Amateur Status for Showing

I don't know if this is the right section, but... as some of you know, I'm taking on a horse for training, and so contacted my local riding association regarding legal stuff, and they reminded me that if I take money for training a horse (which I will be) then I will lose my amateur status as far as showing goes. I don't show big right now, and haven't shown in a couple of years as I've been away at school, but I may be getting back into it in the near future, so how will this affect my showing? Will it change the levels open to me? Am I restricted form showing at schooling shows?

What are the pros and cons of being considered an "amateur"?

Well, it's just about who you compete against. If you remain an amatuer, you compete against non-pro adults. If you decide to be an official traner you will be competing against professionals.

Generally, it's more difficult to compete in Pro classes, but many of the amatuers at big shows are really good too.

And I'm not sure, but can you be a pro and still keep a novice designated card, if you're a novice that is?
I think only youth and amatuers can have novice cards, but I don't know for sure.

Thanks for the advice, Tim.
Considering I've been riding and showing for 15 years, I don't think I qualify for novice status anymore regardless of amateur status. And I'm not a youth anymore either.. haha. I read up on the Canada Hippique site (Equine Canada) and it says that an EC member can't train, show or ride for money.. here's the site: http://www.equinecanada.ca/index.php...=62&Itemid=222
As far as I understand, pro status lasts for 2 years, so as long as you don't train for money for 2 years you can regain amateur status..
Again, I'm just wondering what kind of competitions I would be restricted from? What other pros and cons are there?
Hehe and I am certainly not training an unbroke 6 year old owned by a stranger for free!!

Hmm, I'm not sure about the rules in Canada. I'd just take it on a show by show basis. I wouldn't think you'd be barred from that many shows, especially the smaller ones where there's no difference between pro's and non-pro adults.

It may even be that you need to complete a program to become certified as a professional horseman before you can have trainer status.

I don't know if that many shows won't let you show... I think it's more the classes you can enter are much more limited. It also means that your competition at shows will be much more difficult depending how competitive the adult amateurs are in your area. However, the dressage shows I did last year I was actually happy to show in the open class! The amateurs were wonderful and all of the trainers (including myself) were on babies at their first show... it was a bit more of a rodeo.

The cons? Sometimes it stinks to show against the trainers who have 40+ years of show experience under their belt riding their client's $80,000 horses. And at some shows I only have 1 or 2 divisions I can show in

The Pros? Well, if you're going to do this as a living you gotta start sometime! Plus, before I used to have to pay to show (and pay a lot). Now? People pay me! It's a [/i]great job! Plus, (I don't know about Canada but in the US) if on your taxes you are considered a riding professional all riding equipment is considered tax deductable!

As far as I know, no, there is no need to complete a program to become a trainer; however to become "certified" then you have to. Which I plan to in the near future, but I'm supposed to be going to see this mare and do an evaluation tomorrow, so I can't complete the program before I take this mare on.
So as long as shows don't have "pro" and "non-pro" sections, then I can show in any class?

What? Riding equipment is tax-deductable? Huh.. I'll have to check up on that... do you have to make a certain amount or have a registered business to make it tax deductible? Do you have to be certified?

As far as classification at shows, I would check up on your horse show association. For the dressage shows I went to the classes were all labeled: Open Training level I, etc. Under USEF you have to read their rule book. More then half of the divisions are for amateurs only (and you can't show in certain divisions if you've shown up to a certain level). I believe all of the Jumper classes are open.

Yes, if you pay taxes as an individual professional, lots of things are tax deductable! (Practical horseman or someone had an article about it like a year ago?) All equipment (down to gatorade, if you buy it specifically to drink while you're working), gas/milage to shows or horse shopping (but not daily lessons or riding), etc. But I think you have to make a certain amount a year. And I don't think it counts if you are under a set salary directly from a barn who who pays your taxes. Tax wise most trainers are technically considered "individual contracters" who are hired by a barn. You do NOT have to be certified. (I don't think I know anyone who's certified....)

Sounds like the pros outweigh the cons. I don't plan on showing this horse, as the owner just wants basics on her, so losing amateur status just for this mare, however I've been thinking about getting back into big-time dressage again, so I'll just have to be careful about which division I enter.. which isn't really a big deal since I've been competing in open shows for the past number of years.

So, do you have to declare to the government that you're now a "business" and have to pay taxes on this as well, then do deductions from there?

Sounds exciting :)

Umm.... I don't think you have to get any kind of registration or anything that you're 'a business'... I think when you file as an "independance contracter" you are your own business. Normally in the corporate world your company pays you a salary and pays a part of your taxes. Then you fill out your own taxes on top of that. If you're independantly employed, you pay ALL of your taxes. But then you can deduct all of your equipment, etc.
I do think you have to make at least a certain amount per year, maybe $8,500 or something? Sorry I'm so vague, I'm horrible with these kinds of details! Esp since your taxes are most likely different in Canada! (i was born in canada btw!) A great tool is "Turbo Tax". It's a computer system that gives you a step by step approach and helps you fill them out. If you're only working with 1 horse you probably don't have to declare anything. This might be a question worthy of it's own thread. :)