​Miniature Horse Federation Inc.

SHOW RULES

 

 

General Rules

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1.  These rules apply to all MHF shows and events – compliance with these rules is a condition of entry.

 

2.  All exhibitors and anyone handling horses at MHF Shows must hold current MHF membership.  This is an insurance requirement.  Any handler entering the ring who does not comply with this rule will be escorted from the ring and the horse shall be disqualified from all further classes at the event.  If the horse has already competed, any awards or placings may be revoked if it is found that the handler for those classes also did not comply with this rule.  It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure all handlers are financial members of MHF.

 

3.  MHF Inc., its management committee, members or representatives will not be held responsible for any loss, damage or injury to any exhibit, exhibitor or spectator, or any loss, or damage to any property of any exhibitor or spectator whatsoever. Each exhibitor will be liable for injury that may be occasioned to any person or animal or damage to property while on the grounds by any horse owned, exhibited by, or in his/her custody/control and shall indemnity and hold harmless the Miniature Horse Federation Inc.. All exhibitors compete at their own risk.

 

4.  The judge’s decision in the ring is final. The judge may decline to give an award to any exhibit without giving a reason.

 

5.  Besides a polite greeting when approached by the judge, no exhibitor is to address the judge directly.  Any query or comment must be made through the ring steward.  Any disrespectful or intimidating behavior towards the judge or steward can and may result in the removal of the exhibitor from the show and all classes cancelled with no refund of monies paid.

 

6.  The management committee of MHF Inc. reserves the right to cancel or alter any event with no refund of monies paid.

 

7.  Any protest must be made within one hour of the incident, on an MHF Inc. protest form filled out and handed to the committee along with a protest fee of fifty dollars.  If the protest is investigated and denied by the Committee, the protest fee shall be forfeited.  If the protest is upheld the protest fee shall be returned to the protestor.

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8.  The management committee of MHF Inc. can and may request the removal from the ground any person behaving in an abusive, offensive, or dangerous manner to another person, and in the opinion of the Management Committee of MHF Inc. mistreating any horse, or any horse behaving in a dangerous or aggressive manner.

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9.  All horses must always be under adequate control by a competent person.  All colts and all stallions must be handled by a competent person of at least 18 years of age on the day of the show. Proof of age of the handler must be produced on demand.

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10.  All horses must be registered with a Miniature Horse Association. Registration pending is not allowable.

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11.  Horses must be exhibited under their full registered name.  Horses exhibited under false identity or ownership will be disqualified and will be ineligible for any award.

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12.  MHF reserves the right to conduct measuring at shows.  Exhibitors will be advised in advance when measuring will be conducted.  If a horse measures over height for its class entered it may be returned for a second measurement.  If at the second measurement it still measures over height for the class entered it will either be transferred to the correct height class, or in the case of over maximum height for age, it will be ineligible to compete.

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13.  Height requirements for showing are as per MHF Constitution - Height requirements.

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14.  All exhibitors, and all exhibits entered by the exhibitor, may not compete unless all entry fees, stabling fees, catalogue fees, and camping fees are paid in full by the entry closing date.

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15.  Each exhibit will be supplied with a number which will be the same throughout the entire show. The supplied number is to be worn on the handler, either the back or the arm as directed by the show committee.

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16.  Classes will not be held up for late comers. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to ensure they are on time for all classes.

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17.  All exhibitors are to comply with the directions of the marshalling steward, the ring steward and any other MHF Inc. official at the show.

 

18.  If the following actions are witnessed or occur, the horse/s exhibited will be automatically ineligible for award for that class:

 

• If a horse has a gear change whilst IN the ring.

• If a horse becomes loose from its handler whilst competing

 

19.  MHF will not tolerate any cruelty, abuse, or inhumane treatment of any horse at a MHF event, the offender will be barred from the show area for the duration of the show without refund.  This includes but is not limited to:-

• Whip welts are apparent on the horse

• Horses with any open, bleeding, or weeping wounds

• Horses that are underweight to MHF Inc. acceptable condition score (refer to MHF condition score chart including MHF Standard of Excellence)

• Excessive use of a whip or chin chain (note whips are only allowed in harness, liberty, long reining and lungeline classes)

• Interfering with another exhibitor’s horse without permission

 

20.  The use of any drug on a horse is strictly prohibited.  This includes stimulants, depressants or irritants, or any drug affecting a horse’s performance, behavior, or temperaments, be it given by injection, orally or topically.  Penalties for positive evidence of such will include barring the exhibitor from showing and all points received at said show will be forfeited for any horses shown, owned, or trained by them.  It is a condition of entry to all MHF events that swabbing may take place.

