Presidential Modification to Amateur Rule

[Xctrygirl]

Announced by email from USEF 1 hour ago.

Presidential Modification Issued to GR1306.2 for Hunter, Jumper and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation Divisions for 2025

In 2021, the USEF Board of Directors approved a rule change that allows members from certain breeds and disciplines to accept modest remuneration for activities including teaching beginner riding lessons or serving as a social media brand ambassador or social media influencer without jeopardizing their amateur status. Currently, the portion of the rule that deals with teaching beginner riding lessons applies only to the Arabian, American Saddlebred, Andalusian/Lusitano, Morgan, National Show Horse, Paso Fino, Saddle Seat Equitation, and Western Divisions.

On May 21, 2024, US Equestrian received a request from the USHJA Board of Directors to include the Hunter, Jumper, and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation Divisions in the list of breeds and disciplines that allow amateurs to teach beginner riding lessons, subject to certain conditions, without jeopardizing their amateur status.

Additionally, USHJA requested that hunter, jumper, and equitation amateurs who are attending an accredited educational institution and serving in an internship position for course credit or as a result of course requirements be allowed to accept a stipend (at a rate that does not exceed the Federal minimum wage) and/or expense reimbursement during the period of their internship without compromising their amateur status.

As a result of USHJA’s request, US Equestrian has issued a Presidential Modification to GR1306.2.b. and GR1306.3.d.i (click here) adding the Hunter, Jumper, and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation to the divisions allowing these teaching and college internship activities. This Presidential Modification becomes effective with the start of the 2025 competition year. A standard rule change will be entered into the system for 2025 that will amend the rule accordingly within the rule book.

Presidential Modification Details

Starting December 1, 2024 , in addition to the other permissible activities, amateurs in the Hunter, Jumper, and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation divisions may accept remuneration for teaching riding lessons under the following conditions:

	a.		The amateur must register with USEF prior to performing any instruction.
—	—	—
b.		Total lesson time cannot exceed 20 hours per calendar week.
c.		Lessons must be given under the oversight of a USEF Competing Member in good standing who is designated as a Professional.
d.		Lessons cannot be conducted at a competition, including Federation Licensed Competitions and non-licensed competitions.
e.		Student must be a beginner who has not competed and is not competing at any level of competition, and lessons must not exceed the basic beginner level.
f.		Teacher must maintain a log of all lessons. Log must include lesson date, lesson time, and name of student.
g.		A USEF Competition Member designated as a Professional must review the teacher’s log and verify its accuracy.
h.		The teacher and professional are responsible and accountable for compliance with this rule.
i.		USEF may request proof of compliance and refusal to provide such proof constitutes a violation of the rule.

Additionally, an amateur attending an accredited educational institution and who is serving an internship position with that institution may accept a stipend (at or below the Federal minimum wage rate) and/or reimbursement of expenses incurred during the internship. This opportunity is available only to students who have never held professional status with USEF or any other National Federation, and the internship must be related to college credit or course requirements. At the request of USEF, the student must provide certification from the accredited educational institution under the auspices the student is pursuing an internship to verify the internship is undertaken to meet course or degree requirements.

Expedited Amateur Reclassification

As a reminder, this reclassification option is currently in the rulebook and is restated here as it may be beneficial for young professionals and amateurs to review at this time. Any former amateur member 25 years of age and under who has engaged in professional activities as defined in GR1306.4 may submit a one-time amateur reclassification request to the Hearing Committee after an expedited three-month waiting period during which they are not allowed to engage in any activities that would make them a Professional. Those over 25 years of age will utilize the same reclassification process but will be required to submit the request after a 12-month waiting period. See GR1307.4 for details regarding the amateur reclassification process.

For specific inquiries regarding amateur or professional status, please email: amateurinquiry@usef.org

[Janet]

I suspect that this is going to cause a lot of potential confusion for people who compete as amateurs in Eventing as well as H/J.

[jvanrens]

I don’t understand why they don’t make the rule standard across all disciplines so it’s not an issue at all. A person could ride western or saddleseat etc. as well as hunter/jumper

[touchstone]

I have to say I was really surprised by this rule change. I remember a really vigorous debate when the first version of the rule passed (applying to other disciplines), but nothing this time. Was I just tuned out?

[trubandloki]

@touchstone

I have to say I was really surprised by this rule change. I remember a really vigorous debate when the first version of the rule passed (applying to other disciplines), but nothing this time. Was I just tuned out?

It was not debated because it was a rule change that was made with out open discussion, it was just put thru by presidential modification.

