Rules

Introduction:

The main reason for these R&R are to unify the method of judging, conduct and scoring system in Amateur Shows in Europe. These R&R shall benefit organizers, judges, exhibitors and spectators, as well as the horses themselves. Compared the usual Arabian Horse Shows, there will be more emphasize on the technical presentation of the handler and the relationship between handler and horse. These additional topics will also be taken into the account for the total scores of the combination.

After the 2016 show season, a general review of the R&R has been made, based on the experiences of all participants, judges and organizers. This year shall be considered as a transition year.

Conditions of Entry:

Open to Arabian Purebred Horses registered in any WAHO recognized studbook by the closing date of

Open to Anglo-‐Arabs and Arabian Part bred Horses, registered in any official studbook. A minimum of 25% of Arabian Blood needs to be proven by the certificate of
No foal classes shall be

Entry Restrictions for horses:

Entry restrictions only apply to ECAHO-‐qualifying classes. Participation in the Novice Classes is not permitted if the horse:

Has been ranked as a Classwinner in, at least, an ECAHO National C-‐show, or higher level, on or before the date of the closure of the entries of the actual show, and in 2015, 2016 or 2017, unless the horse has passed from a junior to a senior
- Has been awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Title in, at least, an ECAHO National C-‐show, or higher level, on or before the date of the closure of the entries of the actual show, and in 2014, 2015 or 2016, unless the horse has passed from a junior to a senior
Has been awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Title in, at least, an ECAHO B-‐show or equivalent level
If the horse has passed from Novice to Amateur/Experience Amateur as defined in the ranking system below. See “Level determination”.
Horses that have been shown by a professional handler in the current year, on or before the day of the

Participation in the Amateur Classes is not permitted if the horse:

Has been ranked as a Classwinner in, at least, an ECAHO National Championship or an International C-‐show, or higher level, on or before the date of the closure of the entries of the actual show, and in 2015, 2016 or 2017, unless the horse has passed from a junior to a senior

Has been awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Title in, at least, an ECAHO National Championship or an International C-‐show, or higher level, on or before the date of the closure of the entries of the actual show, and in 2014, 2015 or 2016, unless the horse has passed from a junior to a senior
- Has been awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Title in, at least, an ECAHO A or Title-‐show, or equivalent

– If the horse has passed from Amateur to Experienced Amateur as defined in the ranking system below. See “Level determination”.

Horses not eligible to participate in Novice or Amateur Classes can be shown in the Experienced Amateur Classes.

Entry Restrictions for handlers:

Novice classes are open for Novice handlers. Novice means in this case non-‐professional inexperienced handlers who have never achieved a victory in a class at an ECAHO C-‐National show or

– Amateur Classes are open for novice handlers to show. Novice handlers who gain qualifying points as defined in ranking system below will have to move up to amateur-‐level. See “Level determination”.

Amateur Classes are open to all non-‐professional handlers who passed from Novice to Amateur as defined in the ranking system below. See “Level determination”.

Amateur handlers are non-‐professional handlers with some show experience, which have not shown horses against payment for a third party . Non-‐professional handlers which have won titles in an ECAHO C-‐National show shall be considered Amateur handlers. Handlers obtaining a Classwinner or Medal, in higher level shows are considered professional and excluded from participation in Amateur classes. Owners which have an ECAHO handlers-‐ permit and only have shown their own horses can participate in Amateur

The Experienced Amateur Class is open for novice/amateur handlers to Novice/amateur handlers who have gained qualifying points as defined in the ranking system below will have to move up to experienced amateur-‐level. See “Level determination.
The Experienced Amateur Class is open to non-‐professional handlers who passed from Novice/Amateur to Experienced Amateur as defined in the ranking system below. See “Level determination”.
No handler shall have been paid in any way for showing, training or producing any horse for a third

This covers only persons which are paid for training and preparing horses.( If a person on the farm is paid mainly for cleaning the stable and teaches the horse the show-‐stand in his free time, then he is considered amateur handler. -‐ “Producing” does not mean “breeding” in this sentence. “Producing” means something like “keeping, taking care of, training etc. It means people who take money for stabling and training horses for shows, competitions etc. Breeding (and selling the foals time to time) is not meant by this point. If the breeder breeds on his mare just to sell the foal, it would be described as “breeding and selling” but not producing.

