Home Proposed Rule Changes Released for Member Review

Proposed Rule Changes Released for Member Review

The following rule changes are available for comment by MFTHBA members.  These changes will come before the Board of Directors in December for consideration.  Members are encouraged to review the proposed changes and provide feedback to their regional directors regarding their support or any concerns they may have.

 Page 57 Section 1, B-4

Current Rule: 4.  A judge shall not attend a show, exhibitor’s party or other activity directly connected with a show on the day previous to the show at which he/she is officiating. This rule does not prohibit a judge from observing classes in divisions other than the division they are hired to judge (i.e., a person judging performance classes is not prohibited from attending and observing versatility classes).

Change to: 4. A Judge shall not attend a show, exhibitor’s party of other activity directly connected with a show on the day previous to the show at which he/she is attending.

 

Page 57 Section 2, B-10

Reason for change: This doesn’t allow a judge to judge within 13 months if the pools system of judging is used and then the 5 judge system is used the next year.

Current Rule: 10 A judge may not judge the same division in the Spring Show/Futurity or the Show & Celebration in Ava, MO within thirteen months. A judge who judged model would be eligible to judge performance and vice versa. This restriction does not pertain to Versatility or Ranch Horse Competitions. If the pool system of judging is used in the future the thirteen-month rule will not apply for the shows. If the pool system is not used at the Spring Show or Celebration the thirteen-month judging rule will be in effect.

Change to:  A judge may not judge the same division in the Spring Show/Futurity or the Show &  Celebration in Ava, MO within thirteen months. A judge who judged model would be eligible to judge performance and vice versa. This restriction does not pertain to Versatility or Ranch Horse Competitions. If the pool system of judging is used in the future (or returns to the 3 or 5 judge system the next year after the pool system is used), the thirteen-month rule will not apply for the shows. If the pool system is not used at the Show or Celebration the thirteen-month judging rule will be in effect.

 

Page 71 Section 6-A

Current Rule: Section 6.  Mandatory Penalties for Violation

The following are the mandatory minimum penalties in the Plan:

Suspensions
Violation* First Offense           Second Offense Third Offense  Fourth & Above Offenses
Pressure Shoeing Two (2) Years  Five (5) Years  Life
Bilateral Sore Eight (8) months Two (2) Years Five (5) Years Life
Unilateral Sore Two (2) weeks Two (2) Months One (1) Year Two (2) Years
Scar Rule ** Two (2) weeks Two (2) Months One (1) Year Two (2) Years

*             If a violator is a minor, parents or guardians are suspended.

**           Scar Rule exhibitors are only suspended if the violation is post-show.

Violations of rules during suspension = six (6) months for each occurrence (see Section 7 below).

A foreign substance pre-show violation = Two (2) weeks for each occurrence.

Equipment violations pre-show = Disqualification from class (non-correctable).

Equipment violations post-show = Two (2) weeks for each occurrence.

Multiple suspensions are to be served consecutively, not concurrently.

 

In addition, the following monetary penalties will be added at the rate of $20 per week of suspension.  Such penalties are to be dedicated to the DQP Program of MFTHBA as an offset to the Association expense in connection with administering the DQP Program and training of DQP’s.

Change to: The HPA penalty protocol and any other rules pertaining to the USDA rules will be exempt from the MFTHBA rule change procedure.

 

Page 83 Section G-1

Reason for change: Some exhibitors that qualify for the Limited Division are riding WGC horses in these classes. This defeats the whole purpose for having this division. The exhibitors may not have won 1st or 2nd place in the past two years, but the horses may have been a WGC several times over the way it is set up currently. This is not an equitation class. The judges are looking at the horses. At the Show and Celebration in 2018, there were 133 classes available from which to choose. The       Limited Division should be utilized as a place where people can be encouraged to continue to work with their horse. The WGC and Reserve WGC horses should not qualify for the Limited Division, but should choose from one of the other divisions.

The title should be changed to “Limited Division Classes” instead of “Limited Exhibitor Division Classes.”

