The Good Horseman® Foundation - promoting the equestrian sport of Dressage

NEW DRESSAGE TESTS COMING: All dressage tests will be changed for 2011, effective Dec. 1, 2010. The new USEF tests, Training through Fourth Level, will be available sometime in September. USDF will have its new tests, Introductory, Freestyle, Pas de Deux and Quadrille Freestyle, are expected to be available by early October, at the latest. GHF is planning to hold a schooling show Nov. 6-7 at the horse park to introduce the new tests. Details about that will be made available soon on our Calendar page.
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and USDF Breeders Championship
Southeast Series Qualifier and Final Show (Sept. 19)

Walker Covered Arena

(Scroll down for Confirmation of Entries and important new USEF drug rules.)

LEXINGTON, KY--At this year’s USEF Annual Meeting held January 13-17, 2010, an important rule change was approved affecting the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in competition horses. Over the years, ongoing veterinary research has revealed that not only is there little or no benefit to administering more than one NSAID to a horse for most medical concerns, it can actually cause potentially harmful, even severe side effects.

Motivated by its commitment to the welfare of the horse, the USEF Board of Directors voted to amend its Therapeutic Drug Rule and restrict use to a single NSAID beginning December 1, 2011. Both the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) support the rule change, and USEF joins other organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and Equine Canada in making this important rule change.

(Effective for our May 1-2 show):While the presence of two of the seven approved and quantitatively restricted NSAIDs in a horse will still be allowed prior to December 2011 (with the exception of the forbidden combination of phenylbutazone “Bute,” and flunixin meglumine [Banamine^®]), it is important to note that new restrictions are in place concerning their use. Beginning April, 1, 2010, anyone administering two NSAIDs to a horse within five days prior to participating at a USEF-licensed competition will be required to complete and file a NSAID Disclosure Form with the USEF Steward/Technical Delegate or their Designated Competition Office Representative. This form will allow the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Program to collect valuable data regarding the use of NSAIDs in competition horses.

SNAFFLE ALLOWED FOR FEI TESTS--USEF now allows horses entered in all FEI-level tests to be ridden in the snaffle bridle. Here is the rule: DR 121.4. FEI tests ridden at national competitions (excluding USEF High Performance classes, USEF Young Adult qualifying classes, as well as FEI Junior and FEI Young Rider qualifying classes), a plain snaffle bridle or simple double bridle may be used, as above in DR121.2-.3. Only snaffles, curbs and bridoons pictured under Figure 1-B are permitted in FEI tests.

HEALTH CERTIFICATES: Owners of out-of-state horses entered in the March show may fax their health certificates to 404-288-3500 the Wednesday before the show.

SCRIBES' COORDINATOR: Karen Huck is the new GHF coordinator of scribes for all of our shows in 2010. Persons interested in being a written or computer scribe may contact her at 770-528-9207. There are some new USEF Rules regarding scribes:

(2) Scribes (including electronic scribes) must not be an owner, coach, trainer or family

(4) It is strongly recommended that scribes and apprentice judges not compete before

(5) First-time scribes must not be assigned to foreign judges or judges for FEI level

(6) Scribes. Only one scribe to be provided for the judging panel for the FEI Dressage

Tests for 4-year old, 5-year old and 6-year old horses and the USEF Dressage Test

OPPORTUNITY CLASSES: This is a new USEF/USDF division for entry-level competitors to have a chance to experience a dressage competition on payment of the regular $35 Training Level class fee but without the burden of the other usually required federation/association fees. Ribbons to sixth place will be given. These classes are permitted under the USEF requirements for a Level 3 competition, which this show is. These classes are in Training Level and carry an X in the computer code (See Class Lists on Page 8). Riders in these classes only do not have to be USDF or USEF members, do not have to pay the non-member fees. Horses entered in these classes do not have to be registered with either USDF or USEF and the owners do not have to pay the USDF Horse ID fee. Horses/riders may not be cross-entered into any other class or division in this show and must pay all other show fees and must comply with all USEF rules. (See GR821.8)

2010 SHOWS TO BE RATED BY LEVELS: USEF has instituted a program of rating dressage competitions. Every show will be given a levels rating. The GHF/CGF shows are Level 3. To see the criteria, click on this link:
2010 Dressage Levels Chart.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY CHECK-IN: Competitors who are arriving with their horses on Saturday or Sunday must go to the show office to check in and receive their packets before unloading horses--their horses must have a bridle number on their halters before being unloaded on show days. Their stalls will be locked. The show secretary will make the stall key available to the late check-ins on request.

OVERSTRIDE NOW REQUIRED FOR FREE WALK: USEF changes the rule for free walk: DR103 The Walk. [Chapter DR. Dressage Division] Effective 4/1/09: . . . 4. d. Free Walk. The free walk is a pace of relaxation in which the horse is allowed complete freedom to lower and stretch out his head and neck. The degree of ground cover and length of strides, with hind feet stepping clearly in front of the footprints of the front feet, are essential to the quality of the free walk.
Note: Overstride has always been required for Medium Walk, but not for Collected Walk.

TRAILER PARKING--Competitors may park their trailers in the lot next to Barn 6, the main show barn--unless posted signs indicate otherwise--or if there is a big tent there--a real indication of otherwise! Cars and trucks may park in the "retail" parking lot across the road, but trailers are not allowed to park in that lot.

BREAKFAST--The Concessions stand opens at 7 a.m. each day for breakfast. Hawthorn Suites offers a hot breakfast which is served starting at 6:30 a.m.

