NSSHA Rulebook

PR

• No ginger or any medication may be applied to the entry while it is in the ring.
• Any trainer or handler who, in the opinion of the Judge, abuses an entry with a whip or other instrument shall be excused from the class.
• If, in the opinion of the Judge, an entry poses a threat to other exhibitors by its behavior, or offers an obstacle to other exhibitors, it may be excused from competition.
• Model entries may be shown as shod for show or pleasure use, so long as they conform to USDA regulations and show in their respective classes.

Equitation Classes:  The Spotted Horse’s unique center of gravity and gaits require an equitation seat of its own.  It is characterized by balance, grace and ease as the rider sits well back on the horse with legs directly under the body to facilitate the extreme collection of the Spotted Horse.

General Rules

• Spotted Horse Equitation should come under the Equitation Division in all shows, and must be officiated by a Judge licensed in Spotted Horse Equitation.

2. Horses used in this division should be well groomed and properly tacked.
3.  All riders in Equitation classes must conform to the rules for personal appointments or be severely penalized.
4.  Equitation classes are for riders 17 years old or younger and adults 18 and over.  The age of the individual on January 1st shall be maintained throughout the entire year.

• Fall of the horse and/or rider will eliminate the entry.
• Any rider not having his mount under sufficient control shall be dismissed from the ring.
• No attendant shall be allowed in the ring except at the request of the Judge. 
• When additional tests are desired, the Judge’s instructions to the riders shall be publicly announced.  Tests should be posted one hour before show time.
• Riders should be familiar with various parts of the horse, tack and rules on Equitation.
• Unsoundness of the mount shall not penalize a rider unless it is sufficient to impair the required performance, except such unsoundness that violates the HPA and other Rules mentioned elsewhere which shall disqualify both horse and rider.
• Prize Money:  Offering of money in Equitation is forbidden, since under the rules covering international sport, a competitor accepting money prizes thereby becomes a professional. In Equitation Classes, the individual is the competitor and wins the award, whereas in other classes the horse is the competitor.
• Judges shall penalize those contestants who do not conform to proper appointment.  Appointment requirements are based on good taste, which is always in style and always correct.

 Championship Stake Classes: Championship Stake Classes are offered in all divisions, if the length of the show so allows.  To compete in Stake Classes, in all divisions the horse must have qualified in a previous like class, as noted on showbill. 4 Year Old and Older Open classes will canter, unless otherwise specified on Class Sheet or Show Bill. 

Age requirements of both the horse and rider will be listed, pertaining to particular classes.  Stake Classes are normally offered in the following divisions:

Weanling
Yearling
2 year old
3 year old
4 year old
5 year old and older (World Grand Championship at the September Show)
Country Pleasure
Trail Pleasure
Show Pleasure
Lite Shod Performance
Juvenile, 11 and under
Juvenile 12- 17
Amateur (may be further divided by age of horse)
Amateur Owned and Trained
14.2 hand and Under

At the Championship Fall Show, the Open World Grand Championship Trail Pleasure, Shod, Open World Grand Championship Show Pleasure, Open World Grand Championship Lite Shod Performance and Open World Grand Championship Open Shod Performance classes will canter in qualifying and Championship Classes.  (unless indicated otherwise on class sheet)

World Grand Championship Stake:  Saddles will be removed in this class for conformation judging.  Each exhibitor is allowed two grooms in the arena to assist him in preparing the horse for the conformation judging, and for tacking the horse back up, after judging.

Grooms shall be neat and clean, containing no advertisements.

All 3 gaits will be worked both ways of the ring prior to saddles being removed for conformation judging.  After conformation judging, 2 gaits will be worked both ways of the ring.  This is mandatory.  3 gaits to be worked is optional.

OTHER GENERAL INFORMATION

Flag Horses:  The Flag Horse at all NSSHA Shows can be any Spotted Saddle Horse. The horse is eligible to show at that night’s show.

Annual Shows:  NSSHA presents an annual Spring, Mid-Season and World Grand Championship Show.

One-night Shows:  One night, NSSHA affiliated shows are presented during the show season by sponsoring Civic and Community groups.

Retirement ceremonies:  Are available by request to the NSSHA office.

Retired Horses:  Retired horses are not permitted to compete in any class after retirement, with the exception of breeding classes such as Mare and Foal and Get of Sire, or Parade of Stallions.

Awards Banquet:  An annual awards banquet is held the last Saturday night in January at a designated location. Awards are given in all divisions, with each being titled “Horse of the Year” in the individual divisions.  Points are tallied, from all placings in said division, at all NSSHA shows during the season, and the horse with the tally of the most points is awarded the title Horse of the Year, for his division.

Outstanding Promoter Award:  Each year, at the Awards Banquet, NSSHA awards an award or trophy to one or more individuals who have contributed much to our organization during the year.  This award is decided upon by the NSSHA Board of Directors.

Advertising Award of Excellence:  This award is given to anyone securing $1000 or more in Corporate Sponsorships and will be presented with a trophy buckle at the Awards Banquet.

