Discover Official Rules

CHAPTER 3

DEFINITIONS OF NOVICE, AMATEUR AND AMATEUR EXPERIENCED.

PART 1) QUALIFICATION LEVEL OF EACH ENTRY

We ask that all handlers sign up on the "GET INVOLVED" page on this website

They will be asked for any previous results of themselves and their horse on this page and will be assigned the correct level. The decision of the AAC is final.

The entry level of a particular combination at an AAC show will depend on EITHER the horse OR handler, whichever is the highest level. So even if the handler is Novice if the horse is Amateur Experienced according to its wins, that combination MUST enter the Amateur Experienced class.

PART 2) DETERMINING THE ENTRY LEVEL OF THE HANDLER

Part 2a) Entry Restrictions for Handlers NOVICE

Novice classes are open for Novice handlers. Novice means in this case non-professional inexperienced handlers who have never shown horse or handlers who have shown but have never achieved a win in a class at an ECAHO C-National show or higher.

Part 2b ) Entry Restrictions for Handlers AMATEUR

Owners having an ECAHO handlers-permit and who only have shown their own horses can participate in Amateur classes.

Amateur handlers are non-professional handlers with some show experience, which have not shown horses against payment for a third party . Non-professional handlers which have won titles in an ECAHO C-National or C-Int. show shall be considered Amateur handlers.

Amateur Classes are open to all non-professional handlers who passed from Novice to Amateur as defined in the ranking system below. See Chapter 4 "Level determination".

Part 2 c) Entry Restrictions for Handlers AMATEUR EXPERIENCED

Non-professional handlers obtaining a Classwinner or Medal, in Shows above C-International level are considered Experienced and excluded from participation in Amateur or Novice classes.

Amateur Experienced Classes are open to all non-professional handlers who passed from Amateur to Amateur Experienced as defined in the ranking system below. See Chapter 4 "Level determination".

Part 2d). Entering above your level

We do not allow any handlers to enter a level below the combined qualification of them and their horse, however inexperienced either party.

Wo DO allow handlers to enter in classes ABOVE their qualified level if they feel that their experience is higher than the Novice or Amateur status our qualification rules specify.

PLEASE NOTE We would ask that horses which reside on yards that show regularly at ECAHO shows are not entered in Novice classes even if the handler and horse are inexperienced. We feel that the levels of training available to people on these yards gives them an advantage over the genuinely Novice combinations which do not have day to day experience with open show horses.

Handlers keep their qualification level from year to year and their points will qualify for the following show seasons.

The best 3 results only from each handler at each level count towards the final prize score.

Part 2e). Entering multiple levels

We do not allow any handlers to enter more than two levels with the same horse.

PART 3) DETERMINING THE ENTRY LEVEL OF THE HORSE IN HALTER CLASSES

PART 3a) Entry Restrictions for all Horses

Entry restrictions only apply to regular ECAHO-qualifying classes. Liberty, Costume Classes, Junior Handler, etc… are non-qualifying classes for the moment.

Levels referred below are according to the Pyramid of ECAHO affiliated shows, as per Blue Book 2019

NEW FOR 2020 No horse may be shown in more than 2 halter levels (Novice /Amateur / Experienced) with the same or different handler.

PART 3b) Entry Restrictions for Horses NOVICE

Participation in the Novice Classes is permitted if the horse:

This horse has not been shown at an ECAHO show before

The horse has not  been shown by a professional handler in 2021, on or before the day of the show

This horse has been only been placed (2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc) at a C show

• This horse was a winner at a C show in 2018 or before.

This horse was a Gold /Silver /Bronze Champion at a C show in 2018 or before.

• This horse was a Class winner at a C Show in 2019 or 2020 in a Junior Class (Yearling, Two or Three year old). The horse is now eligible for senior 4 and over classes.

This horse was a Gold /Silver /Bronze Champion at a C Show in 2019 or 2020 in a Junior Championship (Yearling, Two or Three year old) . The horse is now eligible for senior 4 and over classes.

The horse has been awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Title in, at least, an ECAHO Int. B-show or equivalent (1) level ever.

If your horse cannot compete in Novice , please read the following sections.

PART 3c) Entry Restrictions for Horses AMATEUR

Participation in the Amateur Classes is permitted if the horse:

This horse has not won any ECAHO show but has been shown by a professional handler in 2021 before the date of the show.

