Join the club!

Club Purpose:

-Connect with your horse without use of restraints

-Showcase your relationship between horse & human

-Show off your liberty work and tricks

-Safely learn about liberty & connection

-Contribute to and be part of a community of like minded liberty horse people

-Use Least resistance methods first (and be open minded to a balanced approach and different methods)

-Stay helpful & kind & create a lasting community that helps bring up the next generation of positive horsemen & horsewomen.

Costs:

-Yearly membership dues: $60/year per participant. Membership dues must be paid before any person may compete in any show.

-Show cost: $10/class

Monthly Info:

-There will be 12 topics/videos posted at a minimum per year in the Facebook Group. These videos will discuss various liberty/connection topics such as: trick training, liberty groundwork, herd behavior, horse mentality, horse-human connection, etc.

Club Rules:

-All participants must have a signed liability release on file. (Email to

whitmirefamilyranch@gmail.com)

-Any horse of any breed and any person of any age may participate. Horses and people can participate with multiple horses or people. (Each show you must pay $10 for each horse/person in each class.)

-Membership is paid yearly and covers from January 1 of that year until December 31st the same year. Membership allows you to participate and receive 12 videos in the Facebook group.

Entering the shows is a separate fee from the membership.

-Right to Deny/Terminate Membership: Membership can be denied based upon a person's actions/history of behavior and/or any other reason deemed fit by majority vote of the volunteers who help run the club. The membership of any member may be terminated by a majority vote of volunteers who help to run the club at any point throughout the year for any reason. Please email Amanda at whitmirefamilyranch@gmail.com to be part of that small group.

-Resignations: Any member may resign at any time if he/she so chooses.

-Whips/targets (up to 2) always allowed through all divisions (striking your horse will be penalized and if repeated, membership will be terminated.)

-Any type of tack is accepted through all classes, including but not limited to: English saddle/tack, western saddle/tack, Australian saddle/tack, treeless saddle/tack, dressage saddle/tack, bareback pad, any type or color of pad, any type or color of boots, any type of bit, any type of bitless bridle, bell boots, any type of fly sheet or winter blanket, any type of halter of any fabric. (although for the English & western classes you will be faulted for using the opposite tack. But you CAN show in the English class with a western saddle, you just won’t score as high.)

-Attire: ASTM/SET-Certified helmets are strongly recommended for all riders (only participants when riding) under the age of 18. Clothing worn by participants should be safe, comfortable, family friendly clothing. Western or English boots, pants, long or short sleeved shirts or sleeveless shirts are suggested for all classes that are not freestyle. Belts are optional. NO crop top shirts are allowed. A t-shirt, coat or sweater may be worn. AIl shoes MUST be closed-toed. NO flip flops, sandals or any footwear where you can see toes is allowed. No super long dresses/articles of clothing that may be dangerous to horse/human if they were to get tangled. Ballet flats or tennis shoes are acceptable. Suitable attire is at the discretion of the participants as long as they feel safe with their horse and follow the basic rules stated here. Failure to comply with the dress code will result in a disqualification for that show.

-Harassing the judges, club volunteers and/or any club member by another member and/or parent or guardian (person who signed the release form) and/or trainer will not be tolerated.This may result in a disqualification for the remaining club year.

-Participant Responsibility: AIl participants are required to read all the rules carefully. Failure to understand the rules is not an acceptable excuse.

Virtual “Show”:

-You will have the entire year to upload & submit your videos.

-The shows will be virtual, meaning you will record your class on your own device and upload the video to YouTube and then submit a link to your video to whitmirefamilyranch@gmail.com.

-Patterns are released and will remain the same patterns throughout the year for the show. (And like for 4 years like dressage.)

-Show cost is $10/class

-You may show in multiple divisions with the same horse or a different combination of horse/rider. You may show in as many classes as you’d like across all divisions.

-The show classes will be scored with a point system, and prizes will be awarded to the top 5 participants in each class each show.

-Prizes will be sent to the address listed when registered within 30 days of the judge’s decisions.

Divisions (all ages):

-Pre-Liberty : Halter/Lead rope attached and used at all times. No riding.

-Liberty : Halter/lead rope may be attached but may not be touched during classes. No riding.

-Ridden Liberty : Bareback or any type of saddle or pad may be worn, halter/lead rope/bridle may be worn but may not be touched during classes. No higher points scored for lack of halter/bridle/reins. (Safety is the main priority.)

Classes:

-Freestyle: You will be given a list of 3-5 activities, items or themes to include in your freestyle. It must be between 1 minute and 3 minutes. You may use music and costumes to boost your score.

-English: Complete a pattern of English-focused things such as jumping (no height advantage, you can jump a pole laying flat on the ground), dressage, spanish walk, etc.

-Western: Complete a pattern of western-focused things such as reining, spinning, western pleasure, dragging logs, simple trail obstacles, etc.

-Speed: Complete a set pattern as fast as you can. Total video time will be judged to the second, so start/stop your video when you want to be judged.

Penalties:

-A small scoring (or five second in the speed division) penalty will be assessed to a participant for any of the following:

*Dropping your whip/target, article of clothing/hat, or other tack/equipment during the class.

*For each obstacle knocked over in a class.

*Failure to follow the prescribed pattern in any class besides the speed division classes.

A large scoring (no time in the speed division) penalty will be assessed to a participant, with possible disqualification from that show for any of the following: Whipping, spurring, or striking the horse.

*Failure to follow the prescribed pattern in any speed class, (no backward motion allowed)

*Failure to comply with the dress code.

*Failure to comply with the tack and equipment rules. (Must have closed-toed footwear and a helmet if you’re under 18 in a riding class.)

Points:

-Points will go to the top 5 participants in each class of the shows in their respective divisions.

-In case of a tie, participants will receive the same number of points.

-Points are compiled as follows:

1st = 5 points

2nd = 4 points

3rd = 3 points

4th = 2 points

5th = 1 point

6th & after will receive no score/prizes/points.

Show Prizes/Awards:

-Awards & prizes will be given to the top 5 scorers in each class for each division.

-In the event of a tie, the two (2) places money/prizes will be added together and divided equally between the two, and the participants will receive like awards. The next place will be eliminated.