ASHA Regional Championships

Competition Selection Criteria and Guidelines

Updated January 6, 2010

Requirements for Regional Championships:

Recognized competition of United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)
Regions are consistent with USEF regions as of 2010.
Must offer competition in:

*Five Gaited, Three Gaited, Fine Harness (Open and Amateur)

*Park (new in 2010) and Park Pleasure

*Show Pleasure and/or Country Pleasure: English and Western

*Saddle Seat Equitation

For a class to be designated as a Regional Championship, it may be any Saddlebred class (and Saddle Seat Equitation) and must be a championship or stake class. ASHA must approve all Regional Championship classes offered prior to the show.
Recommended that competition be offered in other Saddlebred sections, including Youth Showmanship (new in 2010), Hunter Country Pleasure, and Emerging FEI Disciplines
Incentive for participation in ASR Grand National program

*Eligibility for special $3,000/$5,000 Stakes

Held in the months of September, October, November

ASHA to provide:

Advertising and marketing support, Web site, magazine, reference directory, etc.
Regional and national e-mails upon request
Point-keeping, qualifying support including investment in programming and data display
Designated staff liaison to the Regional Championship competition managers
Titles/recognition as published in reference directory, Web site, magazine, etc.
One exclusive tri-color ribbon and neck sash for each approved, designated Regional Championship class, or allowance (equal to ASHA cost) for same if the competition elects to order its own
Grand National considerations: incremental purses/designations

General Guidelines (as of January 2010):

Horses and equitation riders must compete and receive a ribbon (1 through 8) in three (3) separate competitions within the region, in the qualifying period, in the same section within the Saddlebred division, to qualify for a Regional Championship title in that region's championship event. Sections include Five-Gaited, Three-Gaited, Fine Harness, Park, Park Pleasure, Show Pleasure, and Country Pleasure, Saddle Seat Equitation, etc.
The highest placing, qualified horse or equitation rider in a Regional Championship class shall be named Regional Champion, receive an exclusive tri-color and neck ribbon, and make a victory pass.
For the 2010 year, the qualifying period is from September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010 for all regions.
Qualifying shows need not be USEF-licensed but must be recorded in the ASHA database of competitions, and ASHA must receive official results in a timely manner.
Regional Championship competitions themselves do not count as qualifying shows, unless the competition was not designated as a Regional Championship in the prior year. For example, the Saint Louis National Charity Horse Show is designated as the new Region 5 championship in 2010. The 2009 Saint Louis Horse Show counts for qualifying for 2010. Conversely, NC State Fair was the 2009 Region 9 championship. Because it is not the 2010 Regional Championship, the 2009 NC State Fair will count as a qualifying show in Region 9 for 2010. Point of clarification: Because there are two Regional Championships in Region 1, the 2009 California Futurity counts as a qualifier for 2010 Arizona Futurity, and the 2009 Arizona Futurity is a qualifier for 2010 California Futurity.
In the case of a sale of a horse, all qualifying records will travel with the horse (equitation excepted).
Horses/equitation riders may earn only one Regional Championship title in a calendar year. Once a horse wins a Regional Championship title, it is no longer eligible for additional titles even if it is qualified and competes at subsequent Regional Championship competitions. Conversely, if a horse competes in a Regional Championship class and does not win the Regional Championship title, it may compete for a Regional Championship title at other Regional Championship competitions for which it is eligible.
Declaration of region is not required.