Membership in the Association is a privilege, not a right, application for which shall be made on forms and fees and procedures prescribed from time to time by the Association. Membership, or application therefore, may be terminated or rejected by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors for cause detrimental to the interests of the Association, its programs, policies, objectives, and harmonious relationship of its members as determined by the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.

1. Individual and Household memberships shall be determined yearly by the Board of Directors.

2. Members 19 Years of age or over must join as a member with a single membership, whether or not they are living at home.

3. Exhibitors will not be eligible for points unless their membership is paid up to date.

4. Membership fees shall run from January 1st to December 31st of current year. Memberships paid at fall meeting of the proceeding year shall be considered as a paid membership for following year.

5. It shall be the duty of each member to comply with and enforce the by-laws of the Midwest Horseman's Association.

6. The annual meetings, one in January and one in the fall, of the members shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing officers and the transacting of other business brought before the meeting. Normally done at Banquet.

Elective Officers and Duties

Section 1. Officers: The officers of the Association elected shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and such officers shall hold office for the period of one (1) year, and until their successors are elected and qualified. A Board of Directors consisting of 5 members and 1 alternate will be elected for 3 year, 2 year, 1 year term. With a review after each year for re-election, until their term is up. Nominations will be take up to the night of the awards Banquet. 

Section 3. Vice President: In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall have the powers and shall perform the duties of the President, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. He shall have all the privilege of attending all meetings of the Board of Directors of association, take part in the discussion and vote.

Section 5. Treasurer: The treasurer shall receive the money. He/she shall disburse the same only upon itemized demands and upon the order of the Executive Committee. He/she shall account for all of the same by itemized statements in detail to each annual meeting of the members and to the Board of Directors when demanded.

1. Eligible Exhibitors: All horses whose owners are members of MWHA shall be awarded points toward year end awards. Point Earner Must Show in the same class, at least 3 shows for Year End Awards.

Exception: Foal Halter

A. In a household membership all household members must be listed, so they may be eligible for points. A single membership includes persons nineteen (19) years and over, whether or not they are living at home.

B. Memberships will be accepted the day on show days, but points shall not count for that show. Exception: Memberships taken at the first MWHA show of the season shall count towards points for that show providing the membership was paid prior to showing.

C. All exhibitors shall be members of MWHA. All points accumulated towards a year-end award shall be on the horse, except in showmanship, horsemanship, leadline, and walk-trot equitation, where the points shall go on the person.

D. All horses shall be owned by members of MWHA . Once a person becomes a member of MWHA, the person's horse automatically becomes eligible for points; however the horses name(s) (include barn name if you show it under that name) and owner must be listed with the secretary and points keepers in order for points to count. Also, you must list your unnamed / unborn foals for those points to count when you show the foal.

E. All MWHA members must register their horses and ponies with the points keepers in order to assure accumulation of points. Any member purchasing or selling MWHA nominated stock during the show season must be reported immediately to the points keepers. Failure to do so will void accumulation of points for that horse or pony until the secretary or points keepers are notified. Horses added to nominated list must be added to a member's list previous to showing.

A. In MWHA approved classes points will be awarded to horses and/ or their exhibitors toward Year-end awards.

B. MWHA will use a 6 point system. 1st place will receive 6 points, 2nd - 5 points, 3rd - 4 points, 4th - 3 points, 5th - 2 points, and all Midwest members participating in the class will receive 1 point. ( 1 - 5 have participation already included )

C. When there are fewer than five horses in a class, the first place horse will receive as many points as there are horses or exhibitors in that class, each horse placing below the first place horse, will receive one point less than the horse placing ahead of it. EXAMPLE: If there were four horses in a class, the first place horse would receive four points, second would receive three points, third would receive two points and fourth would receive one point.

D. Accumulated points for any horse that is sold during the season by a member of MWHA to a nonmember shall be counted up to and including date of sale. If the new owner joins MWHA, the points for the horse sold will continue just as if no sale had occurred. The award will be presented to the registered owner with MWHA as of the last show date at which points are accumulated.

