2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

55 B. Documentation: There is a complete definition of the scar rule in the Plan. It is recommended that members obtain a copy of the Plan, either from the MFTHBA web site, or by requesting one from the office. There is also a scar rule pamphlet produced by APHIS that is available in the office for members. C. Determining the Boundaries of Posterior Area: There is no major anatomical landmark on the pastern that easily defines the demarcation of the posterior surfaces from the medial and lateral surfaces. The pastern is a three-dimensional anatomical structure. It is divided into four (4) equal quarters: the front (anterior), the inside (medial), the outside (lateral) and the back (posterior). Each of these four surfaces comprises one-quarter or twenty-five (25) percent of the circumference. The VMO or DQP may use either the “Flattened Hand” or the Neurovascular Groove” method to measure the posterior surface of the pastern. If, by using one or the other of these methods, the DQP or VMO are able to easily determine whether the horse is or is not in compliance with the scar rule criteria, then they may proceed to document their findings. Refer to the Plan for the detailed description of these methods. Section 5. HPA Violations When a horse is found to be in non-compliance, only the custodian of the horse and the DQP and VMO personnel shall remain in the DQP area. All others shall leave the area immediately. A. Suspension Notice: When an inspected horse is found to be out of compliance with the Act, the Regulations and the Plan, a Record of HPA Violation is recorded by the DQP. A Suspension Notice is to be issued by the Administrator within ten (10) days of the end of the event where the violation occurred by sending the notice to the violator by both certified and regular mail. It is the practice of the MFTHBA to issue the Suspension Notice as soon as practicable after the Record of HPA Violation has been received by the Administrator and has been audited for corrections and/or additions not related to the violation itself. If a violator refuses or fails to claim the certified mail notice, the suspension shall begin automatically as prescribed in C below. B. Who is Suspended: In the event of a scoring or scar rule violation, the exhibitor, the owner(s), the trainer, and the horse are all suspended. “Trainer” as used in this section refers to whoever trained the horse, whether he/she is a professional or not. The owner(s) or the exhibitor may be the trainer, in which case the suspension applies only once. If a violator is a minor (17 or under on the date of the event), the parent(s) and/or guardian(s) of the minor are suspended. A Scar Rule exhibitor is suspended only if the violation is a post-show (post-class) violation unless the exhibitor is also the owner or the trainer. C. Suspension Start Date: All suspensions shall begin twenty (20) days from the date the Suspension Notice is mailed, unless a bona fide written request for an appeal is received by the HIO within the twenty (20) day period. It is the practice of the MFTHBA to mail the Suspension Notice on the same day as the date of the Suspension Notice. D. Requests for a Hearing: The violator may request a hearing if: (1) The request for a hearing is made in writing, including the reason for the request, and received in the MFTHBA office by the twentieth (20 th ) day from the date of the Suspension Notice and (2) is accompanied by a $300 filing fee. E. Frivolous Hearing Requests: If the Hearing Committee determines that a request for a hearing was frivolous or made for the purpose of postponing the suspension, the Hearing Committee may assess further penalties, including extended suspension periods and/or monetary fines. F. Hearing Date: The hearing shall be scheduled within sixty (60) days of the date the Administrator receives a bona fide hearing request. The violator shall be given thirty (30) days’ notice of the hearing. G. The Hearing Committee: The MFTHBA Hearing Committee is composed of the Board of Directors. The President of MFTHBA shall preside over the hearings and the committee shall act as a jury of majority rule. The hearings shall be conducted by the presiding officer using the following due process procedures: 1. The Hearing Committee shall be chaired by the President of the MFTHBA or by a member of the Board of Directors appointed by majority vote of the Board of Directors.