A group of amateur horse show competitors created the Amateur Rider Association of America with the intention of bettering the show experience for amateurs.

The riders seek to promote fair competition and an improved quality of experience in the amateur divisions on the A-rated show circuit.

Although the ARAA plans to start by focusing on the jumper divisions, Ariane Stiegler, one of the founding members, said they hope to extend to the hunter divisions as well.

“We thought we could form our own group to discuss our issues,” said Stiegler. “We do have a lot of issues we’d like to take on and address and hopefully solve in terms of how the shows are run in terms of the amateurs. I think it’s important.”

Stiegler, who lives in Connecticut, said the association will be member-directed to decide which specific issues they’d like to address.

To get involved, interested competitors can search for the Amateur Rider Association of America on Facebook or email the association at amateurriders@gmail.com.