Time to Prepare for Show Season
Spring is in the air and for many around the country that means it is time for show season. Showing your Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is a wonderful way to bond with your horse and show off your skills. For those that manage and host shows, the show season provides a way to promote our breed, provide equine opportunities in their local area and, in a lot of cases, raise money for a worthy cause.
Whether you are interested in competing or hosting a show, here are tips for preparing for show season:
LET THE MFTHBA HELP YOU PROMOTE YOUR SHOW
Have you heard about the improved National High Point Program? The MFTHBA Board recently approved relaunching this program with new features to support shows around the country. “The original program was paused in 2016 to allow the Association to develop more infrastructure to manage the program as well as to allow the program to be reworked to better meet the needs of exhibitors and show managers,” shared Mark Mackie, MFTHBA President.
MFTHBA Recognized Shows
The refreshed program offers shows two options to participate. The first option is to participate as an MFTHBA Recognized Show. A “recognized show” allows for a show to be promoted by the MFTHBA as being open to MFT participation. Recognized shows may be hosted by an organization or individual and must use a licensed judge. The judge may be licensed by any credible equine organization. The show must offer at least eight classes open to Missouri Fox Trotters, including Open Gaited Breed, Saddle-type, Open breed, or Missouri Fox Trotting Horse specific classes.
“The recognized show option was an important addition for areas of the country that may not currently have the number of Missouri Fox Trotting Horses showing to support a full set of Missouri Fox Trotter specific classes,” shared Alexis Zastoupil, Region 3 Director. “Working with shows offering all breed classes will help provide opportunities for Missouri Fox Trotters in my region and other areas of the country.”
The recognized show option also supports Missouri Fox Trotters working to achieve their lifetime achievement medals through the MFTHBA Medal Program. Results submitted by recognized shows will be added to a horse’s permanent record. For those horses nominated to the MFTHBA Medal Program, they will automatically receive points toward their silver or gold lifetime achievement medal.
MFTHBA Point Shows
The second option for shows is to align with the MFTHBA as an MFTHBA Point Show. A “point show” must use an MFTHBA carded judge, use MFTHBA class descriptions, and follow the MFTHBA Rule Book for all designated point classes. This includes requirements for owners and exhibitors to be MFTHBA members and obtain the required Open or Amateur cards. These requirements must be met prior to the show for points to be accrued. Point shows that also offer nonpoint classes can submit those results for inclusion in an equivalent manner as a recognized show.
To be eligible for point show status, a show must offer at least eight point classes from the provided list. The show must utilize a MFTHBA carded judge. If the show uses multiple judges, all judges must be carded by the MFTHBA.
“Results from point classes will be included in the MFTHBA’s yearend awards including Trainer of the Year and Stallion of the Year,” shared Amy Stangl, MFTHBA Membership Committee Chairman.
In addition, the MFTHBA will also be launching year end High Point Awards. “Initially, these will be grouped to overarching awards; however, as more shows start participating as point shows, the goal is to expand the awards offered, including regional awards,” shared Alexis.
Helping Promote Shows
Whether your show chooses to be a recognized or point show, the MFTHBA wants to help you promote your show. The MFTHBA will develop a list of recognized and point shows that will be made available on the MFTHBA website. In addition, show information will be shared on the MFTHBA social media outlets. The MFTHBA also encourages show managers to submit announcements about the show before the event, as well as after, that the MFTHBA can share on our newsfeed.
Learn more about the new National High Point Program at https://mfthba.com/programs/national-high-point-program/
EXHIBITORS: MAKE SURE YOUR PAPERWORK IS IN AND ACCURATE
Get Your Membership and Show Cards in Advance
If you are planning to exhibit at an MFTHBA sponsored show or an MFTHBA point show, it is critical that you get your paperwork in early. All MFTHBA classes require the owner(s) and exhibitor to be current MFTHBA members. In addition, all designated Open and Amateur classes require exhibitors to have a Professional or Amateur card.
Starting this year, exhibitors showing in Limited Rider or Novice classes will need to designate these classifications on their Amateur Card applications. “We have had issues in the past of individuals showing in these classes when they were not eligible,” shared Cathy Lansdown, MFTHBA Registry Manager. “Previously, we tried to check entries before the show to verify eligibility; however, this can be very time consuming. The change in procedure will allow us to verify eligibility before the show starts.”
While in the past most individuals applied for their membership and show cards at the first MFTHBA Show of the year, the MFTHBA is encouraging exhibitors to submit their membership and card applications at least two weeks prior to their first show. This will allow MFTHBA staff time to process and enter status updates into the system prior to the show.
Exhibitors will also be asked for their birth year on the show cards and entry forms. “Every MFTHBA class has age restriction requirements,” shared Cathy. The MFTHBA rule book sets the minimum exhibitor age at 12 years of age except for designated youth classes and a few other classes the MFTHBA Board has made open to younger riders. Ladies and Mens classes require exhibitors to be 18 years of age while Senior Citizen requires a more advanced age. “To help us ensure we are accurately implementing age requirements for all classes, we will be asking exhibitors for their birth year,” added Cathy.
Exhibitors should note that the MFTHBA rule book establishes that the age of the exhibitor as of January 1 is their age for the show season. “Unfortunately, we had cases where exhibitors have shown in the wrong age division or in a class they were not eligible for,” Mark shared. “Obtaining this information will help us ensure everyone enters the appropriate class.”
Only Geldings in Youth Classes
All youth designated classes are restricted to mares and geldings. Starting this year, the MFTHBA will be checking to make sure that horses are correctly identified in the MFTHBA system as a gelding. “Looking at results from last year, there were quite a few male horses shown in youth classes that are still listed in the registry as a stallion,” shared Cathy. The MFTHBA Rule Book does require owners to inform the MFTHBA when a horse is gelded to update the Association’s records.
Starting this year, a horse may not be entered in a youth class nor will points earned by the horse count in a youth class unless it is a mare or gelding. Owners should contact the MFTHBA as soon as possible to update their horse’s record.
Submit Information Early
Exhibitors should note that points toward year end awards can only be applied if requirements are met before the show starts. This includes points earned for Trainer of the Year, Stallion of the Year, and year end high points. “We continue to expand the capabilities of the MFTHBA data management system,” shared Alexis. “The requirements for each class have been incorporated into the system, and it will not calculate points for individuals or horses that do not fully meet the requirements of the class in advance of the show.” This applies to both point shows and MFTHBA sponsored shows.
Lifetime award medal points cannot be applied until the horse is nominated to the MFTHBA Medal program. “This is the final year historical points can be added toward a lifetime gold or silver medal,” added Alexis.
If you have questions on any items listed in this article, please contact the MFTHBA office at 417-683-2468 or foxtrot@mfthba.com.
Important Links