• This horse was a class winner at a C show in 2019, 2020 or 2021 and is still in the same Junior or Senior classes as it was when it won.

This horse has been Gold/ Silver/Bronze Champion C show in 2018, 2019 or 2020 and is still in the same Junior or Senior section it was on the date of its win.

• This horse was a winner at a B show in 2018 or before

This horse was a Gold /Silver /Bronze Champion at a B show in 2018 or before

• This horse was a Class winner at a B Show in 2019 or 2020 in a Junior Class (Yearling, Two or Three year old). The horse is now eligible for senior 4 and over classes). If is now senior it may compete in Amateur.

This horse was a Gold /Silver /Bronze Champion at a B Show in 2019 or 2020 in a Junior Championship (Yearling, Two or Three year old) . The horse is now eligible for senior 4 and over classes

PART 3d)) Entry Restrictions for Horses AMATEUR EXPERIENCED

Participation in the Amateur Experienced Classes is permitted if the horse:

• This horse was a Class winner at a B Show in 2019, 2020 or 2021 and is still competing in the same Junior or Senior section it was at the time of its win,.

This horse was a Gold /Silver /Bronze Champion at a B Show in 2019, 2020 or 2021 and is still competing in the same Junior or Senior section it was at the time of its win,.

• This horse has won a class at an A or title show in or before 2018.

This horse has been Gold /Silver / Bronze at an A or title show in or before 2018.

• This horse has won a class at an A or Title show in 2019 and 2020 and won a Junior Class - Yearling, Two or Three year old - but has now passed from Junior to Senior and is now eligible for 4 and over classes.

This horses has been Gold /Silver / Bronze at an A or title show in 2019 and 2020 in a in a Junior Championship - Yearling, Two or Three year old - but has now passed from Junior to Senior and is now eligible for 4 and over classes.

PART 3e) Ineligible Horses for any Level

This horse has won a class at an A or Title show in 2019, 2020 or 2021 and is still in the same age group as when he won this prize (Junior / Senior)

This horses has been Gold /Silver / Bronze at an A or title show in 2019, 2020 or 2021 and is still in the same age group as when he won this prize (Junior / Senior)

PART 4 ENTRY RESTRICTIONS FOR PERFORMANCE CLASSES

PART 4a) Entry Restrictions for PLEASURE classes

i). Horses.

Horses must be 4 years old according to the calendar year of their birth.

25% or over Arabian blood Parts ands Anglos are eligible for the same class for inclusion in Aljassimya Amateur Challenge scoring.

ii) Riders

Professional riders are welcome to take part in the Challenge and will receive placings and prizes in the class according to the judges opinion.

They will not receive points for any of the End of Year Special prizes. The Amateur handlers will move up the ranking.

The definition of Professional for Pleasure classes will be based on the status of the exact combination entered. Riders paid to break, train or compete on the entry in this class will not get points for End of Year Special prizes.  Riders competing on their own horses will remain eligible. Riders with professionally trained horses on which they have lessons are also eligible.

All riders will be required to sign a declaration on the entry form to clarify their status; and may be asked for further evidence if they are not the registered owner of the horse entered.

Part 4b)  3 levels of Pleasure Classes

i) Junior Horse Pleasure (4&5 yrs)

ii) Novice Pleasure.

iii) Advanced Pleasure (only available for shows whose organisers had 10 or more entries in any Pleasure class at a previous event).

Entrants in all classes will earn points for the end of year prizes (subject to the professional definition explained above),

No combination may enter more than one level.

Junior and Novice classes will not run separately with less than three entries, and will be amalgamated into one class.

No championship will be held between the three levels.

Part 4c) Restrictions for Junior Horse Pleasure

Open to any 4 or 5 year old horse.

Part 4d) Novice Pleasure

All judgments of Novice / Advanced will be decided by the previous results of the COMBINATION of horse and rider entered, not the horse and rider separately.

Horses and riders who never rode in a Master (M) level together in any Pleasure class in an ECAHO recognized competition.

