2009 APHA Intercollegiate Horse Judging
Spring Sweepstakes
Will Rogers Memorial Equestrian Center
John Justin Arena
April 21, 2009
Competition to begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Rules and Guidelines

Eligibility and Entry

1. Competition is open to accredited colleges, universities and junior colleges. Contestants must be enrolled students in good standing at their respective institutions. Contestants may not be an approved judge of any national horse association.
2. Entry fees will be $125 per senior college team (includes 6 awards dinner tickets), $100 per junior team (includes 5 awards dinner tickets), and $25 per individual contestant (includes 1 awards dinner ticket). Additional awards dinner tickets may be purchased for $10 each.
3. Entries should be made online using the forms at the bottom of the page. A separate entry form must be used for team and individual contestant listings.
4. Competition will be divided between junior and senior colleges.
5. Each senior college team shall consist of four or five members. Each junior college team shall consist of three or four members. Up to two teams may be entered per school. Individuals may also be entered.
6. Changes to team entries must be made the evening prior to the contest at the Coaches' Meeting. Any changes to team listings must come from the individual contestants entered by the respective school prior to the contest. No changes may be made the morning of the contest.
7. No hats, caps or identifiable attire will be permitted during the contest, to include color coordinated blazers, jackets or shirts.
8. All entries must be received (not postmarked) no later than April 1, 2009.

Classes

1. Classes will be judged in accordance with the 2009 APHA Rule Book.
2. Ten to twelve classes will be judged. Classes to be judged include four to six halter and four to six performance classes.
3. Halter classes will be separated by age group. Depending on the availability of horses, similar age groups may be combined into a single class (i.e. 2 and 3 year mares).
4. Performance classes will be selected from the following: Trail, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Western Riding, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Hack, and Reining.
5. Two sets of halter and two sets of performance reasons will be given. Performance reasons may be chosen from any of the classes listed above. The rules and guidelines of the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association as they relate to time limits and reasons room etiquette will apply.

Contest procedures

1. All contestants will be identified by team number and group letter only.
2. Timing and conduct of classes will be conducted under the rules and guidelines of the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association. All horses will be considered sound of mouth, limb, and wind in halter and judged as they go in performance. All tack and attire will be considered legal.
3. Each class will consist of four horses. Handlers/riders will be identified with numbered vests. ***Please note: this contest runs concurrently with the APHA Judges' Examination, and six horses will be presented in each class. Judging contest contestants are to judge only horses numbered 1 through 4 and disregard horses 5 and 6.
4. While the contest is in progress, there will be NO TALKING between contestants or anyone else except as directed by the contest officials. No pagers, cell phones or other forms of communication will be allowed on any contestant. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. NO EXCEPTIONS.
5. Coaches will not have contact with their contestants at any time during the judging and reason session. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. NO EXCEPTIONS.
6. Contestants will be given placing cards for each class. Contestants must provide their own writing materials (pen or pencil) and may use clipboards, notebooks, plain paper, official APHA/NRHA score sheets, and the 2009 APHA Rulebook so long as these items are clean and free of marks. Contestants may not use horse judging manuals, texts, or lists of terms. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. NO EXCEPTIONS.
   

Scoring

1. Fifty points shall constitute a perfect score in placing the animals and fifty points shall constitute a perfect score for oral reasons.
2. On teams with a full contingent, the low score will be discarded in each category (halter, performance, reasons, overall). Otherwise, all scores will count toward the total team score.
3. Placing cards must be completed in full for a score to be tabulated. Cards with no mark, multiple marks, or illegible marks will receive a score of "0."
4. All tabulated results of the contest will be considered official and no change will be made unless an error is made in entering a score or placing by contest officials. Errors made by contestants will not be corrected once the placing card has been delivered to a contest official, including a group leader.

Results

Results will be announced during the awards dinner on Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. (Location TBD)

Awards

Suitable awards will be presented to the top ten individuals and top five teams in each division (junior college, senior college) and in each category (halter, performance, reasons, overall). Gist trophy buckles will be presented to the overall high placing junior college team and the overall high placing senior college team. The overall high placing individual in each division (junior college, senior college) will be presented a $500 scholarship.

Schedule

Wednesday, April 1, 2009--Entries Due

Monday, April 20, 2009, 6:30 p.m.,--Coaches Reception
American Paint Horse Association Headquarters
2800 Meacham Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76137

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 8 a.m.--Contest
John Justin Arena
Will Rogers Memorial Equestrian Center Fort Worth, TX

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 7 p.m.-- Awards Dinner
(Location TBD)

Individual Entry Form • Team Entry Form

Judging Contest Results 2003-2009