2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

128 properly and shall be penalized. Excessive speed, excessive animation, or pumping of the reins will be severely penalized. 5. Hand Gallop: The hand gallop should be a definite lengthening of the lope stride with a noticeable difference in speed. This is not a race, the horse should be under control at all times and be able to halt in a smooth, balanced manner. B. General: 1) Failure of an exhibitor to complete a required maneuver in any class does not necessarily cause that exhibitor to be disqualified. Such an exhibitor should continue to be judged and placed accordingly. Although this exhibitor is not DQ (disqualified), he/she cannot place over an exhibitor that does complete all the required maneuvers. All judges must be fully knowledgeable of each specific item of disqualification for each class and apply appropriate penalties. 2) Specific judging considerations are listed under each individual class. Section 3. Scoring - Computing Points: A. Separate class awards will be given for Youth, Amateur and Open competitor. In addition to class awards, entrants will receive credit based upon class placing that will recognize the entry with the highest accumulated point total as that division’s Ranch Horse Champion. The second highest point total will determine the Ranch Horse Reserve Champion for the show and the next eight highest placing entries will be named Ranch Horse Top Ten. B. Points will be awarded according to the number of contestants in each class on the following basis: Number of Entries Placing 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th 6 th 7 th 8 th 9 th 10 th 1 1 2 2 1 3 3 2 1 4 4 3 2 1 5 5 4 3 2 1 6 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 9 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 10 or more 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 C. In the event of a division tie, the winner will be determined using the following criteria in the order listed until the tie is resolved: 1) Earned the most points in Ranch Pleasure. 2) Earned points in the greatest number of events. 3) Earned the best score in Working Cow Horse and Ranch Roping classes. 4) Earned the best score in Working Cow Horse. A tied entry not showing in Working Cow Horse will be scored zero for the tie breaking purposes. D. Faults which will be cause for disqualification. 1) A competitor who continues to school excessively will be asked to leave the arena and will be disqualified or eliminated. Any delay or refusal will subject the exhibitor to further disciplinary action as determined by the show management or the Ranch Horse Committee. 2) Abuse of an animal in the arena or on the show grounds and/or evidence that an act of abuse has occurred prior to or during the exhibition of an equine in competition shall result in dismissal from the show and show grounds. 3) Fall of horse or rider (rider or shoulder and hip of horse contacts the ground)