●Show’s High Score and Reserve High Score ribbons will be given to the riders achieving the first and second highest scores in the show in the following divisions: FEI (PSG, Int. I and 2 and GP scores only); Adult Amateur (AA classes only Training/Fourth Level); Junior/Young Rider (Training/4th, includes FEI Jr. and YR tests.), Freestyle (all levels) and Open (Training through 4th Level tests only, does not include Intro or FEI Young Horse tests). There must be at least two entries in any division to qualify for high-score awards. Scores below 60% will not be eligible. If same person receives the top two or more scores, the reserve score will go to the next highest-scoring horse/rider combination. (3/24/2009)

POSTAGE INCREASE: The cost of a stamp has gone up to 44 cents for a standard business-size letter with four 8 1/2 by 11" sheets in it. If you have an entry with more than four sheets of paper (or heavier paper) in it, please add one more stamp. If your entry gets to our post office with "POSTAGE DUE," this could cause your entry to be late and you could lose your Perfekt Paket fee.

SHOW OFFICE AND BARNS: The show is using a new office in the office formerly occupied by the Georgia Horse Council on the opposite side of the covered arena from the concessions stand and the main show office. We will be using the new Barn 6 which is at the same end of the covered arena as the new show office.

NEW FOR FOREIGN RIDERS--Now riders who are not U.S. citizens are eligible to participate in qualifying classes and USDF Regional Championships provided the owner/rider/trainer is a USEF member, is a Participating Member of USDF and the horse is fully registered with both USDF and USEF.

SCHEDULING STRATEGY: GHF show management does its best to schedule the show in a way that will produce the best results for the riders. Most horses perform best when they are very familiar with their surroundings which is why our shows are scheduled so that horses stay in the same arena for the entire competition and the judges are changed. It is our intent for riders to perform for one judge on Saturday and a different judge on Sunday. However, sometimes it is necessary for riders who are competing in two levels to be scheduled in different arenas. Also, we try to schedule the easiest test first and not to schedule one ride early in the morning and your second ride late in the afternoon—though sometimes that is unavoidable. It is our intention for you to ride in front of at least two judges during the weekend and to avoid uncomfortable scheduling conflicts.

NEW FEI TESTS: All FEI dressage tests have been changed for 2009, especially the FEI Young Rider tests (see USDF Regional Championships page in prize list). The FEI tests listed in the current USDF Directory are the old tests because the new tests were not released until after their publishing deadline. Be sure that you check the version that you are to perform--it must indicate 2009 on the test. You can find the new tests on the FEI website, www.fei.org Show managers can get the tests in legal-size format from Heather Petersen's website: www.petersendressage.com

SHARPS CONTAINERS: There are special red plastic boxes at the end of the aisles in the barns for the sole purpose of collecting needles and other similar medical wastes as per USEF GR1210.4 and Georgia Law.

We have a new fax number: 404-288-3500
e-mail address: goodhorseman

SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE IMPORTANT SHOW INFORMATION

USEF RULES
The good news is that USEF has discontinued the "affidavit" and the dressage discipline fee. The bad news is that riders/owners/trainers/coaches who do not include their current USEF membership card with their entry form and do not have it when they get to the show will have to pay the new $30 USEF non-member fee--no excuses. The $30 fee applies to all--juniors and seniors. USDF rules, however, are different (see below).
DRUG FEE: The USEF association fee collected for each horse in the show has been increased to $15 which includes $7 for the drugs and medications program.
CLARIFICATION: On your dressage test score sheet, one of the score descriptions has changed: a score of 5 now indicates a "marginal" performance instead of a "sufficient" performance.
LONGER WHIPS: Riders now may carry one whip no longer than 47.2". See the USEF Dressage Rules for complete details--there is more to know.

USDF NON-MEMBER FEE: The show management will collect a fee of $20 per show for each USDF non-member rider/owner/lessee. The fee will be submitted along with the USDF Report of Fees document. A $5 affidavit fee will be collected if the person does not provide a copy of their USDF non-member card which they may download from the USDF website. (For persons applying for the first time for a non-member number the $5 affidavit fee is not required.) Owners/lessees or riders exempt from the non-member number requirements are also exempt from the USDF non-member fee.

ENTRY FORM: Is is very important that riders use only the entry form and signature page found in the current GHF prize list for the show being entered. This is especially true for the signature page since USEF often changes the legal wording in the document that must be signed by every competitor.

FARRIER/VET BUILDING: There is now a new building that has been constructed to house the activities of the show’s veterinarians and farriers. It is located near Barn 5 (next to Pavilion building). Please tell the vet or farrier about this facility so that you can meet them there. Vets must not park next to barn/stall in the fire lane.

Please do not move your stall charts for horse or tack stalls. If you have a stabling problem, please contact the show office. There may be stallions and mares with issues and we sometimes position tack stalls to protect them.

(Prize lists are posted on the Calendar page)

DR122 Execution and Judging of Tests 7. Judging a Test.
k. After the sound of the bell, the competitor should enter the arena at A as soon as possible. Exceeding 45 seconds before entering the arena after the bell has sounded will entail elimination.

WARNING (SEE USEF RULE ABOVE): Our riders need to be quicker getting into the arena. The next rider should be entering the arena area when the preceding rider is saluting to leave so that the new rider has enough time to go completely around the competition arena before the bell/whistle sounds. Right now our riders are getting into the arena late and they are insisting on getting their ride around the competition arena after the bell rings. There is no rule granting the rider time to ride around the arena. If you do not enter at “A” within 45 seconds of the bell or whistle sounding, you will be eliminated. If you wish to ride around the perimeter of the arena, be sure you start going around the arena as soon as the preceding rider has saluted to leave, so add a minute in front of your ride time for this purpose. Be forewarned: If the show is running late, you will not have time to pass the judge.

How to Avoid a Collision in the Warm-Up Arena--please click here!