AMHA Convention - Rule Changes for AOTE Division

[Millstone Farm]

found this on the AMHA's Amater page, which lists a bunch of rule changes that will be voted on at the meeting in Orlando (www.amha.org then select Amateur, then select rule changes to be voted on...)

"Official update to AOTE rules

The following rule will be voted on by the membership in February 2006

e. A declared AOTE horse may be removed from the AOTE program by submitting the AOTE Opt-Out Declaration form to the AMHA Office. The AOTE Opt-Out Form must be on file with the office prior to the AOTE horse being trained, conditioned, groomed or shown by a professional trainer. The Opt-Out Declaration will not be accepted during the course of any show. Fees—See Fee Schedule. AOTE Honor Roll Points for the calendar year will be lost when the Opt-Out Form is submitted to the AMHA Office.

f. Should a declared AOTE horse be sold during the calendar year it was designated for, an AOTE Opt-Out Declaration form must be submitted to the AMHA office prior to, or with the Transfer of Ownership or Lease. Once a horse has been sold, it must wait until the following calendar year to enter AOTE classes."

Am I reading this correctly -- if an AOTE horse is sold during the calendar year, the Opt Out fee is going to be charged?

I hope I am interpreting this incorrectly. If I am right, then it means that an AOTE exhibitor will be fined for selling his/her horse. Personally, I think this is just plain unfair to punish AOTE exhibitors! It's nothing short of a penalty! While I have no issue with the AMHA charging a fee if I were to change my mind and decide to put my AOTE horse with a pro, I find it more than a little disciminatory to charge me a fee to sell a horse to another party! Especially a fee that is drastically higher than the cost of registration! Think about all that is involved for AMHA in registering a horse and then compare it to what would be involved for AMHA with the this AOTE form. Hardly comparable.

As I stated earlier, I have no objection with the concept of the Opt Out fee (heck I was the one who proposed it, sans a fee) for those who decide mid-year to yank their horse out of the division. But I don't like the idea that this fee will be imposed on the sale of all AOTE horses.

Please tell me I am interpreting this wrong. I will gladly mea culpa!

(and yes, I am attending the convention and will express my views.)

 

[wpsellwood]

Yep, thats the way I read dont really care for the new rule change either.

 

[Robin_C]

I am unclear how this would fly. If you sold an AOTE mid-year, or even on December 30th (given that even a rush transfer requires a minimum of 24 hours work-time in the AMHA office), wouldn't/shouldn't that be considered an automatic Opt-Out since the new owner/horse combo would be ineligible to show AOTE until the following January 1st? Why would an Opt Out declaration be required at all since the transfer of ownership of the AOTE horse essentially negates that eligibility?

Does anyone honestly think we are going to vote in this rule change with that type of verbiage -- that something done automatically (the negation of the AOTE eligibility) should cost the previous AOTE owner a penalty?

I definitely agree with the rest of the rule, that a horse can't be Opted Out during a show. Just think of the havoc that would cause at Nationals with AOTE classes coming BEFORE the open events. All I would have to do is show my horse in AOTE, then Opt Out, pay my fee and hand my horse off to a trainer to show in the open classes, perhaps having won my AOTE class a few days before. So THAT part of the rule, I like and definitely agree with.

I'm glad I will be able to attend the convention this year. I am looking forward to it and while I will be the voice of one, I won't be afraid to step up to the plate!

Robin C

 

[wpsellwood]

The whole thing just upsets me. Keep adding ruled until we rule ourselves out of the aote program. I love showing in the aote hope it doesnt happen.

 

[wildoak]

What is the proposed fee, have they given an amount? I agree with the opt-out rule, but selling an AOTE horse should not incur a penalty/

Jan

 

[Tony]

I believe that the reasoning behind this is to protect the points and awards that the horse won during the year in AOTE. As the rule stands now, a horse, if shown by anyone other than the AOTE or family member, it loses all awards won for the year. This new rule proposal allows a horse to be shown AOTE, then sold, and the new owner can show it in open or amateur without affecting the previous points and awards. Otherwise, the new owner could not show it for the rest of the year if the seller wanted to keep the points. This also will allow for a horse to go to a trainer after the World Show without losing awards. Opting out of AOTE, basically after the main show season, but getting ready for the next.

 

[Millstone Farm]

I thought I read that the Opt Out fee was going to be $50. While I don't have an issue with the fee as it pertains to deciding to leave the AOTE division to put your horse with a pro (for example) in the middle of the show year, I do have an issue with being slapped with a $50 penalty if I sold an AOTE horse mid-season.

