2007 MFTHBA Versatility Circuit Championship

The MFTHBA Circuit Championship competition is intended to develop awareness and encourage participation in the Versatility Program, both at the Regional and National level. This is done by discovering and recognizing the hard work and talent of horse and rider teams at the Regional levels and offering them the opportunity for national recognition and eligibility in the National Circuit Competition at the annual MFTHBA Show and Celebration. All affiliates are encouraged to step up and join the fun!

1) The 2007 Versatility Circuit eligibility season will commence on October 1, 2006 and will end September 1, 2007. The 2007 Versatility Circuit Season will end with the National Versatility Circuit Championship competition during the 2007 MFTHBA Annual Show & Celebration.

2) Each circuit must be comprised of a minimum of three shows or a maximum of five. All circuits mentioned are REGIONAL circuits unless specifically addressed as the NATIONAL Circuit. There will be no cost to the affiliates for inclusion in this program. Regional Circuit awards must be procured by and will be at the discretion of the Regional Circuit management.

3) Application for Regional Circuit Show status must be made through an Affiliate chapter. Affiliates must apply to the MFTHBA Ava office to 1) qualify as a Circuit show and 2) be approved as a National Point Show. The name of the Regional Circuit Manager and Circuit Scorekeeper must be included in the application. Regional Circuit Show applications will be approved and coordinated through the MFTHBA office and the Versatility Committee. We encourage inter-affiliate cooperation in forming a Circuit. However, if an affiliate is not able to create a Circuit on their own, the Versatility Committee will place them with a Circuit, if it is geographically feasible.

4) It is encouraged that each circuit show offer a full slate of official Versatility classes, i.e. as delineated in the official rule book in all three Divisions (Open, Amateur and Youth).  Show management my combine division classes when necessary and select fewer classes with the restriction that they must include the following mandatory eight classes: Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Showmanship, Trail, Reining, Barrels and Poles. All other Versatility Classes, as delineated in the official rule book, may be considered for optional classes, whose points will count toward the regional championship.

5) All Circuit show rules must be based upon Versatility rules in the current MFTHBA rule book. These rules pertain to all Circuit situations and must be strictly enforced.

6) Each Regional Circuit must appoint a Regional Circuit point keeper to keep a record of the points for all the Versatility Circuit participants for each Regional Circuit show. The point keepers should not be competitors nor have immediate family members who are competitors. Each show within a Regional Circuit is required to use the same point system. For uniformity, we recommend that the point system be based on the number of entries in the class, but with a maximum of 10 points allowed for first place even if there are 11 or more entries. Example: If there are 10 horses in a class, 1^st place receives 10 points, 2^nd 9 points, 10^th receives 1 point. If there are less than 10 entries in a class, the points awarded reflect that number, i.e. if there are 6 horses, 1st place receives 6 points, 2^nd 5 points and so on. We recommend awarding points to at least 10 places when there are ten or more entries. When it is necessary to combine division classes, all entries must be placed for record keeping purposes. Points will be awarded based on the number of entries in each respective Division in each class. Points for the National Circuit Championship at the annual Show and Celebration will be tabulated according to the Versatility section of the MFTHBA Rule book.

7) The Regional Circuit score keepers must send the Versatility Circuit point results from each show to the MFTHBA office within two weeks after the show. Any show held during the month of August must send in their points prior to September 1, 2007. Results may be published on the website for competitors to check on their circuit status and will be published in the MFTHBA Journal.

8) The top four competitors in each Division of their Regional Circuit will be eligible to compete for the National Versatility Circuit Award in their Division at the annual MFTHBA Show and Celebration.

9) Competitors who qualify for the National Circuit Competition may compete in any or all of the Versatility classes at the annual MFTHBA Show and Celebration. Only the points earned at the MFTHBA Annual Show and Celebration will be tallied to determine the 2007 MFTHBA National Circuit Versatility Champion for each Division. Points earned at the Regional Circuit shows will be tallied to determine eligibility to enter the National Circuit competition and to determine the Regional Circuit winners.

ELIGIBILITY

1) All riders and horse owners must be MFTHBA members in good standing. Membership in the National organization must be effective before the date of the horse and rider’s first circuit competition.

2) Competitors must ride a registered MFTHBA horse, 3 years of age or older. Competitors may ride more than one horse in the competitions, but only horse and rider teams will be considered for the circuit high point awards, not the individual rider or horse. Only one rider per horse will be considered for any Circuit awards. Horse and rider teams may not change Divisions after their application has been received. If it is necessary for a competitor to change horses, a new application must be completed and any points accrued will not be carried over to the new horse.

3) Each competitor may compete in only one Division (Open, Amateur or Youth). Amateur competitors must have an Amateur card.

4) Competitors must make application prior to the first Versatility class of the first Regional Circuit show they attend. Competitor records and points will be maintained by the Regional Circuit scorekeepers who shall be appointed by the show committees of the Circuit shows. Application forms will be available through the MFTHBA website or may be obtained from the MFTHBA office or at your Regional Circuit show.

5) The top four competitors from each Division of each Regional Circuit who have met the eligibility requirements and desire to compete at the MFTHBA Annual Show and Celebration for the National Versatility Circuit Championship must make application to the MFTHBA office before the first Versatility class of the 2007 Show and Celebration.

1) Regional Circuit awards must be procured by and will be at the discretion of the Regional Circuit Management. They may request that Regional Circuit Champions be acknowledged at the MFTHBA annual Show and Celebration with the presentation of awards procured by the Regional Circuit management. Requests for recognition must be received by the MFTHBA office prior to August 1, 2007. Regional Circuit awards may also be presented at the last regional Circuit competition.

2) National Versatility Circuit Awards will be presented to the Champion and Reserve high point earners in each Division at the 2007 MFTHBA Show and Celebration. Awards for the National Versatility Circuit High Point Champions will be procured by the Versatility Committee members and volunteers through sponsorships.

Revised 9/2/06