2009 Newsletter
2008 was a wonderful show season and we are looking forward to another great season in 2009!!
The 2008 Awards Ceremony was great. Congratulations to Jim and Sandra Devine on such a neat place, the decor is so unique and the root beer is wonderful (Reminds me of the days of A&W drivin-ins with carhops- the root beer was so good!!). The dessert bar was delicious!! As usual the prizes were superb. This year we were again able to award prizes to three places in addition to the eleven versatility prizes awarded, 1st place (champion) and reserve (2nd place), and 3rd place. Awesome!!!
Thank you to Julie Korkow for doing the web site this past year. However Julie is so busy that Jody Sept has graciously offered to do the web site now. I know she will do a great job. We do appreciate you keeping it going Jody.
The show managers recently met to go over the rules and add or delete classes. We made a few changes. As always when we are contemplating changes we try to do what we feel will be the most beneficial to the Circuit. We try to make it fun and fair for everyone. Sometimes we don't think of everything so if anyone has suggestions please let us know because we do not want to slight anyone and if we make the changes and they pose unanticipated problems we can always amend those changes in the next season.
The first change we made is the age for youth. The change in the age groups we made last year did not work very well so we changed to:
Age Groups:
Youth- 16 years of age and under as of Jan. 1st of current year.
Adults- Over 16 years of a age as of Jan. 1st of current year
Ribbons:
Due to the cost of the ribbons and a lot of people not picking up anything below a 1st place ribbon, each show will now be required to give ribbons to 3 places but have the option of whether or not they give out 4th place ribbons. It will be your responsibility to pick up your ribbons if you want them. The ribbons mean more to some than others so feel free to not pick them up if you do not want them.
Classes:
Pony Trail In- Hand –
We have had a request for more pony or miniature horse classes. We added a Pony In-Hand Trail Class. This will not be a riding class. The pony will be shown in a halter. Show managers may use the same course as yearling trail and just add jumps to the course (reason being miniature horses have jumps in their classes). This will be a good class also for youth who do not feel comfortable riding their ponies through the trail course. Also those with ponies could enter both the riding and the inhand trail classes. Exhibitors in the yearling and pony in-hand trail classes should try to get their class done before noon. This is for your convenience and to free up the trail course.
Driving Class:
We thought about dropping the driving class but then found out there is still interest in it so decided to keep it again this year.
Paint Horse Class:
I will fill out papers for the Paint Horse Association again this year so that we will again be certified with them. The order of the reining and western riding classes has been switched on the class list.
Western Riding:
Will now be class #49 and reining will be class #51.
Free Style Reining:
This is another class we thought about dropping but several people expressed interest in entering it this year so we decided to keep it also. HOWEVER, the exhibitor must give the judge the pattern they will be riding before the ride begins. This class has specific maneuvers but exhibitor may add others to the pattern and may have them in any order but the judge needs to know the order. Everyone will have been practicing a pattern so all they will have to do is write it down for the judge beforehand.
Novice classes:
It is novice rider not novice horse. We have always gone on the honor system – you know what places you have won. In determining your novice status it is encouraged to consider your past open show and breed horse show records as well as your EMHSC record.
If you want to be sure a class is not dropped please enter that class consistently because the number of exhibitors in a class is the first thing we look at when deciding which classes to keep and which to drop. If your horse gets injured or sick and cannot compete and you would like to substitute another horse until it is sound enough to compete again be sure to get a vet's certificate confirming the horse is unable to be shown. If you do not have a vet's certificate the points of the substitute horse will not count for total points.
If you change horses and already have your entry forms filled out for the season with the horse's number be sure and change your entry blank – you cannot use the same entry all season unless you change the horse's name and number to the horse you will be
using.
Since we have (9) shows, we will drop the points from (3) shows. This will give everyone more of a chance if something comes up and they can't make all the shows. As before this is figured on a class basis – we don't drop the entire show just the lowest points in each individual class. Of course it is still to your advantage to go to all of the shows if you possibly can, that way if you have an off day it won't hurt your points that much. You must enter a minimum of 4 shows in each class you compete in to be eligible for year end prizes in that class.
It has worked really well to keep the same number all season so we will continue with it. We are going to start fresh with numbers each year. We will start with number 1 and continue right on down the line. When you show up at your first show whatever number
or numbers you receive will be your number (or numbers) for the entire season. If you want a certain number you may have it (if it is not already taken) but you must pay for it. It will cost $10 to reserve a number. Just request that number or numbers when you fill out the eligibility application (be sure to say what horse the number is for) and pay $10 (for each number you are requesting) along with your eligibility fee for the season. We will keep a list of the numbers. As always, you will need a different number for each horse and rider or handler combination. On the back of the eligibility form will be some information we would like you to fill out. This will help us when we do the high point awards at the end of the season. Not everyone is sending copies of the registration forms for their horses. We really do Need these. Also when you list your horse it would be helpful to know the registered name and the nickname. Sometimes when entering people use the registered name and sometimes the nickname. That makes more work when doing the points.
This year we are purchasing a computer and a software program which will travel to each show. This should make less work for everyone- both the show managers and the exhibitors. We are hoping this will make a lot less work when doing year end points. It
is important to get your eligibility sheets in early so you can already be entered into the data base before the first show. We are enclosing self- addressed stamped envelopes again this year so that you may get your eligibility forms in early. Please use these
envelopes and get your eligibility sheets back as soon as possible. There is an entry blank included in this packet. You may make as many copies of it as you need to . That makes it easy to fill out your entry (or entries if more than one horse) ahead of time.
Then all you will have to do that day is turn in your entry with your entry fees, pick up your number (or numbers if more than one horse or horse and rider/handler combination) and you are ready to go. This will help the show run a lot smoother and it will also
take a load off of you when you are in a hurry to get entered for the show. If you are entering both days of weekend shows, you cannot enter both days on the same entry form. You must fill out an entry form for each horse for each day. When you try to enter
two shows on one entry form it is a nightmare for the office as each day is a separate show.
Be sure to read the rules and the class list carefully. The order of some of the classes has changed. Each show manager that has a high point award should post sheets listing the class numbers that qualify for that specific award. This should help eliminate confusion over which classes count toward the award. It would be appreciated if parents would sign up
their children for the high point awards, because sometimes children get confused and sign up for classes they aren't even entered in.
Remember the novice classes novice rider not novice horse. If you were a novice this past season and have now won a total of 3 or more 1st places or have own a novice year-end award, you will no longer be eligible for that novice class. If you have won a novice versatility award you will not be eligible for any of the novice classes (performance and speed events are figured separately). However, if you qualify for novice at the beginning of the season you may show novice for the entire season regardless if you win 3 or more 1st places during the season. Be sure to watch your classes and keep track of your placings yourself. It's pretty hard for the show managers to know how many times you have won. If you compete novice and are not qualified to do so, you will not be eligible to receive year end awards for those classes. This also applies to youth who have won 3 or more 1st places or a year end versatility award in the youth classes – they do not qualify for novice classes.
The excitement is starting to build up for another great season. We are already getting requests for information from possible new members. We are certainly looking forward to it.
Happy Trails!
Marge Griebel