Handlers keep their qualification level and their points will qualify for the following show seasons.

Method of Judging:

Halter Classes will be judged using a scoring system by 100 , full points only, in the following criteria:

Type
Head & Neck
Body& Topline
Legs
Movements
Harmony between handler and horse*
Presentation**

The total amount of points will be announced @700 and will NOT be recalculated to points @ 100

Harmony or horsemanship shows the relation/communication between handler and horse

** Technical part with harmonious standup, straight walk and correct trot without interruption, etc.

In novice and Amateur classes, horses will enter the arena in walk during the group judgement. For the individual judgement, horses will enter the arena in walk, walking to the judges, standup, walk in straight ling away from the judges and in a straight line back to the judges. The handler will trot the horse around the arena at the sign of the ringmaster.

Rules for ties in Classes & Championships:

In the event of a tie in the ranking of horses in a Halter Class or Best in Show, the higher ranking will go to the combination with the highest points for harmony. If there is still a tie , the higher place will be given to the horse with the highest points for type.

Failing a decision on either these, the preference of the “Call judge” ( appointed by ballot ) will be the tie-‐breaker.

The title of “Best Novice” will be selected amongst the Class winners of each Novice Class. The title of “Best Amateur” will be selected amongst the Class winners of each Amateur Class. The title of “Best Experienced Amateur” will be selected amongst the Class winners of each Experienced Amateur Class.

Points will be given to the nominated horses as follows:

A horse nominated by a judge for Best in Show will receive 4 points
A horse nominated by a judge for 1st runner up will receive 2 points
A horse nominated by a judge for 2nd runner up will receive 1 point

In the case of a tie, the Rules for Ties in championships will be followed. The judges will not discuss the horses.

In the event of a tie in the ranking of horses in the Liberty Classes, the higher ranking

will go to the combination with the highest points for movement. If there is still a tie , the higher place will be given to the horse with the highest points for type.

Failing a decision on either these, the preference of the “Call judge” will be the tie-‐breaker. The Call-‐ Judge will be announced before the beginning of each class.

In case of a handler qualifying with multiple horses for the Best in Show Title , the handler will have to choose one horse to show. Other horses will have to be shown by another handler from the same level or lower level

Level determination

The level of the handler will be determined by European Amateur Handler Committee at the start of the show season. In case a handler joins in later in the season, his/her level will be determined before the first participation.

Points are given according to the ranking of the individual class and are gathered by both the horse AND the handler, but not necessarily as a combination. For example: Novice handlers showing multiple horses can move up to Amateur level, while their horses stay in novice level.

Points for horses and handlers will be rewarded according to the graphic below:

1st place: 20 points

2nd place: 15 points

3th place: 10 points

4th place and up: 1 point

Additional 5 points will be awarded for the combination “Best in Show Novice”. Additional 5 points will be awarded for the combination “Best in Show Amateur”.

At the end of the show season, the total amount of points earned by the handler will determine the level of the next show season.

Handlers who have gained 80 points or more will move up one level.

Handlers who have gained 160 points or more will move up to Experienced Amateur Level.

Both horses and handlers that haven’t been shown or haven’t shown in Amateur Shows for two executive years can drop one level. Handlers can never go back to novice level after they have won any class in Amateur level or experienced

In case of discussions on the level of the horses/handlers: the valuta date of the payment confirmation ( date of transfer of entry fee on the account of the organizing committee ) after entry registration for the show is determent for the level of that show season.

All Show Organizers will forward the results, including the names of the handlers as well as the information on the horse, to the AJF Challenge vzw, within 96 hours after the closing of the show, who publishes an up-‐to-‐date record of the horses/handlers in each level. In case of discussion or doubt, participants or organizing committee shall consult with the board of EAHC( European Amateur Handler Committee ) to determine the level for an individual combination. In case of discussion, final decision will be made by this board.

