1.    Contestants are responsible for determining the eligibility of themselves and their horses to enter any class.  Any points earned by an ineligible horse or rider will automatically be revoked.

2.    Proof of ownership may be required at any time.  A notarized bill of sale or bona fide registration papers constitute proof of ownership.

3.    All Gold Country Cutting Horse Association (GCCHA) shows will be judged by  both National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) and GCCHA rules.  If a conflict arises, GCCHA rules will take precedence.  All horses are to be judged on performance only.

4.    A horse shall not enter the arena at any GCCHA contest with any abusive gimmick or training device, except help horses may use martingales.  Futurity horses may use training devices during the futurity works.  Horses must be ridden with a bridle having a bit in the mouth or with a hackamore.  A bridle shall have no noseband or bosal and hackamores shall be of rope or braided rawhide with no metal parts.  A judge must be able to freely pass two fingers between the hackamore and muzzle completely around the horse’s nose.  Choke ropes, tie downs, wire around the horse’s neck, nose, or brow band, tight nose band, quirt, bat or mechanical device giving the rider undue control over a horse will not be permitted in the arena.  Wire of any kind and on any part of the curb device is not permissible.

5.    Any abuse or inhumane treatment of animals on the show grounds will not be permitted.

6.     Western attire is required in the arena, arena warm up area, and practice pen while on horseback.  Western attire is encouraged but not required in a warm-up area which is distinctly separate from the arena.  Western attire includes western hats  (safety helmets are permitted) and western boots.  Riders must wear long-sleeved shirts with collars with buttons or snaps completely down the shirtfront.  Sweaters may be worn over an appropriate shirt.   Waivers are permitted only per NCHA rules.

7.    A show representative will be appointed by the President to act as a liaison person between the Board of Directors, contestants, cattle supplier and spectators.  It shall be his/her responsibility to settle any problems which may occur during the show.  If said representative should have to leave before the conclusion of a show, it shall be his/her responsibility to appoint a replacement to carry on his/her duties until the conclusion of that show.

8.    The Board of Directors shall have final say on all matters.

9. Any comment about the performance of horses working shall not be made within hearing distance of the judge.  A contestant shall not talk with the judge(s), beyond the exchange of normal greetings, during a show.

10.    The Board of Directors has the right to disqualify or refuse entry to any contestant for any actions of misconduct, including harassing the judge(s), show management, or employees.

11.    Judge(s) shall present, in writing, any grievance that he/she may have against contestants to any officer, board director, secretary, or representative of GCCHA.  The Board of Directors shall review the grievance.  The Board may enforce penalties, as it deems suitable.

12.     All complaints must be made in writing by contestants and must be filed with a $15.00 non-refundable fee, within one (1) week of the show involved.  Such complaints will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and a decision rendered.

13.    The show representative shall cancel any class that does not have two (2) or more horses entered, except Youth classes.  Cancelled classes may be combined with another class and cattle from that class added to make a sizeable herd.  When classes are combined, the entire combined class will be drawn in a single draw.

14.    Once a horse is in the draw, no money will be refunded.  If a horse is scratched before the draw, the cattle charge will not be refunded. 

15.    When time is called, a rider must quit at the earliest possible convenience.  Failure to comply will result in a penalty to be determined by the Board of Directors.  After the buzzer sounds, the contestant will discontinue working and ride his/her horse forward past the judge’s stand before dismounting.

16.    Both owners and riders must be members of GCCHA to compete.  To comply with GCCHA insurance requirements anyone riding or showing a horse on the show grounds must be a member.  If ownership is a partnership, only one partner must be a member.

17.     Age of Senior Youth is fourteen (14) through eighteen (18) years of age and Junior Youth is thirteen (13) years of age or under.  Age to be ascertained January 1, of that year and carry the entire year.

18.  Any horse exhibited by a Non-Pro in a GCCHA cutting horse contest must be owned by the contestant showing the horse or by the contestant’s spouse or minor child (under 21 years of age).  Said minor child may ride a horse owned by either parent or legal guardian. 

19.    There will be no alcoholic beverages or controlled substances allowed in the arena, warm up area, or practice pen.  However, alcohol consumption in the parking area is contingent on the rules of the owner of the grounds on which the show is being held. 

