STANDARDS FOR APPROVAL OF USAE RATED SHOWS
1. The MHJA will not recognize any show on a date on which the MHJA is sponsoring a horse show.
2. Recognition must be requested 45 days in advance of the show date. The MHJA will provide requesting management with an information/affiliation form to be completed with request.
3. All current members of the MHJA
must receive a prize list. Labels will be provided by the MHJA at
the time approval is given.
MHJA SPECIAL RULES
1. At least three (3) horses or ponies must show and place in a class for points to be given toward annual awards (USEF rule).
(a) Hunter sections: Three horses must complete the course of the first class; three must contest the Under Saddle class.
(b) Jumper sections: Three horses must be judged.
2. Combining sections at Barn Shows: Children's Hunter and Adult Amateur Hunter may be combined if either section does not have the minimum number of entries (three) required to hold the section. Junior Hunter and Amateur Owner Hunter may be combined if either section does not have the minimum number of entries (three) required to hold the section. Equitation sections which require the same fence height may also be combined. Points will be awarded in the appropriate division.
3. Dividing Divisions: The MHJA will divide Short Stirrup divisions when there are more than 16 entries in the division. Sections of Short Stirrup will be divided randomly. MHJA holds rated divisions separately when there are a minimum of four (4) horses in each section. (Ex. Large and Small Junior)
4. If an Equitation division is to be offered at a MHJA approved horse show, all age group equitation divisions must be offered. The exception is Short Stirrup Equitation, which may be offered whether or not other equitation sections are offered.
5. A rider can always enter his age group equitation. Cross-entering restrictions apply to hunter and jumper sections but may not restrict a rider from riding in his age appropriate equitation.
6. The Jumper Division must be conducted in accordance with USAE rules regarding courses, tables to be used, officiating and timing equipment. Tables must be printed in the prize list and posted with the courses at the show.
7. After the prize list has been mailed, show management may not add a division which receives end-of-year points to the show schedule.
8. In MHJA Rated Divisions, horses or ponies may not enter an under saddle class unless they have entered an over fences class in that division. Entries not to be judged are allowed only at the discretion of show management.
9. MHJA members are awarded points
for placing in MHJA sponsored or approved shows. These year-end awards
are presented at the annual awards banquet.
(a) Only those current in their MHJA membership at
the time of the competition may
qualify for these awards.
(b) To be eligible for an annual award, the horse
or rider must have completed in at
least one MHJA sponsored horse show during the show year.
10. In Hunter and Jumper Divisions, it is the horse who accumulates points. The horse must be registered with the MHJA to receive points. Membership at the time of competition is required of the owner, the rider, and the horse for a horse to be eligible for points towards annual awards. When the horse competing is leased but not owned, the lessee is considered the owner by the MHJA and the lessee, the rider, and the horse must all be members of the MHJA.
11. In Hunter sections, Champion horse will receive 10 additional points; Reserve Champion will receive 5 additional points.
12. In Equitation Divisions, it is the rider who accumulates points. Membership is required only for the rider (and not the horse) to be eligible for points toward annual awards.
13. Points are tabulated at all MHJA recognized shows in this manner:
Hunter and Equitation Sections
First Place 10 points
Second Place 6 points
Third Place 4 points
Fourth Place 2 points
Fifth Place 1 point
Sixth Place ½ point
Only the top four (4) horses with points over fences are eligible to receive points toward Champion and Reserve Champion for Under Saddle Classes. When points are totaled, if there should be a tie, the horse with the most points over fences is Champion.
Jumper Sections
First Place 5 points
Second Place 3 points
Third Place 2 points
Fourth Place 1 point
14. For the purpose of MHJA end-of-year awards, the Point Chairman shall use the following scale for tabulation of points:
MHJA Sponsored 2 x value
MHJA Approved 1 x value
15. No one may ride in any classes or schooling area without a hard hat. Junior riders are required to wear USAE regulation headgear.
16. Negative coggins must be presented before numbers will be issued. Coggins must be valid according to the laws of the state in which the competition is held.
17. Any MHJA sponsored or approved show will be conducted in accordance with USAE rules except where modified by MHJA rules as listed in this Show Packet. The MHJA will honor all suspensions and penalties imposed by the USAE.
18. The MHJA Board of Directors reserves the right to limit the number of classes to be held at a MHJA recognized show.
19. In the event of a dispute at a MHJA member show, a written protest may be filed with the show manager or any member of the MHJA Board of Directors. The protest must be accompanied with a $50.00 protest fee and filed within 49 hours of the conclusion of the horse show where the protested action occurred. A Protest Committee of the MHJA Board will consider the protest within 14 days and recommend action with respect thereto to the Board of Directors. Interested parties will be advised of the protest and may ask to be heard at a meeting of the Protest Committee. The MHJA Board Protest Committee shall consist of four members of the Board and one at-large member of the MHJA, all appointed by the President who shall also be a member and chairman of the Protest Committee. Disputes at USAE recognized shows shall be handled in accordance with current USAE rules.
20. Failure to comply with MHJA rules and/or class specifications may result in disqualification of points and/or fine.
21. When the MHJA affiliates with a show of a neighboring association, points toward annual awards may be earned only in divisions where class specifications are identical to those of the MHJA. Exceptions: in hunter divisions, the fence heights may vary 3”; in jumper divisions, the fence heights may vary by one Level.
22. When more than one MHJA recognized show would occur on the same date, the USAE mileage rule will apply. A MHJA barn show shall be considered and USAE regular member show for purposes of applying the mileage rule.