Let’s allow common sense to rule rather than fear. There are those who would want you to be afraid to help out your friends because you might lose your Amateur Eligibility if you do. That is simply nonsense.
Since AQHA is the largest Breed Association I’ll quote a portion of their rule here:
Amateur Eligibility: ” a person is eligible for an amateur membership when he or she has not shown, judged, trained or assisted in training a horse
( whether or not a registered American Quarter Horse) for remuneration, monetary or otherwise, either directly or indirectly, nor received remuneration for instructing another person in riding, driving, training or showing a horse for five calendar years previous to application for amateur membership.
An exception to this rule exists if an amateur member is certified as an instructor in equitherapy by North American Riding for the Handicapped Association or similar organizations. ”
There are multiple points to this rule and you can view the whole rule in the AQHA rule book or you can download the rulebook at http://www.aqha.com
If you have any questions or concerns what so ever I would suggest you download the rule book and become familiar with the rules.
My point here is to say you can help a friend but you cannot take any form of payment for that help be it as little as a dinner out or trade for anything that could be construed as having any value.
But if you want to sit on a fence and tell your friend when they look good or when they are on the wrong lead then there should be nothing wrong with that.
There are mean spirited people who choose to hurt others so if you have any concerns in your breed association then pick up the phone and call them. They are happy to answer your questions and between reading the rules yourself and having a conversation with the association you can find out if there is any room for concern on your part about what you are doing.
Fear and meanness should not define how you choose to help a friend.
October 7, 2009
Horse Riding, Training and Showing Tips