information I am finding.

[soloudinhere]

I wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking these “brand ambassadors” are actually being compensated. Brands seem to have developed a master of getting people to enjoy marketing them for free.

[enjoytheride]

I saw a popular blogger become a brand ambassador and she discussed the pros and cons of giving up her amateur status to do it, she doesn’t teach or train but really doesn’t enter things that require her to stay an ammy so she declared herself a pro. All the other local brand ambassadors were already pros. Everyone in my example is an adult.

[pony4me]

There is an excellent article in the July 11 and 18 issue of COTH on page 32. The title is “Is Your Saddle Pad Sabotaging Your Ammy Status?” It explains the rules in great detail.

[AffirmedHope]

I think Parenti gives a major discount to it’s “brand ambassadors” and while they are not giving away a tangible product, I believe that it still counts under the Ammy rules as compensation. I believe that someone on here also contacted USEF a couple of years ago when this brand ambassador stuff exploded and USEF said that yes, it does violate the rules. I have never heard of anybody being set down for it though.

I remember there was a big uproar here a few years ago when a BNR was competing as an Ammy but had sponsor logos plastered all over her equipment. At that time at least, there was a loophole, the sponsor wasn’t sponsoring her, but was sponsoring the farm (separate entity) that her horse were owned by. Even though it was her family’s business. Not sure if that loophole has been closed now or not.

[LittleFox]

@pony4me

There is an excellent article in the July 11 and 18 issue of COTH on page 32. The title is “Is Your Saddle Pad Sabotaging Your Ammy Status?” It explains the rules in great detail.

Thankyou! I’ll look it up & see if it clarifies anything - do you know if it clears up anything regarding what AffirmedHope mentioned below?

@AffirmedHope

I remember there was a big uproar here a few years ago when a BNR was competing as an Ammy but had sponsor logos plastered all over her equipment. At that time at least, there was a loophole, the sponsor wasn’t sponsoring her, but was sponsoring the farm (separate entity) that her horse were owned by. Even though it was her family’s business. Not sure if that loophole has been closed now or not.

That’s kind of the angle I am trying to figure out now. Definitely want to abide by the rules, but if there is a way for our farm to be sponsored (they’re super small local products/brands/companies) without jeopardising any of our riders status.

[adultammylife]

@Jess NHF

That’s kind of the angle I am trying to figure out now. Definitely want to abide by the rules, but if there is a way for our farm to be sponsored (they’re super small local products/brands/companies) without jeopardising any of our riders status.

When you say “your farm” do you mean your personal barn or your trainer’s? I know a lot of trainers (and by extension their barns) are sponsored by brands and do receive some sort of discount or free product to use on their horses but that benefit is not usually passed on to their riders, which prevents it becoming an issue with amateur status.

[LittleFox]

@adultammylife The barn where I ride/train at. Everyone at the barn is AA status currently.

[REH]

@pony4me

There is an excellent article in the July 11 and 18 issue of COTH on page 32. The title is “Is Your Saddle Pad Sabotaging Your Ammy Status?” It explains the rules in great detail.

Of which year? 2016?

[Peggy]

amateurinquiry@usef.org

[pony4me]

@REH

Of which year? 2016?

Yes, 2016. Sorry about that. Here’s the link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/700050-july-11-18-2016

[shedllybip]

@pony4me

Yes, 2016. Sorry about that. Here’s the link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/700050-july-11-18-2016

Yes - but that article pertains to the Dressage riders. Different from the hunter / jumper rules.

[JenEM]

@shedllybip

Yes - but that article pertains to the Dressage riders. Different from the hunter / jumper rules.

The pad issue in the article is dressage-specific (they actually have rules about logo type and size). The actual Amateur Rule is GR1306, which is a General rule that applies across disciplines.

[Nickelodian]

As an ammy you cannot have sponsorship that compensates YOU in anyway. If your trainer’s farm has a sponsor who compensates your TRAINER (via discounts, etc) then it won’t affect your ammy status.

Brand ambassadors who receive discounted or free product are not ammys. But as someone said I’ve not seen anyone set down for that as of yet.

But yes. Best to contact usef and ask.

[mvp]

@Jess NHF

That’s kind of the angle I am trying to figure out now. Definitely want to abide by the rules, but if there is a way for our farm to be sponsored (they’re super small local products/brands/companies) without jeopardising any of our riders status.

Bottom line: Are you getting compensated by the company in some way that amounts to more than $300/year? I’m not even sure the $300 limit applies. But that is the amount that one can receive in Thank You gifts before one loses amateur status.

The ammy with sponsorship labels all over her equipment… maintaining her ammy status because it’s her family’s farm that’s getting sponsored. Can we get an eye-roll from the crowd? This is the 21st century version of the “nanny” who rides the 10 sales horses a day at the show.

Why do people wealthy enough to ride and show out of their family’s farm need to cheat for swag that they can clearly afford to buy? So tired of the piss-poor morality from the well-off horsey set. Why should anyone with less be honest if those who can afford to do the right thing don’t? Makes you feel like a patsy and a sucker for not cheating, doesn’t it?

[mvp]

@Jess NHF

@adultammylife The barn where I ride/train at. Everyone at the barn is AA status currently.

So you are the rider and trainer? Or you are a client who pays someone else to train your horse?

[Pennywell_Bay]

I went through this ( as an ammy whose trainer is sponsored by many brands).

1. Email the inquiry email provided above about your specific situation
2. Our situation did not affect my status at all
3. Specifics of your situation could change this, I’d email and abide by the rules very carefully.

[adultammylife]

@Jess NHF

@adultammylife The barn where I ride/train at. Everyone at the barn is AA status currently.

What about your trainer? Whoever is training you must have their pro status or their in violation of the Amateur rule

[Belmont]

I have emailed USEF about this before. You can not be a brand ambassador and an amateur, period.

[LittleFox]

@adultammylife

What about your trainer? Whoever is training you must have their pro status or their in violation of the Amateur rule

My trainer is pro status but they’re not exclusive to/a part of the barn “team” so to speak. Sorry, I should have clarified.