Central Australia Western Riders Club
We the members of the Central Australian Western Riders Inc [CAWRI], in carrying out our role of promoting Western Riding activities in Central Australia, recognise the need to do so in a professional manner and to deal with the public and our colleagues with the highest degree of integrity. Also to ensure that the welfare of our horses and horses under our care is paramount and are treated humanly and with respect and compassion at all times.
Membership of the Central Australian Western Riders Inc is a privilege, not a right. Membership forms are available from the Secretary of the club and are on hand at all shows etc. All member fees are to be paid on an annual basis and are due to be paid on the 1st of January of the calendar year.
Membership fees are as follows:
Unless run under another clubs banner, the show nomination fees will be as follows:
All fees are subject to changes at the Annual General Meeting, un-financial members are to be treated as non-member
Any alterations to these rules may be affected by a majority vote at a special committee meeting to alter rules: at least 14 days notice must be given.
No person shall treat any horse in a cruel or inhumane manner.
This includes placing an object in the horse’s mouth as to cause undue discomfort or distress. Tying a horse in a manner to cause discomfort or undue stress, letting of blood from a horse, use of inhumane equipment or use of inhumane training techniques.
Any of the above may result in disqualification from an event or show or cancellation of members hip for the remainder of the current calendar year.
Any person who is of the opinion that a horse has been treated in a cruel or inhumane manner has the right to approach a Committee member, the Ring Steward or Judge of the day to voice their opinion.
The Ring Steward, Judge or, two or more Committee members has the right to remove or disqualify the offender/s.
All shows that the Central Australian Western Riders Inc run will have the results recorded by the Secretary and published in the newsletter [if there is one] and the results will always be included in the club’s next Committee minutes.
Committee minutes are available on request or at any event hosted by Central Australian Western Riders Inc.
The Central Australian Western Riders will keep all of the results.
A ring steward will be required for all Judges: the ring steward has charge of the activity in the area or ring. The ring steward has the authority to remove unsportsmanlike exhibitors and /or remove any horse to ensure the safety of other horses, riders or spectators. It is preferable that a ring steward be a knowledgeable horse person and will help the judge in any way.
Judges will be selected from the pool of judges by vote at monthly meetings before the following show. Judges will be rotated as much as possible, depending on availability etc. The judge should wear Western attire when judging. The Judge shall place to 4th place in all events.
All riders / handlers must sign a nomination and waiver form prior to competing in any events run by Central Australian Western Riders Inc. All competitors under the age of 18 (eighteen) years must have written consent of a parent / guardian.
All nominations / waivers are to be completed (paid and received) by the nominated closing time. Any late entries received on the day of the show will incur a $5.00 penalty fee.
Events are conducted under the rules & regulations of the AQHA (Australian Quarter Horse Association).
The Central Australian Western Riders Inc Committee reserves the right to alter the program without notice.
Encouragement and Youth are Central Australian Western Riders Inc Club Classes and therefore have less restrictive rules that form part of these rules and regulations. For Encouragement please refer to paragraph 12 and for Youth please refer to paragraph 11.
All competitors under the age of 18 (eighteen) must wear an approved safety helmet (Australian Safety Standard) in all ridden events.
Competitor / Back numbers must be worn / displayed in a prominent position for all events.
Riders entering the event under HC [hors concurs] must tell the ring steward upon entering the ring. Riders may ride under HC at any time.
The Judge or Ring Steward will use their discretion to open the arena when available for competitor practice.
Feeding/watering of horses at any time on the grounds is the responsibility of the owner/handler.
Protests must be lodged with-in 1 (one) hour of the event. The protest must be in writing to the Central Australian Western Riders Inc Committee accompanied by a fee of $20.00 which is refundable if the protest is upheld.
All competitors will abide by the show conditions set out by the Central Australian Western Riders Inc & those AQHA rules and regulations for events where applicable.
