AQHA Executive Director of Judges Alex Ross has sent the judges an update on rule changes and issues that have recently been witnessed at shows that need to be addressed--one major issue concerning the western pleasure class regressing and the horses returning to a too slow over-canted pace. Please read the following information to be up-to-date on the latest news.

1. The following information was printed in the January Judges Update but we continue to hear about judges, while judging AND showing, that either do not understand the rule or choose to ignore it. Please read this information carefully. If you have questions, feel free to give me a call. As stated in the information below, the rule is correct in the online version of the 2012 AQHA Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

Rule 448(d) (4) in the 2012 handbook is incorrect. It states:

Effective August 1, 2011, the following horses may be shown with an Allowed Lip Chain in open, amateur and youth divisions.

(i) Mares 1 year of age and older; and

(ii) Geldings 1 year of age and older

This is incorrect. The rule should read:

Effective August 1, 2011, the following horses may be shown with an Allowed Lip Chain in amateur and youth divisions.

(i) Mares 1 year of age and older; and

(ii) Geldings 1 year of age and older

Mares and geldings in the open division are not allowed to use lip chains. The rule is the same as the memo you received in August 2011. Because of the misprint in the handbook, AQHA would like for you to be fair in your application of the rule. If an open exhibitor enters the arena with a lip chain on a mare or gelding, you should have your ring steward approach them and ask them to remove the lip chain. Do not disqualify them unless they refuse to remove the lip chain. This mistake has been amended in the online handbook. With that, if you are questioned, you can refer the exhibitor to that version for the correct ruling. It can be found at www.aqha.com.

From time-to-time, there are rule changes implemented in the middle of the year. (Like the halter lip-chain rules last year) Because of this, the online handbook will become the official handbook. You can find it on www.aqha.com. You will be notified in the Judges Update, or by memo, of any rule changes that may occur mid-year but you can always refer to the online version for all up-to-date changes.

2. In recent years there have been some positive changes in western pleasure. However, in recent months, I have received calls and emails from several knowledgeable judges that feel the class is regressing. Specifically, these judges feel the horses are being shown at a slower pace with the over-canted horse becoming more apparent than in the past couple of years. Most of the issues we see in western pleasure are created by lack of flow. When a horse is over-canted, it generally lacks forward motion and/or self-carriage. Because of this un-natural position, the horse “bobs” its head when loping and leaves the outside hock behind the hip (split hock), It is imperative that judges do the following:

a. Judge the class by the rules set forth in Rule 465(B).

b. Utilize gait calls (lengthening of the stride at the walk or lope) to encourage exhibitors to show their horses in a positive manner.

c. Reward horses that are being shown by the rules

d. Penalize horses that are not being shown by the rules (over-canted horses and horses that “bob” their head when loping are of particular interest)

There will be times when you have to be courageous and do the right thing. But, as we have said in the past, “You tell me how I will be judged and I will tell you how I will perform”. As the judge, through your gait calls and especially your placing, you have the opportunity to tell the exhibitors how they will be judged. Utilize both to your advantage and assist us in moving western pleasure in a positive direction. If this is not the direction you want to go, you need to request to be removed from the list of AQHA-Approved Judges. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on this matter. You can call or email me at aross@aqha.org.

3. Many of you will be judging ranch pleasure in the near future. Since the January Judges Update, the suggested scoring system has changed and all changes have been so noted on the score sheet. I would encourage all of you to carefully read the rules to ranch pleasure and also familiarize yourself with the ranch pleasure score sheet. The scoring has been changed from the “plus, check, minus” system to the maneuver range of (+1 ½ to -1 ½). The exception is that major penalties will be a maneuver score of -3. The split boxes on the score sheet are different than those on other scored classes. In ranch pleasure, the score sheet is split under each gait so you have a space to score the horse, at that gait, in both directions. At this time, there is no space to score the penalty and maneuver in different boxes.You simply score the gait (or maneuver) with the appropriate score. If you are judging a show with ranch pleasure and feel you may need clarification, feel free to contact me.

4. There will be a free roping clinic for judges at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, Nebraska on June 6, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. The classes covered will be Tie-Down Roping, Heading and Heeling. The clinicians will include Steve Orth, Brad Lund, Jay Wadhams, J.D. Yates, Jeff Carney, Mark Wray, Kevin Winters, Luke Jones, Jeff Straight, C.R. Bradley, and Jim Jirkovsky. There will be live runs, discussion on live runs and some video runs. This is an excellent opportunity for you to enhance your roping skills and we appreciate Sandy and the ropers for offering this for the judges.

If you are interested in attending, contact Sandy Jirkovsky at (308) 440-9627 or at jbarstraining@charter.net. You need to notify Sandy ahead of time if you wish to attend. The host hotel is the Staybridge Suites in Lincoln, Nebraska. Their phone number is (402) 438-7829. The closest airports are Lincoln, Omaha, and Grand Island, Nebraska.

5. There were three items, relative to judges, that were recently discussed at AQHA Show Management Seminars. Show management’s requests to judges are:

a. To return phone calls and/or answer emails in a timely manner.The professional and courteous thing to do is to return phone calls or emails, even if you can not judge the show. If you do this, it will elevate show management’s confidence in you and enhance the possibility that they will call you again in the future.

b. Submit patterns on time. All shows have to post patterns at least one hour before the class while some shows take it a step further and build pattern books for their show. If show management requests patterns by a certain date, be responsible and submit your patterns on, or before, the required dates.

c. Silence cell phones left in the office. Show managers have indicated many judges are leaving their cell phones turned on when they leave the phone in their briefcase in the office. When this happens, it can be bothersome to the office staff to listen when phone calls and/or emails come in throughout the day. So, please turn your phone off or put on “silent” when you leave it in the office.

6. We have discussed the need for judges to have the courage to adhere to Rule 438 (b) (5) which states “eliminate any horse/exhibitor as an entry which he/she feels is in violation of the intent of AQHA’s Prohibited Conduct rules, or which he/she does not feel has legitimately attempted to exhibit the horse to the best of the horse’s ability”. If you should eliminate an entry, or entries, from a class, make sure you announce the total number of entries in the class (without the eliminated horses). For example, 10 horses were in the western riding. Five horses completed the entire pattern with a score. Three horses completed the entire pattern but were disqualified for four or more simple lead changes (but they were obviously trying their best). Two horses completed the first two changes and then rode out of the arena. In this example, the judge should list a total of 8 entries in the class but also list the other two horses on the judges card as “eliminated entries” (per Rule 438 (b) (5)) AND list the situation on your judges report card you submit to AQHA after the show.

But, as noted above, so all exhibitors know there were not 2 points awarded for the first place horse, you make sure an announcement is made that there were a total of 8 horses in the class.

7. Another issue that needs to be addressed with Rule 438 (b) (5) is the incident where horses are entered in a class they are not eligible for. For example, it has been reported that performance mares have been intentionally entered in performance gelding classes (or vice-versa) to make that class a point or an additional points. Then, the judges have been disqualifying the horse(s) but still counting it (or them) as entries in the class. When this occurs, the horse(s) should not count as an entry (or entries) and should be so noted on your judges report card. This is obvious class filling so make sure you report it to AQHA.

8. Some shows are having the new “rookie” classes running concurrent with the corresponding class. Show management has been instructed to notify you of such classes but you should double-check the show program for the specific classes. When the rookie classes are included, you need to place through 15 places to ensure you have enough horses/exhibitors to reward the placing for the rookie class.

Quote: If you lack the courage to start, you are already finished!