2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

54 VMO suspects that a horse’s hoof has been subjected to any such practice, the DQP or VMO may require the horse’s custodian to remove the shoes, pads, or both, to allow further examination. E. Inspection of Horses: The inspection of horses for purposes of determining compliance with the Act involves an evaluation of the horse’s appearance, locomotion, and the physical examination described below. Each inspection shall include all three components, with documentation by the DQP or VMO of any observable and physical findings in the case of a violation of the Act or the Regulations. Although the examination for compliance with the Act requires all three components, the determination by the DQP or VMO as to whether there is a violation may be based upon findings within any one of the three components alone. Any DQP or VMO who is inspecting a horse shall complete all three components of the inspection protocol before rendering any findings based on such inspection. He/she shall also document any physical and observable findings on which he/she bases a determination to disqualify a horse from an event because it is fractious or unruly. 1. Appearance: At all times during the inspection, the DQP or VMO shall observe the entire horse’s appearance to determine whether the horse suffers or can reasonably be expected to suffer physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness, when walking, trotting or otherwise moving. Observable indications of pain may appear while the horse is at rest, during locomotion, and/or during physical examination. Observable indications of pain include, but are not limited to, changes in depth and rate of respirations. Excessive perspiration on the skin and hair coat, abnormal reactions of the eyes and ears, abnormal stance, tucking of flanks and flexing of abdominal muscles, stepping forward with the rear limbs while the front limbs remain lightly planted, tossing of the head to maintain balance and the overall demeanor and temperament of the horse. The DQP or VMO also shall look for evidence of prohibited substances and prohibited or non-compliance paraphernalia or devices. 2. Locomotion: During the inspection, the DQP or VMO shall direct the custodian of the horse to lead, walk, and turn the horse in a figure eight to determine whether the horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness, when walking, trotting or otherwise moving. During the locomotion component of the inspection, the DQP or VMO shall observe the horse’s appearance for indications of pain as noted in paragraph 1 above. 3. Physical Examination: The DQP or VMO shall conduct a physical examination of the horse as required by the applicable Regulations. This examination shall include, but not be limited to, digital palpation procedure, examination for evidence of scar rule violations, evidence of prohibited substances, and prohibited or non-compliant paraphernalia or devices. The DQP or VMO shall digitally palpate the front limbs of the horse from knee to hoof, with particular emphasis on the pasterns and fetlocks. During the palpation procedure, the DQP or VMO shall describe and document any consistent and reproducible (non-random) limb withdrawal. If limb withdrawal occurs three times, it is considered to be consistent and reproducible. F. Conflicting Examination Results: If the DQP and VMO disagree about whether a horse is in violation of the Act or the Regulations, then the horse will be excused from showing in the class, and the dispute will be resolved in accordance with the conflict resolution procedures contained in the Plan. Section 4. Scar Rule A. The Scar Rule: The scar rule applies to all horses born on or after October 1, 1975. Horses subject to this rule that do not meet the following scar rule criteria shall be considered to be “sore” and are subject to all prohibitions of Section 5 of the Act. The scar rule criteria are as follow: 1. The anterior and anterior-lateral surfaces of the fore pasterns (extensor surface) must be free of bilateral granulomas, other bilateral pathological evidence of inflammation, and other bilateral evidence of abuse, indicative of soring including but not limited to excessive loss of hair. 2. The posterior surfaces of the pasterns (flexor surface), including the sulcus or “pocket” may show bilateral areas of uniformly thickened epithelial tissue if such areas are free of proliferating granulomas tissue, irritation, moisture, edema, or other evidence of inflammation.