Mid-State Horseman's Association By-laws

Amended and Restated By-Laws as of January 29, 2012

  Article I

This association shall be known as "Mid-State Horseman's Association".

 

Article II

The purpose of this Association is to offer its members the opportunity to share with other members their interest in horses and promote open type horse shows.  This Association is per persons in Chilton and surrounding counties.

 

 

Article III

This Association is governed by a President/AOHA Director, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, & Points Secretary.  All rule changes and new rules are to be voted on by all club representatives present at the meeting.  Checks drawn on the account of the Mid-State Horseman's Association, for any purpose shall require approval of the President and must be signed by the Treasurer and the President and/or the Vice President.  Two signatures are required for a check to be written.


There will be a NO tolerance rule for any slander towards or about a MSHA board member, or any club president.  Anyone that does this will be brought before the MSHA board and Club presidents to be discussed and for possible discipline and or consequences.

 

The offices that govern this Association will be described as follows:

 

President/AOHA Director

 The President shall preside at all meetings of the corporation and shall sign all certificates of notes, loans, deeds, & obligations of the Association, and generally shall perform all duties usually incumbent upon such officers.

  

Vice President

 The Vice President shall perform all duties of the President in his/her absence, and such other duties of the president as may be required of him/her.

 

 Treasurer

 The Treasurer shall receive and have custody of all money and securities of the corporation and have the care and custody of the books of the said Association.  They shall also make deposits to the said accounts of the Association and also disburse under the Direction of the President and other members of the board.  They shall also keep books and records and perform such all other duties  as may be assigned to them by the President.  They shall also submit to the Directors detailed statements of their receipts and disbursements.  They shall also be responsible for providing the Directors with a financial report at each meeting.

                                       

Points Secretary

  The Points Secretary will be responsible for receiving points from each club and recording them.  Other duties will include maintenance of the MSHA website, as well as registration for the AOHA State Show.  Clubs MUST have points from each show to the Points Secretary within  7 days of that show.  The Points Secretary CANNOT change points UNLESS the Mid-State President or Mid-State Vice President  are present, along with the President of the club or highest ranking officer present, and all parties involved, and the change must be signed off on by both the Mid-State President or VP, and by the highest ranking present club official.

 

Secretary

The Secretary will be responsible for recording, reporting, and distributing the minutes to all board members.  The minutes must be sent to board members within 14 days of the board meeting.  The Secretary will also handle all correspondence, and fulfill other duties as needed by the President  and the Board.

 

 

Article IV

Rules and Regulations

 

The following rules shall apply to anyone participating in Mid-State Horseman's Association shows or activities regardless of whether the participant is a member.

 

 

General

 

1. The Grievance Committee will consist of the two (2) highest ranking officers present and the ringmaster.  Anyone with a complaint concerning the judge or the show must contact a member of the Grievance Committee.  No one talk to the judge unless the ringmaster is present.  **Ringmaster shall not have casual conversation with the judge.**

 

2. Any time the judge feels that a horse should not compete, the judge has the authority to pull the horse from competition.  All drugs are prohibited on show animals.  All horses are subject to periodic drug checks.  Offenders will be suspended from the Mid-State Horseman's Association shows for the calendar year in which the offense occurs.

 

3.  The judge and ringmaster shall dress in appropriate attire.

 

4.  The judge shall have the right to prohibit the use of excessively severe equipment and/or shall disqualify any horse that the judge deems physically unfit to participate in any Mid-State Horseman's Association Show.

 

5.  Stallions must be shown by an adult.  An adult is considered to be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

 

 6.  Any exhibitor may enter one (1) or more horses in a class but each horse may have only one rider per class.  This pertains only to timed event classes. If in halter, showmanship, English or Western Pleasure Class, an exhibitor may enter only one horse in a class and this horse may have only one rider per class.

 

7.  The age of the exhibitor as of January 1 shall be the age under which the exhibitor shows for the remainder of that year.

 

8.  If there are more than twenty (20) horses in a class, the class must be split.

 

9.  Added money classes must consist of five or more horses in order for the added money to be paid.  In order for the added money to be paid the exhibitor must also show in one (1) other performance class.

 

10.  No one (1) exhibitor can delay any class for more than one (1) minute.

 

11. No horse can be shown in a performance class without a saddle and bridle.

 

12.  Participants must be fully clothed in generally recognized proper attire appropriate to their event to enter a class.

