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GCHSA RulesRules Organization Name The name of the organization is Gulf Coast Horse Show Association. Its abbreviation is GCHSA. Mission Statement The Gulf Coast Horse Show Association has been formed with the intent to promote the sport of equestrian jumping in a friendly and educational environment that encourages riders to set and attain personal goals at all levels while providing an avenue to develop camaraderie among horsemen in a setting that provides fair and professional competition for all equestrians on a local level.
Membership and Horse Registration Membership fee for the show year (December 1 November 30) is $20.00 and $15.00 for juniors; horse/pony registration is $5.00. Membership and horse/pony registration are annual and must be renewed each show year or a horse can be registered for a lifetime at $15.00. Membership is not required to participate in GCHSA shows, and there is no non-member fee. However, membership IS required to receive points toward year end awards. For year end Equitation awards, riders must be members (but their horses/ponies need not be registered). For year end awards in the Hunter and Jumper divisions, horses/ponies must be registered, and their riders AND owners must be members. Sale of a horse/pony registered with GCHSA must be reported. The new owner must register the horse/pony in order for the points to follow the horse/pony. It is imperative to use the horses/ponys GCHSA registered name on horse show entry forms to avoid confusion points. Horse/pony name change or ownership change must be recorded at $5.00 per horse Farm memberships are also available at $35.00 per year, which includes one personal membership and up to six designated horses. Application(s) and fee(s) must be in the possession of the Membership/Points Secretary or postmarked by April 1, 2008 for the entire year of the points to count. After April 1, 2008, point accumulation starts upon receipt of application and fee by the Membership/Points Secretary. A check returned unfunded to the GCHSA will void the application and any accumulated points. Directors Directors, one from each stable, will act as officers to the GCHSA. Directors from the previous year have two votes. New Directors have one vote. Directors missing two consecutive Directors Meetings are subject to dismissal. Required horse show participation is 60%. Money due GCHSA must be submitted to the Treasurer no later than twenty-one (21) days after the horse show (noncompliance subject to a twenty-five dollar fine and review by the Board of Directors). US Equestrian Federation Rules and Complaints The GCHSA will follow rules of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), unless otherwise specified below. Problems or complaints should be in writing and given to the show secretary, who will forward them to the Board of Directors. Prize Lists Prize lists must be postmarked three weeks (21 days) prior to the show date. A $25.00 fine will apply for those prize lists sent late. Entries Fees are $14.00 per recognized class if submitted prior to 6 p.m. on day before show and $15.00 per class on day of show. $1.00 from each class entry will be paid to GCHSA for the Year End Banquet. Point status is subject to review by the Board of Directors for returned checks not reimbursed within thirty days of the horse show. Hard Hats All riders must wear ASTM approved hard hats while mounted on the show grounds. Attire Shirts with collars, and either boots and breeches or jodhpurs and jodhpur boots are required for all competitors. Half chaps are permitted if color matches boots. Warm up classes are the only exemptions. Equipment Martingales are not allowed in flat classes. Polo wraps or boots are allowed only in equitation and jumper classes. Recognized Divisions/ Points Shows must offer all recognized divisions. Points will not count toward year end awards if fewer than three recognized divisions are completed. At least two competitors in each class are required with at least 2 horses completing each course for points to count. See Recognized Divisions below for class requirements. Judges Judges must not be members of GCHSA and may only judge two times in each ring during the show year. In case of an emergency or unforeseen circumstance, judges may be allowed to officiate with approval from Directors. All judges must meet approval of the Board of Directors. Jumps Recommended stride length used for courses is 11-12. Distance between fences must be indicated on courses for hunters and equitation; time allowed must be indicated on courses for jumpers. All courses must be posted at least 30 minutes before show time. Hunter and equitation courses in the big ring must have at least two oxers. For courses 26 and under, 11-11 1/2 stride is recommended. Schooling Format All GCHSA shows will have an open schooling for all contestants scheduled between noon and 1:00 PM on day of show for at least 15 minutes. The intent is to increase the level of safety by alleviating congestion in the arena prior to the show and to allow those showing in later divisions to school at a more convenient time.
Recognized Divisions Equitation Divisions All equitation classes are open to amateurs only with the exception of the Open Equitation Division. Walk-Trot Equitation: No cross entries into any other divisions. Year end medal will be awarded after three blue ribbons. Advancement after 6 blue ribbons is recommended. Show requirements: three or four classes. Classes may include: Walk/Trot Equitation, Walk/ Trot Equitation over ground poles, Walk/Trot Test (i.e., Figure Eight, etc.), Walk/Trot Horsemanship. Horsemanship class may include sitting trot, 2-point, halt and simple questions regarding tack, gaits, and parts, colors and markings of the horse.
Pre-Beginner Equitation: No cross entries into any other divisions. Fences 18 (small Xs) with a jump course of twice around. Participants may trot or canter fences with leads between jumps not to count. Year end medal will be awarded after three blue ribbons. Advancement after six blue ribbons over fences is recommended. Show requirements: four classes - Walk/Trot Equitation, Walk/Trot/Canter Equitation and two equitation over fences classes.
