Conference Rules

Loup Valley 4-H Horse Conference Club
www.loupvalleyhorseconference.org
2017 Rules

Please Note: This set of rules supplements “Nebraska 4-H Horse Show Judging Guide (4-H373).

  1. ELIGIBILITY—In order to show in the Loup Valley 4-H Horse Conference Club Horse shows, each contestant must have completed the following prior to showing:
    1. enrolled as a 4-H member in his or her respective Nebraska county by the county
      4-H enrollment deadline,
    2. be a member in good standing enrolled in the Nebraska 4-H Light Horse Project,
    3. become a member of the Loup Valley Conference. Membership is $10.00 per person, or $10.00 per family, per year,
    4. paid a one-time $5.00 office fee,
    5. signed a liability waiver form.

 

  1. IDENTIFICATION—Conference 4-H members may identify any number of horses for conference competition. The Nebraska identification deadline and requirements will be followed. Horse ID’s must be presented at the first show attended and will allow participation at any Loup Valley 4-H Horse Conference Club Show.

 

  • ENTRIES—No pre-registration will be required to participate in the Loup Valley 4-H Horse Conference Club shows. Liability waiver form, office fee and LVC membership dues may be paid/completed at the first show attended. Each 4-Her who has met identification and eligibility requirements may participate by reporting to the gate when a class is called and presenting the gate person with a class ticket. Cost of tickets is $3.00 each and they may be purchased at the shows. Tickets can be used at any conference show for that year only. No refunds will be made on unused tickets. Exhibitors may only enter one horse per class.

 

  1. RETURN CHECK POLICY—Any returned checks will be charge an additional $15.00 + the amount of the check. Cash entries thereafter will only be accepted from guilty parties.

 

  1. LIABILITY WAIVER—The liability waiver on the show entry form, signed by both the member and a parent, relieves the management of the show of any liability in case of accident to the 4-H member and or his/her horse. This form must be turned in with Horse ID’s to ensure the receipt of assigned numbers.

 

  1. CLASSES—Classes will be divided according to age of 4-H members and/or size of horse in the following divisions:

Senior member                15 years old and not turned 19 as of Jan. 1, current year
Intermediate member        12—14 years of age as of Jan. 1, current year
Junior member                   8 – 11  years old as of Jan. 1, current year

Open Walk-Trot class entries will NOT be allowed to enter Reining, Western Riding, Ranch Horse Pleasure, Barrels or Poles. A rider may enter Walk-Trot classes for a maximum of two years. Participants in Open Walk-Trot classes will be eligible for class prizes but will not receive class points for the overall awards presented at the end of the year. If individuals enter a walk-trot class then they can NOT enter any pleasure, horsemanship or trail classes.

Halter classes will be held at ALL shows.

Showmanship will be held at ALL shows.

Contestant order of show in reining, barrels, poles, trail and western riding should be randomized.

  • EVENTS: The order of events may vary.

ENGLISH PLEASURE

ENGLISH EQUITATION

HALTER CLASSES:
In case of five or fewer entries in a halter class division, ribbons shall be awarded at the discretion of the judge.

Yearlings and 2 – 3 year-olds may be combined if numbers are small.
Each class shall have all member age groups together.

  1. Pony Halter – either sex, 14.2 hands or under
  2. Yearling Fillies—one division
  3. Yearling Geldings—one division
  4. 2 & 3 Year Old Fillies—one division
  5. 2 & 3 Year Old Geldings—one division
  6. Aged Mares—one division
  7. Aged Geldings—one division

 

  1. SHOWMANSHIP CLASSES: Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions

 

PERFORMANCE CLASSES:
Participant show order will be Seniors, Intermediates, and Juniors.

  1. 3 Year Old and Under Snaffle Bit (horse may not be used in any other Pleasure class), no minimum # of participants.
  2. Western Pleasure (Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions)
  3. Open Walk-Trot Pleasure—A member who is entered in Walk-Trot may ride a horse owned by a family member entered in a pleasure class only in the Walk-Trot class. A member may NOT enter Reining, Western Ridding, Ranch Pleasure, Barrels, or Poles. A member can only enter the Open division if it is his/her first or second year of riding. Participants in Open Walk-Trot classes will be eligible for class prizes but will not receive class points for the overall awards presented at the end of the year.
  4. Pony Pleasure (no age limit, horses may not be used in any other Pleasure class) 14.2 hands & under as per state rules. Minimum of three participants.
  5. Western Horsemanship (Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions)
  6. Open Walk-Trot Horsemanship—A member who is entered in Walk-Trot may ride a horse owned by a family member entered in a horsemanship class only in the Walk-Trot class. A member may NOT enter Reining, Western Riding, Ranch Pleasure, Barrels or Poles. A member can only enter the Open division if it is his/her first or second year of riding. Participants in Open Walk-Trot classes will be eligible for class prizes but will not receive class points for the overall awards presented at the end of the year.

