43 Rule Change Proposals for 2026 APHA Leadership Gathering Consideration

By Jessica Hein, PHJ News:

Advisory committees will review 43 rule change proposals at the 2026 APHA Leadership Gathering, February 27–March 1. Committee action determines which proposals advance for voting consideration by elected APHA state directors.

To be eligible for voting privileges, state directors must be present for live roll call at both 2026 Leadership Gathering state director meetings, which take place February 28 and March 1, 2026. Leadership Gathering events—including most meetings, parties and other social gatherings—are open to all APHA members and Paint enthusiasts.

Register for the 2026 Leadership Gathering online and find more information at apha.com/leadershipgathering.

Rule Change Proposals for Consideration

A summary of each rule change proposal under consideration appears below. Read the full rule change proposal details online at apha.com/rulebook.

• CONTROL #ART-VI—Reduces the number of years before a state director is elevated to lifetime director-at-large from 25 years to 12 years.
• CONTROL #ART-VI-1—Provides the option to verify state director/alternate attendance electronically or by answering roll call.
• CONTROL #ART VI-2—Streamlines the state director election process by shifting ballot preparation and eligibility verification to APHA staff.
• CONTROL #RG-020—Stipulates that a foal qualifying for Regular Registry under RG-020.A.1.b (generation rule) will be registered with the applicable pattern type per its DNA results.
• CONTROL #RG-090—Permits the use of soundalike horse names for APHA registration in select situations.
• CONTROL #RG-090-1—Permits the use of soundalike horse names for APHA registration provided they are spelled differently.
• CONTROL #SC-015-1—Specifies “an appropriate award” to specific award descriptions outlined in the rulebook for greater consistency.
• CONTROL #SC-027—Create a Ranch Horse Versatility Award for Youth, Amateur and Open exhibitors.
• CONTROL #SC-105—Allows Trail and In-Hand Trail to be judged concurrently when two shows are held back-to-back on the same date.
• CONTROL #SC-115—Provides exception to the APHA-approved show management certification requirement for secretaries at APHA special events.
• CONTROL #SC-120—Recommends that prizes for Youth and Amateur loping divisions exceed value for those awarded in corresponding walk/jog divisions.
• CONTROL #SC-125—Clarifies that paper-based judge evaluations are no longer required.
• CONTROL #SC-136—Defines the role of a scribe to assist the judge and complete accurate score sheets.
• CONTROL #SC-160-1—Removes the rule that the entry count of a class will be adjusted if a horse or exhibitor is disqualified due to being ineligible to enter the class.
• CONTROL #SC-160-3—Provides consistency for definitions of “Immediate Family” throughout Amateur and Youth rules.
• CONTROL #SC-195-1—Moves specific attire verbiage for flat cap/fedora from individual rules to SC-195 English Attire and Personal Appointments.
• CONTROL #SC-246—Removes eligibility exceptions for all Green classes relating to lower points for Zones 12, 13 & 14 to align with U.S. rules.
• CONTROL #SC-251—Adjusts Green classes’ horse eligibility requirements from $2,500 to $10,000 in lifetime earnings.
• CONTROL #SC-301-1—Eliminates the requirement to earn at least one point in a ranch cow class to be eligible for APHA year-end High-Point Ranch Awards.
• CONTROL #SC-302—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Riding as an APHA-recognized class.
• CONTROL #SC-302-2—Adds Youth Walk-Trot Ranch Riding as an APHA-recognized class.
• CONTROL #SC-303—Adds Youth Walk-Trot Ranch Rail Pleasure as an APHA-recognized class.
• CONTROL #SC-303-1—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Rail Pleasure as an APHA-recognized class.
• CONTROL #SC-304—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Pleasure as an APHA-recognized class.
• CONTROL #SC-305—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Trail as an APHA-recognized class.
• CONTROL #SC-311—Updates soundness guidelines for Ranch Conformation to be consistent with other halter class rules.
• CONTROL #SC-315—Adds Western Dressage as an APHA-recognized class.
• CONTROL #JU-000—Removes the requirement for APHA judges to judge at least one APHA show per year, as long as the judge stays current on all APHA judge testing, continuing education and remains a member in good standing.
• CONTROL #AM-015—Allows Amateur exhibitors to add designation for Amateur Walk-Trot Showmanship to their Amateur card while still competing in loping riding classes.
• CONTROL #AM-080—Modifies the Masters Amateur division age requirement from 45 & over to 50 & over, with a phase that allows those currently competing in Masters Amateur to remain grandfathered into the division.
• CONTROL #AM-085—Allows immediate family members to show the same horse in the same Amateur, Amateur Walk-Trot or Youth division events if the show splits the class by age division.
• CONTROL #AM-105—Eliminates the line up in showmanship for Zones 12, 13 and 14 in the Amateur and Youth divisions, making it possible to show up to two horses.
• CONTROL #AM-117—Creates Non-Pro Green Pattern Classes to allow eligible horses to compete on an entry-level field in showmanship, horsemanship and/or hunt-seat equitation.
• CONTROL #AM-205—Excludes Amateur exhibitors who have competed on a NCEA equestrian team from Novice status eligibility by discipline; they remain ineligible for 10 years after their final year of participation on the equestrian team.
• CONTROL #AM-205-1—Restricts the associations that affect an exhibitor’s Novice eligibility to APHA, AQHA and PtHA for points and titles. Money earned from any event or association will still count per existing rules.
• CONTROL #AM-205-2—Modifies Novice eligibility to be based on earnings as of January 1 of the current show year, rather than the date of application, to make it consistent with Green class eligibility rules.
• CONTROL #AM-300—Modifies the Masters Amateur Walk-Trot division age requirement from 45 & over to 50 & over, with a phase that allows those currently competing in Masters Amateur Walk-Trot to remain grandfathered into the division.
• CONTROL #AM-300-1—Allows any Amateur or Novice Amateur exhibitor who is 62 years of age or older at the time of application to elect to show in Amateur Walk-Trot Showmanship (Walk Only).
• CONTROL #AM-300-2—Establishes Amateur Walk-Trot eligibility guidelines based on points and titles earned, while providing an exception for those with physical limitations.
• CONTROL #AM-300-3—Prohibits exhibitors from competing in the Amateur Walk-Trot division if they, at any time, are deemed ineligible for Amateur status according to APHA Amateur remuneration rules. This mirrors the Novice Amateur division rules.
• CONTROL #YP-015—Removes the ownership requirement in Youth and Youth Walk-Trot divisions, matching the Novice Youth rules.
• CONTROL #YP-109—Removes the world and reserve world title limitation to Youth Walk-Trot 11–18 division eligibility.
• CONTROL # YP-109-1—Omits wording that states Youth Walk-Trot 11–18 division classes are not intended to be held at the APHA World Shows.