CHAPTER 1. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

PART 1 PROCEDURE OF AFFILIATION

PART 1 a) Affiliation to AAC:

Please read our requirements first and then make an application to any member of the Aljassimya Amateur Challenge Board who will discuss it and respond as soon as possible.

• Any show accepted must read the up to date rules and regulations and sign a contract with the AAC agreeing to include all their classes, implement the rules correctly and supply correct results and pictures.

Only after the Official Agreement is signed will an invoice be forwarded for claiming the sponsorship money.

Additional information about the Sponsorship and all responsibilities undertaken by agreeing to this sponsorship are found in Chapter 2

Part 2. Conditions of Entry.

Part 2 a). Conditions of Entry for Horses.

Open to Arabian Purebred Horses registered in any WAHO recognized studbook by the closing date of entries.

Open to Anglo-Arabs and Arabian Part bred Horses, registered in any official studbook. A minimum of 25% of Arabian Blood needs to be proven by the certificate of registration.

Partbreds and Purebreds do compete against each other in  the same classes in all Halter, Pleasure and Trail classes,

PLEASE NOTE Partbreds and Purebreds do compete against each other in the same classes in all Halter, Pleasure and Trail classes, therefore ECAHO will not you will not permit you to affiliate with them.

No foal classes are permitted and foals are not eligible for entry in any class.

The minimum age for entry for horses in halter and in-hand trail classes is 9 months of age determined by date of birth. The minimum age for entry for horses in ridden classes is 4 years of age determined by year of birth.

The minimum handler age may be set by the National Association.

Part 2b) Conditions of Entry for People -

DEFINITION OF AMATEUR

No handler shall have been paid in any way for showing, training or producing any horse in hand for a third party to show in our halter classes

This covers only persons which are paid for training and preparing horses.( If a person on the farm is paid mainly for cleaning the stable and teaches the horse in his free time, then he is considered amateur handle.)  - Small breeders who produce and show their own horses are also considered Amateur.

NB Amateur status applies separately for each division. Professional halter trainers may not exhibit in the Halter classes but if they are not paid to produce horses for Pleasure or Trail classes they are welcome to take part. People paid to produce horses under saddle but not at halter are welcome to exhibit in the halter and trail classes but are encouraged not to take part in the Pleasure classes.

All handlers and riders must sign up to the "GET INVOLVED" page. We will help you find your correct level for qualification.

Entry Forms are available for you to download on the top right hand corner of this website on the DOWNLOADS BUTTON

Organizers must attest that no competitor will be admitted in a Sport contest without proper insurance.

PART 3. CLASSES AND CHAMPIONSHIPS

Part 3 a) Mandatory classes to offer

1. 1 AAC Novice Colts 1 - 3 years old
2. 2 AAC Novice Fillies, 1 - 3 years old
3. 3 AAC Novice Mares, 4 years old and over
4. 4 AAC Novice Stallions, 4 years old and over

5 AAC Novice Geldings, any age

1. 6 AAC Amateur Colts, 1 - 3 years old
2. 7 AAC Amateur Fillies, 1 - 3 years old
3. 7 AAC Amateur Mares, 4 years old and over
4. 9 AAC Amateur Stallions, 4 years old and over

10 AAC Amateur Gelding, any age

1. 11 AAC Experienced Colts, 1 - 3 years old
2. 12 AAC Experienced Fillies, 1 - 3 years old
3. 13 AAC Experienced Mares, 4 years old and over
4. 14 AAC Experienced Stallions, 4 years old and over

15 AAC Experienced Geldings, any age

1. 16 AAC In Hand Trail. (Yearling and older- any sex)

17 AAC Ridden Trail Class (4 yrs and older - any sex)

1. 18 AAC Junior Ridden Western Pleasure (4 & 5 yrs old - any sex)
2. 19 AAC Novice Ridden Western Pleasure (4 yrs and older - any sex)
3. 20 AAC Junior Ridden Hunter Pleasure (4 & 5 yrs - any sex)
4. 21 AAC Novice Ridden Hunter Pleasure (4 yrs and older - any sex)
5. 22 AAC Junior Ridden Classic Pleasure (4 & 5 yrs - any sex)
6. 23 AAC Novice Ridden Classic Pleasure (4 yrs and older - any sex)

Please note. For each Pleasure class - if you have 3 entries (or more) in BOTH classes they will run separately. If there are less than 3 in EACH class it will be amalgamated back into one Western Pleasure Class, one Hunter Pleasure Class and one Classic Pleasure Class.