I think selling a horse -- and submitting the transfer of ownership form and fee -- should be sufficient.

Is AMHA is thinking that people will get "crafty" and just submit a bogus lease or bogus transfer form and this is the AMHA's way to eliminate that? I still say AOTE/AMateur-owned horses shouldn't be required to pay a penalty fee if they are sold mid-season.

 

[midnight star stables]

What is 'AOTE'?

 

[Dona]

What is 'AOTE'?

"Amateur Owned Trained & Exhibited"

 

[MIKER]

found this on the AMHA's Amater page, which lists a bunch of rule changes that will be voted on at the meeting in Orlando (www.amha.org then select Amateur, then select rule changes to be voted on...)

"Official update to AOTE rules

The following rule will be voted on by the membership in February 2006

e. A declared AOTE horse may be removed from the AOTE program by submitting the AOTE Opt-Out Declaration form to the AMHA Office. The AOTE Opt-Out Form must be on file with the office prior to the AOTE horse being trained, conditioned, groomed or shown by a professional trainer. The Opt-Out Declaration will not be accepted during the course of any show. Fees—See Fee Schedule. AOTE Honor Roll Points for the calendar year will be lost when the Opt-Out Form is submitted to the AMHA Office.

f. Should a declared AOTE horse be sold during the calendar year it was designated for, an AOTE Opt-Out Declaration form must be submitted to the AMHA office prior to, or with the Transfer of Ownership or Lease. Once a horse has been sold, it must wait until the following calendar year to enter AOTE classes."

Am I reading this correctly -- if an AOTE horse is sold during the calendar year, the Opt Out fee is going to be charged?

I hope I am interpreting this incorrectly. If I am right, then it means that an AOTE exhibitor will be fined for selling his/her horse. Personally, I think this is just plain unfair to punish AOTE exhibitors! It's nothing short of a penalty! While I have no issue with the AMHA charging a fee if I were to change my mind and decide to put my AOTE horse with a pro, I find it more than a little disciminatory to charge me a fee to sell a horse to another party! Especially a fee that is drastically higher than the cost of registration! Think about all that is involved for AMHA in registering a horse and then compare it to what would be involved for AMHA with the this AOTE form. Hardly comparable.

As I stated earlier, I have no objection with the concept of the Opt Out fee (heck I was the one who proposed it, sans a fee) for those who decide mid-year to yank their horse out of the division. But I don't like the idea that this fee will be imposed on the sale of all AOTE horses.

Please tell me I am interpreting this wrong. I will gladly mea culpa!

(and yes, I am attending the convention and will express my views.)

found this on the AMHA's Amater page, which lists a bunch of rule changes that will be voted on at the meeting in Orlando (www.amha.org then select Amateur, then select rule changes to be voted on...)

"Official update to AOTE rules

The following rule will be voted on by the membership in February 2006

e. A declared AOTE horse may be removed from the AOTE program by submitting the AOTE Opt-Out Declaration form to the AMHA Office. The AOTE Opt-Out Form must be on file with the office prior to the AOTE horse being trained, conditioned, groomed or shown by a professional trainer. The Opt-Out Declaration will not be accepted during the course of any show. Fees—See Fee Schedule. AOTE Honor Roll Points for the calendar year will be lost when the Opt-Out Form is submitted to the AMHA Office.

f. Should a declared AOTE horse be sold during the calendar year it was designated for, an AOTE Opt-Out Declaration form must be submitted to the AMHA office prior to, or with the Transfer of Ownership or Lease. Once a horse has been sold, it must wait until the following calendar year to enter AOTE classes."

Am I reading this correctly -- if an AOTE horse is sold during the calendar year, the Opt Out fee is going to be charged?

I hope I am interpreting this incorrectly. If I am right, then it means that an AOTE exhibitor will be fined for selling his/her horse. Personally, I think this is just plain unfair to punish AOTE exhibitors! It's nothing short of a penalty! While I have no issue with the AMHA charging a fee if I were to change my mind and decide to put my AOTE horse with a pro, I find it more than a little disciminatory to charge me a fee to sell a horse to another party! Especially a fee that is drastically higher than the cost of registration! Think about all that is involved for AMHA in registering a horse and then compare it to what would be involved for AMHA with the this AOTE form. Hardly comparable.

As I stated earlier, I have no objection with the concept of the Opt Out fee (heck I was the one who proposed it, sans a fee) for those who decide mid-year to yank their horse out of the division. But I don't like the idea that this fee will be imposed on the sale of all AOTE horses.

Please tell me I am interpreting this wrong. I will gladly mea culpa!

(and yes, I am attending the convention and will express my views.)