Saskatchewan Reined Cowhorse Association (SRCHA) Rule Book

I N D EX

These pages are divided into sections. Articles 1 to 12 are in sequence in one section, below. Just scroll down the page to read Articles 1 through 12.

Use the colored Link to go directly to the other sections.

 

Article I           Instruction To Riders

Article 2          Eligibility                                                                    

Article 3          Judges                                                                          

Article 4          Membership                                                                

Article 5          Year End Standings                                                     

Article 6          Definitions                                                                  

Article 7          Classes

                        - Ranch Cutting                                                           

                        - Working Cow Horse                                                 

                        - Reining                                                                     

Article 8          Show Approval                                                           

Article 9          Payment of Monies At A

                          Contest                                                                     

Article 10        Disciplinary Rules And

                           Procedures                                                               

Article 11        Animal Abuse                                                              

Article 12        SRCHA Policies                                                          

Article 13        Working Cow Horse (click this colored link to open)

A.       Appointments and

         Equipment                                                         

                        B.     Broken Equipment                                              

                        C.     Scoring                                                                

D.       Fence Work – Rules for

        Judging                                                                

E.       Fence Work Penalty

         Points                                                                

F.        Reined Work – Rules

         for Judging                                                         

G.       Reined Work Penalty

         Points                                                                

Buckaroo, Rookie,Youth Working Cow Horse Patterns                      

NRCHA Working Cow Horse Patterns                                                

Article 14        Reining

                        A.    Appointments                                                     

                        B.     Scoring                                                                

NRHA Patterns       

Article 15        Cutting

                        A.    Appointments                                                     

B.       Guidelines to Consider

         When Judging                                                     

                        C.     Scoring                                                                

                        D.    Cutting Summary                                                

E. Instructions to

    Contestants                                                                                                

Saskatchewan Reined Cowhorse Association

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS

2004

 

ARTICLE I

I N S T R U C T I O N   T O   R I D E R S

          Prior to start of each discipline, a judge should give all riders instruction of work patterns to be followed and answer any relevant questions.  At this time, the judge shall introduce to the exhibitors the SRCHA representative who will be checking their equipment.  Judges should note that spurs and/or romal shall not be used forward of the cinch.  Particular attention should be paid to the hands of the riders, because a light hand is paramount to becoming a good showman of stock horses.  A rider shall make an honest effort to comply with the judge's instructions.

 

ARTICLE 2

E L I G I B I L I T Y

          Horses must be of sound sight, wind and limb to be judged.  Stallions, mares, and geldings of any breed are eligible without discrimination, except in Youth classes where stallions may not be allowed, at the discretion of the show committee.

 

ARTICLE 3

J U D G E S

          Annually, beginning in 2004, the Board of Directors shall compile and review a list of individuals that are approved by it to act as judges in the events approved by the Association.  Individuals may be added or removed from the approved list of judges in the manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.  Designation as an approved judge is a privilege, not a right, bestowed by the Board of Directors, according to procedures formulated by the Board.  This privilege shall be open to individuals whose equine experience and expertise, as well as personal character, merits the honor.  An individual’s conduct as a member, exhibitor, and judge, and his/her ability must be exemplary.  An individual’s conduct will be subjected to continuous Board review.  An application to be a judge may be obtained by request to the Office.

          After a judge has accepted a judging assignment, exhibitors shall not contact, not attempt to contact the judge pertaining to his judging of any horses at that show.  Further, exhibitors shall not approach a judge for any reason prior to the completion of the judging unless the show official is present.  Any request to speak to a judge must be made through the show official.  No exhibitor will visit or socialize with a judge the day prior to or the day of the contest. 

 

When an exhibitor makes a request through the show official for the judge's opinion concerning the exhibitor's horse, it is urged that the judge will give his opinion courteously and sincerely in the presence of the show official; however, there will be no fraternization between the exhibitor and a judge during the show.

          A judge may order any person or horse from the competition for bad conduct of one or both or may disqualify any contestant for excessive abuse of the horse.

          A judge, at his discretion, may refuse entry into the arena or remove an entry from a class for improper attire and/or equipment.

          To make a formal complaint against an SRCHA approved judge, such complaint must be in writing, signed by the complainant, and contain specific facts giving rise to the complaint, and be received by the Association within a reasonable time from the date of occurrence.  Any complaint or protest must be accompanied by a $25.00 non-refundable fee.  By filing this complaint, the complainant may have to attend a hearing conducted with the Association.

ARTICLE 4

M E M B E R S H I P

Membership applications will be available at shows and on-line, or from the SRCHA Office. To show at an SRCHA approved show and qualify for year end points, all riders must be members in good standing before competing.

Non-members, upon entering, must be prepared to justify their rider status upon inquiry by any board member. 

ARTICLE 5

Y E A R   E N D   S T A N D I N G S

          The show season shall run on the calendar year.

          During a show season, points will be awarded to horses for their placings in any approved SRCHA "Open" class. During a show season, points in all other classes will be awarded to horse and rider combinations for their placings in any approved SRCHA class. Points will be awarded from one (1) to four (4) - the first place horse receiving the higher number.