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PART 3b) Class Splits

i) HALTER In case of 12 entries or more in Halter classes, the class will be split into two equal halves by age of horse.. Both winners and seconds will go on to the Championship. Both Classes will accumulate points towards the Paris tickets.

ii) PLEASURE In case of 7 or more entries in any Pleasure classes the class may be split by the organiser according to the safety considerations of their arena. They must be split into two even halves by either sex or age of horse. Both classes will accumulate point towards the Paris tickets. The Top Three will go forward into a championship.

iii) TRAIL classes can be split at 16 entries into two equal halves by age of horse.

One handler may present more than one horse.

• Part 3c) Mandatory Championships

1. i). CHAMPIONSHIP NOVICE. (Class 1 - 5)
2. ii). CHAMPIONSHIP AMATEUR (Class 6 - 10)

iii). CHAMPIONSHIP AMATEUR EXPERIENCED (Class 11- 15)

iv) In the case of a split Classic / Hunter / Western Pleasure Class there will be CHAMPIONSHIP for that division only.

There are no Trail Championships.

In addition show organisers may offer any class they feel adds to the atmosphere of the day. For example: Costume classes, Liberty classes, Junior Handler classes. But no points from these optional classes will be collected for the Special Prizes.

PART 4. METHOD OF JUDGING FOR HALTER CLASSES 1 - 15

PART 4 A) Scoring System for Halter Classes.

1. 7 criteria from 1 - 100 points,

Halter Classes. All entrants will enter the ring together at walk for one or two circuits. They will then be judged individually using a scoring system out of 100. Full points only, each judge to decide the range. There are seven criteria:

• 1. Type

• 2. Head & Neck

• 3. Body & Topline

• 4. Legs

• 5. Movement

• 6. Harmony between handler and horse**

7. Presentation***

The total amount of points will be announced out of 700 and will NOT be averaged to overall percentage.

• * Harmony or horsemanship shows the relationship and communication between handler and horse.

** Technical part to include standing still, a straight walk and correct trot without circle, canter or other interruption.

Score Sheets are available for you to download on the top right hand corner of this website on the DOWNLOADS BUTTON.

We recommend that you can print on three different colours of paper, one for each judge, for the fastest identification of whose judge papers is whose.

A more complete description of Halter classes for handlers and judges can be found in the CLASS GUIDELINES Drop Down Menu

In exceptional circumstances, by agreement of all three judges a horse which displays extremely bad manners or poor condition and has no other competitors in the class may be refused a first prize and awarded a 2nd place instead. The reason must be politely explained to the handler or rider at the time of the class awards and they should be encouraged to take lessons and advice.

PART 4b) Method of Judging Championships

Procedure for Championship:

For the Championship in each level, the first and second placed horses shall enter the arena one at a time according to the Steward's instructions. Handlers will trot their horses individually for one circuit and leave the arena, until all handlers have completed their circuit. Thereafter they will enter the arena together in walk and line-up their horses in front of the judges and according to the Ringmaster’s instructions. The judges will select their Champion, Reserve and Bronze at the same time.

Championship score sheets are available for you to download on the top right hand corner of this website on the DOWNLOADS BUTTON

1. The title of "Gold Champion Novice” will be selected amongst the Class winners of each Novice Class.
2. The title of “Silver Novice” may be selected from any first and second placed entrant present.

The Title of “Bronze Novice” may be selected from any first and second placed entrant present.

1. The title of “Gold Champion Amateur” will be selected amongst the Class winners of each Amateur Class.
2. The title of “Silver Amateur” may be selected from any first and second placed entrant present.

The Title of “Bronze Amateur” may be selected from any first and second placed entrant present.

