2008 General Rules & Regulations 1. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor, parent, and/or trainer to read and understand the current 2008 Tri-State Horsemen’s Association (TSHA) rules contained in this book, and to read and understand the eligibility and class/division requirements and qualifications before entering any classes. 2. Every class offered herein is covered by the rules and specifications printed in this program and will be conducted and judged in accordance therewith. If any other rules not addressed are needed to make a judgment, show management will refer to any national breed rule book or USEF rulebook for reference purposes in making our own TSHA decision. 3. Exhibitors agree to abide by all rules and regulations in effect or later adopted and further agree that failure to comply will result in the forfeiture of all entry fees and expulsion from the show grounds 4. The Tri-State show year is October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. 5. Rider's age will be as of January 1, 2008. 6. Adult supervision is required for children 17 & under who are staying overnight. 7. The age of a horse shall be computed on the basis of a calendar year starting January 1 of the year foaled. It is a weanling during the calendar year of foaling date; regardless of the time of year foaled. 8. The following Point System will be used for the calculation of day-end and year-end division awards: 1st – 7 pts, 2nd – 5 pts, 3rd – 4 pts, 4th – 3 pts, 5th – 2 pts, 6th– 1 pt, 7th- ½, 8th - ½ 9. All day-end and year-end division awards are based on a Team of same horse/pony and rider except for Breed (horse only), Equitation (rider only), and Lead-Line (child only) Divisions. 10. To participate for YEAR-END division awards, the exhibitor shall be a 2008 member of Tri-State Horsemen’s Association, with no outstanding debt to TSHA, and will be required to participate in the division, as a member, in at least two (2) of the three (3) shows offered. 11. In the Breed Divisions for Year End Awards, the horse will only earn points accumulated by exhibitors/handlers who are Tri-State members 12. An exhibitor must be a current 2008 Tri-State member to enter any TSHA Challenge/Classic. 13. Membership dues can be accepted at the Secretary's booth on the entry form. Membership dues paid at the show must be received prior to the exhibitor’s first entered class for points to count towards year-end awards. 14. Judges' decisions are final. No exhibitor or person shall approach a judge as to a decision or any other matter unless permission is obtained from the Show Steward. Any exhibitor or person disregarding this rule may be asked to cancel all entries and forfeit all entry fees. MANAGEMENT DECISIONS ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS. 15. Management reserves the right to combine, divide, cancel or move classes when deemed necessary to facilitate the smooth running of the show. Management reserves the right to cancel classes with fewer than 3 entries. 16. The drinking of alcoholic beverages by anyone will not be tolerated while exhibiting or mounted at any time. 17. Obscene language will not be tolerated. 18. Entry fees: $12.00 Regular Classes $15.00 Classic/Medal Class $15.00 Non-Member Showing Fee $ 5.00 Office Fee 19. Pre-entries close on the TUESDAY before each show. A post entry fee of $15.00 per number will be charged for entries not POSTMARKED by the Tuesday before each show. We are not responsible for mail delivery time. US Mail delivery time varies from each state/town. The size and weight of your envelope affects delivery time, so please plan your mailing date accordingly and affix proper postage. 20. There will be a 2-minute gate hold for tack changes that are requested at the office. Tack changes must be performed at the in-gate within sight of the judge. You must know the incoming & outgoing exhibitor numbers and the class numbers for any requests. Please plan your classes accordingly. 21. Any person lodging a formal protest must submit said protest IN WRITING via US Mail to the Show Manager. Protests must be postmarked no later than the Tuesday immediately after the show and accompanied by a non-refundable $25.00 fee. Evidence and supporting documentation of the protest is your responsibility to submit. Protests must be signed and contact information provided. Open Show Manager will appoint an independent panel of five (5) to review all protests and determine any remedies or sanctions if said protest is upheld.. 22. Paperwork for all horses: A current negative Coggins test result and current proof of veterinarian administered rabies vaccine within 12 months of show date, should accompany any pre-entry. If not received with pre-entry, then paperwork MUST BE PRESENTED TO RECEIVE A NUMBER! Exhibitors who are post entering must present paperwork when signing up 23. Copies of Breed registration for any horse entering a Registered Breed Class/Division must accompany the entry, or be on file with TSHA. Exhibitors do not have to be the listed owner. 