 

13.  All children must be properly supervised by a parent.  Children must be kept off the rail and away from the entrance gate of the arena.  The Association and Ringmaster will enforce this rule.

 

14.  No dogs are allowed in the show arena.  All dogs on the grounds MUST be on a leash at all times.

  

15.  To qualify for state and year end awards, it is mandatory to show in eight (8) (this number will always reflect AOHA requirements) Mid-State Association shows/classes.  These eight (8) must consist of the same rider on the same horse. In the event of misconduct in this matter, the rider, the horse, and the owner or lesser of the horse, will be suspended from Mid-State for two (2) years, and the AOHA President and Directors will be notified of misconduct and all associated parties.

 

  

Gaited Classes

 

1. Persons on Federal Disqualification cannot transport horses to a show and participate, they may only participate as a spectator. 

 

2.  Horses are to be shown at a show walk, slow rack, and fast rack.  Racking horses are allowed to use bands in flat shod.

 

3. Western Gaited Flatshod

    a.)  To be shown in Western attire and Western tack

     b.)  To be shown in show walk and favorite gait

     c.)  All horses must back

     d.)  Horses are to be shown with no boots, whip, or cross chain cavessons, and bits no longer than 9.5".  Bits are measured from the top to the bottom including the ring.

     e.)  Shoeing must be according to USDA standards.  (Single cork only)

     f.)  Exhibitor can ride either one handed or two handed but must be consistent throughput the class and not alternate hands during the class.

 

 4. Open Racking Classes

    a.)  Shoeing according to USDA standards.

    b.)  To be shown at a show walk, slow rack, and fast rack.  (Ladies', Mens' & Children's).  Horses shall wear English tack.  The exhibitor will wear English riding habit, with the exception of designated Western or Country Pleasure Racking classes.  All riding attire shall be neat and properly fitted.  A proper hat is required for a gentleman;  A lady's hat is optional.

 

5. Style Racking

     a.)  To be shown at a show walk and style rack

     b.)  To be judged on style only

 

6. Trail Pleasure Racking

     a.)  To be shown at a flat walk and a trail pleasure rack

     b.)  only regulation or keg shoes may be used

 

Leadline

 

The rider is to be eight (8) years old or under.  The horse is to be led by a person fifteen (15) years or older.  This class is to be judged fifty percent (50%) on costume,  twenty-five percent (25%) on suitability of horse, and twenty-five percent (25%) on the adult and equipment.

 

 

Halter Classes

 

Horses are to be worked at the trot or gait and shown with a halter only, unless the exhibitor is dressed in Huntseat attire.  If the exhibitor is dressed in Huntseat attire, the horse must be shown in an English bridle.  Any horse not kept under control at all times may be disqualified.  Any horse that becomes detached from its handler and is no longer under control by the handler will automatically be disqualifed and excused.  If the initial horse exhibiting poor mannerisms (i.e. rearing, backing, or falling into others, etc.), causes other exhibitor(s) to lose their horse(s), only the initiating horse will be disqualified and excused.  The decision of the judge(s) will be final.  For all horses, including stallions, a chain across the nose or through the jaw is optional.  Stallions must be shown by an adult.  Only the exhibitor of the horse may handle the horse once they are in the arena.

 

Pony Pleasure

 

AOHA Rules to apply to this division

1.  A measuring device will be used to measure ponies at the beginning of each pony class.  Ponies should be measured at the beginning of each show season.

 

2.  Ponies must be measured square.

 

3.  Any pony fifty-four inches (54") and under cannot be shown in an adult class.

 

4.  Any pony over fifty-four inches (54") may be shown in juvenile classes   

 

 

Walk-Trot Pony Classes

 

The same rules apply as stated in the Pleasure Pony Class except ponies will not be asked to canter/lope.