 

21.  Placing of horse’s legs by hand is strictly prohibited.  Horses are not to be touched on the leg by hand or by any other means, unless specifically requested by the judge.

 

22.  Foals under the age of four months on the day of the show must not be shown.

 

23.  Foals over four months of age and under six months, on the day of the show, must be shown as foal at foot with their dam.  Foals must be taught to lead and be led into the ring.  They are to be shown unclipped, although they may have a small bridle path trimmed.

 

24.  A horse can only enter ONE colour class.   Judging is based on Phenotype (the way the horse looks) and not Genotype (the genetic colour of the horse). Judging is 80% colour and 20% conformation.  No workout is required for colour class.

 

25.  Horses are to be handled by the same person throughout a class. Should additional handlers be required due to multiple horses, physical limitations or emergencies, approval must be obtained from the Judge, ring steward or MHF committee.

 

26.  Halter classes are based on the horse’s age as per 1st August.

 

27.  Performance classes are determined by the age of the horse on the day of the show, by their actual birth date and are split into Junior and Senior classes: -

 

• Junior horses are horses aged 1 year or over and below 4 years as determined by their actual birth date and age of the horse on the day of the show.

• Senior horses are horses aged 4 years and over as determined by their actual birth date and age of the horse on the day of the show.

 

PRESENTATION RULES

 

These rules apply equally to all exhibits at MHF shows.

 

 

28.  Horses may be shown in natural coat, body clipped with new coat established or freshly clipped.

 

29.  Horses are not to be discriminated against for having tactile hairs intact or for having unclipped inner ears.

 

30.  Mane and tail are to be shown free flowing in halter and in-hand events.  The mane and tail may be trimmed and thinned to improve the appearance.  Switches, artificial tails, or manes are prohibited.

 

31.  Hooves are to be unshod in halter and in-hand events. Standard shoes are allowed in driven events only.

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32.  Horses must not have their faces razored back to bare skin higher than the nose band of a halter.

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33.  Excessive makeup is discouraged, it is preferred that make-up is kept to a minimum to highlight the horse’s natural beauty.

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34.  Horses that have had eyelashes removed or trimmed will be excused from the ring and will be ineligible for any award.

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35.  Horses are not to be shown with bandages or boots, except for jumping classes where protective lower leg bandages or boots may be worn.

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36.  Horses are not to be shown with decoration, including ribbons, flowers, glitter etc., the only exceptions to this rule being harness classes where horses may have ribbon braided through their mane and tail and fancy dress.

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37.  No artificial aids are permissible, including but not limited to nose or poll chains, chains or cords through the mouth or other pressure devices over the nose or poll, including under halter or bridle straps, or other pressure devices over the tongue or across the gums.

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38.  Excluding harness classes, long reining, liberty, and lungeline - hacking canes, crops or whips are prohibited.

 

39.  In halter classes colt 12 months and over and stallions must be shown in a halter with a chin chain.

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40.  In halter classes mares, fillies, geldings, and colts under 12 months of age may be shown in a halter with a chin chain or a chin strap.

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41.  No horse may compete in led classes that has had cosmetic surgery (surgery that is not required due to injury or disease) to correct a fault or improve appearance.

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42.  Horses that are underweight to MHF Inc. acceptable condition score (refer to MHF condition score chart included in MHF Standard of Excellence) will not be allowed entry to ring and will be ineligible for any award.

 

 

DRESS RULES

 

43.  Advertising of any sort on equipment or clothing in the ring is prohibited.

 

44.  In halter and performance classes handlers are to dress in a clean and neat state in good taste, suitable for the class entered.

 

45.  Handlers must be covered from shoulder to knees, and shirts must have sleeves. Bare shoulders are not acceptable ring attire. Handlers who are not suitably attired will be asked to leave the ring.

 

46.  English and Western style turnout is allowed, as are quality dress slacks/trousers or skirts.  Skirts must be to the knee or longer – miniskirts are not permitted.

 

47.  Suitable foot ware is mandatory – only boots or closed in shoes will be allowed in both the ring and marshaling area.

 

48.  At all times the exhibitor must be aware that both horse and handler are on display and present themselves in a neat, appropriate manner in order to promoted the reed in an appealing and proper manner.

