Show Me the Money

by Sue King    

amateur ('am-ә-tәr, 'am-ә-chәr), n 1. a person who engages in a study, sport or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit. 

profes$$ional (prә-'fesh--nәl) adj 2. a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engage in by amateurs.<a~golfer>  b: having a particular  profession as a permanent career. <b~soldier  c: engaged in by persons receiving financial return. <~hockey player. 

Given these definitions, taken from Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary, I would like to expand our understanding of these terms and investigate how they are applied to the sport of competition in the equine world.  Specifically, in regard to association mule shows. 

Controversies at mule shows over the Amateur classes have resulted in associations re-evaluating their criteria for Amateur divisions and grappling with the legalities of protests and discipline.  While I believe this is part of growing pains for the industry, I believe the real folly would be refusing to learn from mistakes.  I also believe that much of the controversy could be avoided by clear understanding of the rules and regulations concerning the Amateur and Novice divisions in any and all of the associations.

It seems the Amateur and Novice is, of course, the largest segment of our exhibitor base and there seems to be some misunderstanding as to what an amateur is and how long you are an amateur.  It has been presented to me that if someone is winning and is accomplished, they should move out of amateur classes.   That's not the way it works, however, for Amateur.  Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro classes, Novice can be structured like that based on prize money or points being the determining factor to initiate moving up the ladder of participation, but not Amateur.

I'd love to go in classes and not have to compete against those better than I.  But, I have to realize that getting rid of the competition is not the answer.  Improving my own skills is the answer.  Someone is not considered a professional because I can't beat them in the ring.  The backbone of any equine industry is its amateurs.  The amateurs are the ones who engage in showing their mules for the shear enjoyment of the participation.  Without the amateurs, the professionals would not be able to earn a living within in the industry because it's the amateurs who pay the professionals for their services. 

Essentially, the basic difference between an amateur and a professional is who takes money for services identified in the association's bylaws. Amateur status is maintained by refusal of remuneration (monies).  Amateurs remain amateurs for as long as they are not paid for their services whether they are twenty or eighty years old.  They do not give up their amateur status because they win too much, because they are good at what they do, because they get better and better.  Professionals get paid for training, showing, riding, judging other peoples animals, amateurs do not and remain amateurs until they do.

Beyond remuneration (monies), each association identifies amateur eligibility for horse/mule show purposes in its own terms based on how that association feels it wants its amateur program to be governed and what works for them.  Some call them Amateur.  Some call them Non Pro.  Some associations have even developed a Novice level in which someone who is inexperienced in their association's competition can compete to gain experience before they are required to compete on the Amateur level.

While amateurs do not take remuneration (monies), they still can be very professional in their presentation, riding, showing and the way they conduct their affairs.  This does not mean, however, they are professionals in the sense they take money.  It simply means they are very good at what they do.  We must be careful to distinguish between professional and accomplished, capable, competent, experienced, skillful, being an expert, none of which implies remuneration (monies) or being paid.

Many amateurs are so good at what they do, they might be able to win over a professional.  They could be so accomplished and have such a well trained animal, they can hold their own in open classes, especially in the mule association shows where there are fewer professionals.   Just because they are good at what they do, that does not mean they are professionals unless they take money for training someone else's animal or giving lessons.  In fact, many amateurs could technically be far superior riders to professional trainers.

Many amateurs are willing to share their success just as a courtesy to others because they enjoy helping others improve. Of course, they can't take remuneration (monies) because they would jeopardize their status.  Amateurs can be experts in what they do.  Obviously, winners are experts or they wouldn't win.  But unlike a professional, they do not receive money for their expertise.   However, their expertise can be very helpful in magazine articles, books, etc.

Professionals, on the other hand, are less likely to do this because they must make a living and they expect to get paid for the services.  Besides, those who hire a professional's services might not appreciate someone else getting free pointers by their trainer on how to beat them in the show ring.  Most professionals keep their egos in line and are not threatened by topnotch amateurs' performance in the show ring.  After all, their goals are quite different.  The professional does this to make money to make a living.  The amateur does this for non tangible rewards such as enjoyment and pleasure.

Both, however, contribute substantially to an industry.  The topnotch amateurs serve as goal setters for other riders.  Trainers and professionals benefit from this because other amateurs pay for their services to improve their own skills.  In the end, everyone has the opportunity to improve and enjoy their animals.

When you compete in an association=s amateur program, you might find that each equine association has similarities with subtle differences.  Most associations take very seriously the attempt of a professional to participate in amateur or non pro classes. 

As an amateur you must educate yourself concerning the rules and be honest about your activities.  And, you have the right to expect that if you abide by the rules, the association will treat you fairly and follow their rules, too, protecting your due process should your amateur status come in question.  Protecting your due process means that if your amateur status is protested, the association follows a procedure that insures that any alleged violations are backed up with evidence of wrongdoing.  This evidence must be presented by those who protest a person's eligibility and the amateur should be given the right to produce contradictory evidence in their behalf.

It is the association's responsibility to assure due process in alleged violations to all members of the association and everyone who agrees to participate according to the rules of the association.

However, an association is only as mature as its members.  So it seems only natural that members, if they choose to compete in sanctioned shows, should educate themselves concerning the criteria for the divisions they choose to participate in and maintain a mature attitude toward competition.

Bottom line in most of the association rules that follow is a profe$$ional

• takes direct remuneration (money) for training or showing,

• receives indirect remuneration in the form of expenses paid (i.e.expenses, phone expenses) for training or showing;

• receives remuneration for judging equine shows;

• takes remuneration for giving lessons;

• here will be canceled checks, receipts, etc to prove remuneration.

An Amateur does not take remuneration (monies) and remains an Amateur until when and if they do.