Professional status
Skeptictwo@aol.com
Thu, 12 Dec 1996 08:33:35 -0500
The subject of professional-amateur status as related to cash awards is an
interesting concept. The question is "how does one define a professional?"
The AHSA and Olympics have been struggling with this for years. Is a
professional determined by the number of miles/years/points/top tens/100 mile
rides he or she has acquired? Is it determined by whether or not he or she
breeds/boards/ buys/sells/ horses? Whether he or she conditions or trains
horses and/or riders for remuneration? Whether he or she is a veterinarian,
chiropractic or massage pratitioner? It would take pages in the AERC
rulebook to set up such standards--and then be assured someone would find a
loophole. Most AERC members feel WE DO NOT NEED MORE RULES. And if pro-am
definitions were arrived at, would there be enough entries in the
professional category to make a ride viable?