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Association Rules 
Amended - 2025

SPARTANBURG HORSEMAN’S ASSOCIATON RULES 

AMENDED 2025

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Disclaimer: In unforeseen circumstances, the current officers and Board Members reserve the right to temporarily amend the SHA rules to proceed as deemed necessary

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GENERAL

Membership: 

All exhibitors must be current members of Spartanburg Horseman’s Association subject to the conditions of Article III, Section 2 of the Bylaws.  Additionally, if an application is denied or a member expelled under the conditions of the Bylaws, all points earned shall be forfeited.  A current membership list shall be in the secretary booth at each show.  This is the responsibility of the membership chairperson.  Memberships expire on Dec 31 each show year.

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A copy of the Bylaws and Rules is available to all members.  It is the responsibility of each member to know and follow the Bylaws and Rules.

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There will be ten (10) SHA shows a year.  They will be held on the third (3rd) Saturday of each month, February through November.   No show will be held in January or December, unless deemed necessary by the Board.  The show may be postponed in the event of extremely inclement weather.  The President has the discretion to reschedule the show.  If cancelled, the park superintendent will be notified by 6:30am on the day of the show and information will be posted on the SHA website, Social Media outlets and time permitting, an email notification will be sent to those who receive the emailed newsletter.  

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Neither Spartanburg Horseman’s Association nor Croft State Park is responsible for accident or injury.

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Coggins:

South Carolina State Law requires that each participant show an original or valid copy for proof of Negative Coggin’s Test for the horse they are exhibiting (test performed within the last 12 months).  These are checked at the show booth.

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Payment:

SHA accepts cash or checks as forms of payment.  No held or open checks will be accepted during a show. If you write a bad check to SHA, you will forfeit your points for that month and will be responsible for paying the outstanding fees and penalties before you can enter another show. Bad checks will be turned over to the solicitor’s office if SHA is unable to collect.

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Age: 

Your age as of January 1 of the show year determines your age for classes: No cross entry between ages allowed.  Exhibitor can move up to the next age bracket but cannot move back down.

                  Pee Wee: Exhibitor must be 12 years of age or under on January 1

                  Youth: Exhibitor must be 13 to 18 years of age on January 1

                  Adult: Exhibitor must be 19 years of age or over on January 1

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Entries: 

Entries and scratches require notice at least one class prior to the class you are entering.  You may scratch a class and receive a refund of $2 less than the entry fee paid if show secretary is notified one class in advance.  No entry or refund once the class has begun. We adhere to a one-minute gate call.  No refunds will be given if the exhibitor fails to make the gate call for class to begin. Request for tack changes must be made two classes in advance, notify show booth of any such requests. Because of time limits imposed by Croft Park, this must be strictly enforced.

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Horse and Rider Combination must use the same number for each class. Horse/Rider combination competing for year-end awards MUST maintain the same back number throughout the entire show season.

 

All English, Western and In Hand classes follow American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) rules with the exception; Western timed events will follow National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) rules. Jumpers will follow USEF rules.  Gaited Classes will follow USEF, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA) and the American Racking Horse Breeders Association (ARHBA) rules; If any of these rules conflict with SHA rules, SHA rules will prevail.

 

Proper attire and equipment is required for showing.  It is the responsibility of each exhibitor to know what legal r attire and equipment is for the class he/she is showing in. Refer to the appropriate Rulebook.  Judge or show officials will deduct points, disqualify, or excuse an exhibitor for improper attire and/or equipment.  Per SHA rules no shorts, cutoffs, halter-tops, tank tops, tennis shoes, etc. will be allowed. 

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Any SHA member has the right to protest illegal equipment or actions.  Protests must be filed, in writing, with a $25.00 deposit within 10 days after the show to the President.  The next official Board meeting will evaluate the protest.  If the finding favors the Protestor, the deposit will be refunded and any alterations to the points made.  If the protest was determined unjustified, the deposit will be kept by SHA.

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Good Sportsmanship will always prevail and is encouraged.  Unnecessary roughness, discourteous acts or behavior will dismiss an exhibitor from further competition in the show. We do not tolerate abuse or unmannerly behavior towards any horse or person.  If an exhibitor, trainer, exhibitor’s family, or friends are discourteous towards show officials or others, the exhibitor will be dismissed from any further competition for that show.  We encourage open communication with our Board and appreciate any feedback from concerns.  Slanderous speech and disparaging remarks (to include social media) could result in dismissal from SHA showing for the remainder of the show season.

