F A Q

1. This show is to be operated and show strict adherence to the rules of the International Judges Association.

a. The International Judges Association (IJA) was created in 1998 by Friends of Sound Horses, Inc. to provide fair, sound and natural judging standards for all Gaited Horses. To level the playing field for horses not altered or trained through mechanical intervention and bring back the pride of showing horses that develop their God-given talent through classical training and honest effort.

d. Any rules questions not answered or unclear, please contact your Breed Representative or email Dianne Little, FOSH Vice-president and IJA director of Judging ddlittle@telusplanet.net

2. Entries must be prepaid and received by September 30^th in order to qualify for the discount. Please make all checks payable to “GWHA” and mail to Sandy McCart, 1444 Talmage-Mayo Rd, Harrodsburg, KY 40330

3. Pre-entries for Dressage classes should be made before the end of business on October 7^th through pre-registration so that test times may be assigned for scheduling.

4. All entries must be paid by cash, good personal check, cashier’s check or money order. An “open” check may be left on file with the show office to cover any and all outstanding balances, prior to beginning exhibitions. Said check must be closed out at the end of exhibition before leaving the show or our office will have authority to complete the “open” check for any balances we calculate as due. A $50 fee will be assessed on any checks returned for insufficient funds.

5. An official “entry form” must be completed and signed for each horse before exhibition. Form should include official registered name of horse and current owner of record, trainer (if applicable) and each rider to show that horse.

6. TWH cross-enter restrictions for this North American Pleasure Gaited Horse Championships: Please choose a category for each horse in these following circumstances:

a. Amateur vs. Amateur Owned, Trained and Ridden (A.O.T.R.) at the championship and grand-championship levels

7. Each horse must have a current negative coggins, and every horse transported from outside the state of Missouri should be accompanied by a Health Certificate certifying examination by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days or less. It is recommended that all horses be vaccinated for common influenza, strangles, EHV types 1 and 4, and rabies before coming to participate. Consult your veterinarian for further recommended vaccinations.

a. The barn manager will assign stalls based on both receipt of entries and gender of horses to be arriving. Please note any horses with special stalling needs such as stallions or mares with foals.

b. Please note on the entry form any request for stalling with other exhibitors. Our show management will make every effort to accommodate those desires within the limitations of our barns. Stall assignments may NOT be changed without the prior consent of show management.

c. Exhibitors will be charged additional for each designated “tack” stall containing bedding or manure.

d. All exhibiting horses are required to have a stall… no “jumps outs” allowed.

9. Shavings may be brought with you or purchased from Smithton Industries (local vendor) at 606-343-1140, Hours: 7am - 9pm CST, at a cost of $8.00/bag. Please contact Smithton Industries to order your shavings for the show. Let Smithton know your approximate arrival time and stall location and they will meet you with your shavings.

10. Camp sites with RV hookups are available on the fairgrounds through show management at a cost of $20 per night. Camp sites will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.

11. The Missouri State Fair is a Wi-Fi Zone. Sponsors, vendors, concessionaires and campers can call I-Land Internet Services at 1-800-526-8302 for High Speed Internet access during your stay at the Missouri State Fair. High Speed Access: $6 daily access, $24 5-day access and $42, 12-day access.

12. Dogs are not permitted within the Coliseum or horse barns of the Missouri Fair Grounds. They should remain in your RV or hotel room or be accompanied on a leash at all times on the grounds. Any unrestrained or unaccompanied canines will be removed to the care of local humane society.

a. Entries or stall fees may be refunded upon presentation of a veterinary certificate received by the show management before October 15^th, stating why the horse is physically unable to compete. All other office and DQP fees will be forfeit in all instances. Fees may be applied to another horse with prior consent of show management.

14. Cancellations more than 7 days before the show are 100% refund on all fees. Within 7 days of the show 50%. No refunds on scratches unless accompanied by a veterinarian certificate.

15. DQP Inspections: This show is for SOUND HORSES ONLY. Any horses deemed lame or sored will be disqualified from competition, no questions asked, and will forfeit all show fees. ALL GAITED HORSES (with the exception of ASB, Peruvian, Paso Fino or Icelandic’s) MUST REPORT TO THE DQP FOR INSPECTION PRIOR TO EVERY CLASS AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER WINNING FIRST PLACE IN ANY CLASS, as required by FOSH and IJA inspection services.