Current Rule: a) Horse Ownership: Must meet the ownership requirements designated by the Division listed on the showbill (I.E Open Amateur Limited Exhibitor will meet the ownership requirements outlined for Open Amateur.

  1. b) Exhibitor: Must meet the exhibitor requirements for the designated Division (i.e. Youth Limited Exhibitor classes will meet the exhibitor requirements under the Youth Division). In addition, exhibitors may not have won a WGC or Reserve WGC at any time in the competition area of the designated class (i.e. Performance, Model, Versatility, or Ranch Horse), This excludes WGC or Reserve WGC’s won in the Novice/Apprentice and Youth divisions. Exhibitors may not have won a 1st or 2nd place in any MFTHBA class in the competition area of the designated class (i.e. Performance, Model, Versatility, or Ranch horse) excluding Novice/Apprentice and Youth in the last two calendar years. Youth who have won non-youth WGC, Reserve WGC, or 1st/2nd place must meet the criteria outlined in order to enter this class.

Change to: A. Limited designation applies to both the exhibitor and the horse to be exhibited.

  1. Exhibitor and Horse to be Exhibited: Must meet the limited requirements for the designated Division (i.e. Youth Limited classes will meet the limited requirements under the Youth Division). In addition, the exhibitor,            nor the horse to be exhibited, may not have won a WGC or Reserve WGC at any time in the competition area of the designated class (i.e. Performance, Model, Versatility, or Ranch Horse). This excludes WGC or Reserve WGC’s won in the Novice/Apprentice and Youth divisions. Exhibitors, nor the horse to be exhibited, may not have won a 1st or 2nd place in any MFTHBA class in the competition area of the designated class (i.e. Performance, Model, Versatility, or Ranch horse) excluding Novice/Apprentice and Youth in the last two calendar years. Youth who have won non-youthWGC, Reserve WGC, or 1st/2nd place must meet the criteria outlined in order to enter this class, as well as the horse to be exhibited. The exhibited horse must meet the requirements designated by the Division and other requirements listed on the show bill. Horses are required to be registered with MFTHBA. An exhibitor and horse to be exhibited that are eligible for the Limited Division as of January 1 of the current year, will remain eligible for the Limited Division for the calendar year.

 

Page 94 Section 1, E- 2 & 3

Reason for change: There are very few youth riders. This change would allow a youth exhibitor to also compete with a horse being used in amateur and/open divisions–giving more youth riders a chance to compete.

Current Rule: 2. A horse may not be shown by more than one exhibitor in a particular class. Amateur and Youth exhibitors are eligible to show in Open Division classes unless restricted by specific show requirements (i.e., age, etc.). However, no horse may be eligible for “World Grand Champion” or any high point award in more than one Division, and points will be based on the number of entries in that particular division showing in the class.

  1. No horse may compete for points in more than one division, at the Three Year Old Futurity/Spring Show or the Show & Celebration in Ava, Missouri. Cross entries may be allowed at affiliated shows at the discretion of show management.

Change to: A horse may not be shown by more than one exhibitor in a particular class. Amateur and Youth exhibitors are eligible to show in Open Division classes unless restricted by specific show requirements (i.e., age, etc.). A horse may be eligible for “World Grand Champion” or any high point award in more than one Division, if one division is youth with a different rider. Points will be based on the number of entries in that particular division showing in the class.

  1. Omit this rule

 

Page 105 Section 5, F-8

Current Rule: 7.                Prohibited Equipment – Cause for Disqualification

  1. a) Any deviation from required bits.
  2. b) Leg wraps
  3. c) Running or standing martingales
  4. d) Tie downs or draw reins.
  5. e) Dropped nosebands
  6. f) Bits with cheeks over 8 ½”.
  7. g) Extremely tight or twisted curb chains or curb chains less than ½” in width.

Change: Add, h) Western style spurs.

 

Page 109 Section 8, B-1

Current Rule: B.  1.  It is mandatory that the judge post any pattern to be worked at least one hour prior to the commencement of the class; however, if the judge requires additional work of exhibitors for consideration of final placing, the final pattern may not be posted.