General Rules of the Shows:

Officials and rules

The entry form, together with the show schedule is a contract between the show organizer and the person who signs the entry form. That person will be held responsible for the horse in case any sanctions are

By participating at a show, show organizers, judges, exhibitors, owners and handlers agree that they will unconditionally submit themselves and the persons assisting and accompanying them to the “Rules for Conduct of Shows” and, as regards veterinary matters and drug misuse, to the relevant ECAHO Veterinary Regulations and ECAHO Rules for Medication Control. The accompanying persons include e.g. trainers or persons representing the show organizer as well as assistants of any of those persons. They will accept the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Committee (DC), the Standing Disciplinary Committee (SDC) and the ECAHO Appeals Committee (EAC).

The person who has signed the entry form will be considered to be the person responsible for the horse in question. These Rules will be interpreted when necessary under the provisions of the laws of Switzerland.

Show organizers are not permitted to introduce rules which are in conflict with the EAHSC “Rules for Conduct of Shows”.

Horses must be accompanied at the show by a horse passport containing all vaccination Those horses coming from a country that does not issue a passport, must be accompanied by an official Registration document which includes a graphic description and all vaccination records. If, when a horse attends a show, it’s passport is at the Registry for any reason, then a letter from the registrar attesting to this must be provided along with a photo-‐copy of the passport, including the description and the vaccination records.

Exhibitors will declare on the entry form any actual or apparent conflict of interest with any of the judges invited for the show. Any exhibitor not declaring an existing conflict of interest will lose all entry fees and will be prevented from showing the horse.

Organizers will not accept any entries for which any actual or apparent conflict of interest with one of the appointed judges has been indicated, unless a reserve judge is available.

An actual or apparent conflict of interest may occur if a horse is judged that:

∙ is being trained or handled by a member of the judge’s family
∙ has been bought or sold by the judge either as owner or agent,
∙ is owned in whole or part by the judge or by a member of the judge’s family, or business partner in an Arab horse business venture,
∙ has been leased by the judge, at any time

∙ has been bred by the judge or is the property of a breeding organization in which the judge is or was an employee,
∙ has been regularly trained, examined or treated by the judge in a professional capacity,
∙ is the subject of an on-‐going negotiation to buy or lease, or a provisional purchase condition to which the judge is a party.

In case of doubt, the DC’s decision will prevail.

Any judge may decline to judge any horse if they consider themselves to have a conflict of interests concerning that horse.

In the show ring, all communication between judges and handlers prior to the presentation of prizes will be through the ring master.

Handlers will be neatly dressed. They may wear any costume normally worn in their country of origin.

Handlers will not wear clothes carrying any form of advertising which discloses the connection of the horse they are handling.

-‐ The judge(s) may request that the ringmaster order unruly horses to be withdrawn.

-‐ The judge(s) may request that the ringmaster ask a handler to open a horse’s mouth or pick up its feet for inspection.

-‐ Exhibits are to be judged standing, walking and trotting. Handlers who do not comply with the ring master’s instructions regarding the above may be given a Yellow/Red card by the ring master.

-‐ Horses will appear in the collecting ring no less than 10 minutes before the start of the class.

-‐Exhibits that appear late (missing the walk around the ring) will be excluded from the class.

-‐Stallions and colts aged three years and over may be shown wearing bridles and bits that are both secure and comfortable for the horse. All bridles without bits are equally to be both secure and comfortable for the horse. Any horse that is not under control will be removed from the show ring and disqualified.

Soundness

Exhibits that appear to be lame may be assessed and placed by the judges. Judges may exclude any horse so lame that assessment will inflict pain.

Disguising of Exhibits

No alteration of the basic color of the skin, coat or hooves is permitted. Hoof paints, colorless varnishes, coat dyes, glitter spray and cosmetic operations including skin grafts are forbidden. Colorless hoof oils, Vaseline or oil and white chalk used on white legs will be accepted. Artificial methods of dilating the eyes or affecting the natural action of the horse or otherwise influencing its action or behavior by oxygenating the bloodstream or by the use of weights or artificially weighted shoes, or by electrical or chemical treatment of any kind at any time before or during exhibition are forbidden.

Burns, cuts or other marks on the body of any exhibit in such places or positions as to indicate that prohibited methods have been used will be regarded as full and adequate grounds for exclusion of any exhibit from competition, at the discretion of the DC with veterinary advice.

