What are the exact guidelines for competing as an amateur versus professional? I know someone who gives lessons and trains horses under a trainer (under the guise as a “working student”), and is paid to do so. That individual has been competing as an amateur all the way up to FEI. If this is not allowed, how would I do about notifying the USDF/USEF of this issue? Has anyone else encountered a similar problem?
The rules are online and so I believe is the contact information for reporting violations.
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https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/s9SeSv4S0Sc/gr--general-rules
GR1306 and 1307 (pg 194 etc)
Questions about whether you are an Amateur or Professional. For specific inquiries, email amateurinquiry@usef.org
The only exception to this rule is if the person in question is under 21.
That is a clear rule violation (unless they are a Jr/YR as Dune points out). Unfortunately, it is very hard to get USEF to do anything about it - you have to put up a fee to get them to do a “formal investigation”. But you can report them and send any “evidence” you have, and sometimes USEF will at least contact them to remind them of the rule. Sadly, I see these violations far too often in our sport…
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Ugh…
And yes in this case they are older than 21.
As someone who has been reported and investigated, I can tell you that if you pay the money USEF will investigate. They will require that the accused provide proof that they aren’t financially benefiting in any way. I was informed that if I showed while being investigated I would risk forfeiting not just any winnings and paying fines but would risk additional loss of income to offset the fees for office/paperwork. They also provided a list of all winnings and rankings that would be stripped if I was found guilty. The assumption based on the fee paid is that the accused is guilty until they prove themselves innocent. I sat dormant while they investigated and I provided ‘my proof’. It took almost a full year until they decided that I was NOT in violation. It was a petty breeder with the assistance of a local who claimed to know the inside scoop on me.
If you feel they are truly in violation, pony up and pay the fee. Just be sure you are really in the know of all the facts. In my case, the claim was that I was training others’ horses for a profit and that I was taking horses on consignment. They used my website as proof that I was training others’ horses. Well in essence I was but for FREE! I have trained horses I was leasing with absolutely no economic gain to me and taking on horses that I had full rights to as the result of an OFFICIAL broodmare/foal share lease. I also was given a total of three horses (all purebred) that were designated as ALPO until I agreed to take them. I turned two of the three around and sold ONE. These were horses I had full rights to (either by legal ownership or USEF filed leases) and was breaking/backing/training/showing and selling like any breeder would. I had a legal partnership between Tamara in TN and myself. The beasts I took on as a result of our partnership were 100% legally mine. Unfortunately another Welsh Cob breeder who likes to dictate to others how they sell their horses and for how much and price fix any chance she can get was a bit miffed by my ‘training’ for free and the friendship between Tamara and myself. She was really upset by a deal she tried to horn in on and fix. She filed a claim against me which I received two weeks after Tamara’s husband was murdered. She is a woman with NO CLASS. She just couldn’t accept the fact that I refused to pimp everything possible and put reasonable prices on my stock.
The green eyed monster is not that attractive when worn. Again if you are absolutely positive then I say go for it; but if you’re not, I can promise that in my case what goes around comes around and there is no doubt in my mind that due justice will be served.
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OMG thank you for sharing this story 
Proof how bad this system is
It’s unfortunate, but it happens. I knew a woman that gave lessons and accepted gift cards (no hard cash). She hardly ever showed and then it was at schooling shows. She also worked under a trainer giving lessons. For some reason, she wanted to keep her amateur status. I don’t know why.
gift cards are remuneration and therefore she was a pro. Schooling shows, however are only a local / organization issue and not under the umbrella of USEF. It is up to the schooling show sponsor to have the knowledge and set their rules ( with teeth)
if you file a violations challenge and the person is found guilty, you are refunded. the fee is to prevent malicious filings. there are plenty of rulings on AM// Pro that shows the USEF takes this seriously
OTTB you need firm proof that the WS is being compensated either in money or goods in kind. Hearsay is not proof, Your perception is not proof.
A cancelled check is proof. The rate sheet is proof. An e mail from the WS to someone on their rates is proof.
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No one would ever file on me, as I have 2 horses and am the quintessential adult ammy who spends money like crazy for my own amusement only. But I think the above is a very important cautionary tale that - if you are going to enter into complicated but legitimate activities - make sure that everything is in writing! I think people get irked sometimes when they come to COTH to talk about their difficulties and it comes to light that nothing is in writing. COTH folks come down hard when people do this, but this is just one more example where getting it in writing saves your a$$!!!
