Rules

Official Rule Book of the

SA Barrel Horse Association Incorporated

January 2003

FOREWORD

The SA Barrel Horse Association Inc was formed in January 1999 to organise Barrel Racing clinics and competitions open to male and female contestants of any age.

The SABHA serves as an information centre for its members and the general public on matters pertaining to SABHA approved events.

BARREL RACING RULES

1. Competitors may go either to the right or left barrel first, but must take one right and two left turns or one left and two right turns. An incorrect pattern will incur a disqualification.
2. A five second penalty will apply for knocking over a barrel. Touching the barrel is permitted.
3. Competitors will be disqualified for not being ready when their name is called. Three calls will be made before disqualification.
4. Should a barrel be knocked over and set upright again on its opposite end a five second penalty will apply.
5. The starting and finishing line and position of the barrels must be marked permanently for the entire event. The horse’s nose will be scored and time clocks started as it passes the score line at the start and stopped in the same manner at the finish of the run.
6. The starting and finishing line must be in line with the first and second drums.
7. Should for any reason the barrels not be placed on the markers or the timers are not in the correct position, the whole event must be re-run with everything in order.
8. Judges/Dispute Committee must make the decision that the barrels are not on correct markers at the time of the event before the barrels are moved from their position.
9. Should this happen, competitors and judges should be notified, then judges and arena directors will set a time for a re-run.
10. Drums must be 44 gallon size (empty) and have at least one end enclosed. Closed end to be at top.
11. If a competitor wishes to withdraw for any reason (eg veterinarian certificate) the decision will be left to the discretion of the committee.
12. If a competitor turns down a run he/she will be disqualified on that horse for the entire event (ie no round money paid) except in the case of a veterinary certificate or the sighting of an unhealthy horse.
13. Any member of the association who does not follow the rules will be disqualified.
14. Timers are to be informed that clocks are not to be stopped until the rider has completed the course or in the event of an accident.
15.  A contestant may compete on as many horses as desired in the Novice Horse section, but each horse is restricted to compete in two sections on the day of a competition.This rule does not apply to the tiny tots barrel race.
16. Before commencement of competition horses may be exercised in arena until the course has been marked to the approval of the committee. No circling around markers is permitted. Any member abusing this privilege may be removed from the arena. Further disciplinary action may be taken.
17. No barrel/barrels are to be placed in the arena prior to the course being set on the day of a competition. One warning will be given to offenders.
18. No circling horse in arena (alley is not part of the arena). Tail turn to barrel course is not permitted. A tail turn is when a horse does a circle and crosses its own tracks. The time event box is not part of the arena in a barrel race. A warning will be issued on first offence.
19. If a .5 second difference occurs between manual clocks, the competitor has an option of a re-run. The re-run is only permitted if a clear run was made (ie no knocked barrels).
20. Hat or other foreign objects (eg bell boot) must be cleared from the arena before the next run.
21. A $5 hat fine will be imposed on competitors who lose their hats whilst competing.
22. Where a full course can be fitted in the arena it must be marked, but cannot exceed maximum measurements:
    27.43m between first and second drums
    27.43m from centre of first and second drums to third drum
    18.3m from first and second drums to start/score line
    Drums a minimum of 5m from any obstacle
23. Hitting a horse around the head or excessive use of whip or under & over in competition will result in disqualification for the duration of the entire competition. This rule will be enforced at the discretion of the judge and committee and applies to any acts of animal cruelty. In this case there will be no refund of entry fees.
24. More than two (2) whips between barrels and four (4) whips coming home , or more than two (2) contacts between barrels and four (4) contacts coming home with an under & over will result in disqualification. To be ruled by the judge.
25. RECORD ATTEMPT: to record an official SABHA record measurements, rules, equipment, etc must be checked, recorded and confirmed to be in order by at least three SABHA members.
26. ELECTRIC EYE TIMING: If the electric eye fails to work for more than one half of the contestants in a round, the back up (manual) recorded times will be the official times for all contestants in that round.
27. MANUAL TIMING:Two clocks must be used. If one clock fails , the time will be taken from the remaining clock. The average time from the two clocks is to be the official judge’s time for that round. A back-up clock is to be used whenever possible. The times from manual clocks should be recorded to the hundredth of a second.
28. Members competing must wear a suitable collared sleeved shirt, protective helmet or western hat, boots and jeans in the arena at all times. He/she must be neat and presentable. Hats (safety/western) must be worn at all times whilst riding horses (ie – includes warming up).
29. Junior competitors (16 years old and under) must wear an Australian Standards Association approved helmet with chin strap securely fastened at all times whilst riding.
30. Disputes: All disputes must be in writing and lodged with the committee within 30 minutes after the completion of that event with a $25 non-refundable deposit.
31. Adjustments to the rules may be made on the day subject to committee discretion, to be advised prior to commencement of the event.
32. No person who is clearly intoxicated shall be allowed in the arena whether it be to work or compete.
33. Barrels will be set out no earlier than 15 minutes before official start time in order to allow competitors enough time to warm up horses in the arena if they wish to.
34. Only financial members of the SABHA or receipted day members of same are allowed to ride in the arena on the day of an event.
35. In order for competitors to be eligible for end-of-year champion or runner-up awards, they must attend during the qualifying year more than 50% of points competitions held by the SABHA.

BARREL RACE SECTIONS

OPEN RIDER – Open to all competitors including juniors.

2nd DIVISION RIDER – Open to any competitor not having won more than $1000 in ANY barrel race where an entry fee is paid and prize money is won.

JUNIOR RIDER – Open to any competitor 16 years old and under.

NOVICE HORSE – Open to any horse not having won more than $300 in ANY barrel race where an entry fee is paid and prize money is won.

LED RIDER – A Led Rider is any person who is not able to control their mount without aid. A lead rope must be attached to the horse/pony and the rider assisted by the handler in led events.

 POLE BENDING RULES

Equipment:

Six round poles at least 1.5m high. Poles should be

more than 25mm dowling.

Poles are to be 6m apart.

If using rows of poles , rows are to be a minimum of 8m apart.

The start/finish line should be 6m from the first pole and marked by markers or a line.

Riders must pass the first pole on their left.

The first rider across the line with the least number of faults wins.

Disqualification will occur for a knocked or missed pole.

 CALCULATING PRIZE MONEY

Barrel Race

Sections – Open Rider, 2nd Division Rider, Junior Rider, Novice Horse

Entry Fee $15 per section

Section comprising 7 or more entries – normal situation

Prize Money $100 per section

1st     50% 2nd     30% 3rd     20%

Less than 7 entries in a section – “Jackpot”

$5 of entry fee is retained by the SABHA

$10 of entry fee is multiplied by the number of competitors and forms a “jackpot”

Jackpot is divided by only 2 placings–

1st 60%      2nd 40%

Note: 2 or less riders pays 1st place 100% of jackpot

Pole Bending

Sections – Open, Junior, Led

Entry Fee $5 per section

Prize money consists of a jackpot

$1 of entry is retained by the SABHA

$4 of entry is multiplied by the number of competitors in that section and forms a jackpot

1st     60% 2nd     40%

Note: this event is timed individually

Led division contains only 4 poles, all other sections 6 poles.