Horses and riders which have not won a class at Advanced  (A) level together in Pleasure class in an ECAHO recognized competition in the previous 3 years (2018-2019-2020)

Horses and riders who have not already won 3 Medals or more during AJF / ECAHO Pleasure classes in the previous 3 years (2018-2019-2020)  in the division they wish to enter. (3 wins in Western do not disqualify from entry in Hunter etc.)

Part 4e) Advanced Pleasure Classes are open for:

Any other combination of horse and rider.

No combination may enter both Novice and Advanced. Once a combination has taken part in an Advanced section it will not be able to enter Novice in the future.

Advanced Pleasure classes will count towards end of year points.

PART 5) ENTRY RESTRICTIONS FOR TRAIL CLASSES.

Part 5a) Horses.

Horses must be 9 MONTHS old or older according to their date of their birth for In Hand trail. Horses must 4 YEARS or older according to calendar year for Ridden Trail.

25% or over Arabian blood Parts ands Anglos are eligible for the same class for inclusion in Aljassimya Amateur Challenge scoring.

Part 5b) Riders / Handlers

Professional riders are welcome to take part in the Challenge and will receive placings and prizes in the class according to the judges opinion.

They will not receive points for any of the End of Year Special prizes.

The definition of Professional for Pleasure classes will be based on the status of the exact combination entered. Riders paid to break, train or compete on the entry in this class will not get points for End of Year Special prizes.  Riders competing on their own horses will remain eligible. Riders with professionally trained horses on which they have lessons are also eligible.

All riders and handlers will be required to sign a declaration on the entry form to clarify their status; and may be asked for further evidence if they are not the registered owner of the horse entered.

Part 5c) Restrictions for the 2 levels of Trail Classes

i) NoviceTrail

iii) Advanced Trail (only available for shows whose organisers had 10 or more entries in any Trail class at a previous event).

Entrants in all classes will earn points for the end of year prizes (subject to the professional definition explained above),

No combination may enter more than one level.

There is no Trail Championship.

The same horse may compete twice but no more than twice in a Trail class with a different handler.

PART 5d) Novice TRAIL classes are open for:

Horses and riders who never competed in an Advanced (A) level together in an ECAHO recognized competition.

Horses and riders who never competed in an Open level together in any other Western competition.

Horses and riders who have not already won 3 Medals or more during AJF / ECAHO Trail classes in the three years previous 2018-2019-2020 in the division they wish to enter.

PART 5e) Advanced TRAIL classes are open for:

Any other combination or horse and rider.

No combination may start in both Novice and Advanced. Once a combination has taken part in an Advanced section it will not be able to enter Novice in the future.

Advanced Trail will count towards end of year points.

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CHAPTER 4 . LEVEL DETERMINATION

FOR HALTER HANDLERS WHO HAVE SHOWN IN PREVIOUS AMATEUR SHOWS.

PART 1 The level of handlers who have previously taken part will be determined by the AJF Amateur Challenge Committee before the start of the season. Only the previous two years points will be taken into account.

. In case a handler joins in later in the season, his/her level will be determined before the first participation.

Handlers need to sign up on the "GET INVOLVED" page on this website.

Points are given according to the ranking of the individual class and are gathered by the handler.

Points for  handlers will be rewarded according to the graphic below. This is the same as the Paris Ticket Allocation points.

• 1st place: 5 points

• 2nd place: 3 points

• 3rd place: 2 points

• 4th place: 1 point

• 5th place and lower: 1 point

• Additional 5 points will be awarded for the combination “Best in Show Novice”.

• Additional 5 points will be awarded for the combination “Best in Show Amateur”.

Additional 5 points will be awarded for the combination “Best in Show Amateur Experienced”.

At the end of the show season, the total amount of points earned by the handler in the previous two seasons will determine the level of the next show season.

• Handlers who have gained 20 points or more will move up one level.

• Handlers who have gained 50 points or more will move up to Experienced Amateur Level.

• Handlers that did not show horses in Amateur Shows for two consecutive years are allowed to drop one level. Not compulsory.

Handlers that won any class in their career in Amateur or Experienced Level can never go back to Novice level. Unless otherwise instructed in writing by the AJF Committee.

Horses winning at Amateur shows do not have their level revised in the same way.

In case of discussions on the level of the handlers: the date of the payment confirmation ( date of transfer of entry fee on the account of the organizing committee ) after entry registration for the show is determinent for the level of that show season.