Change to: The pattern to be used should be posted at least 7 days prior to the show.

 

Page 111 Section 8, E 1-c

Reason for change: A rider can recover after one bad move, and the judge should be able to place above someone who completed the pattern but did so very poorly.

Current Rule c)  An exhibitor that incurs a severe fault (5), such as failure to follow prescribed pattern, knocking over or working on the wrong side of the cones, or severe disobedience avoids elimination, but should be penalized severely and the exhibitor should not place above an exhibitor that completes the pattern correctly.

Change: Delete the sentence: and the exhibitor should not place above an exhibitor that completes the pattern correctly.

 

 

Page 113 Section 9, B-1

Current Rule: 1.  The pattern to be worked must be posted at least one hour prior to the commencement of the class. In the event the judge requires additional work for final placing consideration, no posting for this work is required.

Change to: 1.  The pattern to be worked should be posted at least seven days prior to the show. In the event the judge requires additional work for final placing consideration, no posting for this work is required.

 

Page 115 Section 9, E, 1-c

Current Rule: c)  An exhibitor that incurs a severe fault (5 ), such as failure to follow prescribed pattern, knocking over or working on the wrong side of the cones, or severe disobedience avoids elimination, but should be penalized severely,  and the exhibitor should not place above an exhibitor that completes the pattern correctly.

Change: delete the sentence- and the exhibitor should not place above an exhibitor that completes the pattern correctly.

 

Page 122 Section 10, B-2

Current Rule: 2.  The course pattern to be used must be posted at least one hour before the scheduled start time of the class.

Change to: 2. The course pattern to be used should be posted at least seven days prior to the show.

 

Page 125 Section 11, B-2

Current Rule: 2.  The course pattern to be used must be posted at least one hour before the scheduled start time of the class.

Change to: 2. The course pattern to be used should be posted at least seven days prior to the show.

 

Page 126 Section 12, B-1 & 2

Current Rule: 1.  Any one of the ten MFTHBA approved reining patterns may be used and is to be selected by the judge of the class and used by all contestants in the class.  The number of the selected pattern should be posted at least one hour before the scheduled start time of the class.

  1. Reining pattern number 11 may be used for Novice and Youth classes.

Change to: Any one of the ten MFTHBA approved reining patterns may be used.  The course pattern to be used should be posted at least seven days prior to the show.

 

Page 148 Section 1-G

Current Rule: G. Instructions to riders: Two hands may be used on the reins and hands must not be changed except to negotiate an obstacle in the Ranch Versatility class. Hand to be around reins. When the ends of split reins fall on the same side of the reining hand, one finger between the reins is permitted. When using romal, or when ends of split reins are held in the hand not used for reining, no finger between reins is allowed. Rider may hold romal or end of split reins to keep them from wringing and to adjust the position of the reins, provided it is held at least 16” from the reining hand. Riders will not be penalized for using the saddle horn in the Ranch Cutting and Working Cow Horse classes. Failure to stay mounted in performance classes will result in disqualification.

Change to: G. Instructions to riders: Two hands may be used on the reins. If one hand is used, hands must not be changed except to negotiate an obstacle in the Ranch Versatility class. Hand to be around reins. When the ends of split reins fall on the same side of the reining hand, one finger between the reins is permitted. When using romal, or when ends of split reins are held in the hand not used for reining, no finger between reins is allowed. Rider may hold romal or end of split reins to keep them from wringing and to adjust the position of the reins, provided it is held at least 16” from the reining hand. Riders will not be penalized for using the saddle horn in the Ranch Cutting and Working Cow Horse classes. Failure to stay mounted in performance classes will result in disqualification

 

Page 152 Section 7, A-2

Current Rule: 2) Contestants will work from the gate individually. They will be required to perform one of the pre-approved Ranch Versatility Patterns, which will include reining maneuvers and trail obstacles.

Change to:  2) Contestants will work from the gate individually. The pattern to be used should be posted at least 7 days prior to the show.