Changes approved by the American Quarter Horse Association Amateur and Executive committees to AQHA Rule Nos. 101 (g)(4), 403 and 405 are effective immediately. The updated rules, which affect AQHA amateur membership, can be found in the online version of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations; the online version of the handbook is the default version.

The following changes have been made to Rule No. 403:

• An individual must wait three years to be eligible to compete as an amateur after participating in an activity that made them ineligible to compete.

• For three calendar years previous to application for amateur membership, an amateur may not have held membership accreditation with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (barrel racing only) or International Professional Rodeo Association for those events or classes which are the same events or classes in which the individual competes, or desires to compete, in AQHA amateur competition. For example, an individual who competes in a PRCA roping event may not compete in amateur calf roping or dally team roping (heading or heeling), but may show in other amateur classes. A permit holder is not considered as one who has membership accreditation in a professional organization; because of this, the individual may compete in any AQHA amateur class.

• An individual who is 65 years or older and is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association of Professional Horsemen is eligible to immediately apply for amateur membership so long as they meet all other amateur eligibility requirements and relinquish their Association of Professional Horsemen membership.

Additionally, changes were made to Rule No. 405 A(c). The changes clarify rules as they relate to Novice exhibitors in the Novice youth and Novice amateur divisions. The following changes have been made to Rule No. 405 A(c):

Once an individual has earned 25 AQHA Novice amateur, amateur, Novice youth, youth or open points, or any combination thereof, in a class; earned 50 points or an AQHA Superior award in a given class with an equine organization or association with a membership of 7,500 or more members; won a world, reserve world, national championship, reserve national championship or international title in a class with any equine organization or association with a membership of 7,500 or more members; or won a total of $5,000 in cash and prizes with any equine breed organization or association, then he/she will no longer be eligible to participate in the Novice skill set containing that class in subsequent years but may continue to compete in the Novice skill set until the end of the calendar year in which the aforementioned instances occurred. Any individual who has been an accredited horse show judge will not be eligible to participate in Novice skill sets.

AQHA members are encouraged to review the full changes to Rule Nos. 403 and 405 in the online version of the AQHA Handbook, which is the default version of the rulebook. Changes were also made to Rule No. 101 (g)(4), which also concerns AQHA amateur membership; members are encouraged to review the changes online.