E. In each MWHA approved class, there shall be at least 4 point earners for that class, or class must be offered at least 50% of MWHA approved shows to qualify for year-end awards. All youth classes are exempt from this rule.

F. In case of a tie for Grand Champion, the horse receiving the most first places shall be Grand Champion, & the horse receiving the next highest number of first places will be Reserve Champion. This also applies youth classes.

G. In case of a tie for Reserve the horse receiving the most first places shall be Reserve. This also applies to youth classes.

H. In the case the above does not break the tie the horse earning the most points at the least amount of shows shall be the recipient of the award. If this does not break the tie, the horse receiving the highest placing with the most exhibitors will be the recipient.

I. In any case that may arise in regard to points awarded, their tabulation, or the eligibility of any horse, etc. , the ruling of the Board of Directors shall be final.

3. Bonus Points:

A. Bonus Points shall be awarded to point earning horses in classes with twenty entries or more. One point extra will be awarded each horse placing 1st thru 5th place. For Example: first place is awarded 7 points, 2nd - 6 points, 3rd - 5 points, 4th - 4 points, and 5th - 3 points.

Showbills:

MWHA Shall be limited to 32 accredited classes, excluding the Labor Day Show.

1. All exhibitors must securely affix his or her number to their back, and be clearly visible to the judge.

• Exception: Contest Riders, Number must be Worn on either Horse or Rider & Must be Visible.

2. Proper attire must be worn at all times.

3. Proof of youth riders age must be shown if questioned.

4. All horses must be under complete control at all times. Unruly horses may be excused from the show grounds. Owners must be responsible for their horses. An unruly horse is one whose actions endanger other exhibitors or their horses.

5. Cruelty, abuse, or inhumane treatment of a horse or pony by such as whipping, use of too severe a bit causing bleeding mouth, use of spurs causing bleeding sides, in either the show ring or the stabling area, is prohibited. If a horse or pony enters the ring showing evidence of inhumane treatment, exhibitor and horse shall be excused from the arena.

6. If an exhibitor or spectator brings a dog to a show, it must be on a 6 foot leash and held by a person, or tied to a truck, or trailer. All dogs should be kept away from the arena!

7. No Stallions are to be shown by a youth 18 yrs. & under , over weanling age.

8. There will be no approaching the judge without permission of the show committee. No rider or exhibitor shall stop the judge before, during, or after a class to discuss his horse, himself, or another horse, or exhibitor.

9. Should any question arise on the rules of MWHA the question will be decided and ruled upon by the members of the Board of Directors present and their ruling shall stand without further question.

10. All ponies Must be measured before showing at MWHA shows. They will be measured by officers or board members. Ponies will be under 14.1. The pony shall stand square with head lowered to find highest point of withers. Head will then be lifted to natural position, and measurement taken at the highest point of the withers. Allowances shall be made for shoes and pad. If a pony becomes the subject of a protest, he may be subject to a re-measurement. If a pony outgrows the height limit for his class before show season ends, points accumulated for that pony will stand for year-end awards.

11. Point Earner Must Show in the same Class, at 3 shows to be Eligible for Year End Awards.

1. Clubs, associations, or individuals wishing to approve a show must submit a sample showbill to MWHA secretary with a complete list of classes, the show date, judges name, and complete mailing address. This should be submitted ninety (90) days prior to show date with a $30.00 accreditation fee.

2. The MWHA Board of Directors has the right to accept or reject any application for show approval.

3. If a show is advertised as "rain or shine" and is subsequently not held on that date, the accreditation fee will not be refunded. If the show is rescheduled, accreditation fee may be applied to rescheduled show.

4. Shows to receive accreditation must be held between May 1st and Labor Day.

5. Approval of changes of the showbills are left to the discretion of the Board of Directors if done after sample bill has been already approved.

