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TO HOME PAGEThis page should help all our competitors that are taking part in a USA-UK run class or show. These rules apply equally to any breed showing under our rules, as well as to all Saddlebreds showing under our rules. If you have any specific queries or questions about show rules, please email USA-UK.
USA-UK SHOW RULES
General Rules – applies to all exhibitors.
1.
All horses to enter at trot on the left rein, including in hand.
2.
All classes open to both pure and partbreds, unless otherwise specified in the
schedule.
3.
Partbreds must be at least 25%.
4.
Horses must be registered with an appropriate breed society (where applicable).
5.
No individual show required in performance classes, unless otherwise stated in
the schedule.
6.
Jog or corto may be substituted for trot and lope or largo may be substituted
for canter in any ridden class, unless the schedule specifies that trot and
canter are required.
7.
Training devices (martingales etc.) may not be worn in any class, unless the
schedule states otherwise.
8.
Colts 2 years & over must be bitted. All horses over the age of 3 must be
bitted. Stallions may not be shown by anyone under the age of 18 years of age.
9.
Freeze marks, shoe branding and other kinds of security marks will, in no way,
be discriminated against in the judging of any class.
10.
Anyone seen by the Show Committee or Show Stewards to be acting, on a
showground, in a way that appears cruel or unacceptably severe will be referred
to the USA-UK Board. Anyone seen by to be acting in an unacceptable way in the
ring, or wilfully interfering with other competitors or horses shall be referred
to the USA-UK Board. The maximum length of whips for use in in-hand classes
shall not exceed 1.8m (6 ft) overall, including lash. All entrants to harness
classes must be accompanied from their designated stabling area to the
collecting ring and back again by both a driver and a competent header at all
times. It is strictly forbidden for a driver to stand up in a moving horse drawn
vehicle in any area of the show ground
11.
Anyone acting on the showground of a USA-UK Show or event, in such a way as
seems likely to damage the reputation of the breed or the Association, including
the use of foul or offensive language, will be notified to the USA-UK Board in a
full written report which will be considered at their next meeting
12.
The USA-UK Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring that classes are
conducted in the proper way. The USA-UK Show Committee, helped by the USA-UK
Show Steward, is charged with enforcing the rules.13.
Complaints must be made in writing within seven days to the Show Committee,
enclosing £10, and the Show Committee will refer the complaint to the Board who
will consider the matter at their next meeting. The £10 will be returned if the
USA-UK Board upholds the complaint. Whenever possible complaints will be dealt
with at the event in question.
14.
All competitors must declare their entries to that show’s secretary on arrival
at the show and at least ten minutes before the class.
15.
All competitors must present themselves on time in the ring. If the Show
Committee representative calls the two-minute gate rule anyone not in the ring
within two minutes is excluded from the class.
16.
Judges must not be told the names or pedigrees of competing horses.
17.
A judge may not have any interest in a horse that he/she is judging (including but not
limited to) as an owner, exhibitor, trainer, coach,
lessor, lessee, rider, driver, halter handler, steward, technical delegate or
manager within 3 months of the show (90
days). Individual lessons less than 1 day's duration (8 hours) or group clinics
with 6 or more persons do not count.
18. A judge may not, during a competition at which he/she is judging, be
the house guest of a person who is exhibiting or competing at such competition,
or whose family is exhibiting or competing at such competition.
19.
The organiser of a show and/or the owner of the showground may compete at the
show provided the judge is not staying with, or entertained by the said
organiser/owner previous to or during the show.
20.
A judge may not discuss with an exhibitor the purchase, sale or lease of any
horse during a competition at which he/she is officiating.
21. Disclaimer of liability - save for death or personal injury caused by
the proven negligence of the USA-UK or anyone for whom they in law responsible,
the United Saddlebred Association, nor any agent, employee or representative of
these bodies accepts any liability for any accident, loss, damage, injury or
illness to horses, owners, riders, spectators, and or any other person or
property whatsoever.
22. All exhibitors should have adequate third party insurance for
themselves and their animals.
General Class Etiquette – applies to all exhibitors.
1.
In hand horses to enter the ring at trot on the left rein and proceed to the end
of the rail where they line up nose to tail. Horses will then be pulled out for
individual inspection by the judge.
2.
