APAHA PREAMBLE
We, as Professional and Amateur Horsemen of the Arabian Horse Association, pledge to assume a positive role as leaders in the Arabian horse community. While achieving the goals of promoting, showing, and caring for the horse, we shall protect the health, image, and welfare of the breed.
Therefore, we set forth the following standards:
HORSEMEN’S STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
We shall comply with and actively encourage all Professional and Amateur Horsemen to adhere to all rules and regulations of AHA, USEF, CAHR, and EC. We shall instill confidence, trust, and mutual respect in our clients, fellow exhibitors, and the public by a commitment to ethical practice and avoidance of any action conducive to discrediting the Arabian horse, AHA, or our fellow horsemen.
We shall ensure that the welfare of the Arabian horse is paramount and that every Arabian horse be treated humanely and with dignity, respect, and compassion.
As Horsemen we agree that it is our obligation, not only to the horse, but to each other, to have a reciprocal relationship wherein we are compelled to comment to our peers on their actions as well as be receptive of comments on our actions, if those actions might be perceived or interpreted as abusive or inappropriate. There should be no malicious force during training. Good horsemanship teaches a horse to respond to the aids with confidence. Abusive practices are those that inflict injury or result in intimidation and fear. This may include jerking, spurring or whipping when employed in a manner that increases a horse’s fear, confusion, or distress.
While most types of tack and training methods are not themselves abusive, we understand that anything used wrongly, over used, or over done can prove to be abusive or perceived to be abusive by onlookers.
The duration of training sessions should take into account climate conditions, intensity of work, footing and the condition of each horse to ensure there is no undue stress.
We shall conduct all business affairs with integrity, sincerity, and accuracy in an open and forthright manner.
We shall act with integrity in financial dealings with clients, professionals, and the public. We shall employ a policy of full disclosure to our horse’s owners, as well as potential buyers, about all facts and knowledge regarding a horse they own or are considering purchasing.
Horsemen will never perform, condone, or allow surgical alteration or procedure on an Arabian horse unless professionally prescribed by a licensed veterinarian, and then, only for the survival or threatened health of an Arabian or Half-Arabian horse. This includes the altering of the natural carriage of the tail, which is one of our breed standards and characteristics.
Horsemen will not administer to any horse engaged in competition drugs or medications that give an unfair competitive advantage or serve no required therapeutic purpose.