USEF Clarification On Amateurs*

USEF Clarification on Amateurs with Boarding Barns*

I am an attorney and I am confused as to what is and isn’t allowed to maintain an “amateur status” if one owns a boarding stable. I asked the source, and here were the answers.

1. Board other horsesAmateurs are permitted to accept remuneration for providing services in their capacity as horse boarder.Chapter 13, GR1306.3Rule Number 3. Permitted activities by Amateur. An Amateur is permitted to do the following:
   (h). Accept remuneration for providing service in one’s capacity as a: clinic manager or organizer (so long as they are not performing the activities of instructor or trainer), presenter or panelist at a Federation licensed officials’ clinic, competition manager, competition secretary, judge, steward, technical delegate, course designer, announcer, TV commentator, veterinarian, groom, farrier, tack shop operator, breeder, or boarder, or horse transporter.
2. A ring fee for use of the ring can be charged for outside riders by the LLC.Correct.Chapter 13, GR1306.4Rule Number 4. Professional based on one’s own activities. Unless expressly permitted above, a person is a professional if after his 18th birthday he does any of the following:
   (k). Accepts remuneration in excess of rental fee for use of a facility, ring or school horses.
3. The amateur can ride another person’s horse for pleasure but my not accept any renumeration for doing so.An amateur cannot ride another’s horse for remuneration at any time. In addition, should the amateur also be a horse boarder, they cannot ride (at any time) any horse for which they receive remuneration for (ie: boarding, etc.), regardless if the remuneration provided is not specific to the riding. Any horses boarded at an amateur’s facility cannot be ridden or exercised (lunging included) by the amateur.Chapter 13, GR1306.4Rule Number 4. Professional based on one’s own activities. Unless expressly permitted above, a person is a professional if after his 18th birthday he does any of the following:
   (a). Accepts remuneration AND rides, exercises, drives, shows, trains, assists in training, schools or conducts clinics or seminars
4. The LLC can host a clinic for a trainer and collect money to pay the trainer, cover costs and make a small profitIncorrect. Clinics are a professional activity. An LLC that is owned by an amateur must also be in compliance with the amateur rules, as such, the LLC cannot accept remuneration for holding a clinic. The clinic needs to be put on by a professional clinician/trainer. An amateur may charge a rental fee to the clinician/trainer for the use of their facility for the clinic, and may assist in putting on the clinic (such as serving as clinic secretary/manager), but neither the LLC nor the amateur can accept remuneration for the clinic itself by the clinic participants.Chapter 13, GR1306.4Rule Number 4. Professional based on one’s own activities. Unless expressly permitted above, a person is a professional if after his 18th birthday he does any of the following:
   (a). Accepts remuneration AND rides, exercises, drives, shows, trains, assists in training, schools or conducts clinics or seminars.
5. The LLC can breed horses and sell for a potential profitAn LLC that is owned by an amateur may breed and sell horses that are owned by the LLC/amateur. It may breed horses for other owners, but it cannot sell the non-owned horses.Chapter 13, GR1306.3Rule Number 3. Permitted activities by Amateur. An Amateur is permitted to do the following:
   (h). Accept remuneration for providing service in one’s capacity as a: clinic manager or organizer (so long as they are not performing the activities of instructor or trainer), presenter or panelist at a Federation licensed officials’ clinic, competition manager, competition secretary, judge, steward, technical delegate, course designer, announcer, TV commentator, veterinarian, groom, farrier, tack shop operator, breeder, or boarder, or horse transporter.Chapter 13, GR1306.4Rule Number 4. Professional based on one’s own activities. Unless expressly permitted above, a person is a professional if after his 18th birthday he does any of the following:
   (h). Accepts remuneration AND acts as an agent in the sale of a horse or pony or accepts a horse or pony on consignment for the purpose of sale or training that is not owned by him, his cohabitant, or a member of his family, a farm/ranch/syndicate/partnership/ corporation/business in which he, his cohabitant or a member of his family controls.
6. The LLC may allow local trainers to use the ring to teach and collect a small ring fee for maintenance of the ringCorrect. The LLC may collect a facility usage fee.Chapter 13, GR1306.4Rule Number 4. Professional based on one’s own activities. Unless expressly permitted above, a person is a professional if after his 18th birthday he does any of the following:
   (k). Accepts remuneration in excess of rental fee for use of a facility, ring or school horses.
7. Charge for trailering to an event or a equine hospitalAn amateur may accept remuneration for hauling horses.Chapter 13, GR1306.3Rule Number 3. Permitted activities by Amateur. An Amateur is permitted to do the following:
   (h). Accept remuneration for providing service in one’s capacity as a: clinic manager or organizer (so long as they are not performing the activities of instructor or trainer), presenter or panelist at a Federation licensed officials’ clinic, competition manager, competition secretary, judge, steward, technical delegate, course designer, announcer, TV commentator, veterinarian, groom, farrier, tack shop operator, breeder, or boarder, or horse transporter.

*Special “Thank You” to the USEF, AmateurInquiry@usef.org, for help with this post