20.     Entry fees shall be set by the Board and published in a timely manner.

21.    The following chart illustrates the distribution of points:

Distribution of Points

   2  Places     3  Places     4  Places    5 Places   6 Places

       60%              50%             40%         30%          30%

       40%              30%             30%          25%          24%

                             20%            20%           20%          18%

                                                 10%          15%          12%

                                                                   10%          9%            

                                                                                     7%

 

22.                    Points will be awarded first through sixth place in all classes, at all shows.  In the event of a tie, points are combined for the places tied and divided equally among them.  When there is a tie for an award, a coin will be flipped to decide the winner.  Points will count in each separate class towards an award for that class only.  Awards will be determined in each class by the number of points earned.  Points will be determined based upon ten (10) points per horse in the draw for each class.  Points will not be awarded for a score of  zero (0).

23.    A horse/rider must show in at least 50% of a class to qualify for year-end awards.  Year-end awards include first through sixth place  and Top Ten Horse Awards.  Other awards may be established by the Board.

 

24.    GCCHA classes are defined as follows:

            OPEN and novice horse CLASSES (Points go to the horse) -

a.             Open – Any horse ridden by any rider.

b.             10,000 Novice Horse  - Any horse not having won more than 10,000 dollars/points.  Any rider. 

c.           3,000 Novice Horse - Any horse not having won more          than 3,000 dollars/points.   Any rider.

d.             10,000 Novice Non-Pro –  Any horse not having won          more than 10,000 dollars/points being ridden by a Non-Pro.

e.             3,000 Novice Non-Pro – Any horse not having won more than 3,000 dollars/points being ridden by a Non-Pro.

   NON-PRO CLASSES (POINTS GO TO THE RIDER) -

f.       Non-Pro  - Any Non-Pro rider as defined by NCHA rules.

g.       20,000 Non-Pro  Any Non-Pro rider whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 20,000 dollars/points.

h.       2,000 Limit  Rider - Any rider whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 2,000 dollars/points. 

i.        50,000 Amateur - Open to certain Non-Pro riders per NCHA rules whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 50,000 dollars/points.

j.          10,000 Amateur -  Open to certain Non-Pro riders per NCHA rules whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 10,000 dollars/points.

k.      500 Limit Rider – Any Non-Pro rider whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 500 dollars/points.  Rider does not have to own horse.  (See rule 31)

l.             Two Handed Class – Any  Non-Pro rider whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 250 dollars/points riding a horse whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 250 dollars/points.  Rider must use two hands throughout the run.  Rider does not have to own horse.  (See rule 31)

m.            Youth - Open to youths as defined by GCCHA Rule 17

n.             Never Won A Buckle  - Any Non-Pro rider whose lifetime earnings do not exceed 2,000 dollars/points and having never won a cutting horse association buckle.  One entry per rider.

 

25.    Any horse receiving ROM or equivalent in any breed association may not show below the 3,000 class. 

26.    Dollars earned by a horse or rider at any cutting club or association cutting will count as one dollar per point earned towards graduation in GCCHA.  A horse’s eligibility to enter novice cutting horse contests or a rider’s eligibility to enter Non-Pro or Amateur cutting horse contests will be based on the lifetime earnings of said horse or Non-Pro on the first day of the year in which the contest is held.  Money won  in events restricted by age (Futurities, Derbies, Maturities, etc.) shall not be counted when determining eligibility for novice horses.

27.    Any professional as defined by  NCHA rules may not show below the 3,000 class.

28.    A Non-Pro in GCCHA is a rider who has not shown, trained, or assisted in training a cutting horse for remuneration or trade per NCHA rules.  

29.    All contestants will work at the appointed time designated by the show management.  Horses arriving late may be allowed to show and receive a score if the herd drawn into is still in the arena.  Under no circumstances will a horse be allowed to show and compete after its designated herd is finished.

30.    In all classes in which the points are earned by the rider,  any rider that shows more than one horse in a class must declare,  before the show,  which horse will earn points for that class.  This horse will be the only horse that said rider can earn points for that day in that class.

 31.    GCCHA horse ownership rules shall conform to NCHA  rules except that in the 500 Limit Rider,  Never Won a Buckle,   and Two-Handed Class the rider need not own the horse.

32.    Riders are required to establish entries on or before the published deadline.  Riders will not be allowed to show again until all outstanding fees and/or penalties are paid to GCCHA.  Late entries may be accepted after the deadline depending upon the availability of cattle.  A $10 late charge may be assessed.

33.    Checks returned by the bank will be assessed a $25 charge and riders may be asked to pay in cash in the future.  Members with outstanding checks will not be allowed to show until all assessments are paid.

34.            Vendors attending GGCHA activities will be required to pay a $50 fee per activity.  This fee will be waived for buckle or saddle sponsors.

35.       Saddle Rules – For all saddle awards the horse or rider must show in at least one-half of the shows for the points in the eligible class to count  toward the saddle.  All eligible classes meeting the show minimum are added for the year end point total.