1. The title of “Gold Champion Experienced Amateur” will be selected amongst the Class winners of each Experienced Amateur Class.
2. The title of “Silver Experienced” may be selected from any first and second placed entrant present.

The Title of “Bronze Experienced” may be selected from any first and second placed entrant present.

1. Points will be given to the nominated horses as follows:
2. A horse nominated by a judge for Best in Show will receive 4 points
3. A horse nominated by a judge for  Reserve Champion will receive 2 points

A horse nominated by a judge for Bronze Champion will receive 1 point

PART 4c) In the event of a tie in any Halter Class or Championship

In the ranking of horses in a Halter Class or Best in Show, the higher ranking will go to the combination with the highest points for harmony. If there is still a tie, the higher place will be given to the horse with the highest points for type.

Failing a decision on either these, the preference of the “Call judge” (appointed by ballot) will be the tie-breaker.

PART 4d) Officials for Halter Classes

Judges must be chosen from the EAHSC A and B list of judges or National judges' list of an ECAHO Member organisation. Those Judges chosen from a non-ECAHO Member country must be selected from the judges' panel of a National Arab Horse Organisation.

Covid 19 Update: For 2020 only two judges may judge. No foreign judge required.

They must be chosen from the EAHSC A and B list of judges or from the National judges' list of an ECAHO Member organisation. Any Judges chosen from a non-ECAHO Member country must be selected from the judges' panel of a National Arab Horse Organisation.

Any judge who is not on the EAHSC list of judges (A-, B-, National Judges- list of an ECAHO Member organisation) must apply for a Temporary Admission for Guest Judge.

PLEASE NOTE: If you also run an ECAHO C show at the same time and place, according to the ECAHO rules, the ECAHO In Hand show(s) must be judged before any other show. The judges can be the same for both events.

PART 5 METHOD OF JUDGING FOR PERFORMANCE CLASSES

PART 5 a) Method of Judging Performance Classes 16 - 20.

Organizers must attest that no competitor will be admitted in a Sport contest without proper insurance.

All classes will be judged according to the ECAHO rules for Novice classes.

PART 5 b) The Pleasure classes

The Pleasure Classes are three separate group classes in which all competitors enter together and show three paces on each rein according to the ring steward's instructions. They are then expected to halt in a line quietly at the centre of ring and give a few steps of rein back on the judges' instructions.

The judges place the horses comparatively. In the event of a tie a Call judge chosen by ballot at the beginning of the day shall choose the winner.

In case of 16 or more entries the class will be split into two even halves by age of horse. Both classes will accumulate point towards the Paris tickets.

PART 5 c) Pleasure Championships

In case of 16 or more entries the class will be split into two even halves by age of horse. The top 3 horses from each section will compete for the Pleasure Champion. The Judges will award points to the nominated horses as follows:

1. A horse nominated by a judge for Gold Champion will receive 4 points
2. A horse nominated by a judge for Silver er will receive 2 points

A horse nominated by a judge for Bronze up will receive 1 point

In case of a tie the decision of the call judge decided by ballot will prevail.

Score Sheets are available for you to download on the top right hand corner of this website on the DOWNLOADS BUTTON

A complete description of the Pleasure classes can be found in the CLASS GUIDELINES

PART 5 d) The Trail Classes

The Trail Classes shall consist of no more than 6 obstacles. The course shall be posted online 10 days before the show. The handlers should walk the course before the class. Each horse (** Each competitor? Each horse and handler? Each exhibitor?) will enter one by one and navigate the course in the correct pattern.

1. The horse starts with 70 points. The judge awards or takes away points according to two criteria.
2. Plus one and half to minus one and a half for overall impression of smoothness of gait and manners over each obstacle.

Penalty points from 1/2 point up to 5 are awarded according for set misdemeanours.

There is no Trail Championship in any circumstance.

Score sheets are available for you to download on the top right hand corner of this website on the DOWNLOADS BUTTON. We have one for each horse as all handlers are interested in their scoring,  A full class ranking page should also be downloaded.