All Youth classes put on by Central Australian Western Riders Inc are a privilege not a right. Any suitable and safe attire and equipment may be used unless otherwise stated (at the discretion of the Judge in consultation with Central Australian Western Riders Committee).
The event will still be judged as a Western Event and Youth may have unlimited first placing in any event for the duration the rider is eligible to enter in the Youth Class Events.
Youth who are placing consistently in an Event in this Class are welcome to move up to Encouragement or Open. The horse/rider combination moving to Encouragement / Open must nominate as per show entry conditions. The horse/rider combination can not enter the same event for both Youth Class and a higher Class at the same show. The rider may only ride in the same event in Youth / higher Class if the rider nominates to ride HC [hors concurs] basis for the higher Class and will not receive placing or points in the higher Class. The rider must abide by the regulations of paragraph 14 – Rider Classes.
Should a Youth rider decide to move up to a higher class in an event and are placing in that event (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) they can not return to the Youth Class in that event.
Once a rider/horse combination makes the transition to ride in either Encouragement or Open – they must abide by the rules of that Class.
All encouragement classes put on by Central Australian Western Riders Inc are a privilege not a right. Any suitable and safe attire and equipment may be used unless otherwise stated (at the discretion of the Judge in consultation with Central Australian Western Riders Committee).
The event will still be judged as a western event and should be used as a stepping-stone to the open events. After a horse/rider combination has accumulated 3 (three) First placing’s in that particular event it (the combination) must move up into the open class for that event, or, stay in encouragement and participate in that event under HC [hors concurs] basis. i.e. no placing or points will be given.
Placing will accumulate for the duration of the combination and not just annually.
If a horse/rider combination enters in open class they may go back to Encouragement class provided they have not won in that event in open class.
If they are placed 2nd 3rd 4th they may still compete in encouragement class only until 3 first places are obtained in Encouragement.
In events where only the rider is judged (Refer paragraph 14 – events such as Western Horsemanship) only the rider will accumulate the 3 first places towards moving out of encouragement. The horse may continue to enter that event with another rider. An open rider in an event where only the rider is judged can not move back to encouragement with another horse in events where only the rider is judged (Refer also to paragraph 14 – Rider Classes).
Full Western attire must be worn. This includes:
Only Western saddles must be used. Junior horses 5 years old and under may be ridden in a snaffle bit or bosal with two hands, or, a curb bit with one hand. Senior horses 6 years and over must be ridden in a curb bit with one hand only. Junior and Senior horses may compete in the one class but must stay with their own rules [bits etc] .
Any tack not permitted by AQHA rules will not be permitted.
Rider Classes where only the rider is judged:
Riders may only ride in one class, Youth, Encouragement or Open but not both at the same show.
A rider nominating 2 or more horses in a show can only show/ride once in a rider class event. The rider must nominate which horse they will show/ride in that event.
Youth, Encouragement and Open classes will accumulate an aggregate score to be totalled at the end of each calendar year to produce high point winner for each main western event and a high point overall western champion. Only point’s earned in performance type events will accumulate for over all western champion - not halter, best-presented etc.
The four core events are as follows:
Only financial members are eligible to accumulate points.
Only shows nominated by Central Australian Western Riders Inc will accumulate points for aggregate scoring.
Only horse and rider combination applies to accumulate /aggregate scores. i.e. if you have 2 horses you will have two separate aggregate scores.
A horse may be used by two riders but can not compete in the same class. i.e may be one horse/rider combination in Encouragement and one horse/other rider combination in Open. In this instance the horse will have two separate aggregate scores.
Points will be calculated on the following basis:
Stallions/Colts are permitted in Encouragement and Open Classes but are not permitted to enter in Youth Classes. No Youth will be permitted to enter a Stallion/Colt.
While Stallions / Colts are permitted in Encouragement and Open Classes it is provided they are controlled by a competent rider/handler.
No persons shall enter the arena or compete under the influence of prohibited drugs or alcohol.