ASHA - American Saddlebred Horse Association

Qualifying for Pleasure, Park and Park Pleasure

2013 Kentucky State Fair

World's Championship Horse Show

Frequently Asked Questions

[Revised February, 2013]

COMPETITIONS

How do I find out what competitions count for qualifying?

The results for all competitions that are registered with the ASHA, and listed on the ASHA web site, will be used to determine points for eligibility. The list of competitions can be found at www.saddlebred.com. Click on Competitions, and Find Competitions. The qualifying period is July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. Instructions for conducting a competition search are on the web site.

Do only competitions licensed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) count?

Results from all competitions listed in ASHA's database, regardless of whether the show is a USEF-licensed competition, will be eligible for point allocations for Show Pleasure, Country Pleasure (including Western), and Park qualifying.

What if I plan to compete in a competition that isn't listed by ASHA?

Please encourage that competition's management to register with the ASHA. Competitions that are not listed in the ASHA's online calendar must register with the ASHA at least 10 days prior to the competition; such notification may be submitted on the "Competition Registration Form" by the manager, chairperson or a representative of the competition. This form is available for download on the ASHA Web site under the Competitions tab as well as Forms. All results must be in the ASHA office before July 15, 2013. Any results sent in after that date cannot be used for qualifing for the 2013KSF World's Championship Horse Show.

How do I contact ASHA about competitions not yet held that are not on the calendar, or how should the competition contact ASHA?

Notify ASHA by emailing saddlebred@asha.net. The most efficient way of communicating with ASHA is by email, so there is clear documentation of your communication and ASHA's response.

If there's a competition within the qualifying period that I competed in, and it isn't listed, what do I do?

If a show is not listed and has already been held within the current KSF qualifying period, its results cannot be used for qualifying at the 2013 Kentucky State Fair.

POINT ALLOCATIONS

What if the points from a show I competed in aren't showing up on my horse's record.

Check the ASHA's competition calendar first before contacting the ASHA. If you look up the show in the competition calendar, the status of the results will be noted below the date of the show, in the left-hand column. It will say "Results Received" or "Results Posted." If the space is blank, the results have not been received. Results are entered as soon as possible after being received from the show, but once the show season is in full swing, there can be a small delay due to the sheer volume. The ASHA assures exhibitors that all pertinent qualifying results are entered in time to count for the current qualifying period. When results are not received in a timely manner, the ASHA does everything possible to acquire and enter those results.

Will Kentucky State Fair only accept entries from horses with the most points?

The priority requirement for all horses is to have shown in a minimum of six (6) classes at three (3) or more different competitions. This qualifying standard has already been in effect for several years. Points do not come into play unless any particular section is over-filled when entries are received.

How will I know whether or not I should enter, if my point totals are lower than others who have also shown in at least 6 classes at 3 or more competitions? What if the rankings indicate that there are many horses with more points than I have?

Anyone interested in competing at the Kentucky State Fair must ENTER, by the closing date of entries, to be considered! Remember, not everyone who has accumulated more points will enter - they may not be able to come to Kentucky, their horse may have been injured, a horse might have qualified in more than one section and they may enter another section, or a whole host of reasons may prevent their entry. If you wish to compete at the Kentucky State Fair, enter by the closing date, NO MATTER WHAT.

How are point totals tabulated for Pleasure and Park?

The actual point system is detailed in the Qualifying Requirements. As the rankings are posted, Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Adult and Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor classes are combined under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure, as well as Three-Gaited Country Pleasure Adult and Three-Gaited Country Pleasure Junior Exhibitor classes under Three-Gaited Country Pleasure, and the same for Park. Western Country Pleasure entries must qualify in ASB Western Country Pleasure classes. Show Pleasure Driving and Country Pleasure Driving classes are counted separately from under saddle classes. See the next question below.

Why is this done?

Horses may be shown by more than one rider/driver during a show season or qualifying period and in a variety of classes within its section. Even if a horse is sold during the qualifying period, the points stay with the horse. By allowing all Show Pleasure (or Country Pleasure or Park) results to count, a horse is not penalized for being entered in a class at KSF that may be different from some of the classes in which it was shown prior to be entered at KSF. For example, a horse may may have been shown by an adult during the qualifying period, but it may be entered and shown by a junior exhibitor at KSF, and vice versa.
Horses entered in under saddle classes at 2013 KSF must qualify in under saddle classes. Horses entered in driving classes at 2013 KSF must qualify in driving classes.

I have a four year-old Park Pleasure horse. If I show in an Open Park Pleasure class, does that count for qualifying?

Yes. All Park Pleasure classes count for qualifying as long as the horse was born in 2009 or later. The only exception is the ASR National Three-Year-Old Futurity at the 2012 KY State Fair. All horses that showed in either split will get one class credit toward qualifying, but no points will be allocated. The final at KSF does not count. Park Pleasure Driving does not count for qualifying.

Do my results from last year's Kentucky State Fair count ? The dates are within the qualifying period.

No, results from the Kentucky State Fair are excluded from the point totals, and do not count toward the six class/three show requirement, except for the Park Pleasure Futurity which is detailed above.

QUALIFYING EXEMPTIONS

If my horse was first or second in its championship at last year's KY State Fair, is my horse exempted from qualifying?

Not entirely. All horses have to meet the six class/three show requirement. However, if the point system is used for qualifying, horses that win first or second in their championships at the prior year's KY State Fair are exempt from the points criteria as long as they have shown in a minimum of six classes at three or more shows, AND if they are entered in the same class as the prior year..

If I have questions that aren't answered here, what do I do?

Address any further questions to saddlebred@asha.net, and if there are many people asking the same questions, the questions and answers will be posted here in the next update.