New Novice Program; effective January 1, 2017

Novice Amateur Program

5001. This is a program designed to encourage less experienced members within a given class with the opportunity to exhibit with members of a similar experience range in that given class.

5002. Novice Amateur Eligibility. A person is considered eligible to show as a Novice Amateur exhibitor in Novice Amateur classes when:  s/he is ineligible to show in PHBA youth classes; has not ever held a judge’s card in PHBA, AQHA or any other recognized breed or color association and meets the criteria set forth in this Rule 5002 A through G. Once an exhibitor has met the foregoing criteria then that exhibitor’s Novice Amateur eligibility shall be determined on a class by class basis.

A) The Exhibitor cannot have earned a total of one hundred (100) or more lifetime performance points in any PHBA class in which that exhibitor seeks to show as a novice amateur. This one hundred point threshold is regardless of division (open, amateur, novice amateur, amateur select, novice youth or youth (13 and under or 14 to 18 excluding any walk trot division) in a class.  (Example:  21 points in open western pleasure, plus 25 points in novice amateur western pleasure plus 27 points in amateur select western pleasure plus 27 points in amateur western pleasure would render the Exhibitor ineligible to show Novice Amateur in novice amateur western pleasure)

1)  Halter, color, longe line, hunter in hand, and parade points are not used in calculating Novice Amateur eligibility.   However points earned in amateur halter, color and longe line classes may be used in calculating novice amateur year end high point awards and in calculating the novice amateur top ten exhibitor lists provided that the exhibitor has earned at least 50 performance points in a class designated as novice amateur.  Points earned in color halter and longe line may be used in calculating high point awards at APA shows.

B) An Exhibitor is ineligible to show in or receive points as a novice amateur in a class in which the Exhibitor has won a World Champion title in a PHBA performance class in any division except walk trot.

C) An Exhibitor is ineligible to show in or receive points as a novice amateur in a class in which the Exhibitor has won a World Champion title in any other equine organization’s performance class in any division except walk trot.

D) An Exhibitor cannot have earned more than 25 points in any other equine organization’s performance class, regardless of levels, classifications of points or divisions, to be considered a Novice Amateur in that same PHBA class.

E) An Exhibitor cannot have earned more than $5000 in cash awards resulting from a performance class in PHBA or other equine organization.  For purposes of this rule, monies earned as a result of the Palomino Incentive Fund shall not count towards this $5000 limitation.

F) An Exhibitor may not have received monetary compensation for training an equine activity and be eligible for a Novice Amateur designation.

G) This Rule is effective as of January 1, 2017.  All points previously earned by any Exhibitor in any performance class prior to January 1, 2017 shall count towards his/her Novice Amateur eligibility.

5003. Every person seeking this designation must do so on a yearly basis in writing by asking in writing that PHBA issue him/her a Novice Amateur Letter.  The Exhibitor, in his/her written request must specify to the PHBA office, the classes for which the Novice Amateur designation is sought. It shall be the primary responsibility of the Member to only apply for the Novice Amateur designation for a given class where the Member meets the criteria set forth herein.  If the Member seeks the Novice Amateur designation for any given class and knowingly does not qualify for such designation under Rule 5002, that Member may be disciplined in accordance with PHBA Rules and shall be stripped of any awards, titles or points the Member wrongfully received.  Upon application for the Novice Amateur designation, the PHBA office shall issue a written Novice Amateur Letter to the Member containing the list of classes that the applying Member is eligible to show as a Novice Amateur.  It is the Exhibitor’s responsibility to carry and to present this letter at the time any Novice Amateur class entries are made. Any Exhibitor who is a novice in ALL novice classes offered does not need to obtain a Novice Amateur Letter but that members membership card must reflect the novice amateur status. Receipt of a Novice Amateur Letter does not obligate a member to show in the novice amateur division.

5004. Amateurs who are eligible for this Novice Amateur Letter and apply for the Novice Amateur Letter shall, along with the written application for the Novice Amateur Letter pay a $25.00 fee to PHBA. 

5005. The Novice Amateur Letter must be presented at each and every PHBA (or affiliate) show, including the World Show along with the Member’s current membership card whenever the Exhibitor wishes to exhibit in a Novice Amateur class.  Without the Novice Amateur Letter verifying the Exhibitors eligibility to show in Novice Amateur classes, the show secretary has the right to decline the entry unless that status can be otherwise verified by the show management.

5006. Novice Amateurs are eligible to exhibit in Amateur and Amateur Select or Open division classes and still be eligible to show in Novice Amateur classes provided that all points in all divisions in that class do not exceed 100 points except as provided in Rule 5008. (Example: 30 points in novice amateur western pleasure plus 35 points in amateur select western pleasure and 35 points in amateur western pleasure would render the Exhibitor ineligible to show Novice Amateur in novice amateur western pleasure only). Exhibiting in the Amateur Walk Trot program shall not have any effect on a member’s eligibility for a Novice Amateur Letter however an exhibitor may not show in both Novice Amateur classes and Amateur Walk Trot classes at the same show per the Amateur Walk Trot Rules.

5007. Ownership.  See PHBA Amateur Program rules.

5008. Once a Novice Amateur has earned 100 points in a given Novice Amateur class, that Exhibitor is no longer eligible to show in that class in subsequent years as a Novice Amateur.  However, if a Novice Amateur designation is received in a show year that Novice Amateur Exhibitor may show that entire year as a Novice Amateur in that  class as delineated in the Novice Amateur Letter regardless of the number of Novice Amateur points earned in that year in that class.

5009. If Novice Amateur classes are applied for, then the corresponding PHBA Amateur classes must also be offered.

5010. Novice Amateur classes must be held prior to the corresponding Amateur class.

5011. Novice Amateur classes shall be judged by the corresponding Amateur rules.

5012. Stallions may not be exhibited in Novice Amateur classes.

5013. At show management’s option, any number of amateur performance classes may be offered as Amateur Select or Novice Amateur. EXCEPTION: jumping and team penning may only be offered as Amateur All Ages.