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Horses exhibiting lameness or injury may be excused or result in disqualification at Show official or Judge’s discretion.

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The Judge’s decision is Final.  There shall be NO discussion of the show placement results with the judge by anyone other than the show officials during the show.  If an exhibitor would like to discuss the results of a class, the exhibitor shall request that an Officer or Board member request that the Judge talk with him/her at the judge’s convenience. 

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No Individual under 18 years of age may exhibit a stallion in any class.  A stallion is any male horse that is not gelded, regardless of age. 

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Any horse of any age may be shown 2 handed in a Snaffle Bit. 

 

No Cross Entry allowed between trot pole/4 jump over fences classes and all other over fences classes.  

 

No Cross Entry allowed in Western Pleasure or Ranch classes.  Go as you please classes are open to exhibitors in either Division.

 

Go as you Please classes are to be shown at the walk and trot or equivalent for gaited horses. Open to all breeds of equines/all divisions.  

 

Exhibitors may only show one horse per in-hand class.​

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  1. All timed events will use digital or electronic timers for scoring.  The time will be transmitted to and announced by the announcer after each contestant completes the pattern or course.  If digital or electronic timers cannot be used, two (2) stop watches will be used and the times averaged.

    1. Re-rides only allowed in case of timer failure.

    2. Gaming Events:

      1. Pole Bending: Pattern is set 21 feet from the timer and 21 feet from each pole. Texas Barrels shall be set at 30 feet apart

      2. Barrels: Pattern is set according to NBHA standards.

      3. A downed barrel or pole will incur a 5 second penalty.

    3. Jumpers:

      1. All jumper courses will have an allowed time set per pattern. Any rider over the allowed time will incur time faults.

      2. Riders have 45 seconds to start the course after whistle blows

      3. A dropped rail or time penalty will incur 4 faults; 2 refusals will result in elimination

      4. No jump off – fastest clear round wins​

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AWARDS

Ribbons are awarded for first (1st) through sixth (6th) place in all classes.

 

The name of the horse must remain the same during the year to maintain accuracy of points collected at monthly shows.  If a horse’s name is changed, the points will not apply. 

 

To be eligible for year-end awards, a horse/rider combination must show at least five (5) times in the class during the year. 

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  1. Duplicate awards will not be given at the end of the year.  Ties will be broken in the following manner:

    1. Shown against the greatest number of horses in that class.

    2. Shown in the most shows – same class.

    3. Consistency of winning over the horse tied with.

    4. Shown in the greatest number of classes.

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  1. Six (6) Year End High Point Division Awards will be awarded to the one horse/one rider team with the highest points at the end of the year in:

    1. Halter

    2. Jumping

    3. English

    4. Western

    5. Ranch

    6. Speed

Classes that do not count toward Year End High Point Division Awards are denoted on the Class Sheet.  For Example, no points awarded toward a Division for Ground Poles or Jumper classes.​​​​​​​

 

POINTS

Exhibitors earn points towards Year End Class and Division Awards for every class they place in.  Points are broken down as follows:

 

Class Points: Points toward Class Awards are awarded on the following basis:

One (1) point for each entry in the class, not to exceed six (6) points for First Place:

 

Example:          If there are ten (10) entries in the class:

                                                1st place receives 6 points

                                                2nd place receives 5 points

                                                3rd place receives 4 points

                                                4th place receives 3 points

                                                5th place receives 2 points

                                                6th place receives 1 point

 

                                                If there are four (4) entries in the class:

                                                1st place receives 4 points

                                                2nd place receives 3 points

                                                3rd place receives 2 points

                                                4th place receives 1 point

                       

Division Points: Points toward Division Awards are awarded on the following basis:

One (1) point for each entry in the class not to exceed ten (10) points for First place.

 

Example:          If there are twelve (12) entries in the class;

                                                1st place receives 10 points

                                                2nd place receives 9 points

                                                3rd place receives 8 points

                                                4th place receives 7 points

                                                5th place receives 6 points

                                                6th place receives 5 points

           

Division Award points are awarded on a one horse/one rider basis.  *In the case of death or catastrophic ailment, with veterinary confirmation and at the President’s discretion, points may be carried to a new horse/same rider combination for the current show season.  The transferring of points from one horse to another can only be done once in a show season.    

 

To be eligible for Champion and Reserve Awards, horse/rider combination must have shown in the class a minimum of five (5) times during the show season.

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