Non-pro vs Amateur

[leighbo009]

What is the difference between non-pro and amateur?

TIP champs this year will be offering non-pro divisions in H/J & Dressage. (I am an eventer who may cross enter, but wondering what the difference is)

I also saw talk of non-pro divisions as being a better choice than the presidential modification that just came out in its thread.

So what is the difference?

[spurofthemoment]

The way I understand it, “non-pro” is designed to include adult amateurs and juniors.

[Night_Flight]

There used to occasionally be a non-pro 1.10m jumper division at some shows in Canada (maybe there still is since it’s a big country, I only ever saw it at the Ottawa shows).

I believe in Canada it’s for those who aren’t paid to ride or compete, but it does allow you to instruct or coach as long as you’re not a level 3 coach or higher, and as long as you’re not short listed for the national team.

Honestly, it was usually just filled by a handful of amateurs who weren’t interested in entering the junior/amateur jumper division against the usual horses who always won.

[Peggy]

My take on it in California is that there are no cross entry restrictions for riders as there are in junior and amateur jumpers. One could cross-enter between 1-m non pro and a 1:3-m class but not between 1-m am/jr and that same 1.3-m class.

[Indy]

That’s how I’ve always understood it too. Non-pro is anyone who is not a professional, regardless of age. Amateur is anyone who is not a professional and is 18+.