Ridden horses to enter at trot on the left rein and proceed to follow the
instructions of the judge/steward/announcer. This will, generally be
trot-walk-canter. Change of rein is called for by “reverse” and is performed by
executing a demi-volte or riding across a short diagonal (riders choice). The
same gaits are executed on the right rein. In some classes other paces will be
called for – these will generally be specified in the schedule for open breed
classes.
3.
Rein-back may be asked for in the line-up in any pleasure class.
American
Saddlebred, American Breeds & Foreign Breeds specific rules.
1.
Purebred Saddlebreds should be judged separately to partbred Saddlebreds for in
hand or breeding classes
2. Performance
classes are open to both pure and partbred Saddlebreds, unless the schedule
states otherwise.
3. All
Saddlebreds must be registered in their country of origin, or with the mother
stud book, the ASHA, in America.
4.
A purebred is that as defined by USA-UK and the ASHA – proof of parentage must
be verified and the horse must be registered with either society in their
appropriate purebred stud book.
5.
All competitors must be properly dressed and turned out and with their horses in
the right tack. Dress should be as follows:
a) In Hand Classes.
Handlers must be suitably attired with the emphasis on neatness. Suitable
attire would be neat trousers (not jeans) and shirt and tie. In more formal
shows jackets may be worn.
b) Riding Classes. Saddle suits are required for all saddle seat classes. Bow
ties and top hats are only appropriate for evening wear - competitors may be
marked down if worn during the day. Hunt attire should be worn for hunt seat
classes. All Junior exhibitors (under the age of 18) must wear a secured safety
hat, with harness, conforming to the latest BHS standards at all times when
mounted, or in the show ring (including showing in hand and harness).
c) Driving classes. Gents should wear a jacket and tie and a trilby or Panama
hat, or similar. Ladies may wear a jacket and tie or a dress and hat. Gloves
must be worn. In Saddlebred Fine Harness Classes a lightweight 2 wheeled vehicle
(US type jog cart as manufactured by Jerald, Houghton or jog cart of similar
appearance) or 4-wheeled Viceroy type, should be used. Competitors may be
marked down for using any other type of vehicle.
The Steward will refuse entry to those not properly dressed.
6.
All horses will be taken as having been born on 1 January. Driving horses must
be at least two years old (i.e. in their third calendar year) and riding horses
must be at least three years old (i.e. in their fourth calendar year).
7.
Drivers must carry a whip, which may be in a whip-holder.
8.
No person under the age of 18 may show a stallion of three years or over in any
class, and no stallions are allowed in any youth class.
9.
All exhibitors taking part in any USA-UK affiliated Saddlebred Championship must
be current members of USA-UK. This does not apply to tailers or headers, but
only to the person in charge of the horse. Proof of membership (membership card)
can be requested.
10.
Class divisions
i. SADDLE SEAT –
3-Gaited Park Pleasure, 3-Gaited Show Pleasure, 3-Gaited Amateur Show Pleasure,
3-Gaited Country Pleasure. The same classes can be offered as 5-Gaited classes.
Park horse may not cross enter into Pleasure (includes western & hunter).
ii HUNTER - pleasure
iii WESTERN - pleasure
iv. FINE HARNESS
v. LIMIT: Any appropriate class may be held for limit horses or limit riders. A
limit is a horse or rider who has not come first in that division more than six
times (on the seventh win you are out of limit). Default wins (when there is
only one entry in the class) do not count. If you qualify for a championship,
this does not prejudice your limit status.
vi. NOVICE: Any appropriate class may be held for novice horses or novice
riders. A novice is a horse or rider who has not come first in that division
more than twice (on the third win you are out of novice). Default wins will not
be counted. If you qualify for a championship, this does not prejudice your
novice status
vii. MAIDEN: Any appropriate class may be held for maiden horses. A Maiden is a
horse who has never won in the type of class in which It is entered and It loses
Its maiden status as soon as it wins. A win in a maiden class does not affect
your novice status
viii. AMATEUR: Any appropriate class may be held for Amateurs. An Amateur is
generally defined as anyone under 18 years or, if over 18 years, anyone who does
not receive remuneration for working with horses.
These Show Rules should be read and interpreted in conjunction with the USA-UK Judging Standards. Rules and regulations of the venue will also apply. Where other breed or society classes are held and affiliated to the same show or class(es), then their rules and regulations will also apply.