In the show ring, what do you think makes a true amateur rider

This was the Paint Horse World debate last night. There are several amatuers that are the grown kids of big time trainers. And these people win big all of the time. And can probably train as well as their parents. There are also a bunch there that has the mega bucks, and have won tons of points in the events they are showing in. Should trainer's kids be allowed to show in amatuer? Should a person have to move up to the Open catagory when they reach a certain number of points in an event (like you do in Novice Amatuer)? Should there maybe be a Non Pro division for ones who are beyond amatuer, but do not want to show with the pros? What are your thoughts on this? Would it make it a little more fair to the amatuers who don't have a ton of money, but still support the breed? Maybe even get more people showing?

I completely agree with you on this. Lots of times I see people showing as amateurs when they should not be just to get points on a horse. I absolutely think that it is unfair to the true amateurs out there who are trying to show honestly. Unfortunitly theres not much that can be done about it. Rules & guidlines regulate that the only specifications for showing within the amateur class is that the rider must have pointed out of the novice amatuer ranking & not be a professional within the industry which would make them an open rider. Alot of amateurs do most of their own training but because they don't have their "shingles up"..they get away with being considered a non professional. The amateur classes were set up to give the people that fell in the middle of the novice & open classes a fair chance at being competitive without crushing the lower competition in the novice classes or being crushed themselves by the open riders & I think that it was done in good faith that people would keep it clean & fair but as always there are some that have to ruin it for everyone else. Making another class between Amateur & open would be ideal but unfortunitly I don't see it happening & I think people would raise a fuss about it because quite frankly the "big guys" in the amateur world like kicking the butts of the "smaller guys". I wish people would play fair & move themselves up a step but it will never happen because they enjoy the feeling of being on top.