A more complete description of Trail classes can be found in the CLASS GUIDELINES

PART 5 f) Officials for Performance Classes.

Covid 19 Update: For 2020 only one judge may judge. We strongly suggest you choose an ECAHO judge qualified to do both Pleasure and Trail, but if there are none in your country you may use someone you think has sufficient experience. For Trail you may use another existing judge to act as scribe for the Trail judge. The rules should be sent to them at the time of invitation, they should be Covid 19 Update: reminded of their obligation to judge according to our rules in the run up to the show and the rules should be printed out and available on the day for any last minute queries.

PLEASURE CLASSES

One judge required for under 6 entries, 2 for 7 or more. You may choose judges from the ECAHO Pleasure list, or National judges with suitable ridden Arabian experience. They can also judge halter classes if suitably qualified. The rules should be sent to them at the time of invitation, they should be reminded of their obligation to judge according to our rules in the run up to the show and the rules should be printed out and available on the day for any last minute queries.

TRAIL CLASSES

Two judges required. We recommend at least one National Federation or FEI or AQHA or NRHA judge who really knows the topic. You may choose judges from the ECAHO Pleasure list, or National judges with suitable ridden Arabian experience, or a combination of the two. The rules should be sent to them at the time of invitation, they should be reminded of their obligation to judge according to our rules in the run up to the show and the rules

PART 6 OTHER OFFICIALS.

Disciplinary Committee: A minimum of one member is required, preferably to be chosen from the EAHSC lists of members of the Disciplinary Committee and being able to speak the local language.

Please be sure that you also invite as a MINIMUM:

1. 1) Ring master
2. 2) Collecting Ring Steward
3. 3) Speaker
4. 4) Scorekeeper

• 5) Secretary for numbers and catalogues
• We also suggest you need

1. A stable manager
2. A Rosettes and prizes organiser
3. All All purpose helper.

• And recruit as many other people as possible to make the day run smoothly.
• .

PART 7 REQUIREMENTS AFTER THE SHOW.

Part 7) Obligations to AAC

NEW FOR 2020 The new website has an easy to follow results page with a drop down menu that organisers are requested to upload results onto. You will all be given your login name and password so that you can upload results direct. You will only need to fill in Handler names not full horse details or scores. The full results should be sent as a pdf to Emma Maxwell emmmxll@hotmail.com We do not accept to look up results ourselves on Arabian Horse Results or Arabian Essence websites in 2020.

All Show Organizers will forward the results and pictures to the AAC as outlined in CHAPTER 2 PART 2 Sponsorship obligation of show organisers.

CHAPTER 2

SPONSORSHIP OBLIGATIONS

PART 1 OBLIGATIONS OF ALJASSIMYA FARM

A financial support to the amount of 5000 Euro from Aljassimya Farm. The Organizer will send an invoice as soon as the agreement is signed and immediately upon request. Delays in sending the invoice may mean your payment is also delayed.

• b) Material support by donating ribbons from Aljassimya Farm for the classes, the Championships and the Best in Show, in proportion to the number of participants in the different disciplines

• c) At the discretion of the AAC Committee, the obstacles for Trail Competition can be provided, depending on the distance to and from the Show Venue.

• d) In addition, the participants of the different AAC competitions, organized in Europe during the 2018 season, can earn selection points (see R&R 2018) for the Aljassimya Farm Special Awards, as described in Chapter 4.

• e) One member of the Aljassimya Amateur Challenge Committee shall attend the show as advisor / assistant / prizegiver.

f) Aljassimya Farm cannot be considered as co-organizer and can in no way be held liable for any damage to participants, organizers, officials, and any third parties at the event. The undersigned organizer explicitly declares to indemnify Aljassimya Amateur Challenge and Aljassimya Farm against all claims by any person attending an AAC show.

PART 2 OBLIGATIONS OF SHOW ORGANISER

To comply strictly with the conditions of entry, both for the horse and for the handler, precisely with the aim of assuring the amateur nature of the show and also to guarantee the rules of qualification for all participants.

For 2020 we ask that no organiser may take part personally in more than 2 classes at the show. They are welcome to bring horses for other people but may not leave their desk to be in the arena more than twice.