6. At least 50% of the classes on the showbill must be MWHA classes of accreditation.

7. Showbills to be accredited by MWHA must state: Proof of age or youth riders, or Jr. horse if questioned. All dogs must be on a 6 foot leash, All ponies must be measured prior to showing MWHA classes, and No approaching the judge without permission of the show committee.

8. All shows must payback 5 places with an entry fee of $3.00 or more.

9. MWHA will not hire judges for shows wishing MWHA approval. Clubs are responsible for hiring their own judges. A judge may not be hired more than once in a show season for approved shows. An association cannot hire the same judge Two Years in a row . Judges will not be approved if living within a 50 mile radius of the location of the show.

10. Midwest Horseman's Association will send a MWHA rule book to every show judge along with a showbill.

11. If your showbill is approved you will be notified. The secretary of MWHA must have the showbills for distribution 30 days prior to the show date, so they can be published in the Tri State Arena News.

The Tri State Needs the Showbill by the 1st of the month, 1 month preceding the show! It can not be advertised if the secretary does not have it!

12. When the weather is dangerous to the well-being of the exhibitors and their horses, the show will be called. If the show has been started, points from the classes that were held will count. The show may resume after it is deemed safe to ride. If a MWHA approved show is called, and the persons responsible for putting on the show refuse to call the show off, MWHA has the right to withhold points from those classes on.

13. It is strongly recommended that the arena be thoroughly worked for the safety of horse and exhibitor.

14. Some classes may be combined for shows and still receive MWHA approval. These classes still count for points in their respective classes. Classes are as follows:

A. Weanling, Yearling, and Two Year Old Halter, may be combined as Two years and under with foaling dates for eligible years listed.

B. Mens and Ladies Pleasure may be combined as Open Pleasure on horse 14.1 and over and rider

19 years and over, or Mens and Ladies Pleasure can be used for points to MWHA riders only if the showbill includes any age Mens and Ladies Pleasure. See class rules.

15. If weanling, yearling, and two year old are offered separately, they must be listed on showbill with foaling year.

16. All show secretaries for MWHA approved shows, are required to list the number of entries, all riders & their horses, in each class, so that proper points are awarded. All Results should be mailed to the MWHA Secretary within 14 Days after the Show. (Envelope & Postage will be provided.)

1. MWHA will not hire judges for shows wishing MWHA approval. Clubs are responsible for hiring their own judges. A judge may not be hired more than once in a show season for MWHA shows. An association cannot hire the same judge two years in a row. Judge will not be approved if living within a 50 mile radius of the location of the show.

2. A judge shall not appear on the grounds more than fifteen (15) minutes before the time show is to begin. A judge shall not visit in horse stall area, or with owners, nor inspect or discuss any horse entered in the show before judging.

3. Any judge hired to judge a MWHA show may not show at any MWHA show prior to their judging date for that season.

4. There will be no approaching the judge without the permission of the show committee. No rider or exhibitor shall stop the judge before, during or after a class to discuss his horse, himself, or another horse, or exhibitor.

5. MWHA Directors or show committee will back up the judges decision to disqualify any person for unacceptable behavior or cruelty to animals should the need arise.

6. A judge must order from the ring, any unruly horse, or one whose actions threaten to endanger other exhibitors, or their horses.

7. It is the judges responsibility to exhibitors and show committees to read and make himself, (herself) aware of MWHA rules and requirements.

8. In all pleasure equitation classes the judge may decide in what order he wishes to observe each gait. A walk, trot, and canter is required in both directions. (Exception, Horsemanship, see rules under class.) Asking an exhibitor to back his/her horse is required. ( see performance classes rules for individual classes.)

9. The judge may not ask exhibitors to reverse at a lope in any class for any reason, nor can he/she call a horse off the rail into the line up at a lope.

10. The judge shall not ask the exhibitors to exchange horse for any reason, in any class.

11. The judge will observe the contest classes being run. In the case of a questionable run his/her decision will be final, in accordance with our rules.