Now is this something you agree with? How would you feel if you have "home produced" your own horse; worked blood, sweat and tears to qualify for a championship in your chosen equestrian field to turn up on the day and compete against a professional rider? Do you think it is fair, for example that a BE Accredited Judge is competing at Badminton in the Grassroots section? A section which from my whole understanding was created to allow the non-proffesionals an opening into the top level of the sport. Or am I missing the point here? Regardless of the rules set up I dont think it's fair at all. I'm sure the professional rider has ensured that they are complient; however it just doesn't sit right for me. It also moves the goal posts for the lowly home produced rider, a rider who like me and many other owners who struggle a full time job alongside their own horses. In my opinion I think riders who get paid to teach, train, judge, coach or whatever should be excluded from grassroot competitions. Alongside those who have had their horses produced by said teachers, trainers, judges and coaches on traning livery so they can enjoy the ride at said events. I feel these people hold a distinct advantage against those who enjoy training their horses themselves. The horses not on training livery, the horses who only down to the dedication of their riders have excelled in their field. By this I mean truly non-professional riders, who may seek coaching from a teacher, trainer, judge or coach but only where the non-professional rider has maintained the ride of the horse.