Edit to add - this is not me saying I agree or disagree with this change. Just explaining why this change did not seem to happen like they usually do.

[Sticky_Situation]

Yeah, I’m not a fan of allowing “amateurs” to teach lessons for money. Particularly if it’s on a scale of “anything under 20 hours a week” rather than “you’re allowed to give your little neighbor kids an occasional riding lesson in your backyard” …. and I strongly suspect the “students can’t compete in anything” stipulation will likely only in reality apply to USEF competitions, not schooling shows.

I am well aware that “amateur” does not imply beginner or casual rider, but I just don’t see a need for allowing riding instructors to compete as amateurs. It’s not like there aren’t other divisions available for professionals to compete in.

[Rumorhasit93]

@Sticky_Situation

I am well aware that “amateur” does not imply beginner or casual rider, but I just don’t see a need for allowing riding instructors to compete as amateurs. It’s not like there aren’t other divisions available for professionals to compete in.

What about this situation…amateur has a full-time job (non-horse related) and teaches beginner lessons in exchange for lessons and/or board? Personally, no thank you to being forced to compete in open jumper divisions at thermal against 100 entries or against Nick Haness in any given open hunter division. I pay good money to compete, and I’d like to do it against my fellow amateurs. Just because I can competently teach a beginner doesn’t mean I find all my distances in the show ring

[Sticky_Situation]

By that logic, shouldn’t a small-time local professional whose income comes from teaching and training but who has never shown beyond local stuff at 3’ and below also be exempt from having to show against Nick Haness and the other “real” pros?

Of course, a true amateur can be someone who is independently uber-wealthy and rides 7-figure horses all day because they don’t need to work. But until now, it’s always been someone who isn’t paid to train horses or teach lessons, regardless of whether it’s their only source of income or not.

Maybe there should be a “limited” open division available for pros who haven’t competed above X level, instead of reclassifying small time professionals as amateurs so they don’t have to compete with the big names.

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Agreed.

But maybe the solution is you win your way out. Sort of like reverse MERs in eventing. Once you win X number of times at a level, you go in the open class. Regardless of whether you are an amateur, or not. If Susie wants to be the 2’3” hunter queen, that’s cool … but after 3 wins, you’re in with the other 2’3” queens in the open division.

[Rumorhasit93]

@Sticky_Situation

By that logic, shouldn’t a small-time local professional whose income comes from teaching and training but who has never shown beyond local stuff at 3’ and below also be exempt from having to show against Nick Haness and the other “real” pros?

It’s a slippery slope, for sure. But if your income relies on your training of horses and humans, you’re a real pro, regardless. I have been a pro and basically cleaned water buckets, but because I rode at home and got paid for it, I was a pro. I had no qualms about that.

Now (or ever really) I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable or competent teaching juniors who’ve been to more shows this year than I have in my entire life.

I don’t know where to draw the line, but I like where this is going.

[Sticky_Situation]

This would probably really be the most “fair” way overall, but would require more effort for tracking wins and competitions for eligibility versus just having people say, “don’t worry, I only teach lessons 19 hours a week and none of my riders jump over 2’6” so I’m not really a professional!” I’m sure with the use of technology it could be done, but would require additional work to decide where to make the eligibility cutoffs and keep track of who meets them.

[2bayboys]

By this criteria I can be an amateur. I own my farm and school horses and teach about 15 hours per week. None of my lesson kids jump over 2’ and I stopped taking students to horse shows last year.

I can just hire somebody to be the “head trainer” and sign off on the paperwork and voila, no more pro.

I predict a lot of assistant trainers are going to be eligible for the adult amateur division now.

[fivestrideline]

“Champion every time out this year in the AA’s! Asking $1M”

Sure, but the “AA” is the ex-assistant trainer who teaches the beginner kids (who definitely don’t show unrated, we swear!) and rides all the sale horses in the amateur divisions. That’s a totally different person than the working amateur who has to carve out time for their one horse 3x a week. I know we have these kinds of issues already, but this really does muddy the waters further.

I struggle with this rule change, and the way it was pushed through. I think there’s going to be a lot of confusion and it’s not particularly enforceable.

(Personally, I would prefer a “semi-pro” division, for those who are in the grey area. Most people I know don’t want to teach lessons, but they do want to help out in other ways that break amateur rules.)

[fivestrideline]

@2bayboys

I can just hire somebody to be the “head trainer” and sign off on the paperwork and voila, no more pro.

