Welcoming new members into the AQHA family at shows and events.
The AQHA Amateur Ambassador Program cultivates amateur liaisons to serve as welcoming ambassadors at horse shows, providing helpful and essential information to all attendees. AQHA Amateur Ambassadors are friendly, available and approachable connections that provide face-to-face resources to answer questions and provide information to exhibitors.
Program Goals
The goal of the AQHA Amateur Ambassador Program is to identify amateur liaisons, to serve as welcoming ambassadors at horse shows, who can provide helpful and essential information to all attendees. AQHA Amateur Ambassadors are to be friendly, available and approachable connections that provide all important face-to-face resources for answering questions and providing information to exhibitors.
Amateur Ambassadors are never to provide training information, which for the purposes of the Amateur Ambassador program include pattern interpretation, legality of equipment, rule interpretation, etc. Any questions should be directed to Stewards, Professional Horsemen, or trainers for clarification. Amateur Ambassadors should encourage exhibitors to use the AQHA app on their phones or their AQHA rulebooks.
AQHA Amateur Ambassadors are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects professionalism and good character. They are representing themselves, their Affiliate and AQHA.
Amateur Ambassadors are encouraged to communicate with AQHA staff with regards to feedback to improve the program.
How to Become an Amateur Ambassador
Interested individuals must be an AQHA Amateur Member and an Affiliate Member. Future prospective Ambassadors can be members of any Affiliate, expecially if they show more in another state. Ambassadors may serve at shows in other states.
Interested individuals should reach out to the (amateur.ambassador@aqha.org) email. They will then receive an Invitation Letter that explains the program and the application process (including the need to identify an approving individual from the Affiliate) with attachments of the Roll Out Document as well as a sample Code of Ethics. To proceed, the individual should request from the (amateur.ambassador@aqha.org) email an Adobe Sign version of the Code of Ethics. Once completed, return to the same email. AQHA will then review. When approved, an Approval Letter will be sent with information on how to sign up for shows on a Google Doc and a link for the Post Show Summary Report.
An approved individual will serve as an Amateur Ambassador for the remainder of the calendar year in which they are approved. If they elect to continue in the program, and AQHA agrees to the same, the individual will need to re-sign the Code of Ethics for the next calendar year.
Amateur Ambassadors will receive information on the goals of the program, suggested pre-show activities, and expectations at horse shows.
Amateur Ambassadors may serve at horse shows that are not in their state, if they are familiar with the show, the exhibitors, the location, and show management, to be the best resource for exhibitors. Unless indicated otherwise, service at an AQHA- approved event does not require pre-approval from AQHA. EXCEPTION: Service at any AQHA Championship event does require pre-approval and a request should be sent to (amateur.ambassador@aqha.org) at least thirty (30) days in advance. Responsibilities and acceptable Ambassador activities at AQHA Championship shows may vary from other AQHA-approved events. Service at a non AQHA-approved event also requires pre-approval from AQHA and a request should be sent to the email listed above at least thirty (30) days in advance. At AQHA’s only discretion, the 30-day requirement can be waived.
Amateur Ambassadors will need to obtain prior approval from Show Sponsors to serve at their show and will notify Show Management that they will be at the show, prior to the show date. A Google Doc accessible to Amateur Ambassadors will allow for show sign up and will allow Ambassadors to indicate whether Show Sponsors have ap-proved the Ambassador and Show Management has been notified. The Google Doc will also allow an Amateur Ambassador to see if others are also interested in serving at that show. A list of Amateur Ambassadors can be provided to Show Managers and Show Sponsors.
AQHA Amateur Ambassadors will be provided with an identifying lanyard with AQHA Amateur Ambassador badge.
At the conclusion of each Amateur Ambassador’s service at an event, he or she will complete a Post Show Summary to provide feedback about the effectiveness of the program and feedback. This information will be useful for determining the impact of the program and keeping it current.
Role Prior to the Show
Create social media posts (Affiliate websites, Facebook, other) introducing yourself as the AQHA Amateur Ambassador at the show. By notifying/contacting Show Management prior to the show, obtain permission for sharing the show information (patterns). But remember, we are sharing information, not creating show promotion.
May elect to utilize tools such as Padlet, an online bulletin board, for showcasing show information, showbills, Judges, patterns, AQHA and Affiliate membership information, local restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, feed stores, veterinary care, urgent care, truck repair, hardware stores, etc. A QR code can be generated to also create flyers to post around showgrounds containing all this information.
Role at the Horse Show
Introduce yourself to show management, show secretary, Stewards, Professional Horsemen, and Judges (if you are comfortable) This is a courtesy to let them know you are present and available for assistance.
Attend any pre-show meetings for exhibitors, if possible, to be aware of any changes.
Utilize a whiteboard in the show office. Information on how you can be contacted can be provided. Post the Stewards and on-site Professional Horseman if they have agreed to be resources for questions. The Judges can be listed. Any generated QR codes containing Padlet information can also be showcased here.
If possible, obtain a list of new exhibitors – new to AQHA, to the Affiliate, to this show, to showing in general, to target for welcoming.
Become an Amateur Ambassador
Share your enthusiasm for American Quarter Horses with others!
“Being an Amateur Ambassador is a great opportunity to go out and welcome people into the AQHA family. From welcoming people to their first AQHA show, to answering questions, to encouraging others to give AQHA a try at open shows, Amateur Ambassadors will be a great way to grow AQHA.”
