ACTHA RULE BOOK

1.       American Competitive Trail Horse Association

A.      The American Competitive Trail Horse Association is herein recognized as ACTHA

B.      A ‘Competitive Trail Challenge’ is herein referred to as a CTC

2.       ACTHA Mission

A.      ACTHA's mission is:

To provide an enjoyable venue showcasing the wonderful attributes of the great American Trail Horse, granting them the recognition they so richly deserve.

To maintain a registry open to all breeds and a point designation system which will stay with each horse for its lifetime, thereby adding to their value and distinction.

       To enable the humane treatment of horses in need.

B.      ACTHA donates up to 50% of its proceeds to eligible horse charities annually.

3.       Rights to Membership

A.      ACTHA reserves the right to refuse entry or to disqualify participants at its discretion, whether circumstances are due to inhumane treatment of animals, payment of debt to ACTHA, being under the influence of alcohol or any other personality altering drug.

B.      ACTHA management is directly responsible for the evaluation and review of violations within this rulebook.

4.       Definitions

A.      Rules:   Shall be specified by the word ‘MUST’/’MUST NOT’. Rules MUST be abided by. They are NOT Suggestions.

B.      Suggestions:   Shall be specified by the word ‘SHOULD’. Although they do not have to be complied to, they are proposals which are recommended by ACTHA.

5.       Membership Responsibilities

A.      Riders MUST produce appropriate state required health papers for their horse to the ACTHA affiliate, and it is the rider’s responsibility to be aware what is required by their individual state.  (E.g. Coggins, Health Certificate, Brand Inspections)

B.      ACTHA does not approve of the use of any performance enhancing equine pharmaceuticals.  Any ACTHA member who is able to be held accountable for such behavior will face suspension from ACTHA for up to one full competition season from the incident date, which will be determined at ACTHA’s discretion.

C.      The use of any excessive force or unsportsmanlike behavior by an ACTHA member directed towards another member or an equine is subject to disqualification, at a length which will be determined at ACTHA’s discretion.

D.       Alcohol MUST NOT be consumed OR carried on a CTC by an ACTHA member before or during a CTC ride.

E.        Firearms MUST NOT be carried on a CTC.

F.        Dogs are permitted at ACTHA events but MUST be on a leash at all times.  Pets MUST NOT accompany a rider on the CTC trail; this includes pets on the ground, on the horse or on the person.

G.     An Affiliate MUST NOT ride in a CTC that they are hosting.   A judge, who is judging a CTC, MUST NOT ride in the CTC.  A Family member of the affiliate hosting may participate, if they have NO KNOWLEDGE of the obstacle course for that particular CTC.  This is an honor system, and any ACTHA member who displays dishonest character will face suspension from ACTHA for up to one full competition season from the incident date, which will be determined by ACTHA.

H.      Accidents/injuries are handled by Ride Management.  All riders are expected to continue riding the trail in the competition, so as not to hold up the ride.  If an accompanying rider chooses to stay at the scene of an accident, the rider bears the responsibility.

6.       Divisions of ACTHA

A.      Open division:  Obstacles will be more difficult.  Awards will be jackpot cash, ribbons & prizes.    

B.      Pleasure division:  Less difficult obstacles. Awards will be jackpot cash, ribbons & prizes.

C.      Junior division:  7 - 15 years old. Juniors MUST wear a helmet and MUST be accompanied by an adult rider. One adult may supervise up to 3 junior riders and each junior MUST provide written authorization from their parent and or guardian consenting to same. Awards will be ribbons/prizes. A junior rider may opt to ride in the Pleasure or Open division if they pay appropriate fees for that division and wear a helmet.

D.      Buddy rider:   A buddy rider is a rider who rides the trail following the rules just like a competitor, but does not participate in the obstacles.   Buddy riders are not judged.  A buddy rider may be a friend of a competitor, a person who wants to check out the competition before they decide to compete or someone who wants to take the opportunity to give their green horse exposure. (Or perhaps one who wishes to avail themselves of the scenic trails accessed through ACTHA and our affiliate's efforts.)  Buddy riders MUST be members of ACTHA.

7.       Moving Between Divisions of ACTHA.

A.      Any ACTHA member who has accumulated 3 wins in the Pleasure Division MUST move into the Open Division on that specific horse the following season.

B.      Riders are permitted to move between divisions as they see fit.  For example, if a rider usually rides the open division with their most seasoned horse and that horse goes lame, the rider may ride the pleasure division with a less seasoned horse on a subsequent CTC.

C.      If a junior rider starts out riding in the junior division and their birthday takes them to their 16th year, they can continue to ride in the junior division for the remainder of the season.

8.       ACTHA Member CTC Responsibilities

A.      Proper equestrian attire MUST be worn. NO shorts, sneakers, flip-flops.

B.      Chaps or Chinks SHOULD be worn.

C.      A rider SHOULD carry for their use on the trail: lead rope, halter, hoof pick, knife and a bottle of drinking water.

D.      Horses MUST be tied to horse trailers or trees.  Horses must not be tied to fences or anything that cannot withstand the pressure of a horse pulling back.  Horses may be tied to a picket line.