16. No plastic wrap, hoof bands, action devices or full blinders will be allowed on the show grounds at any time. No pads or stacks (with the exception of therapeutic pads with prior authorization and accompanied by a veterinarian’s statement) will be allowed on the show grounds. Leg wraps i.e. bell boots, splint boots, and polo wraps are allowed only in specific versatility events.

17. Shoeing specifics: Limited toe length: for all horses- maximum toes of 4 ½ inches as measured anterior, from coronary to ground (including the shoe). Maximum shoeing:

a. Handmade “Lite” shoes: 3/8 X 3/4 inches. Maximum of 1 inch turn back, no kick outs or trailers on back. These shoes are allowed in Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, Trail Pleasure and Country Pleasure divisions. Not allowed in Working Trail Pleasure, Ranch Horse, Authentic Gaits or TWH Heritage Horse classes.

b. Keg shoes: no turn backs, no caulks, no added weight for toe clips and limited use of borium or drill-tech (allowed in all divisions the same as barefoot)

18. No persons who are serving a USDA disqualification or HIO suspension may transport, warm-up or exhibit horses at this show, and may only be on the show grounds as a spectator.

19. All entries must have entered, paid, shown and been judged in a qualifying class to participate in the related championship or grand-championship class

20. . JUDGE’S AUTHORITY: The Judge shall have the authority to place any horse in whatever position in a class he thinks the merit of the horse justifies. All Judges’ decisions are final.

21. Show management reserves the right to decline entry to any exhibitor and/or horse, and the right to order off the grounds any exhibitor or horse, without compensation.

22. Dressage Introductory test #4 will be used for class #120 and Dressage test “2 Gait Test E” shall be used for class #121.

23. Trail Obstacle and Extreme Obstacle Challenge patterns will be posted in the office and on this website as soon as possible.

In an attempt to bring gaited horse showing back into the main-stream of equestrian sports, some of the rules may seem a little different from "traditional" gaited shows you're been to.

B. Tack: English, Western or Breed Specific tack but NO mixed tack and attire. ( breed specific attire acceptable in all OGB classes )

b. Curb straps are western and buckle on; curb chains are English and attach with hooks

d. Any age horse may show in a snaffle bit, non-mechanical hackamore or western bosal.

e. No gag bits allowed in Western classes (this means no Wonder bits in western).

g. Snaffle Bits - are any direct-pull, non-leverage bits. The headstall and reins attached to the same ring without obstruction at the corners of the mouthpiece. There is no fixed point of attachment (loops or fixed ring). Examples of snaffle bits: D ring (western or English), O ring, eggbutt or full-cheek.

H. Western horses are expected to neck rein with the exception of junior horses shown in snaffle bits.

TWH divisions and how are they judged:

It is important to place your horse in its correct division

o While all divisions are open to trainers, many classes are restricted by qualifiers such as Youth, Amateur and AOTR (Amateur Owned, Trained and Ridden) .

o Trail Pleasure and Country Pleasure classes will include a working walk; a.k.a trail walk or dog walk

o Purity and correctness of gait is ALWAYS paramount; animation is secondary

o Generally longer strided horses, often with evenly timed overstrides in excess of 14 inches while demonstrating a productive headnod with good reach from the shoulders.

o Correctness of gait is less important than a calm and willing attitude with a smooth and ground-covering ride…

o Horses should move on a looser rein with willing compliance (Loose being defined as “observable slack in the rein”)

o More natural and relaxed head carriage that enables the western horse to see and negotiate obstacles

o One hand on the reins to demonstrate neck-reining (Exception: a Jr. Horse in a curbless, snaffle bit)

o Western 3 gaited classes will include the lope and may include the “Hand Gallop”. (will hand gallop in championships)

o Many western classes may require (from the lineup) horses to back clear and execute a 360º turn. This is required in all western championship and grand-championship classes.

o Amateur - Someone who does not engage in any activities that would cause him or her to be considered a professional horseman.

o A.O.T.R. - "Amateur Owned, Trained and Ridden"... a horse that is ridden and shown by an amateur owner, and who has not been professionally handled or trained in more than 120 days.

o Snaffle Bit - any curbless bit, without shanks where the reins attach in the same ring as the headstall.

o Keg Shoes - Unaltered, factory made flat shoe normally sold pre-made in kegs or cases. Any caulks are small "poured" calks, not folded back. Keg shoes normally weight around 10 - 12 oz. each.

o Youth exhibitors - persons who have not reached an 18th birthday as of the first day of the current competition year.

o Junior Horse - a horse that is 5 yrs and under as of January 1st and is eligible for Junior Horse Classes.

o See FOSH/IJA rulebook for further useful definitions.

