A. General Rules
1. All exhibitors are subject to the rules and regulations of the MAGEC Horse Show Committee.
3. Ribbons and /or Prizes awarded to 6th place.
4. Stallions are not allowed.
5. No Dogs allowed in Ag building
6. The judge shall have the authority to request the removal or alteration of any piece of equipment etc, which in his opinion would give a horse an unfair advantage, or which he believes is inhumane.
7. All class patterns will be posted one hour prior to the start of the class.
8. Payment of entry fees must be made at the time of entries.
9. Entry fees will only be refunded with a veterinarian’s certificate or a doctor’s note.
10. Horses must be deemed show fit. This is to be at the discretion of the show committee.
11. Any horse found to be under the influence of a prohibited drug would be expelled from the show without refund of fees.
12. The show committee will address any point not covered.
13. The MAGEC show committee is responsible for compiling the show schedule, the classes and for recording class results.
B. Conduct and Behavior
1. Any act of discourtesy or disobedience to a judge or official by the exhibitor or his family may, at the committee’s discretion, expel the exhibitor from the show, with no refund of fees.
2. Abuse or inhumane treatment of a horse by an exhibitor, his family, or coach will not be tolerated. The exhibitor will be excused from the show with no refund of fees, at the discretion of the Show Committee.
3. The judge’s decision is final in respect to any horse in competition (i.e. placing, soundness, etc.)
4. The judge will excuse any unruly horse or one whose actions endanger other exhibitors or their horses.
5. No one shall approach a judge with regard to a decision; however a question may be directed to the Show Chairperson who will then direct the question to the judge and relay the judge’s response to the questioner.
6. An exhibitor must be correctly attired for the class in question. The Show Committee or its representatives, may, at their discretion, ban any entry from entering the ring if not suitably presented.
7. Exhibitor numbers are to be worn on the exhibitors back only.
8. Any exhibitor late for a class (regardless of reason) may be denied entrance to the class.
9. Any exhibitor acting contrary to the rules and regulations or in any manner deemed improper, dishonest or unsportsmanlike will be excused from the show without refund of fees, at the discretion of the Show Committee.
C. Awards
1. Ribbons will be awarded for 1st to 6th place
2. Pee Wee and Jr. will receive prized for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as ribbons.
3. Intermediate and Sr. will receive $15 for 1st place, $10 for 2nd place and $5 for 3rd place as well as ribbons.
4. Stakes classes will be awarded 50% of the cash entry fees to 1st place rider only, no ribbons will be awarded.
5. Lead line classes will all receive 1st place ribbons.
D. Cross Classes - no cross entries between novice classes unless on a different horse.
E. Age of Riders – all riders ages are based on the age of the rider on January 1.
• Pee Wee – 8 years and under
• Jr. – 9-12
• Intermediate - 13 to 18
• Senior riders – riders 18 and above
F. Junior Horse
1. The age of a horse shall be reckoned as beginning on January 1 in the year, which it was foaled. A Junior Horse must be five (5) years of age or under on January 1st.
2. A Junior Horse may be shown in either a snaffle bit or bosal with two hands, or a shanked bit with one hand. An acceptable bit is defined as any humane western bit having a smooth egg shaped, round or oval mouthpiece being a minimum of 5/16” in diameter, measured 1” in from the cheek. An acceptable snaffle bit will be the same, but without shanks . Chinstraps are required with a snaffle bit in a western bridle. Twisted wire, wire wrapped or chain mouthpieces, gag bits, donuts and prong bits are not acceptable. Mechanical hackamores are not acceptable and bosals with metal in the noseband are not permitted.
G. Showmanship
1. Showmanship shall be judged strictly on the contestant’s ability to fit and show his horse.
2. A halter must be used for a contestant in Western attire
3. An English bridle must be used if contestant is dressed in English attire with one finger placed between the reins.
4. Chaps and spurs are not allowed.
5. Patterns will be posted one hour prior to class start.
H. English
1. Jacket (A solid colored shirt is acceptable in exchange for Jacket) jodhpurs or breeches, English boots and helmet or other approved Equestrian headgear complete with chinstrap. Light colored shirt or blouse complete with tie; stock, pin or choker with a pin must be worn. English spurs (unrowelled type) are optional. Riders must be neat and clean. Contestant’s hair should be neat and contained. Jackets maybe removed at judges’ discretion dependant on weather conditions.
