Western Nevada Horsemen's Association (WNHA)

GENERAL RULES

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO READ THE RULES OF WNHA & ABIDE BY THEM

WNHA Rules and By-Laws will be enforced.

1.       The Western Nevada Horsemen’s Association is a unique club, running English, Western and Gymkhana disciplines.  Therefore, the Western Nevada Horsemen’s Association’s By-Laws and Rules will run as a whole, however, there may be situations where it will run as a separate entity; English Show Rules, Western Show Rules and Gymkhana Rules and as describe herein.  The Western Nevada Horsemen’s Association will from now on be known as WNHA, or the Club.  Participant, when used is defined as Exhibitor, Rider, and Competitor.  All events, meetings and activities of the WNHA shall be governed as stated in this rulebook or found in the By-Laws.

2.       MEMBERSHIP: A new membership application must be submitted and approved for each year of membership.  Each member must provide a mandatory amount of individual or family volunteer time at the WNHA Events or be subject to a volunteer payment fee prior to receiving year end awards.  Each member must ride in 3 same classes, attend 4 of the 6 WNHA Events and meet all requirements of Membership and Awards Policies.  Please see the WNHA Awards Policy for more clarification.

3.       VOLUNTEERING: For the current event year that each member wishing to receive a year-end award, each member must complete 4 hours for individual membership or 8 hours for family membership of volunteer work at a WNHA Event.  If unable or choose not to participant in volunteer time, you will be subject to pay a $250.00 fee to WNHA.  Volunteers must sign in with the Secretary or Designated Person at the event to obtain volunteer credit.  The Secretary shall assign tasks appropriate to the individual.  Please Note:  Considering the change in event structure, volunteer time may be easier for scheduling.  For example, WNHA needs help in these areas: 1) set up and tear down of trail course; 2) set up and tear down for the courses in Gymkhana, i.e. Single Stake, Poles and Barrels.  As well as replace said items if knocked down, etc.  There will also be times when it is required to set up cones for various classes in Western and English; 3) Gate, (experience is required); 4) Runners.

4.       WNHA rules are provided to protect the integrity of WNHA and to provide for the safety of the members, non-members, families, guests, spectators and horses.  ALL Rules shall be abided by as written and full accountability is expected.

5.       SUBSTANTIAL OR SERIOUS RISK: Members, Non-Members, Participants (competitors/exhibitors/riders) including their family members, guests, and/or spectators, acknowledge that Western, English, Gymkhana & other related equestrian events are dangerous activities & that participation in said events as a competitor, exhibitor, rider or volunteer exposes then to a substantial & serious risk of property damage, personal injury, or death.  Members, Non-Members, Participants, etc., acknowledge that participation in events of the WNHA will involve such a hazard.  Being fully aware that participation in WNHA events will expose them to substantial & serious risk of property damage &/or personal injury or death, said person(s) hereby release the WNHA, Washoe Valley Ranches, Rockin LJ, sponsors, related or subsidiary companies, & the officers, directors, producers, employees, & agents of the WNHA from liability for any & all property damage, personal injuries or other claims arising from participation in WNHA events, including claims that are known & unknown, foreseen & unforeseen, future or contingent.  Participants, Members and Non-Members, family, guests, spectators, etc., shall not now or at any time in the future, directly or indirectly, commence or prosecute any action, suit, or other proceeding against the aforementioned arising out of or related to the actions, causes of action, claims & demands hereby waived, released or discharged by a Member.  This provision shall be binding upon each Participant, Non-Members, Member, member's spouse, legal representatives, heirs, successors, & assigns.  The Person(s) does hereby waive all claims, action, demands for damage, loss &/or injury to person(s), livestock &/or property of themselves &/or minor child(ren).  The waiver will relieve Western Nevada Horsemen’s Association, it’s officers, directors, members agents, Washoe Valley Ranches, Rockin LJ Arena, the Washoe County Parks Department/Reno City Parks & Recreation Department from any or all liability prior to, during, or following any events held by, sponsored by, or supervised by the above mentioned association, officers, directors, members or agents.

6.       A Member in Good Standing is defined as, any member who has paid their current years dues by April 1^st or first event of the current calendar year and has no outstanding debts.

7.       BREEDS: All breeds of horses, ponies and mules (herein referred to as horses), registered or grade, will be allowed to participate in all WNHA events.