In halter classes horses may be fully or partly body-‐clipped, subject to eyelashes being left uncut, hair inside the ears left unshaved and tactile hair left intact around the nose, muzzle and the eyes. Horses not fulfilling these criteria will not be allowed to “Balding” is not encouraged.
1. No equipment intended to alter the natural appearance of the horse is permitted in the stables, including neck sweats, neck collars, tail racks, hobbles or Anyone using such equipment on the showground may be suspended by the DC for the period of the show.

Cruelty

Excessive whipping or shanking, excessive stimulation by noise, excessive circling of the horse, intimidation, use of electric shock devices and infliction of pain by any means are forbidden in all parts of the showground or stable areas, at all times. The above actions will be sanctioned.

Judges

Judges must be selected from the EAHSC A and B lists of judges or from the judges’ panel of a National Arab Horse Organization

Disciplinary Committee

A minimum of one member is required, to be chosen from the EAHSC lists

of members of the Disciplinary Committee and being able to speak the local language. If there are more than two DCs, the majority should be from the EAHSC list of DCs.

Amateur classes are not qualifiers for Title or A Shows.

Pleasure Classes

Pleasure Classes organized according to the ECAHO Green Book 2016, can be included in the ECAHO “High Point Horse System”. Invitation with preliminary timetable , entry conditions and list of minimum 2 Judges need to be approved by ECAHO Sport Commission. Use the official affiliation form for this !!!

Novice Pleasure Classes are open for horses and riders who never rode in an Advanced (A) or Master

level in ECAHO-‐recognized competition.

Advanced Pleasure Classes are open to all riders and horses, no matter the level.

Classic Pleasure and Western Pleasure can be joined together in case of less than 3 participants per class. In this case separate rankings will be respected for each discipline.

Different levels can be joined together in case of less than 3 participants per level. In this case separate rankings will be respected for each level.

Arabian Part Bred and Anglo Arabian horses can participate in these classes in a separate ranking. ECAHO does not include these horses in the “High Point Horse System”.

In hand/ridden Trail Classes

In hand and ridden trail classes will be organized. Material can be provided on request.

The organizer will communicate the used pattern to all participants of these classes. Rules for pleasure and trail classes, novice Lille , April, 23rd & 24th 2016

Addendum :

Pleasure and trail classes follow the Ecaho Green book, all supported by information on the judging manual, please find all info here : http://www.ecaho.org/index.php/sports-‐a-‐results-‐mainmenu-‐115/rules-‐regulations-‐1 and http://www.ecaho.org/images/pdf/2015/Judges_Manual_2nd_edition_w.pdf

Extra info for novice classes in this sport disciplines:

In all classes, for safety reasons, a novice rider is allowed to wear a ( FEI approved ) helmet instead of a western hat !!!

Western pleasure (Ecaho, EAHSpSC affiliated ): we follow the green book, only 1exception: Horses no matter their age can be ridden with a snaffle bit on 2

1. Classic pleasures (Ecaho, EAHSpSC affiliated ): no exceptions to the official rules
2. Hunter pleasure (Ecaho, EAHSpSC affiliated ): riders are advised ( for their own benefit ) to use a hunter saddle, but a classical dressage saddle will be allowed. Note : in higher levels this will NOT be accepted
3. Trail ridden (Ecaho, EAHSpSC affiliated ): preferably a full western outfit and tack will be used, including hat or helmet. Horses no matter their age can be ridden with a snaffle bit on 2 hands. Full English outfit and matching tack will be accepted. NO Whips allowed !!!
4. Trail in hand:: COSTUME: preferably a full western outfit and tack will be used, including hat or helmet ( no saddle, no bit ), with a Leather show halter. Chain allowed, No whips allowed .

The handler can also decide to wear a full English riding outfit including boots and cap, or a normal in hand show outfit . In this case horses can be presented in a clean leather stable halter or in a Arabian Show halter, preferably with a leather lead . Chain allowed, No bit and/or whips allowed. Note: Touching the horse is NOT allowed, not even to reward the horse, until you left the ring !!!!