E.       Contestants may use portable electric fences or portable corrals.

F.       All Horses MUST finish the CTC at a ‘sound trot’ which will be determined by a judge.

G.     CTC participants MUST NOT ride the course or practice the obstacles on the course prior to their event.

9.       Equipment Regulations on a CTC

A.      Horses MUST wear some form of HEADGEAR, such as a bridle or hackamore.  A halter is not considered a form of headgear.  Riding halters MUST NOT be used on the CTC trail.

i.         ALL DIVISIONS:  Horses wearing Western styled shank bits SHOULD be ridden with only one hand from the rider on the reins.

ii.       English Style, snaffle bits or bitless style bridles including hackamores and bosals:  riders may ride with two hands on the reins. 

B.      Horses MUST wear some type of SADDLE.

C.      Training devices such as martingales (standing, running & German martingales) and tie-downs MUST NOT be used during a CTC ride. No form of head restraint other than a bridle is permitted.

D.      Bareback pads MUST NOT be used at any time during a CTC.

E.       Protective Sport Boots are permitted for your horse during a CTC.

F.       The use of a protective hoof boot for an unshod horse is permitted.

10.   Stallions on a CTC

A.      Stallions are permitted in ACTHA events but MUST NOT be shown by a JUNIOR DIVISION competitor.

B.      Stallions MUST be double tied at ALL TIMES.

C.      Stallions MUST have a yellow ribbon displayed in their tails to warn other riders that they need to keep their distance.

11.   During a CTC, on the trail.

A.      An ACTHA appointed judge has the right to disqualify a CTC competitor from that judged obstacle, or the remainder of the CTC, for whatever reason they see fit.  Whether it is for safety reasons, unsportsmanlike conduct, dangerous conditions or unsoundness problems exhibited by their horse.

i.         A judge may instruct a particular rider to dismount at any time without incurring a penalty.  For example, a judge may instruct a rider to dismount a horse having difficulty in a bog situation.

ii.       Riders may dismount voluntarily in bog situations without penalty or disqualification. 

B.      A CTC competitor has a set limit to complete each single judged obstacle.  After the elapsed time, the rider will be asked by the judge, to move onto the next obstacle, continuing down the trail, and if the obstacle was not completed, the horse & rider will receive a ‘0’ for that obstacle.  A competitor may ask to be notified when half their time has been completed. (Notification is at the judge discretion).

C.      A CTC competitor MUST only complete obstacles at their division level. For example, a Pleasure Division rider, MUST NOT, complete Open Division obstacles during a ride for extra points if they are riding as a Pleasure Division rider.  Stay in your Division, and complete the obstacles of your division for the entire CTC.

D.      A rider MUST NOT ‘Pony’ a horse from another horse during a CTC at any time.

E.       A rider may voluntarily dismount from their horse at any time, but MUST remain mounted when moving forward. If a rider voluntarily dismounts within an obstacle boundary that horse and rider team will receive a “0” score for that obstacle.

F.       A rider may stop their horse to water at any stream or pond during a CTC ride, but they MUST NOT be watered at a judged obstacle, due to time constraints on the ride (this will cause a ride to back up).  A rider can allow their horse to drink before or after a water obstacle but a rider MUST NOT allow their horse to drink during a judged obstacle.

G.     A ‘Fall’ of a Rider is a disqualification. A ’fall’ of a rider is described as any involuntary dismount. This will be based on the honor system.  Any ACTHA member who displays dishonest character will face suspension from ACTHA for up to one full competition season from the incident date, which will be determined at ACTHA’s discretion

H.      A ‘Fall’ of a Horse is a disqualification.  A ’Fall’ of a horse can be described, as when a horse drops to the ground at a point above his knees, such as their shoulders.  Any fall which involves the horse falling to their knees or below is regarded as a stumble.  This will be based on the honor system.  Any ACTHA member who displays dishonest character will face suspension from ACTHA for up to one full competition season from the incident date, which will be determined at ACTHA’s discretion.

I.        A rider must not interfere with another contestant’s performance of an obstacle. To do so will incur a disqualification. (An example of this would be, allowing a horse to water in such a way as to impede the movement of another contestant within the obstacle).

J.        A rider MUST NOT ‘double up’ or ‘double ride’ on a single horse at any time during the CTC.  Two riders MUST NOT ride the same horse, at the same time.

12.   Judging and Scoring in a CTC

A.      ACTHA is committed to ensuring Affiliates are educated in ensuring consistency in training and appointing judges for a CTC.  Discrepancies are inevitable.  All scores given during a CTC are FINAL, and MUST NOT be adjusted after the judge has handed in their score cards and they have been processed. Competitors DO NOT have the right to protest or object to a score which they have received.

B.      If a score is entered into the system incorrectly, it may be adjusted/fixed to reflect the scores given at the ride.

C.      Any ties in final scores SHOULD be broken by any (+)’s that were given to the riders. If a tie is still present, it may be broken by referring to the hardest obstacle score, and then the next hardest, and so on.  In an event that scores are equally matched throughout the entire CTC, the tie is broken by:

i.         Flipping a coin   (or)

ii.       Set up a new ’in-camp’ obstacle to determine the winner 

13.  Competitive Trail Challenges, in General

A.      CTCs can be held any day, any time at affiliate's discretion.

B.      CTCs MUST NOT be any closer than within a 150 mile radius from other CTCs on the same day unless authorized by ACTHA.

C.      CTCs MUST be stand alone events and no other events shall take place during the actual CTC causing it to change the format.