2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

127 1) No horse shall perform as the first horse in more than one class per competition unless there are more classes than horses. 2) An accident. 3) Disqualification. I. The pattern for classes with individual performances will be announced prior to the class. The posted pattern is to be followed unless change becomes necessary due to safety considerations. In that case, the judge will meet with all exhibitors and explain the change. If a pattern or course is posted and publicly announced, the announcement shall be for the benefit of the audience. J. Unless otherwise directed by the judge, all riders must remain mounted until leaving the arena. All horses must leave the ring in a forward motion; no backing out of the arena. K. The judge has the discretion to check any bit he chooses during any class of the competition. L . Entry Fee Payback: Any jackpot money will be paid back with the following schedule: 1)One half of the jackpot money will be paid back in the classes, and one half will be paid back in the all-around placing. # of Placings Entries % of Payback 1 100% 2 1 st -60%, 2 nd -40% 3 1 st -40%, 2 nd -33%, 3 rd -27% 4 1 st -33%, 2 nd -27%, 3 rd -22%, 4 th -18% 5 1 st -29%, 2 nd -23%, 3 rd -19%, 4 th -16%, 5 th -13% 6 1 st -27%, 2 nd -21%, 3 rd -18%, 4 th -13%, 5 th -11%, 6 th -10% 7 1 st -26%, 2 nd -20%, 3 rd -17%, 4 th -12%, 5 th -10%, 6 th -9%, 7 th -6% 8 1 st -26%, 2 nd -19%, 3 rd -16%, 4 th -11%, 5 th -9%, 6 th -8%, 7 th -6%, 8 th -5% 9 1 st -25%, 2 nd -18%, 3 rd -15%, 4 th -10%, 5 th -9%, 6 th -8%, 7 th -6%, 8 th -5%, 9 t- 4% 10 or More 1 st -25%, 2 nd -18%, 3 rd -15%, 4 th -10%, 5 th -9%, 6 th -8%, 7 th -5%, 8 th -4%, 9 th- 3%, 10 th -3% Section 2. Judging Considerations A. Gaits: 1. Flat Foot Walk: Unless otherwise specified, any time a walk is called for it is to be a flat foot walk (FFW). The flat foot walk shall be a flat, four beat ground covering gait, performed in a square rhythmic free-flowing manner. When correctly performing the flat foot walk, you will hear a steady, equal four beat cadence produced by the hooves, the head shake will be more animated than in the fox trot, and the rider will be getting a smooth ride. 2. Trail Walk: A slow relaxed careful walk on a loose rein with the horse’s head lowered. The trail walk would be appropriate when maneuvering in classes where there are short distances between obstacles (20 feet or less), when approaching obstacles (within 10 feet or less) or when working an obstacle (stepping over poles, walking into back-thru, walking over bridge, etc.). The Trail Walk is required in the Ranch Horse Pleasure class. 3. Fox Trot: The fox trot of a Ranch Horse should be of a proper footfall pattern (cadence) as described in 100 - Standards of the Fox Trotting Horse, Section 2. The fox trot gait should be smooth and pleasurable to ride. The stride should be of reasonable length in keeping with the conformation of the horse. Animation and/or head shake shall not receive extra consideration above correct rhythm and natural gait, nor shall these actions be penalized as they are natural characteristics of the Fox Trotting Horse. 4. Lope: The lope for the Ranch Horse should be a rhythmic, slightly rolling, and three beat gait of moderate speed, suitable for the pleasure or working horse. Unless otherwise specified, horses moving to the left should lope on the left lead and horses moving to the right should lope on the right lead. The Ranch Horse should maintain a consistent moderate speed with light contact on the reins. Horses traveling at a four-beat gait are not considered to be performing the lope