Distance Award:  This award is given to the person with the most miles logged in with NSSHA over the calendar year of trail riding, including dates, locations and miles.  The paperwork must be submitted by January 10 of the following year. The award will be presented at the Awards Banquet.

Supreme National Champion Award: The NSSHA offers a Supreme National Champion program for NSSHA registered horses. There are five categories in the Supreme National Champion Program.  The categories are Bronze National Champion (10 blue ribbons), Silver National Champion (25 blue ribbons), Golden National Champion (50 blue ribbons), Platinum National Champion (75 blue ribbons), and Diamond National Champion (100 blue ribbons).  The NSSHA will recognize the Supreme Champions at the Awards Banquet, which is held the last Saturday in January each year.

To obtain a title, the proceeding process must be followed:

• It is the responsibility of the owner of the horse to keep track of the history of the winning blues for your horse;
• The wins must come from affiliated or sanctioned NSSHA shows;
• The horse must be registered with NSSHA and must be living (no posthumous Supreme National Champion Awards will be presented.)
• The wins must be submitted to the NSSHA office by November 15th in order for the victory total to be confirmed and the award presented at the Annual Awards Banquet.
• The owner must keep a record of the wins by logging the following information regarding the wins – name of show, year of show and class number.  The information must be supplied to NSSHA for the victory total to be confirmed.
• Submit the form, along with a $10.00 processing fee.  A subsequent form and a $10.00 processing must be submitted for each category.  Example: if you submitted a form in 2003 for the Bronze National Champion and your horse earned 15 more blue ribbons during the 2004 show season, you must submit another form and $10.00 fee to obtain the Silver National Champion Award. 
• Forms may be obtained from the NSSHA office.

Hall of Fame:  The Spotted Saddle Horse Hall of Fame was formed to honor individuals and horses who have contributed much to the Spotted Saddle Horse Breed, and to the betterment of our organization.

The horse must be NSSHA registered and must be deceased to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.  The individual does not have to be deceased; it is our goal to honor these individuals while “they can smell the roses”.

Horses and Individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame are nominated and elected to the honor by the NSSHA Shareholders.

A photo of the horse and/or individual inducted into the Spotted Saddle Horse Hall of Fame is displayed in the NSSHA office.

Trainer of the Year Award/Professional Division:  The Trainer of the Year Award Professional Division is awarded at the annual awards banquet to the trainer who has accumulated the tally of the most points from all placings of all horses at all NSSHA shows during the show season.  Trainers must list themselves as both the trainer and exhibitor of said horse and must sign the entry sheet as trainer, to receive the points from their placings.  (In a show paying 5 places, 1st place receives 5 points, etc. and down to 5th place receiving one point.  The same example applies to shows paying 1-7 places).

Trainer of the Year/Amateur and Juvenile Divisions:  The Trainer of Year Award Amateur/Juvenile Division is awarded at the annual awards banquet to the trainer who has accumulated the tally of the most points from all the Amateur and Juvenile exhibited horses in their training program. The trainer must sign the entry sheets as the trainer of the said entry, in order to receive the points for that entry.  The overall tally of all points for all placings will be tallied for this honor, with the trainer with the highest number of points receiving the honor.

Challenge Trophies:  Challenge trophies may be awarded in any class by a stable, farm or individual.  These trophies will be retained by NSSHA after winner’s photo is made.  Each year’s winner’s name will be engraved on the trophy by NSSHA.  These trophies are on display in the NSSHA office for your viewing.

NSSHA Sales:  All entries into a National Spotted Saddle Horse Association sale must be registered NSSHA, or be registered in the identification only registry by NSSHA.  In the event, other entries are allowed to enter; the non-NSSHA registered horses are sold last.

NSSHA Journal:  The Association prints a breed Journal, which is published quarterly.  This publication carries news of horse shows, trail rides and articles and advertisement important to horse owners.  The Journal is a benefit of membership, free to paid member households, available also, by subscription to non-members. Advertising rates and subscription fees to the Journal are available from the office.  The Journal is a benefit of membership, free to paid member households.  It is also available by subscription to non-members.

 Complaints and Suggestions:  All complaints and suggestions are to be directed to the NSSHA Board of Directors, in the form of a formal letter, stating complaints and/or suggestions and all information regarding the issue being addressed.

All letters of complaint and suggestion must be dated and signed by the individual, who is presenting the issue to be resolved. All individuals who file letters of complaint and suggestion should be a current member of NSSHA and in good standing.

Letters of complaint and suggestions should be mailed to the mailing address of the association office, and will be forwarded to the attention of the NSSHA Board of Directors.  After presentation to the entire board, the individual who filed the complaint and/or suggestion will be notified, by letter, of any action taken on the issue.

DESIGNATED QUALIFIED PERSONS
(DQP’S)

ALL NSSHA SHOWS ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL HORSE SHOW COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 167
SHELBYVILLE, TN 37162