EFFECTIVE
JANUARY 1, 2010 The
SSC Code of Conduct will be enforced at all times 1. The leadline class
will only compete in the first 2 events and will receive one participant ribbon
for the day’s events. 2. The Novice and
Beginner classes are for BEGINNER RIDERS ONLY and are for age 18 & under
and Amateur
Adult 19 & over. Please do not enter these classes if you do not
belong there. Year-end "BEGINNER" and "NOVICE" CHAMPIONS
and RESERVE CHAMPIONS are not eligible to repeat the same class the following
year. 3. BEGINNER MEANS: walk
and trot only! The rider will be disqualified if faster than the set time of 38
seconds for the cloverleaf barrels and 12 seconds for the poles (the beginner
class weaves only 3 poles up and back no extra run up and back). An average
time will be set for the 2nd pattern at every gymkhana. 4. NOVICE MEANS: walk,
trot and SLOW lope is permitted BUT if the lope is to fast the rider will be
disqualified as per the set time of 30 seconds for the cloverleaf barrels and
20 seconds for the poles (the novice class weaves up and back six poles no extra
run up and back). An average time will be set for the 2nd pattern at every
gymkhana. 5. NOVICE AMATEUR ADULT MEANS: the same as #4 above except the set time
for barrels will be 28 seconds. Also this class is based on the rider’s ability
not the horse. There are no trainers allowed in this class or any other rider
that rides in open barrel racing events such as NBHA, AW etc. 6. No running horses
through the entry/exit gates. 7. Current rider must
enter the arena within 30 seconds of being called or forfeit his/her turn. 8. Horses will be
allowed help when entering the arena as long as it is done in a safe manner. 9. At the judge's
discretion, a rider may be disqualified for horse abuse, unsportsmanlike
conduct, lack of control or unsafe situations. 10. A rider may request
that a jump be laid on the ground, adding a 5 second penalty to their time. 11. There is a 5 second
penalty for knocking over a barrel, pole or jump. 12. A maximum of 2
riders may use the same horse for age classes. (No limit in Leadline, Beginner
and Novice) 13. Time will not be
given for major tack changes, please be prepared. 14. A rider may enter more
than one horse for the day but will only collect points, ribbons and high point
or reserve on the designated point horse. This horse must be designated at the
time of entry and must be ridden in 3 or more events for the day. * NOTE: All horses other than your point horse will be
ridden in the non point horse class. 15. If you enter 2 classes or less
you will not receive points or ribbons for the day. *NOTE: YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PUT INTO THE NON POINT/2ND
HORSE CLASS AT THE $4.00 PER CLASS RATE 16. All horses (point and non point) entered in the
Speed Horse Event will collect points in the Speed Horse Event as long as you
ride each horse in all 4 events on that day. 17. One entry form per
horse is required. 18. No whipping or
spurring in front of the cinch. 19. All riders must wear
boots with a heel of ½" or greater, long pants and use a western type
saddle. 20. HELMETS: leadline,
beginner, novice 18 & under and pee wee 7 & under are required to wear
a helmet at all times while riding. All riders are highly
recommended to wear helmets for safety reasons; there are loaner helmets
available at the entry gate. 21. Leadline riders MUST
wear a helmet, leader must be16 yrs or older and leader must hold lead no more
than 2 ft from the halter. 22. In leadline classes
the horse must cross the start and finish line first. 23. No re-rides for
broken equipment or your horse falling. 24. Gymkhana Chairperson, judge or
designated person/s decision is final. This INCLUDES “standard operating procedures”. 25. No refunds once
entries are paid. Refunds will not be given due to poor weather, dropped
patterns, DQ’s or lameness. 26. If you move into a
different class and intend to carry your points you need to do so by the beginning
of the 3rd gymkhana of the year. After the 2nd gymkhana you will forfeit your
points and start with 0. 27. No Late Entries!
Entries will be cut off 15 minutes prior to start time. 28. Ties will be broken
by a run off of the affected parties present. Parties not present will default.
29. No racing in the
warm up arena or parking lot. 30. Riders must walk
their horses at all times when outside the arenas. 31. No horses allowed in
the bleacher area or around the announcer's stand. 32. The age of the rider
as of January 1st will determine the age group the rider will ride in for that
year. 33. The use of profanity
or abusive language by any contestant will result in disqualification from that
event and could result in disqualification from the entire gymkhana. 34. Any act of
discourtesy or disobedience toward any Gymkhana Official/Board or Committee
Member, in and out of the arena, will result in disqualification for the
duration of the Gymkhana. It could also result in removal from all SSC events
and activities for the remainder of the year. 35. Any grievance must
be submitted in writing before the end of the Gymkhana and may not be discussed
at the announcers stand. 36. All Horse Lovers
Park rules must be followed. 37. If a timer failure
occurs, the rider has the option of up to two re-rides. If during the first
re-ride an obstacle is knocked over, the rider may take a second re-ride. If
the second re-ride is taken, it voids the first re-ride and the rider must take
the time given during the second re-ride. When the first re-ride is successful
(no obstacles were knocked over) the rider is required to take that time and a
second re-ride is not allowed. 38. End of the day high
point tie breakers for Pee Wee and Novice classes will be the lowest total
combined points of all 3 events and a no time will count as 99.99. 39. End of the day high
point tie breakers for the age classes will be the rider with the fastest time
in an event which will be picked at the beginning of the day as our tie breaker
event. The event will always be the same event that is chosen for the speed
horse event.
Explanation of broken pattern:
A broken pattern occurs if the rider fails to complete the designated pattern
or if the rider commits any cross over (completed circle) which is not in the
specified pattern. Broken patterns often occur during the pole bending patterns
when the rider’s horse goes past one of the poles in the middle part of the
pattern. Therefore, we have used this pattern as an example to explain the
right way and the wrong way to correct the pattern, and to illustrate what
determines an "illegal crossover". We have included a diagram with
these rules and also this information is posted on the web site. Diagram # 1
illustrates the proper pattern. Diagram # 2 illustrates a rider who has gone
past a pole but corrects the pattern in the proper manner and does not commit
an illegal crossover. Diagram # 3 illustrates a rider who has gone past a pole
and while trying to correct the pattern turns the horse in the wrong direction
causing the horse to complete an additional turn that is not specified in the
pattern. To explain this further, please note that each designated circle or
crossover is highlighted in red on diagram number one, for a total of 4 legal
crossovers. In diagram two, although the rider went past the pole, it was
corrected in a manner which maintained the "legal" 4 crossovers. In
diagram number three the rider turned the horse in a manner which caused the
horse to complete an additional turn and you will be able to count
"5" crossovers........hence, a broken pattern.
We use this method so that a broken pattern can be easily defined by everyone.
The judge or participants can simply retrace the rider’s steps and simply count
the number of crossovers that were executed. This method is no different than
if you were running the clover leaf barrel pattern and completed four circles
rather than the legal three circles (either by circling a barrel twice, or
allowing the horse to complete a turn in front of or past a barrel). Also,
please note that in patterns where there are no circles in the pattern, such as
the "streaking poles" or "flag race", (which is run in a
horse shoe shape), if the rider goes past an obstacle they must again correct
the pattern in a manner which does not allow the horse to complete a full
circle..........once an illegal turn is completed, a no time will be given. We
want to make sure that everyone is able to understand the broken pattern rule,
so please feel free to contact a gymkhana committee member if you have any
questions.