• a) The Organizer undertakes to offer and organize the 21 mandatory classes in CHAPTER 1 PART 3.

• b) All participants must be instructed to sign up with the Challenge on the "GET INVOLVED" page of this website

• c) All Classes within the AAC, either In-Hand or Ridden Competition, shall be organized and presented in the Main Arena of the Show Venue, unless preliminary negotiated and approved by the AAC Committee.

• d) The Organizer will ensure that the different sport disciplines will be judged in accordance with the rules provided by the ‘R&R 2019’ or the applicable ECAHO-rules, Green Book 2019. (** check dates of ECAHO publications)

• e) Trophies shall be presented for at least the 1st and 2nd placed combination of each Class.

• f) The Organizer ensures that the names of horses and handlers are published in the catalogue. Any changes before or during the show shall be recorded and corrected before the official results shall be published.

• g) Lodging, boarding and VIP access during the whole weekend, unless one day Event only, shall be provided by the Organizer for 1 AAC Representative. A briefing with the officials shall be scheduled before the show to explain the additional topics and scoring system.

• h) Organizers shall ensure that photographs are taken and forwarded in high resolution to the AAC Committee. Between 5 and 12 pictures are used from each show and shall include, at least: Participants, visitors, Class winners, Ridden Champions and “Best in Show”. Additional atmosphere and fun pictures are most welcome. All images can be used by the AAC Committee for publicity without additional permission or costs. Pictures shall be sent to emmmxll@hotmail.com

• i) Within 7 days after the show the Organizer will communicate to the AAC Committee the results of the competition. Results must be sent as a PDF with any corrections in hander names clearly marked. We do not accept looking them up ourselves on Arabian Essence or Arabian Horse Results or any other online resource where they cannot be downloaded in one document. After every show we publish an overview of the points earned to determine the ranking of the participants in the ‘AJF European Amateur Challenge’. Results of each Class or Competition to be sent to emmmxll@hotmail.com or vosch.ronny@icloud.com

• j) The Organizers commit themselves to brand the Amateur Event entirely as ‘Under the Patronage of Aljassimya Farm – Doha, Qatar’.

• k) The Organizer shall contact their National Organization to promote the Event for maximum exposure, before and after the show.

• l) The Aljassimya Farm banners shall be displayed prominently in the arena and used to take photographs of the prize winners against.

• m) Aljassimya Farm will receive a double page of publicity in the catalogue, provided by Emma Maxwell and 1 banner on the show website.

• n) Aljassimya Farm will be announced over the loudspeaker as sponsor of the Best in Show and at any other time it is appropriate.

o) Organisers may not oblige people to buy stable at the show.

1. OPTIONAL OTHER SPONSORSHIP.

Any other prizes may be provided by other interested sponsors. In order to encourage the Versatile Arabians we also would like to encourage a "Most Versatile  Horse Trophy" for adult horses only.  Any interested sponsor may help with this . Any winner must have taken part in at least one Halter class, one Trail Class and one Pleasure class. The points will be added in the following way. 1st Place 5, 2nd place 3, 3rd place 2 points. Any other placing 1 point. Only the highest points from each section will count. For example where the horse has been 1st in In- Hand trail and 2nd in Ridden Trail he will score 5 points in total from Trail only). In case of a tie the points for Trail will prevail. In case of there still being a tie the Trail Score will decide.

PLEASE NOTE In case a late cancellation of the Event should occur, 80% of the sponsored amount shall be refunded within one week of the scheduled date of the Event.

GENERAL RULES

Please familiarise yourself with the ECAHO Blue Book for organisation of shows.  We follow these rules with the exception of allowing Partbreds of 25% to compete in the same class.

1. The entry form, together with the show schedule is a contract between the show organizer and the person who signs the entry form. That person will be held responsible for the horse in case any sanctions are imposed.
By participating at a show, show organizers, judges, exhibitors, owners and handlers agree that they will unconditionally submit themselves and the persons assisting and accompanying them to the Rules and Regulations
The registered owner or current lessee of the horse will be primarily regarded as the person responsible and liable for the horse with regard to the jurisdiction of the AAC.

