Here's what I'm thinking of submitting before the July 1 deadline:
A rule proposal that enables youth to qualify for youth classes at AMHR Nationals if they show in either a Youth or Open class.
Now, I'm not proposing that a 5-year-old show in a Stakes driving class or Open Halter class, but there are plenty of teen-agers who already show in Stakes and Open Halter classes. So, why not let those classes be qualifying classes for youth at AMHR Nationals?
Also, why can't a 7-year-old kid qualify for AMHR Nationals by showing in a color class? It's one of the safest classes for any exhibitor.
Full disclosure: I have five children, four of whom show, and it is a royal pain in the hindquarters to get them qualified. (We once had to wake up our then 4-year-old son at 3 in the morning to show in an obstacle class so he would qualify with that horse for AMHR Nationals. He wasn't happy. It was the last show before Nationals and who knew the show would run that late? The color class, by the way, was held in the afternoon.)
The past few years, I have proposed that children whose family owns a horse not have to qualify with that horse. That hasn't drawn nearly enough support, so I'm looking at other options to propose.
I'm wondering how others feel and, after reading the thread about the importance of amateur and youth exhibitors, I thought I'd ask others if they support my idea or have ideas of their own about making it easier for youth to qualify for AMHR Nationals.
A rule proposal that enables youth to qualify for youth classes at AMHR Nationals if they show in either a Youth or Open class.
Now, I'm not proposing that a 5-year-old show in a Stakes driving class or Open Halter class, but there are plenty of teen-agers who already show in Stakes and Open Halter classes. So, why not let those classes be qualifying classes for youth at AMHR Nationals?
Also, why can't a 7-year-old kid qualify for AMHR Nationals by showing in a color class? It's one of the safest classes for any exhibitor.
Full disclosure: I have five children, four of whom show, and it is a royal pain in the hindquarters to get them qualified. (We once had to wake up our then 4-year-old son at 3 in the morning to show in an obstacle class so he would qualify with that horse for AMHR Nationals. He wasn't happy. It was the last show before Nationals and who knew the show would run that late? The color class, by the way, was held in the afternoon.)
The past few years, I have proposed that children whose family owns a horse not have to qualify with that horse. That hasn't drawn nearly enough support, so I'm looking at other options to propose.
I'm wondering how others feel and, after reading the thread about the importance of amateur and youth exhibitors, I thought I'd ask others if they support my idea or have ideas of their own about making it easier for youth to qualify for AMHR Nationals.