8.       RESPONSIBILITY: WNHA will not be responsible for any loss or damage or injury to horses, exhibitors, guests, spectators, or for any article of any kind or nature that may be left, lost, destroyed, or in any way injured or damaged or stolen.  Each Exhibitor/Competitor or spectator/guest of Exhibitor/Competitor will be responsible for any injury that may be occasioned to each person, whom so ever, by any horse owned or exhibited by them or arise from negligence of the person in charge of any horse.  All horses exhibited will be entirely at the owner’s risk.  ALL participants, spectators, etc., understand that there are no medical or veterinary personnel or assistants at any WNHA Event.

9.       CHECKS RETURNED FOR NON-PAYMENT: If any person(s) has a check returned for any reason, points accumulated to date (members only) are suspended until charges are paid in full prior to the next WNHA event.  Charges to be collected by WNHA include verified funds for the amount of the check, plus returned item charges, and including an additional $25.00.  Upon payment of charges in full, points will be reinstated.

10.   HEALTH AND WELFARE OF HORSE AND EXHIBITOR/COMPETITOR:  1) Every horse shall, at all times, be treated humanely and with dignity, respect and compassion.  It is at discretion of the Board at each event, to make a determination of the safety and soundness of each horse and Exhibitor/Competitor, if a horse and Exhibitor/Competitor are in visible stress, the Board shall make a determination with the majority vote.  (Inhumane by vote of majority of the Board on scene).  2) No form of intentional whipping, spurring, or striking a horse in front of the cinch will be allowed.  Violators will be asked to leave and will be disqualified from the days event without refund of entry fees.  English Exhibitors are allowed to use a crop in front of their saddles as an aid as long as it is not considered to be abusive by the Judge or brought to the attention of a Board member by an event participant.

11.   LAMENESS: Unsoundness shall not penalize any entry, unless the Judge and/or the Show Management deem that it is sufficiently severe to be considered an act of cruelty to continue to perform.  In that event, the entry fees will be refunded.  The horse must be “serviceably sound”.

12.   DRUGGING: Horse drugging to disguise lameness or to tranquilize is a violation of the horse drugging law and is prohibited.  Entry fees will not be refunded to those found using any prohibited drugs.

13.   No running of horses (gait higher than a trot/jog) is permitted outside of arenas, except in designated areas.  Designated areas if available; warm up arena, a round pen and when the main arena is open due to break, etc.  Violators will receive one warning from the show management.  If (s)he continues to disobey this rule, disqualification from the event will result.  Entry fees will not be refunded.

14.   Stallions must be under the control of a handler that is 18 years or older as of January 1^st of the current year, inside and outside of the arena at all times.  Any stallion jeopardizing the safety of others will be asked to leave the event.  Entry fees will not be refunded.

15.   SHOW ARENA: Any horse or Participant jeopardizing the safety of others will be asked to leave the arena.  Any Participant loosing control of their horse (from the saddle or drop of the lead of an in-hand class) shall be considered as jeopardizing the safety of others in the arena and will be excused from the current class and not be considered by the Judge in the placing of that current class.  No other class participant shall be penalized by the Judge for going “off pattern” due to the actions of another Participant or horse.  If a pattern is interrupted by the unsafe actions of another Participant or horse, the pattern may be performed again from the beginning by the affected Participant or horse.  Any Participant that can not visibly control their mount to the extent that their inability jeopardizes the safety of other Participants in the arena, the Judge and/or any Board member can ask the Participant to leave the arena.  The Judge and/or WNHA Board members shall have the right to determine whether or not a Participant may safely participate in remaining daily event classes.  Entry fees will not be refunded.

16.   SNACK BAR AREA: Horses must be kept away from the snack bar area and restrooms.  If you need something from the snack bar, please have someone obtain it for you or tie your horse up at your trailer.  Repeated violations of this rule are grounds for dismissal from the arena grounds for the day’s events without refund of entry fees.

17.   No child 15 years of age or under will be left, dropped off, unattended or unsupervised at any WNHA event.  They are not permitted to compete without an adult present.

18.   DOGS: Due to Event Liabilities, it is recommended and advised that all dogs remain at home.  PUBLIC ARENAS: if dogs accompany, they must be on a leash at all times and not allowed to disrupt the WNHA Events.  All dogs will be restricted to the owners’ vehicle and/or trailer area.  This also applies to guests, spectators, family and friends.  PRIVATE ARENAS and Rockin’ LJ: NO DOGS are allowed when the WNHA Events are held at Private Arenas or facilities.  There are no exceptions to this ruling.  Violations of this rule are grounds for dismissal from the arena grounds for the day’s events without refund of entry fees.

