RULES AND REGULATIONS
Updated 09/27/11
The 2012 CHSA Finals will take place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday; August 24 -August 26, 2012 at the High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center in Old Lyme, CT. Below are the Rules and Regulations for the 2011 CHSA Finals. For more information on the CHSA Medals, click here to view the CHSA Medals Rules and Regulations page.
QUALIFICATION
Riders qualify by accumulating points in CHSA Classes held at Recognized CHSA Shows during the qualifying period. The qualifying period for the 2012 CHSA Finals runs from August 1, 2011 to Sunday, July 29, 2012. In determining the date of a competition, the day the show begins is used. Top 20 riders/horses in eligible CHSA Divisions qualify and are invited to the CHSA Finals. To be eligible each CHSA Division must have a minimum of 10 riders/horses with each having accumulated more than 25 points during the qualifying period which started August 1, 2011 adn ends on Sunday, July 29, 2012. CHSA English Pleasure riders/horses will only need 12 points to qualify, but still must have a minimum of 10 riders/horses with each having more than 12 points by the qualifying deadline. The Show Committee may, at its discretion, designate a lower minimum number of qualifying points for any given Year End Division. For the CHSA Medals – see the rules and regulations at http://www.chsafinals.com/rules-and-regulations/chsa-medals/
ELIGIBILITY
Only active CHSA members and horses with a current 2011-2012 membership are eligible to participate. If an entry is declined based on the qualifying criteria, the exhibitor shall be notified in writing, and full refund of all fees paid, less a $50 administrative fee, will be made within 30 days of the completion of the show.
QUARTER HORSE HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
The CHSA Rule Book requires that the Quarter Horse Hunter Under Saddle classes are open to horses registered with the American Quarter Horse Association and are to be shown under their full registered names with papers available for examination at anytime.
Would you please submit a copy of your horse’s AQHA registration papers for the CHSA files by July 29, 2012.
These papers may be faxed to:
George Jensen, Membership Chairman at 203-272-0142
George Jensen, Membership Chairman
195 Wildwood Drive
Cheshire, CT 06410
ENTRY FORMS
In order to reserve your place in the 2012 CHSA Finals, your completed entry form (including all signatures) and check must be mailed and received or postmarked by Friday, August 10th, 2012. Completed means filled out in its entirety including all signatures and membership numbers. An entry for an exhibitor under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
Mail entry forms and payment to:
Larry Schwartz
10 Potter Hill Drive
Guilford, CT 06437
Direct any questions to lfschwartz@chsaonline.com
PAYMENT
Payment must accompany all entries.
POST ENTRIES
Entry forms will not be accepted after the August 12th deadline or at the show. There will be no exceptions.
ENTRY FORM RECEIPT
As entry forms are received by the Show Secretary, confirmation of receipt will be posted on the CHSA website at www.chsafinals.com.
NUMBERS
Specially assigned numbers for the CHSA Finals may be picked up from the CHSA Finals Secretary before the competition begins. The Show Secretary will be available at High Hopes on Friday, August 24 – Sunday, August 26, at a time to be announced if you would like to pick up your number and information packets.
ATTIRE (USEF GR318)
1. It is the tradition of the competition ring that riders and drivers be correctly attired for the class in question, that attendants be neatly dressed and horses be properly presented.
2. It is compulsory for riders in all Hunter, Jumper and Hunt Seat Equitation classes, and Paso Fino classes, both open and breed restricted including Hunter Hack, where jumping is required and when jumping anywhere on the competition grounds to wear properly fastened protective headgear which meets or exceeds ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carries the SEI tag. It must be properly fitted with harness secured. A Show Committee must bar riders without protective headgear from entering the ring for classes in which protective headgear is required and may bar any entry or person from entering the ring if not suitably presented to appear before an audience.
3. Except as may otherwise be mandated by local law, all juniors riding in Hunter, Jumper and Hunter Seat Equitation sections, and all sub-juniors riding in the Paso Fino division, while riding anywhere on the competition grounds, must wear properly fitting protective headgear which meets or exceeds ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carries the SEI tag. Harness must be secured and properly fitted. Any rider violating this rule at any time must immediately be prohibited from further riding until such headgear is properly in place.
4. Any exhibitor may wear protective headgear (ASTM/SEI) in any division or class without penalty from the judge.
5. Except as may otherwise be mandated by local law, the Federation strongly encourages all riders, while riding anywhere on the competition grounds, to wear protective headgear with harness secured which passes or surpasses ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carries the SEI tag. It is the responsibility of the rider, or the parent or guardian or trainer of the junior exhibitor to see to it that the headgear worn complies with appropriate safety standards for protective headgear intended for equestrian use, and is properly fitted and in good condition, and the Federation, Show Committee, and Licensed Officials are not responsible for checking headgear worn for such compliance.
6. The Federation makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, about any protective headgear, and cautions riders that death or serious injury may result despite wearing such headgear as all equestrian sports involve inherent dangerous risk and as no helmet can protect against all foreseeable injuries.
7. Boots/shoes worn while riding anywhere on the competition grounds must have a distinguishable heel. (Exception: Arabian, Hackney Pony, Morgan, National Show Horse, Parade, Roadster, Saddlebred, and Saddle Seat Equitation).
AWARDS
Awards will be presented upon the completion of each final.
STALLS
Stalls will be available, more information to be provided soon.
ORDER OF GO
The “Order of Go” for the CHSA Finals Classes will be available on no later then Thursday, August 23, 2012, so that trainers and riders can better coordinate their arrival times. It will be posted on the CHSA website www.chsafinals.com; it will also be available at the CHSA Secretary’s booth and posted at the in gate.
SCRATCHES
Once entered, no horse may be withdrawn from the competition without permission of the Show Committee. Any request to scratch must be made in writing and be accompanied by a confirmation of inability to compete from a Veterinarian or a Physician in the case of a rider’s illness or injury. If approved, a full refund of class entry fees, less a $100 scratch fee will be given within 30 days after the completion of the show.
CHANGE OF HORSE OR PONY
In order to change the horse or pony being ridden in an Equitation Finals class, the CHSA Secretary must be notified at least 2 hours before the start of the class.
NON-NEGOTIABLE CHECKS
Checks returned by the bank for any reason will be assessed a penalty of $100. Upon notification of a bad check, accounts will be given 7 days to make full payment including penalty, which must be paid in certified funds, cashier’s check or money order. An account not brought current within seven days will have the entrant’s CHSA Membership put on hold and no points will accumulate until the account is paid.
DISQUALIFICATION
Any rider going into a class that they have not qualified for, or officially entered, will be fined $100 and disqualified from any further participation in the CHSA Finals.
CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION
The CHSA Show Committee reserves the right to itself to interpret all questions and conditions in regard to or arising out of, or incident to the show without claims for damages or recourse of any kind. All questions not covered in these Rules and Regulations shall be decided by the CHSA Show Committee, its decision to be final.
The CHSA Show Committee reserves to itself the right to limit or change the number of accepted entries in any class, to refuse, accept conditionally, or to cancel any entries, disqualify any riders, horses or exhibitors, prohibit exhibition of entries without any claim for damages; to change any course, to add a dotted line, to cancel any unfilled classes, or to reschedule classes, after due notice to exhibitors; to change rings or judges as the competition warrants.