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MRA
Gymkhana Rules
Arena/Trail Master
An approved Arena/Trail Master (AM/TM) will be at all MRA Gymkhanas. The AM/TM shall monitor arena or trail safety, to include contestant’s equipment as deemed reasonable, according to the rules set by MRA, and make recommendations. If any person or animal is behaving in a manner considered dangerous to the event participants, the person/animal may be asked to leave. His/Her rulings are not open to challenge.
Gymkhana Rules
1. By entering in an MRA gymkhana, every participant agrees to ride and abide by MRA gymkhana rules. (A copy of the MRA rules will be posted at the Red Office.)
2. All entries must be made on forms approved by MRA.
3. All entries must be signed by contestant and contestant’s birth date must be given. Proof of age must be given if requested by an official. In case of a minor, (under 18 yrs) the entry form must be signed by a parent or guardian (Proof of guardianship will be required). Age is determined by your age as of January 1st (Or start of the gymkhana season) of the current year.
4. All participants, whether mounted or dismounted, will sign a Hold Harmless form before being allowed to participate in any MRA event. This form will be provided by MRA.
5. Each MRA gymkhana will consist of 5 events to be chosen by the MRA from the list of events provided by the gymkhana committee.
6. No contestant may enter in any pointed event more than once, unless a different horse is ridden. In such a case, the second horse will always be a non-pointed “Time-Only” ride.
7. Under no circumstances will anyone under the age of 18 be allowed to ride a stallion.
8. Age groups shall conform to the age divisions set by MRA. Current age groups are as follows: Leadline, 6-12, 13-17, 18 -34, and 35 +.
9. Should any questions or disputes arise not provided for in the governing rules, the same shall be referred to the arena master, whose decision shall be final for the duration of the gymkhana. The AM recommendation shall be forwarded to the rules committee for further consideration.
10. A contestant lodging a protest must first deposit $25.00 cash or certified check with the secretary of MRA, which sum will be forfeited if protest is not sustained. Protest must be in writing, signed by the contestant, and filed with the secretary within 24 hours after the occurrence of the alleged violation. All protests will be handled according to the rules of MRA.
11. Disqualification shall result if after entering the arena, the rider spurs, strikes or beats the horse (in any manner deemed excessive) forward of the cinch. However, the judge may allow humane hand cues and a rewarding pat. HUMANE HAND CUE – touching is allowed, no reaching out to slap, strike, or whip will be allowed. (judicious use of an over & under or quirt will be allowed, at the judges' discretion)
12. Any contestant not following exact pattern will be disqualified for that event. For clarification of the “Cross Over” Rule, and how it applies to broken patterns, see Appendix I.
13. Rider must have control of his/her horse from the time he/she enters the arena until he/she exits the arena. Violations of this rule are left up to the AM’s discretion.
14. For safety and in fairness to the competitors, spectators shall be required to remain in authorized areas and away from the arena fences.
15. Boots with a clearly defined heel must be worn and western saddle or speed competition saddle must be used.
16. Excessive punishment for a horse at any time shall result in disqualification for the duration of the gymkhana.
17. Equipment used in such a way as to cause excessive pain or injury to an animal is prohibited. Such equipment may include, but is not limited to, wire aids, headache chains, cables and sharpened spurs. Violation will result in disqualification for the duration of the gymkhana.
18. An act of discourtesy or disobedience to any gymkhana official in or out of the arena will result in disqualification.
19. Running horses through the entry/exit gate will not be allowed. Violators may, or may not, be given a warning before being disqualified, depending on the severity of the violation.
20. The current rider must enter the arena within 30 seconds of being called or forfeit his/her turn.
21. Horses will be allowed some assistance when entering the arena, providing that it is accomplished in a safe manner. Excessive force or time will not be permitted.
22. At the judges’ discretion, a rider may be disqualified and or excused from the arena for abusing their horse, un-sportsmanlike conduct, lack of control or unsafe situations.
23. There is a 5-second penalty for knocking over any obstacle unless otherwise specified in the pattern diagram.
24. A rider may enter more than one horse for each event, but only one horse may be designated as the one to be used for points. This must be the same horse for all events, regardless if other horses are ridden. Time will not be given for tack changes please come prepared, particularly if you are riding more than one horse per event. The committee will try to space riders with multiple horses as much as possible.
25. All Riders are HIGHLY recommended to wear helmets for safety reasons.
26. In leadline classes, the horse must cross the line first (at the head), with the coach not to the rear of the horse’s shoulder.
27. In leadline, the coach must be 18 years old or older and in control of the horse at all times.
28. No re-rides for broken equipment, lost horseshoe, or your horse falling.
29. The Gymkhana Chairperson or designated person's decision is final with regards to Gymkhana organization.
30. Refunds will not be given due to dropped patterns or disqualifications.
31. No racing in the warm-up arena will be allowed. Please ride counter-clockwise on the rail when other riders are present.
32. Riders must walk their horses when outside of the arena.
33. With the understanding that MRA is encouraging a family atmosphere, it is expected that contestants will use good judgment and restraint when it comes to profanity. Those abusing this privilege to self-govern may be disqualified from the current event, and possibly asked to leave the premises.
34. The flip of a coin will break the tie for high point trophy, if this is acceptable to the contestants. If this is not acceptable to both parties, then the contestants will run the Clover leaf pattern for a tiebreaker.
35. MRA leadership and judging personnel reserve the right to remove any horse and rider without recourse.
36. Points go to horse and rider team for each gymkhanas high point award. The cumulative points, however, go with the rider during the entire gymkhana season.
37. At the end of each disqualified run the announcer will provide the reason the disqualification was given per the Judge. Time for the run without the disqualification will be given if available. This is left up to the judges' discretion. No re-rides will be given to a disqualified run regardless of whether or not the time is available.
38. Any protest regarding points should be made immediately after the day’s events are over. No point protests will be allowed after the day of the event.
39. The gymkhana committee will check out the arena prior to the event, provide for gate personnel to check the gear of the riders as possible, and ensure that the rules are provided to gymkhana personnel.
40. A sponsorship program will be in effect for every gymkhana. Anyone bringing in more than $100.00 worth of sponsors will ride the gymkhana for free.
41. Knocking down any props will be assessed a 5 second penalty. Failure to run a pattern correctly will result in disqualification for that event.
42. A contestant may, upon striking a pole or barrel, reach out and keep it from falling, without being assessed a penalty.
43. MRA reserves the right to revise these rules without notice of revision..
44. In the event of timer failure, the rider will be granted one re-ride. At the rider's preference, the re-ride will take place immediately or at the end of the class. Obstacles knocked down during the re-ride will not be considered justification for yet another re-ride
45. A $2.00 per rider Arena Fee will be assessed with all proceeds going towards arena maintenance.
46. The times for 8 out of 9 events will be counted for the year end high point awards.
47. All childern 5 and under must be on leadline at all times.
48. You must compete in 7 out of the 9 Gymkhanas to qualify for the High points.
49. If a person wants to be inside the arena during a run they must stay behind the timer line.
Fig. 1
Appendix I (The “Cross-Over” rule)
Fig. 1 shows the path of horse and rider on a standard cloverleaf barrel pattern.
At Point A, the horse and rider move towards the incorrect side of the barrel. The rider corrects turning towards the obstacle. This correction results in the same number of path cross-oversas there would be on an unimpeded run. At this point, the rider still has a qualified run going.
At Point B, the rider and horse team are again on the incorrect side of the barrel. The rider corrects turning away from the obstacle. This correction results in a higher number of cross-oversthan there would be on an unimpeded run. At this point, the rider has broken the pattern, and will be assessed a no-time.
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