AjPHA Novice Youth Program

The Novice Youth program provides a great starting opportunity for youth making their first steps into the show arena. The program is also ideal for youth who have previously shown in Walk-Trot or in 4-H, local, and open shows.

Novice Youth classes are walk, trot/jog, and canter/lope classes for eligible youth ages 18 & under. Novice Youth eligibility is based on a per category basis, with 15 categories available. To be eligible for Novice status in a category, at the time of application, a youth cannot have earned:

•  20 points in Open and/or Youth in that category in any recognized equine association, or
•  50 points in Novice Youth in that category in any recognized equine association, or
•  $2500 or greater in prize money in that category in any recognized equine association, or
•  A World or Reserve World Title in that category in any recognized equine association. (Excluding Walk-trot or Leadline)

Recognized equine associations include, but are not limited to: APHA, AQHA, ApHC, IBHA, PHBA, PtHA, AHA, ABRA, NSBA, NRHA, NCHA, PRCA, NBHA, and POA.

Eligible youth must apply for a Novice Youth Card through a written application. Youth Memberships are separate from a Novice card. Novice cards are $15, current for the calendar year (January 1-December 31), and must be renewed annually so that points and eligibility can be updated. Novice Youth cards may also be purchased at APHA-approved shows by filling out a temporary card application. The temporary application will be forwarded to the APHA for processing, and a permanent card will be issued by mail. All Novice Youth cards applied for at APHA-approved shows will incur an additional $25 rush fee.

For more details on the Novice Youth Program, please see page 261 of the 2010 APHA Rule Book.