2. TACK: Tack is to be clean, neat and in good working order. The saddles must be of an English type. All bridles are to have nosebands, brow bands and joined reins. English snaffles do not have a chinstrap.
Allowable equipment includes:
• Snaffles with a smooth, egg shaped, round or oval mouthpiece, with a minimum 5/16" diameter, measured 1" in from cheek piece.
• Pelhams with two reins (no converters).
• Full bridles.
• Kimberwicks.
Equipment not allowed:
• Western bits.
• Twisted wire snaffles.
• Figure “8"s, flashes or drop nosebands.
• Leg wraps or splint boots.
• Whips.
• Crops, except in Hunter Hack and must not exceed 30" in length.
ENGLISH EQUITATION: To be shown at a flat-footed walk, ordinary trot, collected (sitting trot), extended trot and easy canter. Hand gallop at the judge’s discretion. Light contact is to be maintained. Riders may be asked to do individual tasks. Contestants may be asked to rein back (back-up). Horses will be worked both ways of the arena at all gaits. The class is judged on the rider and his or her effect on the horse.
ENGLISH PLEASURE: The horse and rider are judged. Members will work on the rail in both directions at a walk, trot, canter and hand gallop. The order of gaits is not specified and may vary. Horses are to stand quietly and back readily. In judging, emphasis will be placed on the horse’s performance, manners and way of going.
COMMAND: This is an elimination class. The last horse to be eliminated is the winner. Elimination is a result of the horse refusing to do the commands in a timely manner. The commands should suit the level of the class. The finesse of the commands will be judged harder at higher levels. Backups must be straight and fluid. Elimination includes: the horse moving after the stop command, wrong leads and as a final elimination if necessary, wrong number of steps in a backup, changing gaits when uncalled for, or inability of the horse to follow any command.
6. HANDY HORSE: See western Trail
7. HUNTER HACK: Pattern will be posted. Maximum height of jumps is to be 2’6”. Double bridle (full bridles) leg wraps and/or splint boots are not allowed. Crops, not to exceed 30" in length, are permitted. An approved helmet with full harness is required. The class will be judged on form over fences, even pace, a smooth, quiet and willing performance, manners and rail work. Faults include wrong leads, excessive speed or slowness, balking, refusing, opening the mouth or being out of control. Jumping too high, too soon or too late will be penalized. Usually horses will be required to canter over at least one jump (see pattern before the class).
8. GAMBLERS CHOICE : An event where competitors choose their own course, with each fence cleared worth a given amount of points based on difficulty. The entry who accumulates the most points within a set time limit on course is the winner. Any fence knocked down is not worth any points and will not be rebuilt. Each fence can only be jumped twice. Fences may be jumped any direction.
I. Western
1. Clothes must be clean, neat and workmanlike. Riders must wear a cowboy hat or if under 18 years of age an approved equestrian helmet, long sleeved shirt, belt and cowboy boots. Pull on boots is preferred. Shirt must tuck in. Slinky shirts are permissible. Shirts with cut outs are not acceptable. Shirts with turn down collars must be closed. Mandarin and tuxedo collars are allowed. The wearing of blue jeans is acceptable, providing they are clean and in new condition. Chaps and spurs are optional. Spurs must be humane and of the western type.
2. TACK: Horses must be shown with a western saddle without tapaderos. Any suitable humane western bit, as described below, is acceptable:
• It must have a maximum overall length of 8 ½” (measured from the inside of the top ring to the pull point of the bottom ring).
• Mouthpieces must be a minimum of 5/16” measured 1” in from the cheek.
• Mouthpiece may be one, two or three pieces and should be smooth, egg shaped, round or oval.
• The port of a curb bit must not exceed 3 ½”.