First place – 4 points; second place – 3 points; third place – 2 points; and fourth place – 1 point.

          This pertains to all divisions.  A cumulative tabulation of all points earned by all riders/horses during the show season shall be kept at the Office.  Said tabulation shall be published in the current SRCHA publication.

          If there is a tie for a placing in the points for year-end standings, the horse and/or rider with the highest money earned shall be the winner.

The SRCHA shall keep records of points and money earned, in order to eventually use the $250, $1000, $2000, $5000, $10000, and $25000 Limit Categories.

         

 

To qualify for year end points, all riders and owners must be members in good standing. Horses that have been leased do not require the owners to become SRCHA members in order to qualify for year end points; however, a copy of the Lease Agreement must be presented to the SRCHA office prior to the show in order for year end points to be accumulated.

ARTICLE 6

D E F I N I T I O N S

A.    OPEN                              Any rider may show in this class. Points go to horse.

B.    JUNIOR HORSE

        Open to any rider and all horses which are either 3 or 4 years old (as of Jan.1 of the current year) Horses must be shown in legal equipment as described. Points go to the horse.

C.    BUCKAROO

        ENTRY LEVEL CLASS.  Riders must have never competed in any Horse Show in their lifetime. Riders are eligible to enter this division for one show season only, and will move to the Rookie Division the following year. Points go to horse/rider combination.

D.    ROOKIE

Riders may not be professional reining, cowhorse or cutting horse trainers, and may not have earned more than 50 points in SRCHA Shows. If the rider’s point earnings are below 51 points at the start of the show season, the rider is eligible for the Rookie Division through-out that show season. Points go to horse/rider combination. Once a rider has achieved 51 points on any horse, they will move into the Novice Division.

E.    NOVICE

Riders who have earned 51 to 150 points in SRCHA Shows, and who are not professional reining, cowhorse or cutting trainers. If the rider’s points are below 151 points at the start of the show season, the rider is eligible for the Novice Division through-out that show season.

Points go to horse/rider combination. Once a rider has achieved 151 points on any horse, they will move into the Open Division.

F.     YOUTH

Any rider who is eighteen (18) years of age or younger, as of January 1 of the current year.  A youth rider may compete in any other class he/she so chooses provided that his/her lifetime points or earnings do not exceed the limit of the class.  Dollars earned in youth competition count towards lifetime earnings.

 

ARTICLE 7  C L A S S E S

A.    RANCH CUTTING – Open, Junior Horse, Rookie, Novice &

Youth  (not offered for Buckaroo)

Open to any breed or age of horse, except in Junior Horse which must be 3 or 4 years old.  Horses to be judged in the manner prescribed in Article 15

B.    OPEN, JUNIOR & NOVICE WORKING COW HORSE

        Horses to be judged in the manner prescribed in Article 8.  Horses five (5) years of age and under may be shown in the snaffle bit, hackamore or bridle.  Horses six (6) years of age and up must be shown in a bridle. The Junior Horse Division is open to 3 and 4 year old horses, only.  For riders using a snaffle bit or hackamore, two (2) hands are required.  For riders using a bridle, one (1) hand is required.  Romal reins are recommended for Open and Novice, held in the thumb up position; no fingers between the reins and hands must not be changed.  Two rein equipment is legal for any rider and any horse not shown in the bridle down the fence at any judged reined cow horse event prior to January 1 of the given year. The riders must use one (1) hand on the reins.  Any number of fingers between the reins will be permitted.  Horses may only be shown one year in this equipment.

C.    BUCKAROO,  ROOKIE & YOUTH WORKING COW HORSE

        The purpose of these classes is to encourage new competitors to experience the cow horse class.  Riders may use one (1) or two (2) hands but once work is started, the rider must maintain their chosen hand position until work is completed.  Legal western tack is recommended and legal western dress is required, chaps are optional.  The rider may use any legal NRHA/NRCHA approved bit with a flat leather chin-strap at least 1/2 inch wide.  Buckaroos are those riders who have never shown before and are eligible for this Division for one show season only. Rookie riders are those with less than 51 SRCHA Show points.

D.    OPEN, JUNIOR HORSE, NOVICE, ROOKIE AND YOUTH REINING (not offered for BUCKAROO)

        Open to any breed or age horse, except Junior Horse which shall be 3 or 4 years old.  Horses under six (6) years of age may be shown in the snaffle bit, hackamore or bridle.  Horses six (6) years of age and over must be shown in a bridle.  For riders using a snaffle bit or hackamore, this is a two (2) handed class.  For riders using a bridle, only one (1) hand may be used on the reins and hands must not be changed. 

NOTE: Show Management has the option of selecting either NRHA or NRCHA reining patterns and rules as described in this book, for use in the Reining Class in any Division. Show Management has the option of running the Reining Class and the Working Cowhorse Dry Work concurrently in any Division. All patterns must be posted by Show Management well prior to the class.

