Performance, Amateur Performance and Pleasure - What is the difference?
At our Canadian shows, we have 3 distinct divisions where the performance of various requested maneuvers by horse and rider constitute the main criteria for judging and placing in the classes. These are Novice or Novicio, Pleasure, and Performance. What is the difference? Novice classes are designed for participants who are just starting in the Show ring and have limited experience. These classes are open to those riders who have accumulated fewer than 150 lifetime points and have never won a Champion of Champions title in any category. Pleasure classes are open to those riders who are not professionals as defined in our show rules. Performance classes are open to all show participants, including professionals as defined in our show rules. How are the points counted, and how are they accumulated? In the Novice division the points accumulate to the rider and not the horse. For example for each first place ribbon, the rider receives 6 points and 5 for second place and so on. Once the rider accumulates 150 lifetime points, that rider no longer qualifies to compete as a novice, and must now move to the pleasure division. In the pleasure and performance classes the points accumulate to the horse, and not the rider. All qualifying classes award points, and the number of points awarded depends on the number of participants in the class (see show rules for details). These points are added up throughout the year, and the horse with the greatest number of points accumulated receives the yearend award as High point pleasure gelding, mare, stallion, and the same principle applies for the performance. The US shows follow the same format. It is important to note here, that horses registered in Canada that compete in US shows, approved by PHAC, receive lifetime PHAC points, even though these points are earned in the US. The difference between Canada and the US is in the names of the division. Both Countries have Novice classes for beginning riders. Both Countries have Performance classes for the professional riders, and both countries have pleasure classes for non professional riders. However, while this division is known in Canada as the pleasure division, in the US it is known as the Amateur Performance Division. Since the word Performance is part of the class definition, some competitors have been confused with the points application from this class. Amateur means “NOT� professional; therefore, it is exactly the same as Pleasure in Canada. Since amateur performance means pleasure to us Canadians, all points won by PHAC registered horses at US based, but PHAC approved shows, count towards the lifetime points in our pleasure division. Besides the Annual High Point Awards, we also recognize horses for special lifetime achievements, such as Premio de Plata (1000 points) and Premio de Oro (2000 points). I trust this explanation clears up any confusion. If you are interested to learn how many points your horse has accumulated over its career, feel free to contact Sherri Rosia, who has the records of all shows since inception. Ben Sawatzky
PHAC-