 

 

Western Pleasure Class

 

1.  Western tack and attire will be required including a Western hat and Western boots.

 

2.  Horses are to be shown at a walk, trot, and lope on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraint.

 

3.  Horses must work both ways of the arena at a walk, trot, and lope.

 

4.  The judge shall have the authority to ask for additional work at the walk, trot, or lope.

 

5.  Horses are to be reversed to the inside (away from the rail) at a walk or a trot.

 

6.  Horses shall not be asked to reverse at a lope.

 

7.  The judge may ask the rider to back the horse. 

 

8.  All Western Pleasure classes will  comply with AQHA rules.

     a.)  AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations

 

9. No Electronic devices are allowed in any performance class.

 

10. No outside assistance from parents or trainers.

 

Color Pleasure

 

The same rules apply as stated in the Western Pleasure Class with the exception that the only horses to be shown in the class are Palominos, Paints, Pintos, Duns, Buckskins, and Appaloosas.  Solid horses with color breed papers may be shown in Color Classes, but must be registered and papers will be required.

 

English Pleasure Class

 

1.  English or Hunt Seat tack and attire are required.

 

2.  Coats may or may not be worn at the discretion of the judge.

 

3.  Horses are to be shown at a walk, trot, and canter both ways in the arena.

 

4.  The judge has the option of calling for additional work at the extended trot or asking for the canter extended to the hand gallop.

 

5.  This class will be judge seventy-five percent (75%) on performance and twenty-five percent (25%) on conformation and appointments.

 

6.  This class is open to all breeds. 

All English/Hunter Under Saddle Classes will comply with AQHA.  **AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.**

 

Timed Events

 

1.  Timed event classes will be governed by AOHA rules.  (Hats and Long sleeve shirts are not required.)  Shirts may be short sleeve or long sleeve.  Timed event participants may show in a MSHA T-shirt, Club T-Shirt, or an AOHA T-shirt only.  The T-shirt cannot be altered in any way. NO TANK TOPS ALLOWED.   If participant does not wear one of the above mentioned club T-shirts, their shirt must be a buttoned up collared shirt.  Must be buttoned up to the second button.  Shoes must have a heel.  NO TENNIS SHOES.  YOU WILL NOT RUN AT ANY CLUB IN MSHA IF YOU ARE NOT IN PROPER ATTIRE.

 

2.  Exhibition runs will pay full amount of entry fees.

 

3.  Dragging arena during timed events is decided by the discretion of each individual club.

 

4.  Timed Event patterns will be placed and moved according to the arena conditions and discretion of each individual club. 

 

5.  During timed events it is up to each individual club to run with an open or closed gate.

 

 

 

Super Horse AND Super Pony Award -TWO awards are to be given

 Super Horse Award

 

1.  Only horses may qualify for Super Horse.  Ponies are excluded.

 

2.  To qualify, a horse must compete in one (1) Halter Class, and two (2) Performance classes and has to earn at least five (5) points.

     a.)  The performance classes can consist of Western Pleasure or English and it must include a Timed Event class.

    b.)  Showmanship is considered a Performance Class.

 

 

Super Pony Award

 

1.  Qualifications will be the same as for the Super Horse Award.

 

 Year End High Point Awards

 

In each of the following placings, a High Point and Reserve High Point Award will be given.

 

Before a person is eligible for a year-end award, he/she must show in at least the number of shows it takes to qualify for AOHA.  This does not mean that you are required to attend the AOHA State Show.

 

Notes :

 

A.  All points are to be counted as follows:  First place (1st) = 5 points,  Second place (2nd) = 4 points,  Third place (3rd) = 3 points, Fourth place (4th) = 2 points, Fifth place (5th) = 1 point.  The previous point system will apply when there are at least five (5) entries in a class.  Walk-ins will be included in the total number of entries to count for points.  Scratches will NOT count toward the total number of entries.

 

B.  All points are to be counted on a one (1) horse, one (1) rider basis.

 

C.  All points are to be counted from the effective date of membership, which is the date dues are paid.

 

D.  In all classes and divisions in the event of a tie, all co-places will be awarded.

EXAMPLE: Youth Class Awards and Division Awards (In the event of a second place tie)

1st

2nd

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

 

EXAMPLE:  Adult and Open Class Awards (In the event of a 1st place tie)

1st

1st

2nd

 

E.  If a horse dies or becomes crippled and the exhibitor continues with a second horse, all points accumulated on the first horse will NOT count on the second horse.

 

F.  Annual awards will be purchased and planned by a Committee appointed by the President.

 

G.  In Timed Events, if a horse falls during a run, a re-run will not be allowed as per AOHA rules.

 

Mid-State Horseman's Association