 

 

ARTICLE 8

S H O W   A P P R O V A L

          Any show committee or event seeking approval by this Association must comply with numerous criteria.  Classes offered as described in this Rule Book must follow these rules; Show hosts must describe in detail the entry fees and prize payout models they will use; and full show results and cash prizes awarded must be provided in a timely fashion to the SRCHA Office.

ARTICLE 9

P A Y M E N T   O F   M O N E Y S   A T   C O N T E S T

          SRCHA approved shows will pay back to the contestants the total of the add back plus the total added purse, if any.  The contestants will be paid from this pool on a percentage basis as prescribed by the individual show host. NOTE: each SRCHA-approved show shall conduct it’s own prize money pay-outs in the manner they prescribe to the SRCHA.

ARTICLE 10

D I S C I P L I N A R Y   R U L E S   A N D   P R O C E D U R E S

A.      APPLICATIONS

          The provisions of these disciplinary rules and procedures shall apply at any recognized show of the SRCHA to the following persons: owner, exhibitor, agent, trainer, manager, rider, parent of any exhibitor, or member of the family or employee of any of the aforementioned or any individual member of the Saskatchewan Reined Cow Horse Association.

B.      VIOLATIONS

        A violation is an act done by or at the discretion of those enumerated in paragraph A which, consists of any of the following:

1.     The misrepresentation of the eligibility of a horse to participate in any class either because of its age and/or experience in the snaffle bit and/or hackamore and/or bridle.

2.     The misrepresentation of one's professional or limit status.

3.     Physically assaulting any judge or other person enumerated in paragraph A during the course of the recognized show.

4.     Making any remark to a judge or other person enumerated in paragraph A during or after the show, which is of a threatening or abusive or unsportsmanlike character either orally or in writing.

5.     While in the arena any exhibitor after showing before the judge or judges makes any obscene gesture to or for the benefit of the judge or judges.

6.     Abusing or mistreating in any fashion a horse while on the grounds of any SRCHA approved show, either before, during or after the event.

7.     Any person who does not pay bills or fees due to the SRCHA or any approved show.

 

C.      PENALTIES

          Any person enumerated in paragraph A who has been found to have been in violation of any of the acts enumerated in paragraph B shall be subject to the following penalties:

          Suspension.  Any person found to have been the subject of a violation set forth in paragraph B may be suspended from exhibiting or having exhibited for him/her any of his/her horses in any show approved by the SRCHA.  Any such suspended person is forbidden for the time specified in the period of suspension to hold or exercise office in the Association, and will be published in the Association's publication.

          There may be a suspension for any period, of the horse or horses owned by the person violating the matters set forth in paragraph B.

 

ARTICLE 11

A N I M A L   A B U S E

Inhumane treatment or abuse of a horse in any manner in the show arena or on the show grounds is prohibited.

A.    If show management, judge, or Board Directors at any SRCHA approved or sponsored event discovers inhumane treatment or abuse of a horse, he/she may immediately bar the responsible party and horse from further competition in the event.  The SRCHA office must be notified within seven (7) days of the closing date of the show involved, and the complaint will be referred to the Board of Directors for investigation and consideration.

B.     Inhumane treatment is the exhibition of a crippled or injured horse, or a horse with any other health abnormality, which could thereby result in the horse's undue discomfort or distress.  The decision of show management, judge or Board Director as to inhumane treatment should be based upon consultation with a veterinarian.  If show management, judge, or Board Director determines, in their sole discretion, that the welfare of the horse requires immediate action, and a veterinarian is not available, show management, judge, or Board Director may implement any action allowed by this rule.

C.     Abuse includes excessive jerking, spurring, whipping and any other act intended to cause trauma or injury to a horse.  Any act of abuse, or intent to abuse a horse, in the show arena or on the show grounds which could also potentially endanger the safety of other persons or animals will be dealt with in the strongest possible manner as provided in Article IX, Disciplinary Rules And Procedures, item C.

D.    Administration of drugs while on the show grounds, including show arena and practice area, is strictly prohibited unless administered in a lifesaving situation.  Such an instance must be reported to show management.  The decision of show management or Board Director as to lifesaving treatment should be based upon consultation with a veterinarian.  Show management shall disqualify and/or refuse entry to any contestant and/or owner for violation of this rule.

 

ARTICLE 12

S R C H A   P O L I C I E S

A.      MISSING ORDER OF GO

        The competitor will fall to the bottom of the herd or draw.

B.     HORSE DRAWS BACK TO BACK BETWEEN CLASSES

        The competitor may choose to request a change of order by contacting the SRCHA Director In Charge and the show office.  Every attempt will be made to notify the competitors involved.  If a change is agreed upon, the competitor will drop to the bottom of the herd or draw.

C.     LONE OR SINGLE ENTRIES IN A CLASS

        Where possible the competitor will be notified after the official entry close date, or time – in the case of entries taken at the Show. The competitor has the choice of staying in the classes as entered, or moving to an alternate class without penalty.  If the draw has been done in the alternate class, the office has the following draw options:  in cutting moving the entry to the bottom of the herd; in working cow horse moving the entry to the bottom of the draw; in reining moving the entry to the top of the draw; or in any discipline, dropping the entry in as a sub-entry.

 

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