EQUISTAR RULES AND REGULATIONS
ENTRY CONSTITUTES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. EQUISTAR reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason; to accept, reject, or cancel any entry; and, to limit entries.
2. EQUISTAR reserves the right to add, cancel, or consolidate classes; and/or cancel shows at any time and for any reason. Clarification: Equistar management reserves the right to cancel shows at any time before or during a show due to extenuating circumstances such as inclement weather. Since the show lasts approximately 9 hours, weather and other circumstances can change dramatically. Shows canceled for inclement weather will not be re-scheduled. Any year end award classes that have taken place prior to canceling the show will receive points.
3. EQUISTAR reserves the final and absolute right to interpret all rules and regulations, arbitrarily settle and determine all matters, questions and differences in regard to or arising out of or connected to any Equistar show, and the right to amend or to add to these rules as it is determined necessary. Any exhibitor who violates these rules will forfeit all entry fees, privileges, premiums and awards, and EQUISTAR shall have the full power to exclude the violator from further participation in the show and/or future EQUISTAR shows.
4. The show shall be conducted in accordance with general rules of the current USEF Rule Book, to the extent that said rules do not conflict with a specific EQUISTAR rule, which shall govern. Every class offered herein which is covered by the rules and specifications of the current USEF Rule Book (English/Driving/Breed Classes), or AQHA (Western Classes), or American Driving Society (Driving) or IJA Rulebook (gaited horses) (click here for more information) and will be conducted and judged in accordance therewith. Clarification: each entry is judged to its breed standards to the best of the judge's ability. For instance, a Morgan horse showing in Western will be judged according to USEF Morgan breed standard, not AQHA standard. Equistar shows are designed to be both competitive and educational, therefore, It is an Equistar policy that entries are not disqualified unless the animal, exhibitor (or individual associated with the exhibitor) or tack present a danger. Rather, the judge will place the entry lower and inform the exhibitor as to the infraction. So, for instance, if training tack or an incorrect bit is used, the entry will be placed low and the exhibitor will be informed. It is within the absolute authority of Equistar management and the judge to implement this policy. Also, it is Equistar policy to be inclusive where possible. Donkeys and mules are permitted in any all-breed class in which they can perform the requisite gaits. Gaited horses are permitted in any all-breed class and may perform their medium gait where the trot/jog is called for- they must perform the canter/lope if required.
5. The reputation and ability of a judge is considered during the selection process. Judges may have to explain their placings. This is part of the educational process which assists exhibitors to improve their performance and breeders to improve their stock. The decisions of the judges are final. EQUISTAR accepts no responsibility for decisions of the judges. Judges have the discretion to excuse any horse that appears sored or lame.
6. Exhibitors are hereby notified that any unethical, discourteous, or unsafe act by them, their riders, drivers, handlers, grooms, trainers, invitees or agents shall disqualify their entry and the owner shall forfeit any fees or charges as well as prizes/money which he or she may have won at that show. WITHOUT BEING HELD LIABLE FOR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND, EQUISTAR shall have the full power to exclude the offending individual(s) from further participation in the show and/or future EQUISTAR shows, and to have the individual(s) removed from the grounds. THIS SHALL BE ACCEPTED AS A CONDITION OF ENTRY.
7. No competition numbers shall be released by the Show Office until the Entry Form is complete and all necessary paperwork has been provided. A signed open check or Driver's License MUST be left with the Show Office for fees accrued during the show. Please remember to close out your account before you leave the show grounds. You may pay by cash or check payable to Equistar Inc.
8. All adds, scratches, and changes should be made at the Show Office at least one class prior to the effective add, scratch, or change.
9. To be eligible for a Championship class, the horse must have entered, shown, and been judged in any class in its division or any class specified as a prerequisite. To be shown and judged in any class in which animals compete together, an animal must perform in all required gaits both ways of the ring in the original workout and must remain in the ring up to the point of the judge excusing it.
10. To be eligible for a Year End Award, the horse/rider combintation (or rider in an Equitation class) MUST show at a minimum of THREE shows during the season. In the event of a tie on points, the exhibitor who has attended the greatest number of shows will be the Year End Champion and the other will be the Reserve Champion.
11. A novice horse is a horse that has won fewer than 3 blue ribbons at any show (a show does not count if the horse was the only entry in the class); a novice rider is a rider who has won fewer than 3 blue ribbons (again, a show does not count if the rider was the only entry in the class). This is on the honor system.
12. Walk/Trot, Jog/Canter, Lope horses & riders MAY enter Walk and Trot classes and will receive ribbons at individual shows, but the same horse/rider combination will NOT be eligible for the Year End Award in the Walk and Trot/Jog Championships. They ARE eligible for Year End Awards in any pointed canter/lope classes that they have entered. But if it is a different horse/rider combination in the Walk/Trot/Jog class, then BOTH are eligible for YEA. So, for example: if rider Stephanie shows horse Patches in WT and WTC, the pair is NOT eligible for YEA in WT ... but if rider Stephanie shows Patches in WT and rider Kendall shows Patches in WTC, then both are eligible in their respective classes. This is to permit families to utilize the same horse for different riders.
13. There will be a $50 service fee charged on all returned checks. No check will be processed through the bank a second time and must be covered by a money order, cashier’s check or cash, in addition to the service fee. NO REFUNDS
14. Premiums, Prizes, Awards, and class pointing can be found at www.equistarshows.com on the awards page.
15. EQUISTAR reserves the right to use any and all photographs and films taken during any Equistar show. Exhibitor hereby agrees to EQUISTAR’s use of his/her image and likeness and that of his/her animal for publicity and advertising purposes.
16. No dogs permitted due to insurance.
17. Facility rules will be followed at all times.
18. Helmets are required. If you are 18 or over, you may make the helmet requirement optional by signing the helmet waiver on the Entry Form.