If you are aged 50 years or older and a PHAA Amateur Owner, you can now apply to be a Masters Amateur Owner. This entitles you to compete not only in Masters Amateur classes, but also in Select Amateur classes at AQHA approved shows. Points earned in both Masters and Select classes can be submitted for Honor Roll and End of Year High Point awards that mirror those offered for regular Amateur Owners.

Rules dictate that at a show, a Masters Amateur may compete in either the Masters Amateur class or the regular Amateur class in each event. If a Masters Amateur elects to compete in the regular Amateur Western Pleasure at a show, they will not be able to compete in the Masters Amateur Western Pleasure at that show. Separate points will accrue for Masters Amateurs and regular Amateurs.

Masters Amateur Points will be tabulated from August 1st 2011 (the current Honour Roll year). An amnesty is in place for any points earned to date to be submitted. So if you have competed successfully in Masters Amateur classes or Select Amateur classes since 1 August 2011, please forward your points to the office by 30 November 2011.

Three Masters Amateur classes have been added to the 2012 National Show program: Masters Amateur Showmanship ; Masters Amateur Hunter Under Saddle; and Masters Amateur Western Pleasure.

Local clubs are encouraged to include Masters Amateur classes in their programs where practical, and we hope to see all you Masters Amateurs out and about in the new show season.

Minutes from the Amateur Owner meeting held during the Queensland State Show in July are now available.

Amateur Owner Meeting Minutes - 22nd July, 2011

The Amateur Newsletter naming contest has been won. All names were submitted annonymously for President Craig Dengate and Vice President Helen Bentley to vote on. Both chose 'Amateur Matters' as the winning entry. So congratulations to Megan Savill for her efforts. Megan has asked her $50 prize be put into purchasing tickets in the raffle. Thank you and congratulations Megan. Remember to read your next edition of 'Amateur Matters' coming soon because Amateurs DO matter!

Welcome to our first newsletter for the year! The new Amateur Owner Program committee have decided that our amateur owners need to be informed of what we have in store for this year. This will enable people who cannot attend amateur owner meetings what is going on and who to contact if they have any questions or concerns. We hope to continue this form of communication throughout the year to keep us all up to date on what is happening with the Amateur Owner program. If you would like to receive future AO Updates via email please contact me on tillydude@gmail.com There will also be regular Facebook posts and news items added to the PHAA Website in the Amateur Owner pages. See you in the show pen!

Sally McPhee (Director & Website Administrator) has offered to freshen up the AO pages on the PHAA website. Keep an eye on these pages to keep up with the latest news. The PHAA has a new 'official' Facebook page, simply follow the link from the website. AO information will also be posted on Facebook, a quick and easy communication tool. . The AO committee are holding meetings at the NSW state show in May as well as at the Qld state show on Friday 22nd July, 6.30pm (under the cattle shed). We hope to see as many AO members there as possible. In response to interest at the most recent AO meeting the Board has supported the splitting of AO classes. At the 2012 National Championships the AO Hunter Under Saddle & Western Pleasure will be divided into AO Junior Horse & AO Senior Horse classes. This will be a trial. With support from AOs splits may occur in other events at future National Shows. The Trainer Services Auction, Fashion Showcase & an AO 'Masters' category has been approved by the Board.

Discussions have already started amongst the Board about AO incentives at 2012 Nationals. The Amateur Rule is currently under review. This will be finalized at the June Board of Directors meeting. There is going to be a Youth/AO Camp in Wauchope during Easter. For further info please contact Craig Dengate on craigdengate@bigpond.com Discussions are ongoing regarding AO Program exposure in the PHAA Journal. I will still submit a Portfolio report for each journal, but I am hoping to see the return of AO Profiles and other information. The Board is considering revamping membership information packs. In the packs we’ll be provided opportunity to welcome new AOs. The new Board are very enthusiastic and already working very hard. Much has already been achieved in just a few short weeks, but there is a lot of work to keep us busy. Please contact me for further information or to discuss any of the above. Many of these issues will effect you as AO Competitors.

Shirley has been working extremely hard to get our first round of fundraising efforts ready to go. We are hoping that our fund raising efforts will be used to help organize more AO camps & clinics, our High Point awards (hopefully saddle fingers crossed) and having some AO Shows. The Amateur Owner Raffle - A prize pool of $1000 has been split into vouchers from various retail stores (makes it easier to sell tickets to non-horsey people). 1st - $500 Bunnings voucher, 2nd - $300 Woolworths voucher, 3rd $150 Coles/Myer voucher, 4th - $50 Darrel Lea voucher. Tickets are included with this newsletter. If you require more please contact Shirley. We are hoping to sell as many as we can to help our Portfolio and our members. Trainer Services Auction - Plans are underway to have a Trainer Services Auction. We would love to have trainers from different states offer their services to be auctioned off so that everyone gets a chance to bid on a trainer in their state. WATCH THIS SPACE!!! Fashion Showcase - At the 2012 Nationals we are going to hold a Fashion Showcase where Western Pleasure Show Clothes designers/stores can present upcoming fashions/designs that cater for a range of budgets. I’m sure we could contact some of the stores in Tamworth and have some English Attire fashion as well! *News Flash* The Fashion Showcase now has support from the Board :) If you have any ideas or suggestions please contact one of us, we would love to hear from you!