2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

43 500 – General Rules for Judges and Ring Personnel While there are many venues for promoting the Missouri Fox Trotting horse, there is probably no better way to showcase the horse than in the show arena. In order to promote the show horse, qualified judges are needed to serve as show officials, with ring employees working to aid in seeing that the arena activities function smoothly. MFTHBA judges are representatives of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, and their actions reflect on the MFTHBA and our breed. MFTHBA carded judges are subject to the rules, standards, policies, penalties and privileges as set forth by the current rules of the MFTHBA. The expiration date for judge’s cards is December 31 of the applicable year. A current list of licensed MFTHBA judges may be obtained by contacting the MFTHBA office at P. O. Box 1027, Ava, MO 65608. Therefore, the following rules have been established. Section 1. Judges Requirements A. In order to apply for a judge’s license, an applicant must meet the following requirements: 1. Current member in good standing of MFTHBA; 2. Age 18 or older; 3. Attend and complete an official MFTHBA Judges Seminar, complete official MFTHBA Judges Test and pass to satisfaction of the MFTHBA Judges Committee. 4. To be qualified to judge a performance/model horse show an applicant must apprentice performance/model classes, to the satisfaction of a qualified mentor, as determined by the MFTHBA Judges Committee. 5. To be qualified to judge a versatility/ranch horse show an applicant must apprentice versatility/ranch horse classes (excluding speed events), to the satisfaction of a qualified mentor, as determined by the MFTHBA Judges Committee. 6. The applicant shall have a maximum of 12 months in which to complete this process. 7. Applicant successfully meeting the requirements shall have their name presented to the Board of Directors, for the Board’s final consideration of granting an MFTHBA judge’s card to be effective for a three-year period. Additional endorsement for versatility and/or ranch horse will be added if so qualified. B. For renewal of an existing judge’s license, the following will apply: 1. Individual must maintain current membership in MFTHBA and be a member in good standing. Any individual who has not renewed their MFTHBA membership will have their name removed from the list of licensed MFTHBA judges. 2. An applicant for renewal of their judge’s card must submit a renewal application and pay a designated fee. 3. Applicant shall have their name presented to the Board of Directors for consideration of renewal of an MFTHBA judge’s card to be effective for a three-year period. Additional endorsement for versatility and/or ranch horse will be added if so qualified . C. Grandfathering of Judges 1. The MFTHBA Board of Directors may, at their majority vote, grant 1-year judges’ cards to any member who has Judged the Spring Futurity Show or The Show and Celebration and has let their Judges card expire. This maybe at the request of the individual or the individual or the instigation of the Board of Directors. A designated fee must be paid. Section 2. Judging Responsibilities Judging is an honor to be undertaken with a spirit of integrity and fairness. It is also the responsibility of a judge to conduct himself or herself in a manner which demonstrates their correct knowledge of the rules and standards of the MFTHBA and which rewards the individual performances of those horses, as shown before them that day or that evening, best exemplifying the class requirements. A Judge shall serve three interests: those of his own conscience, the exhibitors and the spectators. As a show official, the judge has a responsibility to carry out his/her assigned and customary duties in an event. To accomplish this end, the judge is required to show correct observance of MFTHBA rules and particularly those show rules which are covered in Section 700 – Show Rules & Policies.