Equipment not allowed includes:
• Nosebands, cross reins, draw reins, martingales, tie downs, barrel/roper reins, leg wraps, splint or skid boots.
• Twisted wire, wire wrapped or chain mouthpieces, gag bits , donuts and prong bits.
Snaffle bits and bosals are acceptable for junior horses only.
Chinstraps are required with a snaffle bit in a western bridle.
Curb straps may be either leather or chain but must be at least ½" wide and lay flat. This applies to each portion of the curb strap, combined width. (Refer to attached summary of Western Bits - Addendum #3 & 4.)
Reins must be attached to each shank.
If split reins are used:
• One finger is permitted between the reins.
• The end of the reins must fall on the same side as the rein hand.
When using romal reins:
• The rider’s hand shall be around the reins with the thumb on top and the fingers closed lightly around the reins. No fingers between the reins are allowed.
• The extension may be carried in the free hand with 16” spacing between the reining hand and the free hand holding the romal.
• The requirements for hobbles to be on a saddle when one-piece reins are used will NOT be enforced.
Horses over the age of five (Senior horses) must be shown in a shank bit, with the exception of Pee Wee and Jr riders. Those classes can be ridden with two hands regardless of bit.
Silver equipment shall not be given preference over good working equipment. Tack is to be clean and in good repair.
3. WESTERN PLEASURE: Horses are to be shown at a walk, jog and lope in both directions of the ring. Horses will be required to back easily and stand on a loose rein. Extension of any gait may be asked for. In Western Pleasure, the horse is judged more than the rider and will be judged on performance, manners and way of going.
4. WESTERN EQUITATION: Horses are to be shown at a walk, jog and lope and may be asked to back up. Participants may be required to perform an individual pattern and may be asked questions regarding horsemanship, anatomy, tack, etc. In Western Equitation, the rider will be judged more than the horse, and will be judged on seat, hands and the ability to control and show the horse. Cues and aids should not be noticed.
Riders should display a precise ride in total unison with their horse, exhibiting poise and confidence. Patterns (if required) will be posted one hour prior to class.
5. REINING: Patten class judged on precision of movements and willful guide of the horse.
6: COMMAND: This is an elimination class. The last horse to be eliminated is the winner. Elimination is a result of the horse refusing to do the commands in a timely manner. The commands should suit the level of the class. The finesse of the commands will be judged harder at higher levels. Backups must be straight and fluid. Elimination includes: the horse moving after the stop command, wrong leads and as a final elimination if necessary, wrong number of steps in a backup, changing gaits when uncalled for, or inability of the horse to follow any command.
J. Trail Horse Class
1. A horse must work over and through obstacles as directed by a predetermined course. Obstacles will not be dangerous or hazardous to a horse
2. Horses will be allowed 2 refusals or 30 seconds to attempt an obstacle and will then be asked to move on. Pee Wee and Jr riders may have help form parent with obstacles, to ensure a positive ride.
3. Horses may be required to do rail work, or may be asked to display 3 basic gaits between obstacles.
4. Once the trail class has been set, there will be no practicing.
5. Classes will consist of a minimum of 6 obstacles.
6. Mandatory obstacles include a gate, ride over logs or poles at a walk, jog or lope, and backing through markers, logs, rails etc.
7. Acceptable obstacles include the following: Slickers, bridge, mailbox, side passing, carrying an obstacle and any combination of the above items.
8. Patterns to be posted one hour prior to start of class.
K. Egg and Spoon
Each rider is given an egg and a spoon. They must balance egg on the spoon without holding it on. Riders will be asked to do different gaits, turns, reverse ect. If the egg falls off the spoon that rider is eliminated. The last rider with their egg still on the spoon is declared the winner.
L. Bareback $5.00 bill
Each rider is given a $5.00 bill to place under their thigh part of their leg while riding bareback. Judge will place the bill so everyone is equal and riders are not allowed to adjust their bill at all. Riders will be asked to do different gaits, turns, reverse ect. If the bill falls that person is eliminated. The last rider with their bill at the end is declared the winner and will receive all the $5.00 bills as their prize.