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SHOW RULES
6. Amateur Owned, Trained, and Exhibited (AOTE)
The AOTE program was established in 1999 with the
intent and purpose of providing classes in which an
amateur exhibitor could show his/her horses without
having to compete with horses that have been trained,
groomed and/or conditioned by a professional during
the current calendar year. (Amended 02-11, effective 0112)
a. AOTE Requirements
The horse exhibited by the AOTE must be trained,
conditioned2, groomed1 shown ONLY3 and measured
at a show4 by the AOTE or a nonprofessional family
member in all divisions entered. Non-professional
family members are defined as: spouse, mother,
father, brother, sister, niece, nephew, son, daughter,
grand-child, grandparent, legal ward, in-laws, stepchildren, step-parents and step-siblings. No one with
a professional trainer in the household or on premises
may compete in the AOTE division.
*CLARIFICATIONS1
“Grooming includes bathing, clipping, razoring and all other
allowable enhancements needed to prepare horse for showing.
2
”Conditioning” includes, but is not limited to, exercising and
neck or body wrapping.
3
If you co-own your horse with a non-related individual, only
one owner (household/family) can show the horse AOTE and the
other owner will not be allowed to show the horse that calendar
year.
Dental, medical and farrier care do NOT have to be done by the
AOTE exhibitor.
4
Must be measured at all shows by the AOTE handler/owner or
non-professional family member.
1. Exhibitor exceptions:
Another Amateur may show AOTE horses in
Championship classes only when the AOTE
exhibitor has more than one horse qualified.
Another Amateur may assist in any class
requiring multiple handlers.
2. Horse handling exemptions:
An AOTE horse may be held, or petted by
anyone. The petting of a horse with your
bare hand is not considered grooming the
horse. Anyone may assist an AOTE horse in
an emergency
3. Transportation
AOTE horses may be transported to and
from shows by anyone, including trainers.
This includes loading, unloading, feeding
and watering during transport.
(Amended 02-11, effective 01-12)
(Amended 02-13, effective 01-14)
b. Ownership
The owner or lessee of record mus t be so recorded
on the registration certificate (not postmarked) by
January 1st of each year in which the AOTE horse is