30 rule change proposals passed following 2026 APHA Leadership Gathering

Elected state directors passed 30 rule change proposals following the 2026 APHA Leadership Gathering; most will go into effect January 1, 2027. Among the passed proposals were decisions to raise the Masters Amateur division age to 50 & over (with a phase-in period), removal of Youth and Youth Walk-Trot ownership requirements, and using only APHA, AQHA and PtHA points to determine Novice division status. Several new classes were established, including walk-trot ranch, Youth and Amateur green pattern horse classes, and Western dressage.

The 2026 APHA Leadership Gathering took place February 27–March 1, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. Rule change proposal voting took place immediately after the Leadership Gathering concluded; voting was open until 11:59 p.m. CST on March 2. State directors who attended both State Director Meetings in-person at the 2026 APHA Leadership Gathering received the opportunity to vote.

The 2026 Leadership Gathering featured the debut of The Right Lead. This leadership development program centered around APHA Board of Directors member and Navy Rear Admiral (ret.) Tina Shanahan’s “Lessons from the Herd,” which aligns leadership qualities with those fostered by horsemen and through equine herds. Attendees also enjoyed the Medal of Honor Museum, presentations by Boehringer Ingelheim, tickets to the World’s Greatest Horseman finals and more.

The following rule change proposals were passed by state directors:

• 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. (68 votes for, 15 votes against; passed with 81.93%)
• CONTROL #ART-VI-1—Provides the option to verify state director/alternate attendance electronically or by answering roll call. (58 votes for, 24 votes against; passed with 70.73%)
• CONTROL #ART VI-2—Streamlines the state director election process by shifting ballot preparation and eligibility verification to APHA staff. (70 votes for, 13 votes against; passed with 84.34%)
• CONTROL #SC-015-1—Specifies “an appropriate award” to specific award descriptions outlined in the rulebook for greater consistency. (81 votes for, 2 votes against; passed with 97.59%)
• CONTROL #SC-027—Create a Ranch Horse Versatility Award for Youth, Amateur and Open exhibitors. (59 votes for, 23 votes against; passed with 71.95%)
• 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. (82 votes for, 1 vote against; passed with 98.80%)
• CONTROL #SC-115—Provides exception to the APHA-approved show management certification requirement for secretaries at APHA special events. (77 votes for, 6 votes against; passed with 92.77%)
• CONTROL #SC-125—Clarifies that paper-based judge evaluations are no longer required for approval of future shows. (72 votes for, 10 votes against; passed with 87.80%)
• CONTROL #SC-160-3—Provides consistency for definitions of “Immediate Family” throughout Amateur and Youth rules. (83 votes for, 0 votes against; passed with 100%)
• 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. (78 votes for, 4 votes against; passed with 95.12%)
• CONTROL #SC-302—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Riding as an APHA-recognized class. (76 votes for, 6 votes against; passed with 92.68%)
• CONTROL #SC-302-2—Adds Youth Walk-Trot Ranch Riding as an APHA-recognized class. (78 votes for, 4 votes against; passed with 95.12%)
• CONTROL #SC-303—Adds Youth Walk-Trot Ranch Rail Pleasure as an APHA-recognized class. (79 votes for, 4 votes against; passed with 95.18%)
• CONTROL #SC-303-1—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Rail Pleasure as an APHA-recognized class. (76 votes for, 6 votes against; passed with 92.68%)
• CONTROL #SC-304—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Pleasure as an APHA-recognized class. (76 votes for, 6 votes against; passed with 92.68%)
• CONTROL #SC-305—Adds Amateur Walk-Trot Ranch Trail as an APHA-recognized class. (76 votes for, 6 votes against; passed with 92.68%)
• CONTROL #SC-311—Updates soundness guidelines for Ranch Conformation to be consistent with other halter class rules. (83 votes for, 0 votes against; passed with 100%)
• CONTROL #SC-315—Adds Western Dressage as an APHA-recognized class. (73 votes for, 10 votes against; passed with 87.95%)
• 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. (71 votes for, 12 votes against; passed with 85.54%)
• 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. (60 votes for, 21 votes against; passed with 74.07%)
• 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. (74 votes for, 9 votes against; passed with 89.16%)
• 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. (76 votes for, 7 votes against; passed with 91.57%)
• 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. (63 votes for, 20 votes against; passed with 75.90%)
• CONTROL #AM-117 (Amended)—Creates Amateur Green Pattern Class (AM-117) and Youth Green Pattern Class (YP-117) options. (71 votes for, 12 votes against; passed with 85.54%)
• 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. (69 votes for, 14 votes against; passed with 83.13%)
• 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. (80 votes for, 3 votes against; passed with 96.39%)
• 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. (73 votes for, 10 votes against; passed with 87.95%)
• CONTROL #YP-015—Removes the ownership requirement in Youth and Youth Walk-Trot divisions, matching the Novice Youth rules. (69 votes for, 14 votes against; passed with 83.13%)
• CONTROL #YP-109—Removes the world and reserve world title limitation to Youth Walk-Trot 11–18 division eligibility. (67 votes for, 16 votes against; passed with 80.72%)
• 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. (67 votes for, 14 votes against; passed with 82.72%)

Read the full rule changes here.

The following rule change proposal was defeated by state director votes:

• 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. (30 votes for, 53 votes against; failed with 63.86%)

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