 

 

RULES FOR JUDGES AND STEWARDS

 

           

49.  At no time before or during the show will the name of a horse, exhibitor or handler be made known to the judge.

 

50.  Any Judge engaged by MHF Inc. to officiate as judge must acquaint themselves with, and judge by MHF Inc ‘Standard of Excellence’ and ‘Show Rules”.

 

51.  Any Judge engaged by MHF Inc. to officiate as a judge must not have contact with owners, trainers, or exhibitors prior to, and during judging except for actual judging of a class.  Nor shall the judge have any access to the show catalogue (where names of horses and exhibitors are supplied) prior to and during judging of the show. The judge is expected to be professional in their conduct and respectful of the competitors and greet all with minimum discussion.

 

52.  A judge shall not attend a show, exhibitor’s party, or any other activity connected with a show on the day before the show at which he/she is officiating where that party or activity may cause the said judge to have contact with a breeder, owner or exhibitor entered in the following days show.

 

53.  No horse owned by a judge, or an immediate family member of the judge may be shown at a show where the judge is officiating.  No immediate family member of a judge may exhibit any horse at a show where the judge is officiating.

 

54.  No horse may be shown before a judge if sold by or trained by that judge or his/her employer within one year prior to the show. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to ensure this does not happen.

 

55.  Besides a polite greeting when approached by the judge, no exhibitor is to address the judge directly.  Any query or comment must be made through the ring steward.

 

56.  The judge is to inspect EVERY horse in the ring individually when ‘stood up’ for inspection and during its entire directed individual workout.  A judge is not to turn his/her back on any exhibit during its directed workout.

 

57.  If a judge wishes to inspect one horse for a specific reason ALL horses in the same class must be inspected the same way, e.g. Inspect the bite of one – all horses must have their bite inspected.

 

58.  A judge is not required to seek evidence of dropped testicles in colts under 3 years of age.

 

59.  No judge is to touch a horse without the handler’s permission.  If inspection requires physical contact, it is preferable that the handler executes what touch is required, if it can be done in a safe manner whilst keeping the horse under control.

 

60.  If the judge determines that any exhibit is unfit or ineligible to compete in any class, that exhibit will be excused from the ring and will be ineligible for any award.

 

61.  The ring steward is to have a copy of MHF Inc. Show Rules on their person while in the ring, and if he/she feels a horse is ineligible to be shown as per MHF Inc. Show Rules, he/she is to point this out to the judge for the judge’s final decision if an exhibit is ineligible to be shown.

 

62.  Any reputable person may act as ring steward. The steward will assist the judge, not advise, or suggest placings. The steward will refrain from discussing the horses or exhibitors with the judge.

 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

YOUTH – is a child less than 18 years of age on the day of the show.

 

HANDLER – classes are to be judged on the expertise of the handler in showing the horse.  The horse is not to be judged.

 

BEST PRESENTED – classes are to be judged on the degree of presentation of the horse and the handler. 

 

BEST HEAD – is to be judged on the horse’s head, and head to neck attachment only.  No workout is required.

 

BEST TROT – is to be judged on the horse’s action at the trot only. 

 

COLOUR CLASSES – .   Judging is based on Phenotype (the way the horse looks) and not Genotype (the genetic colour of the horse). Judging is 80% colour and 20% conformation.  No workout is required for colour class.

 

BROODMARE – is a mare which has a foal at foot, has had a foal within the previous twelve months of the day of the show, or is in foal. 

 

FOAL is a horse that has not been weaned four months of age and under six months of age.

 

WEANLING – is a horse that has been weaned over six months of age.

 

OWNERS PAIR – is two horses both registered in ownership of the same person(s). 

 

SIRES PROGENY PAIR – is two horses both sired by same sire.

 

DAMS PROGENY PAIR - is two horses both out of the same dam. 

 

SIRE OR DAM AND ONE PROGENY - is one progeny and either its sire or dam.

 

BEST MATCHED PAIR is two horses of similar appearance, related or unrelated.

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SOLID –  no white on the body, white leg markings to not extend past the knees or hocks. White facial markings to not extend past the front of the face (not beyond the line from eye to nostril) or past the top lip. 

 

DILUTE – Any coat colour that is affected by the dilute gene as in Palomino, Buckskins, Cremello, Perlino, Champagne

 

SPOTTED – Any spotted patterning.

 

BROKEN COLOUR – Any pinto or paint patterns

 

PINTALOOSA – Spotted and broken colour displayed on one horse

 

ANY OTHER COLOUR – any other colour not mentioned, eg grey, roan