As far as I can tell if the “head trainer” has their paperwork in order, they don’t need to be actively coaching at shows or anything like that? Unless I’m reading it wrong, you(g) can just get your non-horsey SO a Pro membership and have them sign off on everything and VOILA! An extra $50k a year in your pocket, and you don’t have to show during the week or compete against pros. If a person was unethical, they could certainly find the time to teach 20 hours, ride some personal sales horses in the AAs on the weekends, and make a nice little business (assuming there’s a market for these things in their area). All while being an entirely different rider than the typical Working Amateur.

I guess the question is, what is an “Amateur” - someone who makes their money outside of horses, or only works X amount of hours of pay with horses, or… what? Exactly?

• in no way am I saying this is a likely or even common scenario, I’m just saying I wonder what the actual definition of Amateur is, anymore

• ($50/hour lessons, 20 hours/week, 50 weeks/year, in case you’re wondering where I got that number)

[Renn_aissance]

I’m not winning against e.g. Stephanie Danhakl already and opening up the field to other people who ride as well as she does isn’t going to hurt my feelings.

On the other hand, the rule change means a whole bunch of college students can teach up down lessons for money and use that to fund their horse showing, and considering how bloody expensive it is to go on a field trip these days, I’m for it.

I think we could do better with a non-pro division or similar, but let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good when financial accessibility is one of the biggest threats to the continued viability of the sport.

[Sticky_Situation]

That whole bunch of lesson-teaching college students weren’t prevented from going to competitions before, though. They were only prevented from entering certain divisions at those shows.

It’s all very much first-world problems, I realize. But if there is truly such a need to make sure Susie Small-Time Riding Instructor doesn’t have to compete against Mary Big-Name Trainer, there are IMO better ways to go about it, like creating a division for pros with limited winnings. People who make $50k/year (number borrowed from one of the above posts) teaching lessons aren’t amateurs.

[Old_Mac_Donald]

@jvanrens

A person could ride western or saddleseat etc. as well as hunter/jumper

USEF: why are all our jumpers suddenly wearing blingbling fringe chaps and jumping cow-patterned barrels?

Amateur “Western” trainer:

[EmilyM]

If I recall when the original discussion opened up, there was a concern about a lack of trainers available to teach beginners. I personally have zero idea whether this is a real need in H/J land. I believe school horses are more of a shortage.

Due to the oversight clause, I believe this will benefit the shamateurs who are already breaking the rules, riding sales horses at home, helping at the shows and “leasing” sale horses to show. I hope I’m wrong.

As another poster stated above, if we have a dearth of trainers, it makes more sense to allow an amateur to teach the neighbor kid in their backyard or help their other amateur friend. If there is already an established trainer at the facility, I don’t see how this helps expand the sport.

Are they going to do audits of the logs? I sure hope so.

[trubandloki]

@EmilyM

Are they going to do audits of the logs? I sure hope so.

Will it make any difference?

In most cases the person overseeing the log book is also the person benefitting from their not really an ammy rider getting ribbons in the ammy division on their horses. So the log books will say what the rules says it needs to say, and an audit will not see anything nefarious.

[fivestrideline]

@EmilyM

As another poster stated above, if we have a dearth of trainers, it makes more sense to allow an amateur to teach the neighbor kid in their backyard or help their other amateur friend. If there is already an established trainer at the facility, I don’t see how this helps expand the sport.

I agree with this. Not sure how it could be policed, but a college kid working a summer camp between semesters, a DIY amateur helping set jumps and “coach” their friends at the occasional show, and the person teaching kids on their retired show horse at home would help fill the gaps more than adding an Amateur Assistant Trainer to a show barn.

Maybe I just don’t understand how this ruling isn’t just legalizing Shamateurs and adding even more riders to already huge and ridiculously competitive divisions while not really helping the grassroots or making showing any cheaper.

If it’s about money, let’s cap or reduce show and class fees (and stall fees!), push to make shows more welcoming to the person bringing one or two horses and making their own stall reservations and entries, lower membership dues, move or add weekend classes for green horses, do literally anything to reduce the costs of showing rated.

If we have a trainer shortage (do we? I think we have a problem with affordability and lack of lesson horses), adding a semi-pro/point out division to accommodate people working off board or teaching X hours of lessons at home would do more to get beginners started in horses, IMO.

I’m all for an imperfect solution that’s heading in the right direction, but shoving this through without a vote from membership feels very much like the typical “we don’t care what you average people have to say, pay up and shut up” treatment we’ve come to expect from USEF and USHJA.