Maine Morgan Sport Horse Cup Rules

Eligibility
Open to all Morgan horses registered with the American Morgan Horse Association, Canadian Morgan Horse Association or British Morgan Horse Society, age one, two or three years old. Weanling and sucklings are not allowed. Note: The horse assumes the greater age on January 1 of the year showing. Any and all handlers in the competition ring are required to sign an entry blank.

Equipment and Turnout
Braiding is optional. Bridles are mandatory on two year olds and older. A bridle shall consist of a snaffle bit with reins (two reins are optional) and a head stall with a throat latch. Nose band in optional. A split or single chain may be used instead of reins. The handler is allowed only one assistant, who may each carry only one whip with no attachments allowed. Conservative sports attire is recommended for Round 1 (judging on the Triangle). Appropriate evening attire is encouraged during Round 2 (People's Choice Judging and Awards Presentation).

General Rules
The class will be conducted in two rounds. The order of presentation will be drawn by lot and will be posted in the secretary's office no later than 5:00 p.m. of the day prior to the class. Round 2 takes place in the coliseum on Friday evening with horses being shown on the lead, as a group. Spectators will then have an opportunity to chose their People's Choice Winner. The final awards from Round 1 will also be presented after the People's Choice judging is complete. Individual score sheets will be available to participants in the secretary's office only after the final placings are announced.

Round 1 Judging Phase
Horses will be shown individually on the Triangle, which is 30 meters, by 30 meters, by 40 meters. Following the posted order, entries will approach at a walk to the apex of the triangle and await the judge's request to proceed. The handler will lead the horse to the right of the perimeter of the triangle first a a walk and once again at the trot returning to the apex of the triangle. The horse will then be shown standing in an open position (all four legs of the horse visible to the judge when standing on either side of the horse) for type and conformation judging. However, the judge may request at any time that the exhibitor repeat any movement. After the judge has completed judging, he/she will excuse the exhibitor, who will lead the horse away from the judging area. The next exhibitor will enter the judging area promptly. The judge must excuse from the ring any unruly horse or who actions threaten or endanger other exhibitors or their entries. After all horses are shown on the triangle, some or all may be recalled to be shown in groups at a walk and trot either in a line or all moving around the arena. If the competition veterinarian is not immediately available, the judge's decision as to the serviceable soundness of horse must be final. The judge will disqualify horses for unsoundness.

Movement
50% (25% Walk, 25% Trot) to be judged on purity and quality which is judged mainly in profile and correctness which is judged mainly coming to and going away from judge.

Walk: four even beats, straight and even strides, correctly aligned steps, articulation on joints, freedom of shoulders, and haunches, balance, elastic and swinging back, overstep, reach, ground-covering with marching quality.

Trot: Two even beats, straight and even strides, correctly aligned steps, articulation on joints, freedom of shoulders, and haunches, balance, elasticity, swinging back, natural engagement and impulsion from hindquarters, suspension, power from upward thrust and roundness.

Type and Conformation
40% correct Morgan type and conformation is the same in each section of the Morgan horse division where conformation is considered. There is only one standard for type and conformation of the Morgan Horse. Classes that are offered for horses in specific disciplines or specific suitable to become classes must be judged against the criteria stated in the judging standards for the in-hand section. The quality and correctness of head, neck, saddle position, shoulder, frame, back, forehand, hindquarters, angulation and formation of legs and joints according to current USA Equestrian judging standards for Morgan In Hand. Also, substance, condition, durability, heritable faults which affect soundness, trainability or breeding if stallion or mare. Emphasis of function, not fashion, penalize transmissible weaknesses, unsoundness or limitations in quality of movement. Blemishes are not to count unless resulting from conformation faults. Good harmonious conformation suitable for producing sport horse performers.

General Impression
10% includes masculinity of stallions and geldings and femininity of mares, development related to age, harmony and typiness, alert expressive and well mannered.

Round 2 People's Choice Awards Judging
Exhibitors will be called into the arena individually and introduced to the spectators. All horses are to proceed to the far end of the ring when the next horse is announced. After all the horses have been introduced the entire group will file around the coliseum while the Sport Horse judging procedure that took place in Round 1 is explained to the spectators. Ballots will be tallied during the top ten awards presentation.

Awards
Following the People's Choice Judging, the top ten horses from Round 1 will be announced in no particular order and brought back into the Main Ring. The other participants will be excused. The final placings will be announced in reverse order from 10th place up through Reserve Champion, and finally Champion. The People's Choice Award will then be announced.

Cash awards for these classes are as follows:

Checks will be sent to the recipients at the mailing addresses provided on the entry form within two weeks following the show.

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Last updated on February 17, 2007