Article 1.Purpose: FPHA shall abide by the rules of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) in regards to the show comptetion with some revisions and addition as herein noted. All established rules of FPHA should replace rules of AQHA where applicable.Future rule changes by the AQHA shall be reviewed by the FPHA board of directors and presented to the general membership for approval prior to the beginning of any given show season. The horse show season shall commence on January 1 of each year and end on Thanksgiving day of the same year.
Article 2. Show Approval: Approval for an FPHA show may not be granted on a date on which an AQHA show is scheduled within a 250- mile radis.
Article 3. Events: All approved FPHA horse shows must offer to the contestants all classes that have been preset for that show season. Year-end awards will be predicated on points accumulated in these approved events. Approved events shall include, but are not limited to, a variety of both judge and timed events. Class for the following show season shall be determined by the majority vote at the first membership meeting of the present show year (January).
Article 4. Divisions: There shall be four (4) age divisions - pony (12 & Under), Pee Wee (13 & Under), Junior (14-18) and Senior (19 & Over) divisions. Not all approved classes will be offered in each age division. The age of an exhibitor throughout the show season shall be his/her age as of January 1st of that show season. an exhibitor must show in his/her respective age division in all approved classes. The association shall reserve the right to require proof of age of any exhibitor before allowing his/her entry.
Article 5. Conduct: When an exhibitor is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct, the FPHA can suspend the right of such exhibitor or parent from participating in future approved association events for such a period as judged appropriate by the FPHA Board of Directors. When a spectator is guilty of unsportmanlike conduct, said spectator will be escorted from the show grounds and attendance at future FPHA events will be prohibited for a period of time judged appropriate by the FPHA Boaed of Directors. No person shall administer internally or externally to a horse, either before or during an approved show, any medication , drugs, mechanical device or surgical procedure to mask a defect that could affect its performance and/ or appearance Upon discovery of such acts, the show management shall immediately report the matter to the judge and the association. The association as prescribed in its by-laws shall then take appropriate action. Reimbursement of entry fees will be denied.
Article 6. Tardiness: All horses entered in a class must be assembled in ample time and enter the arena when called for. A tardy contestant me be denied competition. Entry fees will not be refunded.
Article 7. Dress: In all judge classes, except where English tack is used, it is mandatory to wear appropriate Western attire, including western boots. Chaps are optional. A western hat must be worn in all judged events. For timed events, only western boots are mandatory. During hot months, short-sleeved western attire may be worn at the discretion of the judge. English coats will be waived at the discretion of the judge.
Article 8. Equipment: No exhibitor shall be tied, buckled or fastened in the saddle in any permanent manner during competition.
Article 9. Protest Procedures: In order to lodge a protest, an individual must be a member in good standing of the FPHA. Any member making a protest shall lodge such protest with the association secretary in writing within twenty- four (24) hours of the time of the cause of the protest. A $25.00 fee must accompany the protest that shall be forfeited if the protest is not sustained. The Board of Directors shall act upon the protest by the next general membership meeting.
Article 10. Judges: Approval of a Judge must be obtained from the Board of Directors. In the event of unforeseen circumstances necessitating substitution of the originally approved judge, show management may approve a substitute judge. Judges should have no less than two (2) years experience judging. Under no circumstances shall an FPHA member judge an approved FPHA show. No person may judge more than two (2) shows in any one season. No person shall judge more than one show in a ten (10) week period. Neither the judge nor members of his/her family shall exhibit in any class at the show at which time he/ she is officiating nor may any horse(s) be shown under a judge who has been the owner, trainer, or agent in any capacity or conditions of that horse within the previous six (6) months.
Article 11. Authority; The Judge shall have the authority to request the removal or alteration of any piece of equipment that, in his/her opinion, would tend to give an unfair advantage. The Judge shall have the authority to place a horse in whatever position in a class he/she thinks the merit of the horse justifies. Once a class has been judged, it shall not be re-judged. Once a judge has marked his/her record there will be no changes. Each Judge is responsible for marking his/her placing on the form provided by the association. A judge may order any person or horse from the competition for bad coduct of one or both, or may disqualify any contestant for excessive abuse of the horse. A horse may be disqualified for unsoundness at the discretion of the judge. the Judge is not required to officiate timed events.
Article 12. Abuse-The Board of directors will discipline any person who is suspected of abuse of any horse(s) on show grounds. If this person is a member of FPHA, his/her membership privileges will be suspended and particiation in future FPHA events will be suspended for a period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors. If this person is not a member of FPHA, any participation in future FPHA events will not be allowed for a period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors. Any member or spectator of FPHA has the authority to report any abuse to the show sponsor or any FPHA Board of Directors.
Article 13. Year-End Awards: The association shall award an annual high point award to the one horse-one rider combination that has earned the most points in their respective classes. It is the intention of the Board of Directors to give buckles as year-end awards for high point horse in each approved class. However, the Board of Directors, according to funds available during that given year, shall determine the quality of these awards. In the event of financial difficulties, these awards can be changed in their nature upon approval of general membership. In the event of a stalemate between the board of directors and the general membership, the Board of directors decision shall be final. The secretary shall furnish the point standings to each member at least every three (3) months. Since Halter Stallions and Geldings are two separate events, point earned in the stallion class may not be transferred to the gelding class when the same horse is shown in both classes during one show season. If however, prior to being gelded the horse has accumulated the most stallion points of the season and has met the established criteria for high point horse of that event, he shall be declared the high point stallion of that season. An exhibitor must exhibit (as a Member) in at least five (5) approved FPHA shows for each appropriate class in order to be eligible for any year-end awards for that class. Any horse shown by a paid member, regardless of horse's age or breed, can accumulate points in their appropriate class. All around award one horse one rider combination must show in at least one halter/ showmanship class, one judge event class and one speed event class in at least five shows as a member to be eligible.
