We, the undersigned, are respectfully requesting of the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show (hereafter MGN) Committee to recognize and add Amateur Owned Trained and Shown (hereafter AOTS) classes to the prize list.  We additionally and respectfully request: that this be done for each division, and; by MGN 2015.

We have signed this petition because we believe that the “true amateur,” those eligible for AOTS classes as defined by USEF, should be recognized at the World level as being different than and in addition to what is currently being recognized as the “amateur.”  In laments terms, what separates an AOTS rider from an Amateur rider is one thing: who trains their horse.   An AOTS owner/rider/driver cannot have the horse, which they intend to show, in training with a Professional prior to showing said horse in an AOTS class within the same calendar year.  An Amateur owner/rider/driver, on the other hand, simply owns the horse yet can have the horse in training with a Professional throughout the entire show season/calendar year.  We feel that those who do not have their horse in training with a Professional, for whatever the reason, should not be confined to having no other option than to compete against Professionals or those “Amateurs” who currently have their show horses in training with a Professional.

 We feel that adding AOTS classes to the MGN prizelist would open up opportunities to those “true amateurs.”  Many AOTS owners/riders/drivers feel that is it substantially unfair to have no other option than to compete against Amateur owners.  AOTS riders/drivers must train/school as well as groom and prepare themselves and their show horse for a class, which they enter and complete with no professional coaching at any time.  Any help they receive doing these tasks must legally be done by someone who is without Professional status.  Because of this, many AOTS riders would argue that they are at a disadvantage to those Amateurs who sit atop a professionally trained show horse, schooled and/or prepared prior to entering the ring by said professional and/or their assistants/grooms, with professional coaching on the rail the entire class.  To add insult to injury to an ATOS driver, they cannot be headed in the lineup by anyone with Professional status, while the Amateur driver could have a highly-recognizable and likewise titled Professional at their bridle for final inspection by the judges.  Please understand that the intent of this petition is not to belittle the Amateur rider/driver.  This is simply a plea to appease those who have distaste for the inequality between an AOTS owner/rider/driver and an Amateur owner.

Adding AOTS classes to the MGN prizelist would attract those AOTS owners/riders/drivers to MGN.  It is discouraging for some AOTS owners to think that they have qualified for MGN through an AOTS class, but to compete at MGN they will spend thousands of dollars, have to convince their employer to let them off work for at least a week, and then be forced to ride/drive against 12+ professionally trained horses simply because those horses’ owners have Amateur status.  This fact alone drives many “true amateurs” away from competing at MGN.  We feel that if the playing field were leveled for these “true amateurs” - those who more often than not have to choose between a horse show or a vacation, those who save money for three years just to be able to finally afford to show at MGN, those who ride in the mud and heat and cold for lack of a “fancy barn” and indoor/covered arena, and those who do the best they can with what they have because spending $4000+ on a Dale Chavez dark oil saddle is simply not feasible – MGN would easily see an increase in numbers.  This would also reduce any negative talk of “politics” and perhaps change the perception of many that the show “caters to those with deep pockets” and “doesn’t care about the little guy/backyard rider.”  The Morgan community is still relatively small compared to other breeds, even after 225 years.  Many Morgan people, Professional, Amateur and AOTS owners alike, will agree that this is a good thing, but they would also agree that the Morgan Horse economy is hurting as a result.  We ask that you please don’t make those who don’t have their horse in professional trailing feel like there is no place for them in the Morgan community.

Respectively,

Lauren Marsh and the undersigned - Morgan Horse enthusiasts around the world, big and small

References:

 Section MO191.15 of the 2014 USEF Morgan Horse Rulebook, “AMATEUR OWNED, TRAINED & SHOWN (AOTS) CLASSES. Can be offered in any Morgan section. Exhibitors, attendants, and headers must meet the specifications for Amateur status, GR1306. Horses are not to have been professionally trained during the current competition year (riding and driving instruction excluded). In addition, horses are not to be presented, prepared, groomed or schooled with the aid of a pro­fessional before or during the competition. Horses may be stabled with a professional during the competition and hauled by a professional. Professional help for situations relevant to safety is permitted. Owner must sign as owner, trainer and rider/driver on the Federation entry blank…” https://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2014/19-MO.pdf

Section GR1306.1 of the 2014 USEF General Rules Rulebook, “Regardless of one’s equestrian skills and/or accomplishments, a person is an amateur if after his 18th birthday, as defined in GR101, he has not engaged in any of the activities identified [of someone of Professional status],” which are “..a per­son is a professional if after his 18th birthday he does any of the following: Accepts remuneration AND rides, exercises, drives, shows, trains, assists in training, schools or conducts clinics or seminars;Accepts remuneration AND gives riding or driving lessons, showmanship les­sons, equitation lessons, trains horses, or provides consultation services in riding, driving, showmanship, equitation, or training of horses; Accepts remuneration AND acts as an employee in a position such as a groom, farrier, bookkeeper, veterinarian or barn manager AND instructs, rides, drives, shows, trains or schools horses that are owned, boarded or trained by his employer, any member of his employer’s family, or a business in which his employer has an ownership interest; [and] Accepts remuneration AND uses his name, photograph or other form of person­al association as a horseperson in connection with any advertisement or product/ service for sale, including but not limited to apparel, equipment or property…”  See full regulation at https://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2014/GeneralRules/GR13-CompetitionParticipants.pdf