19.   Private or Public: No horse will be tied to any part of the arena fence, round pen or warm up arena and no horse(s) shall be placed in corrals or pens attached or detached found on arena grounds during events.  Participants are to be mindful of residents and boarder.  Also, no horses will be left unattended at any time while in round pen or a warm up arena.

20.   A simple majority of Board members present, acting as the management, without exception, has the right to disqualify or refuse entry; 1) For any actions of misconduct, profanity, harassment of the Judge, official(s) or employee(s) Board Member(s); 2) Any act committed or remarks made in connection with the competition considered offensive and/or made with intent to influence or cast aspersions on the character or integrity of the Judge or Participant(s); 3) Approaching a Judge before or after a decision without first obtaining permission from the Show Committee or steward; 4) Inspecting a Judge’s score card without the Judge’s permission; by any Exhibitor, Competitor, Spectator, or Guest is a violation of this rule are grounds for dismissal from the arena grounds for the day’s events without refund of entry fees, if applicable.

21.   WARM UP ARENA/ROUND PEN: All participants will be respectful of manners and arena etiquette at all times at events held by the WNHA.  Participants will follow the rotations of the warm up arena, call out intentions as deemed necessary to avoid any and all hazards; and to be respectful of other participants and of safety at all times.  Violations of this rule are grounds for dismissal from the arena grounds for the day’s events without refund of entry fees.  Private Arenas and Rockin’ LJ Arena:  Participants are to be mindful of residents and boarders.

22.   ARENA: Arena will be dragged at regular intervals, to be determined by the management.

23.   ENTRY FORMS: Any registration form for Participants under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to the minors’ entry in the day’s first class or event.  If you plan to bring a minor who is not your child, please have the parent or legal guardian sign their entry form and waivers.  WNHA cannot allow them to participate without a parent or legal guardian signature on the registration form.

24.   The same horse cannot be used by two or more Participants in the same class; i.e. cannot be shown by two or more people in Reining, Trail, Single Stake, Poles or Barrels.  The exception to this rule is in Trail, if two participants are showing the same horse, one English Trail or one Western Trail and are in TWO DIFFERENT AGE DIVISIONS, the same horse may be used.

25.   CLASS POINT SYSTEM: In classes where points are acquired, points are based on the number of Participants in that specific class.  Danish System will be used.

# In Class                     1^st         2^nd        3^rd        4^th        5^th        6^th Placing

And so on…

12                                 12         11         10        9          8          7

11                                 11         10         9          8          7          6

10                                 10         9           8          7          6          5

9                                   9          8           7          6          5          4

8                                   8          7           6          5          4          3

7                                   7          6           5          4          3          2

6                                   6          5           4          3          2          1

5                                   5          4           3          2          1         

4                                   4          3           2          1

3                                   3          2           1

2                                   2          1

1                                   1

26.   Membership is not required to ride with the WNHA.  Classes are open to all Participants, but only members in good standing will accumulate WNHA points towards year-end awards.  Points will begin to accumulate upon payment of dues and they are not retroactive.  All members are encouraged to pay annual dues by April 1^st of the current calendar year.  All entry fees must be paid in full the day of the event.

27.   Member points accumulated will be posted on the club website (WWW.WNHA.INFO).  Any discrepancies will be submitted in the form of a letter to the Board and forwarded on to the point’s keeper.  There will be no exceptions.

28.   Any participant turning 18 years of age on January 1^st and no later than April 1^st of the current year has the option to ride in the 18 & over age group.  A certified copy of the participant’s birth certificate must be provided.

1. Once entered in the 18 & Over, Participant MAY NOT enter the 11-17 class.
2. Points will not carry forward.
3. Not available for any other age group.

29.   PLAQUES: Any participant of the WNHA has the opportunity to order WNHA Plaques to hold their plates that are awarded for those classes awarding them.  Cost is $15.00.  ALL plaque orders must be ordered no later then June 30^th of the current year.  If, any plaque is ordered after June 30^th, cost for plaque is $30.00.  No Exceptions.

30.   Helmets at the discretion and NOT mandatory, of the Participant, Parent, or Guardian.  If Participants use a helmet, they will use an ASTM/SEI helmet.