Each Horse may only have one rider per class. An exhibitor may ride more than one horse in a class in which individual and separate work is done.
Placings: Each class must be placed through the 6th horse. if a horse is disqualified, however, it is not to be placed even if there are six (6) or fewer horses in the class.
points: Contestants placing in the top six (6) will be giving a point for each exhibitor placing below them plus one point, not to exceed six (6) points for first place. Point are calculated through 6th place. POINTS ARE ONLY TRANSFERABLE FROM ONE HORSE TO ANOTHER IN THE EVENT OF DEATH. VETERINARY SIGN CERTIFICATE REQUIRED. Points will begin accumulation upon receipt of annual membership dues. Point shall not be retroactive.
Example; In a class of six (6) or more horses, 1st place contestant receives six (6) points, 2nd place contestant receives five (5) points and so on down through 6th place. In a class of four(4) horses, 1st place receives four (4) and second (2nd) place- three (3) points and so on.
Awards: The show sponsors shall supply awards for placings. It is recommended, by this association, that these awards be in keeping with the entry fee charged. There shall be named high point awards shall be based on a one horse-0ne rider combination and shall be awarded to the horse and rider combination accumulating the most points of the day in his/her age division. Results of all events of the show, with the exception of novice and exhibition classes, shall be used to determine the winner. However, the exhibitor must show in at least three(3) events as a member to be eligible. In the event of a tie, the exhibitor with the most 1st place wins shall be the winner. A tie, which cannot be broken by placings, may be broken by the flip of a coin or duplicate awards given at the discretion of the sponsor.
Upon receipt of your membership dues, all registered members agree to abide by the rules and regulations as set forth by FPHA
A tab may be run for entry fees at a show provided a signed check payable to FPHA is accompanying the the entry(s). No EXCEPTIONS!
The association has a no refund policy. If an exhibitor scratches from a class after an entry card has been received, the entry fee will not be refunded. Entry fees will be refunded in cases where a veterinarian certificate is presented to the show management prior to the end of the show. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Exhibition Run: Exhibition classes will only be offered on the Saturday show dates. An exhibitor may ride as an exhibition run. The entry fee will be discounted for that class. All exhibitors running exhibition runs will do so immediately following the last exhibitor in the respective class of the last division. Exhibition fees or not included in the all day member fee. 45 second time limit on exhibition run.
Timer Malfunction: In the event of a timer malfunction, the exhibitor will be allowed one rerun, THAT RUN WILL STAND. reruns will not be allowed in the instance of rider's equipment failer. Once an exhibitor has exited the show ring, he/she may not return during the same class unless called for. Practice runs are not allowed except during announced breaks. Entry fees will not be refunded.
FPHA assumes no responsibility for injuries to exhibitors, horse, and/ or spectators. FPHA assumes no responsibility for lost or stolen items including, but not limited to, tack, horse, personal items, ect.
Youth exhibitors are not allowed to show stallions of any age in any class.
An exhibitor Must use the same horse's name on his/her entry card throughout the entire show season. It is not the responsibility of the show secretary to know that a horse's barn and registered name are for the same horse for the purpose of point keeping for year end -awards. If a separate set of points is being recorded on the same horse due to entry cards reflecting two different horse's names, points will be dropped on one of the horse/rider combinations. All points earned before becoming a member will not be counted for year end awards or high point show awards.
Rules for the following approved year-end awards events will follow AQHA rules, except for classes offered by FPHA only.
Halter-Stallions, Mares, Geldings, Pony
Showmanship at Halter (western)
English walk-Trot (AQHA Hunter Under Saddle Rules except canter)
Hunter Under Saddle
Hunt seat Equitation
Walk -Trot (AQHA western pleasure rules except lope)
Western Pleasure
Western Pleasure select 50 & over
Horsemanship
Western Riding
Trail
Reining
Stake Race
Quads
Pole Bending
Barrel Racing
Straight Away Barrel
Arena Race
Show management reserves the right to add classes if three (3) or more entries are received. Class awards will be given only if the added class has five (5) or more entries. Ribbons will be awarded for classes with less than five (5) entries.
Only classes approved prior to the first show of the season will be considered for year-end awards.
Weanling halter classes will be offered at all shows beginning in June. These classes will NOT be year-end award classes.
NSF Checks: There will be a $25.00 fee for all NSF checks . Any person who does not make good on NSF check and fees within fifteen (15) days or by the next show date, whichever occurs first will lose all accumulated show points, and will only be able to show on a cash basis for the remainder of the year.
Pony Classes: Pony height will not exceed 52". Riders must be 12 years old or under . (age as of January 1) Riders are also eligible to ride in 13 & Under classes. For Separate points .
Closed gate policy; The closed gate policy has taken effect this year & will have to be adhered to by all associations/ orgainizations renting/using the facility.
It is the asssociation/organization's responsiblity to have a gate worker assigned to this area of the barn throughout the duration of any show