24. Bits may be checked at the discretion of the judge. 25. Cell phones, pagers, or any other communication device are not allowed in the ring. 26. Exhibitors will be issued an exhibitor number for each horse they ride at the first show they enter. This will be the exhibitor’s number with that horse for the entire season. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to retain the number and use the proper number with matching horse. 27. Riders must have a number presented to the judge while exhibiting in a class. The number must be on the exhibitor or on both sides of saddle pad. Any exhibitor entering the ring without a number, or wearing an incorrect number, will be disqualified and no refunds will be issued. 28. Refunds are issued only for injury/illness to horse or exhibitor and will only be made upon receipt, within 7 days after the end of the show, of a vet certificate or a physician's certificate. Refund checks will be mailed upon submission of said documentation. No refunds will be issued at the show. 29. Writers of all returned checks will be charged a $25.00 fee. Any and all exhibitors and/or horses whose show fees said check covers will not be allowed to show until all debts are paid. 30. Horses must be stabled after show hours - no overnight outside stabling or overnight trailer stabling is allowed at Falls Creek Farm. Anyone in violation of this rule will be assessed a $200.00 fine. Camp Site fees $60.00 per weekend Stall fees $85.00 per weekend 31. All Hunt Seat riders 17 & under will be required to wear ASTM approved helmets with a harness whenever mounted. All exhibitors must have appropriate footwear whenever mounted. No person can ride bareback or with halter and Lead-Lines on the grounds during the weekend. Riding double is expressly prohibited. 32. Dogs must be leashed and attached to a responsible handler. 33. Schooling and warm-up is permitted in the authorized areas and times only. Walk-Trot exhibitors should not be schooling at the canter in the warm-up rings. Courteous behavior is expected from all exhibitors and trainers. 34. No action devices will be permitted anywhere on the show grounds. 35. Stallions may not be shown by exhibitors 17 & under except in those Breed Classes where allowed by the rules applicable for that breed. 36. TSHA, its employees, its volunteers and Falls Creek Farm will not be held liable for injury, theft, or damage to any person, property, or animal. 37. A qualified independent veterinarian will conduct drug testing at TSHA Open Shows according to the Open Show Committee’s Random Selection Procedure. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of entry fees, TSHA points and any prizes/awards received. 38. The Drug testing at Tri-State Open Shows will be sent to a USEF approved laboratory where testing for the current year’s substances and limits will occur. Upon receipt of the laboratory report, in the event that a positive result should occur, TSHA will impose the following Tri-State Horsemen’s Association policy:: Sanctions and penalties imposed when a *positive* test result is returned on a Horse at a Tri-State Open Show Competition: • Immediate Disqualification of said Horse from Tri-State competition • Immediate Disqualification of said Horse from any Year-End Awards • Immediate Disqualification of any and all exhibitors on said horse from Tri-State Competition • Immediate Disqualification of any and all exhibitors on said horse from Year-End Awards • Immediate Disqualification of said Horse’s Owner and/or Lessee, from Tri-State competition • Immediate Disqualification of said Horse’s Owner and/or Lessee, from any Year-End Awards • Immediate Disqualification of said Horse’s Trainer from Tri-State Competition • Immediate Disqualification of said Horse’s Trainer from Year-End Awards • Suspension of said Horse from any future Tri-State competitions for a period of no less than one year. • Suspension of any and all exhibitors on said horse from any future Tri-State competitions for a period of no less than one year. • Suspension of said horse’s Owner and/or Lessee from any future Tri-State competitions for a period of no less than one year • Suspension of said horse’s Trainer from any future Tri-State competitions for a period of no less than one year. This suspension holds true with any and all horses said Trainer exhibits. • Suspension of use of Training Facility’s name at any future Tri-State event for a period of no less than one year Referral to the Tri-State Sanctions Committee for any further disciplinary action using USEF for reference, including but not limited to: suspension of Membership for a length of time to be determined by the Tri-State Sanctions Committee and monetary fines assessed on the Exhibitor(s), the Trainer(s), and the Owner(s)/Lessee(s) of said Horse.