I consider our farm as a small breeder, at one time we had a herd that was pretty good size (about 190 horses all in all) and it just was not fun. Now days we are somewhere around 35 - 50 including the babies each year. We do not do this for a living and get our enjoyment from the breeding of horses we like and that win for ourselves/others each year for the main part. Many times we have gone to shows just to see what the horses we have sold others have turned out to be, Nationals three years ago was a perfect example, No personal horses in the show, but 6 that we had bred therefore we went. It was a blast and a lot of fun for Cindy and I. To us it is all about the fun, if it ever gets to the point again that it isn't, I would seriously quit.
I say all of that, to say this: AMHR/ASPC has been successful as it is, because of the inclusion theory as a guiding principle. That is to find a place where folks can be involved at whatever level they are comfortable with. Be that one horse in the "backyard" for a pet or a 500 horse farm. Anything that causes that premise not to be adhered to is in my opinion a major mistake. I was told that by our area 5 BOD member many years ago, facts is it is a true premise.
Any owner should be happy and be able to take pride in being able to say something along the lines or "yes that is so and so, it is a registered ASPC/AMHR Miniature or Shetland". The worth of a registered mini or shetland merely being registered has to stand alone and add value to the horse for this entire deal to work for everyone.
At the same time anything that causes problems in maintaining the integrity of the stud book, with all its ramification has to be looked at also. Additionally from a business standpoint anything that costs the registry out of the ordinary expense must be controlled and monitored to keep us a viable entity.
So bottom line, I wish that the BOD would reveal the reasons behind this decision, so the rest of us could completely understand the nuances behind the decision. Till then I will I guess trust that the powers that be have considered these matters and come to the best option available. Lord knows I do not want their thankless, unpaid jobs. LOL