GUIDELINES AND POLICIES

DQP

Under the Horse Protection Act (HPA), a DQP is assigned to the National Breeders Cup Championship Show to protect Show Management from the penalties of the HPA, and to insure that all exhibitors compete under the same and equal conditions. The DQP at the National Breeders Cup Championship Show shall be an approved and licensed DQP.

It shall be the duty of the DQP to determine that all horses which enter classes be in compliance with the rules and regulations provided with the HPA. When violation of the HPA or rules and regulations of the MFTHBA are found, the DQP must make record of such violations and must report them to the proper authorities.

Inspections under the HPA are conducted in accordance with the Regulations and as further described in the current USDA/DQP Training Manual and the USDA Plan.

RING STEWARD

A competent Ring Steward will be in charge of activities in the ring at the NBC Championship Show. Any reputable person may act in the capacity of Ring Steward who can furnish proof that he/she is capable through ability or experience and is familiar with NAB and MFTHBA rules. He/she has the authority to ask an exhibitor to remove his/her horse if it offers an obstacle to other exhibitors or, by its behavior, poses a threat to other exhibitors, including horses rearing, balking, kicking, running away, or leaving the ring. The Ring Steward has the authority to remove unsportsman-like exhibitors, including those who cut to the inside of center ring, or exhibit any intentional action that would cause a disruption in the performance of another exhibitor. The Ring Steward has the authority to dismiss any exhibitor who abuses an entry with a whip or other instrument, or a horse that displays a bad image for the breed.

RING MASTER

A Ring Master should always assist the Call Judge, he/she should count the horses as they enter the arena, direct gait changes as per the Call Judge’s instructions to the announcer and direct where horses are to line-up. The Ring Master shall grant permission for exhibitors wishing to be excused from the class. The Ring Master shall relieve the call judge of unnecessary details and act as mediator between the judge and the exhibitor. He/she shall assist the judge, not advise him/her and shall refrain from discussing, or seeming to discuss, the horses or exhibitors with the judge. He/she shall not take part, or seem to take part, in any of the judging. He/she shall keep the judging program on schedule and control the conduct of horses and exhibitors in the ring. In the case of a time-out, the Ring Master may assist the exhibitor as needed. The Ring Master shall collect and turn in the judges’ score cards to the scorekeeper.

RING PERSON

In addition to the Ring Master attending the Call Judge, the remaining judges shall each be accompanied by a ring person if possible. Each ring person shall relieve the judge of unnecessary details and act as mediator between the judge and the exhibitor. He/she shall assist the judge, not advise him/her and shall refrain from discussing, or seeming to discuss, the horses or exhibitors with the judge. He/she shall not take part, or seem to take part, in any of the judging. He/she shall keep the judging program on schedule and control the conduct of horses and exhibitors in the ring. In the case of a time-out, the ring person shall assist the exhibitor as needed. The ring person shall collect and turn in the judges’ score cards to the scorekeeper.