Excerpts from the Rule Book of the International Judges Association (IJA)

• Tennessee Walking Horses are considered pleasure horses and demonstrate the qualities of a pleasure horse. They display an alert and willing attitude with no indication of nervousness or difficult behavior. They are calm, quiet, responsive, relaxed, obedient, smooth and display good manners. There is no evidence of resistance (wringing tail,

All Breeds...The working walk is a slow, even four beat walk. The head and neck are lowered as the horse stretches into the rider’s hand showing relaxation and acceptance of the bit. At the working walk the horse is calm and relaxed. There is no need for restraint on the part of the rider and there is observable slack in the reins.

• The flat walk is a bold, ground covering gait that is even and four beat.

• Each foot must both leave and strike the ground independently and be accompanied by a pronounced vertical head nod that begins in the vicinity of the shoulder and involves the whole neck and head, not just the head alone.

• The footfall sequence is left hind, left front, right hind, right front. To create the proper timing, a hind foot is always one-half stride ahead of the front foot. (When the left hind foot first hits the ground the left foreleg is half way through its stride putting the left foreleg hoof even with the right foreleg when the right foreleg is vertical.)

• The horse appears to pull with his front legs and drive from his rear legs.

• The rear legs track straight over the tracks of the front feet and must appear to move effortlessly.

• The action of the back foot stepping over the track of the front foot is known as overstride and is preferred over tracking up or capping.

• A Tennessee Walking Horse nods its head in rhythm with the cadence of its feet. This head motion, along with overstride, are important factors to be considered in judging walking horse classes.

• The flat walk is not a speed gait and should be much slower than the running walk.

• The running walk is a smooth, gliding gait with the same footfall as the flat walk but with an increase in speed and stride. Speed however, must never be tied over form.

• The gait is natural to the breed and must not appear to be artificial in execution.

• The running walk is executed freely showing “a looseness in motion”.

• The running walk should appear to be a pleasure for both horse and rider.

• The horse pulls with its front feet and drives well under itself with his hind quarters.

• The horse continues to nod its head while executing the running walk. The head nod must originate in the shoulder and continue up the neck column. A head that merely pecks or a head that remains stationary is incorrect.

• When relaxed, some Tennessee Walking Horses flop their ears or click their teeth in rhythm with the gait. Unless these actions appear to be the result of discomfort or improper biting, they will not be penalized.

• Smoothness and the appearance of a comfortable ride for the rider are essential to the proper demonstration of form.

• Judging of the flat walk and running walk will not be influenced by either speed or animation, unless the class specifically calls for animation as a required element. However, animation alone is never tied above a horse that exhibits better form and footfall but has less animation.

• There must be an observable distinction in speed between the flat and the running walk. Failure to exhibit this distinction of speed will be penalized.

• Excessive speed in the running walk resulting in a loss of form will be penalized.

• A horse that merely pecks its head rather than nods its head will be penalized.

• The canter in English classes or the lope in Western classes is smooth, collected, economical and straight on both leads. The horse is not walking behind but cantering on both ends with a three beat count and a rolling motion.

• The horse canters or lopes on the correct lead for the direction of the ring unless a counter canter is requested.

• Judges may ask for the canter or lope to be extended. The stride is increased in length rather than speed.

• A horse that is run into the rail as a means of picking up the correct canter lead or a horse that is kicked in the shoulder or in front of the girth as a canter cue will be severely penalized.

• Judges may request a hand gallop in some classes in the Western Division.

• There is an observable difference in speed and length of stride between the lope and the hand gallop

• The hand gallop is maintained on a loose rein with no attempt by the horse to break into a full run.

• Laboring associated with an artificial way of going at any gait will be severely penalized

• Horses that display an incorrect gait for the entire class will be severely penalized.

• Horses that display a tendency at times to rack, pace, fox trot or trot, or otherwise deviate from the correct gaits will be penalized.