Good on you exvet and I’m glad you were found in compliance. Sorry it was so traumatic but the truth prevails eventually!
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That is a terrible story, exvet!!!
Does anyone know if the inquiry can remain 100% anonymous? And if social media evidence is viable?
No, the inquiry cannot be anonymous; that’s part of what makes the system “work.” If you are going to accuse someone, they have a right to know who accused them. This accountability is intended to deter frivolous accusations. As horrible as @exvet 's experience was, the system did work in the sense that they were cleared and the accuser was out the $$.
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You can absolutely make an anonymous report and not pay the fee. There is just no guarantee that USEF will do anything about it.
The only way to guarantee anything will be done is to file a protest: https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/fzOxWL5uKkc/guidelines-for-filing-protest-or
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yes social media is admissible. get your screen shots.
read the rules. there might be a few lucky AA who can afford to not earn money elsewhere and to be a WS with riding and teaching privileges for free. If the WS is getting room and board for themselves or their horses and they are teaching or riding to train, they are pros. Ig they are NOT getting any kind of compensation either money or in-kind, then they might be an ammy
if the WS is giving lessons and the BO / trainer is being paid, and then the WS is getting free board, training or other services in kind that is compensation.
It dates back to the day when trainer would hire people as bookkeepers, nannies , cooks and “pay them for that” then turn around and offer them students to teach and 10 horses to ride.
Yes social media can be used as ‘evidence’. My website was used as such. I did NOT have rates. I was willing to take problem welsh cobs and any of my own back which I made clear on the web site. I was not doing this for money. I was given three problem cobs (signed over to me) and never charged anyone for riding their horse because the others were leased to me. Unfortunately the ads I had on various sales pages FOR MY OWN STOCK and my web site gave enough suspicion to open a case per the USEF. Again I was able to prove that I simply was a fool hearty amateur with a passion for a specific breed and had all my bill of sales, my lease agreements (two already on file with USEF), and registration papers, etc. One of the claims of ‘proof’ by the filing ‘party’ against me was that I didn’t have all of my welsh cobs - purebred or partbred registered in my name. This was true. I knew a couple of them I was going to sell and not keep so I saw no need to pay the extra money to have them recorded in my name; but, that is where the bill-of-sale came in handy. There was one I did intend to keep; but, because of the fiasco to get her registration transferred into my name was going to cost me more than the purchase price of the cob, I decided not to register her in THIS COUNTRY. She was one of my best broodmares and mounts. I only sold her after my divorce forced me to and not by premeditated design.
Also, the claim can be anonymous. Per the USEF it was in my case. Therefore, it’s very wise to be careful what you put in emails because the ones you bed down with when there is a decision to collude will very often be the same ones who’ll rat you out when there is a tiff between them. The other disclosing moment on the parties who chose to take action against me was the revelation of which of my stock I had registered in my name and which ones I did not. This isn’t a ‘fact’ that is typically available to just anyone including the USEF.
From the USEF website (emphasis mine)
“In accordance with GR603, any rider, driver, handler, vaulter, longeur, exhibitor, owner, agent, trainer or the parent of a junior exhibitor, or any Life, Senior, or Junior member present at the competition may file a protest with the Show Committee of a Licensed Competition or The Federation Hearing Committee alleging violation of any Federation rule(s). The protest must contain all information as specified in GR602.1 and must be: in writing; signed by the protester; addressed to the Show Committee of the competition at which the alleged violation occurred, or to the Hearing Committee; accompanied by a deposit of $200 if made by a Federation member or the parent of a junior exhibitor member or $300 if made by a non-member (if check, payable to the competition or to the Federation); said deposit will be refunded in the event the protest is upheld, and received by the steward, technical delegate, a member of the Show Committee, the competition manager or the competition secretary within 48 hours of the alleged violation. If made directly to the Hearing Committee, the protest must be received at the Federation office by the tenth business day following the last recognized day of the competition, or by the tenth business day following the date on which the alleged violation occurred if it occurred other than at a Licensed Competition.”
For those thinking we don’t get anything for our USEF membership, it appears we get a $100 off when filing a protest. :^)
If it’s not filed as a protest, how is the USEF supposed to do something? I sure don’t want my membership $$ used to run down every bit of hearsay in the horse world.
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One other option would be to talk to the trainer or a friend of the individual about the issue. I know of one where a jr/yr was a ws and after aging out of that category kept doing the same thing, thinking it was ok. Someone talked to the trainer and the individual started showing open.
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