AOT Life – Midwest AOT Clinic

New USEF AOT Rules for American Saddlebred Exhibitors

In 2018, USEF implemented sweeping changes to the Amateur Owner Trainer rules for the Saddlebred breed. I was the author of those changes, and I submitted them because there were (surprisingly) no rules in the USEF rulebook for Saddlebred exhibitors! Many of our charter clubs had their own rules, but they varied from club to club,… Continue reading New USEF AOT Rules for American Saddlebred Exhibitors

Trainer Armband: An AOT’s Experience at Louisville

“Okay, you all get ready to go; harness ponies are getting ready to come out!” the announcer bellowed over the loudspeaker. I waited with Abraxus in the small warm up ring at the top of the ramp to Freedom Hall. Abraxus was nervous; I continually had to slowly circle him as stopping and standing are… Continue reading Trainer Armband: An AOT’s Experience at Louisville

On the Road to Louisville – From an AOT Perspective

I’ve grown up with horses. My mother is a trainer/instructor and has always had a barn full of horses for me to ride and learn on. Now, though, I am the one doing most of the riding and training of our horses. She still occasionally takes an outside client but she and I both find… Continue reading On the Road to Louisville – From an AOT Perspective

What is an AOT Friendly Horse?

I’ve seen this phrase many, many times in horse ads, where the seller says the horse is “AOT friendly.” I’ve also seen ads placed by buyers looking for an AOT friendly horse. But it doesn’t seem like there is any kind of definition around this term, and it means different things to different people. I’m… Continue reading What is an AOT Friendly Horse?

Trainers Are Our Friends (It’s Not Us vs. Them!)

I’ve known many, many AOTs over the course of my life in horses, and there seems to be a common undercurrent that runs through the conversation whenever I talk to them, and that is that “trainers don’t like/respect us.” My own personal experiences and feelings couldn’t be further from that, and I want to share… Continue reading Trainers Are Our Friends (It’s Not Us vs. Them!)