ONE-HALF-HOUR BREAK

  1. Trail Class (Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions)
    The Trail Class will be held at each of the conference shows. If participant enters a walk-trot class then they must compete in a walk-trot pattern in trail. The course will be patterned after the guidelines suggested in EC 2-97-82. Each county show superintendent will be responsible for the course when the show is in that County.
  2. Open Walk-Trot Trail—A member who is entered in Walk-Trot may ride a horse owned by a family member entered in a trail class only in the Walk-Trot class. A member may NOT enter Reining, Western Riding, Ranch Pleasure, Barrels or Poles. A member can only enter the Open division if it is his/her first or second year of riding. Participants in Open Walk-Trot classes will be eligible for class prizes but will not receive class points for the overall awards presented at the end of the year. At least two entries required or class will be canceled.

 

  1. WESTERN RIDING:
    Western Riding will be held at each of the Conference Shows. There will be only one division.

 

  1. RANCH RIDING: (Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions)
    Junior competitors do not have to have passed a level; intermediate and Senior competitors must have passed level 2.

 

  1. REINING: (Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions)
    Junior competitors do not have to passed a level; intermediate and Senior competitors must have passed level 2. Measurements between cones for reining classes will be approximately 50 yards.

TIMED EVENTS:

  1. POLES: Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions; NO Walk-Trot participants.
  2. BARRELS: Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions; NO Walk-Trot participants.

PENALTIES: For Poles and Barrels only.
Hats—Hats are optional in timed events but must stay on after crossing the starting line or rider will be penalized two (2) seconds.

Touching a pole with a hand shall cause disqualification. A two (2) second penalty will be assessed for each pole that is tipped over.

Touching a barrel with a hand shall cause disqualification. A two (2) second penalty will be assessed for each barrel that is tipped over.

Someone leading a contestant’s horse past the gate will result in a two (2) second penalty.

  • EXHIBITOR DRESS:
    Dress shall be according to standards in “Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide.” 4-H armbands are required at all shows. No chaps will be allowed in Pleasure and Horsemanship, but will be allowed in Ranch Riding.

Exhibitor numbers will be furnished at the first show attended and are to be used throughout the season. Numbers are to be attached so as to prohibit flapping.

The gate man and ring steward will have the authority to refuse any contestant to enter the ring if not in proper attire as listed in the “Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide.” (4-H373).

  1. RUNNING OF SHOW:
    Delegation of responsibility and general management considerations in “Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide” should be followed.

    1. Two or three people should check entries at each show to speed up process.
    2. Every show should have a good ring man.
    3. Each show, after the first, should be able to replace lost exhibitor numbers.
    4. The Loup Valley Conference board will assist in setting up rules and regulations for the conference shows and will act in advisory capacity to the individual shows unless other plans are made in advance. The major responsibilities should go to the parents and leaders of the counties in the 10 County Conference Club.

 

  1. SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS:
    Applicants must be a resident of one of the 10 counties the Loup Valley 4-H Horse Conference Club which are Boone, Garfield, Greeley, Howard, Loup, Merrick, Nance, Sherman, Valley, and Wheeler Counties. Applicants must have participated in five (5) Loup Valley 4-H Conference Horse Shows in his/her last two 4-H eligible years (2016/2017). If he/she does not receive a scholarship as a Senior in high school they may apply during their Freshman year of college, as long as they have NOT turned 19 on or before January 1 of the current year. NOTE: The Loup Valley 4-H Horse Conference Open Scholarship Show WILL count toward the total show count for the Loup Valley 4-H Horse Scholarship. A local committee will be formed to determine eligibility of the applicants before scholarships applications are given out.

 

  1. AWARD SYSTEM:
    Ribbons will be awarded on the Danish System; Purple, Blue, Red and White. Senior division participants have the option of taking a ribbon.

 

  1. The top exhibitor in each age division in riding, showmanship, and halter classes will be awarded a tack prize. This tack prize will be different at each Loup Valley 4-H Horse Conference Club Horse Show.
  2. A points system will be used to determine the recipient of the overall year end awards for each age division. The points system will award points for Showmanship and all riding classes except Open Walk-Trot. The points system will be as follows:
1st Purple— 6 points
All Other Purples— 5 points
1st Blue— 4 points
All Other Blues— 3 points
All Reds— 1 point
All Whites— 0 points

 

  1. ALL Nebraska 4-H Youth enrolled in the 4-H Light Horse project are eligible for the overall Year-End High Point awards. Winners are determined by the total number of points earned at all 4-H shows and the OPEN Scholarship show, and are given per each age division. There will be a special awards ceremony held at the end of the year to present the overall winners in each age division with their awards. The date, time and location will be announced at later date.

 

  • CHANGE OF SHOW LOCATION:
    In case it is necessary to change a show location or to postpone a show, information regarding the change will be sent to the following radio stations for your convenience. KNLV-Ord, and KZ100 Columbus/Central City, or posted on Facebook and the conference web site www.loupvalleyhorseconference.org . If a show is moved due to rain the new show time will be 9:30 a.m.

Nebraska 4-H Dress Code and Bits   4-H