Premier Amateur HOYS Qualification

TSR Amateur Definition

You are eligible for TSR Amateur/Home Produced classes and the Premier Amateur League/HOYS Wildcard unless you are a Professional. You are a Professional in relation to Showing if you derive ANY income (main or part time) from working with horses/ponies in connection with Showing OR if you fall into one of the following Professional definitions as detailed below:

• Professional Producer – A person who keeps horses/ponies, including training, livery, schooling, rides or handles equines for the show ring for more than one exhibitor/owner paid or unpaid since 1st January 2020.
• Professional Rider – A person of any age who rides horses/ponies in the show ring for more than one owner paid or unpaid since 1st January of the preceding year.
• Professional Handler – A person of any age who leads horses/ponies in the show ring for more than one owner paid or unpaid, including Lead Reins since 1st January of the preceding year.
• Professional Breeder – A person who breeds from 10 or more brood mares in a commercial capacity since 1st January of the preceding year.
• Professional Show Groom – A person who receives remuneration or otherwise for employment full, part-time, or self-employed in connection with Showing in the current year or since 1st January of the preceding year.
• Professional Trainer/Instructor – A person who teaches and trains in any discipline paid or unpaid. Please see TSR Handbook for further definition.
• Professional Owner – A person who exhibits an animal in their name which is professionally produced for the show ring in the current year. Any other animals in their name/care or ownership or in the name of an immediate family member/spouse/partner even if they are kept at home will NOT be eligible for the Amateur Classes in that year.

For clarity, where the definition states ‘for more than one exhibitor/owner’ this is exclusive of yourself.  Therefore, as an example X can ride their own horse/pony and that of Y only.

All children/juniors not to have attained their 18th birthday before 1st January in the current year will fall under their parents/guardian’s status.

Immediate family (as defined in section 4a of the TSR Handbook)/Spouses or Partners of a Professional who work or are howsoever otherwise
engaged or involved in any capacity with the Professional’s business whether or not for remuneration will be treated as being a Professional.

For the avoidance of doubt:

You are eligible for the TSR Amateur/Home Produced classes and/or the Premier Amateur HOYS Qualification if you:

1. Keep your horse/pony on livery on a non-showing yard
2. Work in racing, riding school, non-showing yard or other non-showing discipline (except teaching or training)
3. Are a brand ambassador up to a limit of benefits worth £500
4. Receive remuneration for ancillary services for example as a farrier, vet, physio
5. Have lessons/training one to one and at clinics
6. Loan/lease a horse/pony as long as there is a formal agreement, and it is shown and/or exhibited in your name
7. Send a horse/pony to be broken to be ridden during the period of November 2023 to February 2024 with a professional as defined above. This horse/pony is not eligible to compete in the Premier Amateur HOYS Ridden qualification classes in the current year but this does not affect any other animals already in the ownership, lease or loan in the current season by those who meet the amateur definition.
8. Sell a horse/pony through a professional as defined above, which is sold and does not return to or remain in your ownership whether that be part, full or through a lease or loan agreement.

Horse/Pony Eligibility

A horse or pony is NOT eligible for TSR Amateur/Home Produced classes and/or the Premier Amateur HOYS Qualification if it is:

1. Stabled, schooled or competed with/by a Professional as defined above in the current year
2. Ridden/lead by a Professional in the current year
3. Shown in the name/owned or sponsored by a company or commercial firm
4. Attended in the ring or outside the ring by a Professional in the current year
5. If the owner and/or rider and/or handler has another horse/pony stabled with a Professional as defined above in the current year
6. If either the owner, rider or handler is a professional
7. Shown by a person for which that person’s immediate family is a Professional
8. Ridden by a professional in training sessions or clinics in the current year
9. Animals which have been produced in the current season that have been purchased, leased or loaned from a professional are not eligible to compete under the amateur definition in the current year. This does not affect other animals already in the ownership, lease or loan in the current season by those who meet the amateur definition.
10. Broken to be ridden by a professional and during this period are competed in showing classes of any kind.
11. Placed on Sales Livery with a professional at any time in the calendar year, which returns to the owner or rider having not been sold, will not be eligible under the amateur definition in the current year. This does not affect any other animals in your ownership, lease or loan.

TSR takes very seriously the spirit of these amateur/home-produced conditions any member found to be contravening them may be subject to exclusion from the society with immediate effect.

Any member or competitor wishing to compete under the TSR amateur definition in relation to any qualification gained for Horse of the Year Show ridden classes, must ensure they maintain their amateur status from 1st January 2024, up to and including the last day of Horse of the Year Show Sunday 13th October 2024.

TSR reserve the right to refuse entry to Horse of the Year Show should it become aware through eligibility checks or concerns that this ruling has not been adhered to. This applies to owner, rider and animal.

If you are in any doubt about your amateur status please ask the office for guidance, the decision of The Showing Register on eligibility will be final.