This is an interesting topic, and there have been a few points brought up in here that I hadn't really thought about. I am against closing the registry. There are many, many fine under 34" horses that are more than worthy of an AMHA registration. I hardshipped one mare last year and am going to hardship my gelding after the 1st of the year, in order to show him. They are both unbelievable movers, and my mare may even help spur along the performance aspects of our breed through her foals, one area that is growing in leaps and bounds. After I hardshipped my mare, who was pregnant with an AMHA stallion, I futurity nominated her foal. Yeah, that is a lot of money in the coffers, and it does extend far into the future, well past the original hardship fee which is, by the way, not that insignificant in and of itself. It isn't just the mare, it is her babies, their registrations, their show fees, possible new memberships, and so on. And let's just make an educated assumption right now that no one in their right mind is going to pay $600 - $1200 to hardship an animal that isn't exceptional. It just flat out doesn't make any sense. Bpth of these horses were already registered AMHR, and the breeder had made a decision that they were only going to work with that registy. My gelding is, in fact, half Shetland. He is 33", and I would dare to say that you'd have a hard time telling him apart from any other high quality mini. My mare has no Shetland in her recorded background. All mini. Anyway, I feel it was well worth the investment to go ahead and hardship these qualifying animals.
I concur with Leia (HobbyHorse23) about the welfare aspect. I also agree with sdmini about increasing the worth of geldings through forward-looking incentive programs. We have just GOT to get to a point where everyone in the world buys a mini or three just to breed them. Right now, I would take my hardshipped mare over many, MANY of the AMHA horses being bred right now. Just because a mare or stallion has A papers doesn't mean it meets the breed standard and is producing outstanding foals. That is a FOR SURE. I would be willing to bet that most hardshipped animals meet or exceed a regional show winner in quality, merely due to the investment required to hardship them. You can go buy an "A" registered mare for $150 and hey! You're in business. This side of our breed really is a bad scene.
For these reasons, I was and remain AGAINST closing the registry.