Important Tracking Rule Change for all WCHA Events
From Don Falcon, WCHA Show Manager:Dear WCHA Futurity Participants,
We are 3 weeks away from seeing you all in Fort Worth !!!!! Thank you for your participation and we’re going to do our very best to provide you a fun and profitable experience!!!
I want to inform you of a NEW POLICY FOR TRACKING your horse at all WCHA EVENTS, please see the attached document that applies to both exhibitors and judges. In the past I’ve preached to you in the warm-up pen about how important it is for you to walk “STRAIGHT TO THE JUDGES” when you enter the class, trot straight away and continue trotting around the cone and continue trotting to the far cone.
Half of our non pro exhibitors comply with this rule but far too many don’t seem to grasp the concept on walking straight to the judges without veering off to the side. The pattern for our halter classes never changes, our exhibitors ARE REQUIRED TO DO THE PATTERN CORRECTLY, yes, I know you’re handling young weanlings that likely have never been shown before, I urge you to practice practice.
(Don’t have that safety cord or lip chain cinched down tight, keep your lead hand “soft” and quiet and if your horse hesitates do not turn and look him in the eye…… this only makes things worse, and he will lock up). You will only have 3 attempts to complete the pattern CORRECTLY……. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. How disappointing it will be for you and all of us if you’re disqualified before you get to show your horse in the class so please don’t let that happen. Remember …… You MUST trot all the way to the far cone !!!
We will have cones in the arena the evenings before the next day’s classes for you to practice in the arena you show in…… so when you’re out their practicing “setting up” go through the pattern.
Also see our Disability Rule if you need to have someone lead your horse through if you qualify under medical exemption.
Please read the entire document but this is an excerpt:
EXHIBITOR PROCEDURE
The exhibitor must track the horse straight to and away from the judge. The exhibitor should make every attempt to track the horse on the first track.
The exhibitor should begin trotting after the judge/judges move to the right, trot to the right of the first cone, continue trotting and make a smooth left turn around the cone and continue trotting to the next cone which will be placed approximately 30-50 feet away.
The exhibitor shall have a maximum of 3 attempts to execute the tracking segment of the class. If the exhibitor fails to execute the tracking segment in 3 attempts, the exhibitor will be excused and disqualified.
The complete document can be viewed/downloaded below:
WCHA Standard Procedures_Tracking and Lameness
