2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

26 from securing any type of membership available in the MFTHBA in the future or participate in any MFTHBA-affiliated activities in any capacity other than as a spectator. 4. Suspension of the Horse: The Board may suspend, for any period of time, the horse or horses, completely or in part, owned, leased, or of the stable of the violator. E. Notification of Sanctions: 1. In the event a member is suspended or has his or her membership terminated, written notice shall be forwarded to the last known address of such member. When a member is censured, disciplined, suspended, fined or has membership terminated, the name and address of such person shall be posted on the MFTHBA website. The same shall occur when a non-member is denied membership privileges. 2. A current list of persons censured, disciplined, suspended, fined or having had their membership terminated, will be maintained at the MFTHBA Office and published on the MFTHBA website. 3. It is the responsibility of members, horse owners or others doing business involving Missouri Fox Trotting horses to determine the membership status of that particular individual or legal entity. 4. In the event the Board of Directors has acted to reinstate a member previously suspended, such reinstatement will be posted on the MFTHBA website. Section 4. Delinquent Accounts A. Any member may be suspended, and any non-member be denied privileges in the MFTHBA, for failure to pay when due any obligation owing to MFTHBA. This includes, but is not limited to, membership fees, assessments, surcharges, fines, advertising, or show-related charges. Additionally, this includes all charges in connection with returned checks. Written notice of the account due or delinquent report, and the intention to suspend or withhold privileges of MFTHBA, shall be mailed to such member, or non-member, at the last known address. Section 5. Ultimate Authority & Responsibility within MFTHBA A. Every member that joins the MFTHBA being involved in the registration of Missouri Fox Trotting horses, and/or exhibition of Missouri Fox Trotting horses at any MFTHBA facility, exposition, fair, livestock show, auction, or MFTHBA-approved show agree that: 1. The Board of Directors is the forum within MFTHBA which ultimately decides all matters pertaining to registration of horses, hears appeals from other committee action or members and reviews disciplinary action for members and Affiliates, if requested, under these rules. 2. Proceedings before the Board of Directors or its appointees or committees shall be informal, and the formal rules of evidence and procedure need not be strictly observed. The standard by which admissibility is determined is whether the evidence is such that an ordinarily prudent person is willing to rely upon it. 3. A request from a member of the MFTHBA to the Board of Directors to review an action of an Affiliate shall be submitted in writing together with a written copy of the Affiliate’s finding to the Secretary-Treasurer of the MFTHBA within 30 day of the action to be reviewed. The Affiliate’s finding shall be treated as a written complaint to the Board of Directors. The MFTHBA Board of Directors shall make the determination whether to hear the complaint, refer the complaint or dismiss the complaint. 4. Anyone disagreeing with a disciplinary action taken by the Board of Directors or any of its appointees or committees shall, within 30 days from the date of the subject decision, submit to the Board of Directors in writing an appeal together with all reasons for the appeal and any documentation supporting the appeal, by certified mail to the Secretary-Treasurer of the MFTHBA. A meeting of the Board of Directors will be called, and the matter reviewed, and a final decision reached. 5. When recourse is sought in Federal or State court to address the MFTHBA’s final decision in a rule violation or other action, members or non-members shall not commence any action, whether