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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. The GCHSA strives to provide an avenue to develop camaraderie and good sportsmanship among horseman 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 for seniors and $15.00 for juniors (members who have not reached their 18th birthday as of December 1st of the current competition year); horse/pony registration is $5.00. Membership and horse/pony registration are annual and must be renewed each show year. 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). 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 full horses/ponys GCHSA registered name on horse show entry forms to avoid confusion of points. Horse/pony name change or ownership change must be recorded at $5.00 per horse to avoid confusion of points. 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 by the date of the first GCHSA competition for the entire year of the points to count. 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 that is hosting a GCHSA recognized show during the current show season, 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. All complaints and disagreements, including dispute of points must be sent to the Board of Directors within 30 days after the show in question. 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 $15.00 per recognized class if submitted prior to 6 p.m. on day before show and $16.00 per class on day of show. Jumper classes with add/back money awarded to winners will have a fee of $20.00 per class and $21.00 per class on the day of the show. $1.00 from each class entry will be paid by the show management to GCHSA for the Year End Banquet. Bad Checks Checks returned for insufficient funds will incur a $25.00 bad check fee plus any additional bank fees. Failure to reimburse the payee within 14 days of notification will result in permanent loss of all accumulated points. The individual will be banned from any GCHSA competitions or events until all indebtedness has been paid. 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 exceptions. 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 and the flat class for any points to count toward year end awards. Divisions held with only 2 competitors will receive points for classes where 2 horses completed the course or finished the hack class. However, no points for champion or reserve champion will be given for divisions with fewer than 3 participants. 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 additional shows 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 in the big arena after the jumper divisions are completed 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.
Low Adult Equitation: Open to adult amateur riders. Fences 2max. Show requirements: four classes - Walk/Trot/Canter Equitation, and three equitation over fences classes. Pony Equitation: Open to ponies 14.2 hands and under ridden by junior riders. Fences 2- 23. No in-and-outs. Show requirements: one equitation flat and one equitation over fences.
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. Limit Equitation: Open to riders who have not won 6 blue ribbons over courses of 2' 6" or higher. Riders are eligible for entire show year. Fences 26- 29. Show requirements: one equitation flat, one equitation over fences which must include 2 of USEF tests 1-9.
Open Equitation: Open to all. Show requirements: one flat class and two or three over fences classes, fences 2'6" - 29. One class to include 2 USEF tests 1-18 with no switching of horses. 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. Division consists of two classes over fences and one flat class.
Low Hunter: Open to all. Fences 2- 23 Division consists of two or three classes over fences and one flat class. Schooling Hunter: Open to all. Fences 26 29. Division consists of two or three classes over fences and one flat class.
Limit Hunter 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 winning year end Champion or Reserve Champion. Fences 26- 29. Show requirements: three classes; one hunter under saddle and two hunter over fences.
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. Medal Classes Mini Medal: an equitation course with at least 2 of tests 1-18 (no switching of horses) to be ridden. Top 2 riders of each class will be eligible for the finals to be held at the last show of the season. Once eligible, rider cannot compete in that class again. Fences 23. Medal Class: an equitation course with at least 2 of tests 1-18 (no switching of horses) to be ridden. Top 2 riders of each class will be eligible for the finals to be held at the last show of the season. Once eligible, rider cannot compete in that class again. Fences 29. Hunter Classic Hunter Classic: Fences 26. Open to all horses that have entered, shown and completed the course in at least 2 classes in the hunter division. The Classic consists of 2 rounds. If a horse or pony is eliminated in the first round, it may not return for the second round. The second round must consist of at least 10 obstacles. The scores from the first and second rounds will be added together to determine the final placing of the class. In the event of a tie, horses will hack off for the final placing. The same horse/rider combination must ride in both rounds of the hunter classic. $100 in prize money will be awarded with the first 4 places. Fewer than 4 entries will result in no prize money. With 6 or more entries, a $5 add back from each entry will go toward total prize money. Distribution will be 1st place 50%, 2nd - 25%, 3rd 15%, 4th 10%. Miscellaneous classes Hunter Pleasure: Hunter under saddle. To be judged on manners and way of going at the walk trot and canter in both directions. Open to all. Hunt Seat Equitation: A pattern to be ridden including w/t/c including at least 2 of USEF tests 1-18. To be judged on hands, legs, seat and control of horse. Open to all. Pairs Hack: To be judged on manners and way of going and the ability to work as a pair at w/t/c in both directions.
Champion and Reserve Champion Awards Each division must have at least 4 entries that completed the division and the division must have made at least 3 times in order for Champion and Reserve awards to be presented at the end of the year. Champion and Reserve ribbons will be awarded regardless of entries. 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. Divisions with fewer than three entries completing all classes will not be awarded points for Champion and Reserve for that show. 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 and Pre-Beginner Equitation medals are presented at year end awards ceremony.
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.
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