Beginner Equitation: No cross entries. For riders who have not shown over fences exceeding 23". Fences 2(Xs or verticals) with a course of twice around. The last course may have one diagonal line. Year end medal after three blue ribbons. Advancement after six blue ribbons over fences is recommended. Show requirements: four classes - Walk/Trot/Canter Equitation and three equitation over fences classes.
Adult Beginner Equitation: No cross entries into over fences classes in any other divisions. Open to adult amateur riders who have not shown over fences exceeding 2 in any show. Fences 2max. Year end Champion and Reserve Champion must advance. Show requirements: four classes - Walk/Trot/Canter Equitation, and three equitation over fences classes.
Novice Equitation: For riders who have not shown over fences exceeding 26. Fences 23. No in-and-outs. Riders are eligible for entire show year. Riders must advance after six blue ribbons over fences or upon winning year end Champion or Reserve Champion. Show requirements: four classes - Novice Equitation flat and three equitation over fences classes.
Open Equitation: (NEW DIVISION) Open to all. Show requirements: one flat class and two or three over fences classes. One class to include 2 USEF tests 1-18 with no switching of horses. Combination Divisions Divisions that include both hunter and equitation classes. Limit Division: Open to riders who have not won 6 blue ribbons over courses of 2' 6" or higher. Riders are eligible for entire show year. Riders must advance after six blue ribbons over fences or upon upon winning year end Champion or Reserve Champion. Fences 26- 29. Show requirements: five classes; one equitation flat, one equitation over fences which must include 2 of USEF tests 1-9, one hunter under saddle and two hunter over fences.
Junior/Adult Division: Open to riders who have not reached their 18th birthday as of 12/1/2007 (juniors) and adult amateurs. Fences 29- 3. Show requirements: five classes; one equitation flat, one equitation over fences which must include 2 of USEF tests 1-9, one hunter under saddle and two hunter over fences.
Hunter Divisions Show requirements for hunter divisions: one under saddle and two or three over fences classes.
Pony Hunter: Open to ponies 14.2 hands and under ridden by junior riders. Fences 2- 23. No in-and-outs.
Low Hunter: Open to all. Fences 2- 23, no in-and-outs. (omit -and only one change of direction.)
Schooling Hunter: Open to all. Fences 26. (omit to 29)
Open Hunter: Open to all. Fences 29 to 3.
Jumper Division Show requirements for jumper divisions: three classes.
Itty Bitty Jumper: Fences 23 to 26. Spreads not wider than fence height plus 3. No in-and-outs. Horses may not cross enter into any other jumper division at the same show.
Schooling Jumper: Open to all. Fences 29 to 3. Spreads not wider than fence height plus 3. No cross entries into Itty Bitty Jumper.
Open Jumper: Open to all. Fences 33 to 36. Spreads not wider than fence height plus 3. No cross entries into Itty Bitty Jumper. Champion and Reserve Champion Awards
Champion and Reserve Champion are calculated as follows:
If there is a tie in point totals for Champion, use the over fences subtotal to break the tie. If the tie cannot be broken by the over fences subtotal, no Reserve Champion is awarded. Show management may award Champion ribbons to all tied competitors, or competitors may flip for the Champion ribbon. If a prize is offered, show management decides how it will be awarded.
If there is a tie in point totals for Reserve Champion, use the over fences subtotal to break the tie. If the tie cannot be broken by the over fences subtotal, the tie remains. Show management may award Reserve Champion ribbons to all tied competitors, or competitors may flip for the Reserve Champion ribbon. If a prize is offered, show management decides how it will be awarded.
Points Points will be published on the GCHSA Web Site, (GCHSA.ORG) and will be available at all GCHSA Horse Shows.
Split divisions will award Champion, Reserve, and full points. The number of entries needed to split a division will be left to show management. It is suggested that ALL Walk-Trot and Pre-Beginner participants receive ribbons (6th place may have multiple ties), and there be a maximum of fifteen participants in Beginner. Safety should be a primary concern in lower-level flat classes.
The following class point values are used to calculate Division Champion and Reserve Champion at the show:
Champion 10 points Reserve Champion 5 points
Class Points: 10 points 1st Place 6 points 2nd Place 4 points 3rd Place 2 points 4th Place 1 point 5th Place ½ point 6th Place
Year End Awards All riders eligible for divisions at the beginning of the year remain eligible for the entire show season.
In Walk/Trot Equitation, Pre-Beginner Equitation, and Beginner Equitation, medals are presented at year end.
In the other Equitation, Hunter, and Jumper Divisions, trophies and ribbons are presented to Division Champions and Reserve Champions; ribbons are presented to third through six places.
There will be an awards ceremony held at a banquet to honor all award winners at the conclusion of the show season. |