• 2. Horses must be accompanied at the show by a horse passport containing all vaccination records. Those horses coming from a country that does not issue a passport, must be accompanied by an official Registration document which includes a graphic description and all vaccination records. If, when a horse attends a show, it’s passport is at the Registry for any reason, then a letter from the registrar attesting to this must be provided along with a photo-copy of the passport, including the description and the vaccination records. Exhibitors will declare on the entry form any actual or apparent conflict of interest with any of the judges invited for the show. Any exhibitor not declaring an existing conflict of interest will lose all entry fees and will be prevented from showing the horse. Organizers will not accept any entries for which any actual or apparent conflict of interest with one of the appointed judges has been indicated, unless a reserve judge is available.
  
  An actual or apparent conflict of interest may occur if a horse is judged that:
  • is being trained or handled by a member of the judge’s family
  • has been bought or sold by the judge either as owner or agent,
  • is owned in whole or part by the judge or by a member of the judge’s family, or business partner in an Arab horse business venture,
  • has been leased by the judge, at any time
  • has been bred by the judge or is the property of a breeding organization in which the judge is or was an employee,
  • has been regularly trained, examined or treated by the judge in a professional capacity,
  • is the subject of an on-going negotiation to buy or lease, or a provisional purchase condition to which the judge is a party.

• In case of doubt, the DC’s decision will prevail.
• Any judge may decline to judge any horse if they consider themselves to have a conflict of interests concerning that horse.
• In the show ring, all communication between judges and handlers prior to the presentation of prizes will be through the ring master.
• Handlers will be neatly dressed. They may wear any costume normally worn in their country of origin.
• Handlers will not wear clothes carrying any form of advertising which discloses the connection of the horse they are handling.
  • The judge(s) may request that the ringmaster order unruly horses to be withdrawn.
  • The judge(s) may request that the ringmaster ask a handler to open a horse’s mouth or pick up it’s feet for inspection.
  
  • Horses will appear in the collecting ring no less than 10 minutes before the start of the class.
  • Exhibits that appear late (missing the walk around the ring) will be excluded from the class.
  • Stallions and colts aged three years and over may be shown wearing bridles and bits that are both secure and comfortable for the horse. All bridles without bits are equally to be both secure and comfortable for the horse. Any horse that is not under control will be removed from the show ring and disqualified.

• Soundness
  • Exhibits that appear to be lame may be assessed and placed by the judges. Judges may exclude any horse so lame that assessment will inflict pain.

• Disguising of Exhibits
• No alteration of the basic color of the skin, coat or hooves is permitted. Hoof paints, colorless varnishes, coat dyes, glitter spray and cosmetic operations including skin grafts are forbidden. Colorless hoof oils, Vaseline or oil and white chalk used on white legs will be accepted. Artificial methods of dilating the eyes or affecting the natural action of the horse or otherwise influencing its action or behavior by oxygenating the bloodstream or by the use of weights or artificially weighted shoes, or by electrical or chemical treatment of any kind at any time before or during exhibition are forbidden. Burns, cuts or other marks on the body of any exhibit in such places or positions as to indicate that prohibited methods have been used will be regarded as full and adequate grounds for exclusion of any exhibit from competition, at the discretion of the DC with veterinary advice. a) In halter classes horses may be fully or partly body-clipped, subject to eyelashes being left uncut, hair inside the ears left unshaved and tactile hair left intact around the nose, muzzle and the eyes. Horses not fulfilling these criteria will not be allowed to participate. “Balding” is not encouraged. b) No equipment intended to alter the natural appearance of the horse is permitted in the stables, including neck sweats, neck collars, tail racks, hobbles or weights. Anyone using such equipment on the showground may be suspended by the DC for the period of the show.

• Cruelty
• Excessive whipping or shanking, excessive stimulation by noise, excessive circling of the horse, intimidation, use of electric shock devices and infliction of pain by any means are forbidden in all parts of the showground or stable areas, at all times. The above actions will be sanctioned.