Rule Change Form

Bylaw or Rule Change Proposal Form

Recommendation for Rule Change
This is for the 9TH Edition

Received 11/8/2011

Status: Rejected
Click here for Status Definitions

See Rules Committee Comments below

Exiting Rule Number: New class Page Number: Related rule numbers: New class

Recommendations for Change - # 127

Open Mule/Donkey In Hand (would replace Showmanship for Mules and Donkeys)

This class is judged on the mule’s/ donkey’s performance not the exhibitor.

A. The mule/donkey will be judged on the ability to move quickly and efficiently performing the requested pattern with promptness, smoothness and precision. The class is not another halter class and should not be judged as such.
B. Posting of Patterns: It is mandatory that the judge post the pattern he/she will ask for at least one hour prior to the commencing of the class; however, if the judge chooses to bring back exhibitors for consideration of final placing, the finals pattern need not be posted.
C. Class Routine: All mules/donkeys may enter the arena and then be worked individually or each mule/donkey may be worked from the gate individually. When the mules/donkeys are worked individually from the gate, a working order is required. The following maneuvers are considered acceptable: Lead the mule/donkey at a walk, jog, trot, or extended trot, or back in a straight or curved line, or a combination of straight and curved lines; stop and turn 90 (1/4), 180 (1/2), 270 (3/4), 360 (full turn) degrees or any combination or multiple of these turns. The judge must require the mule/donkey to be set up squarely for inspection sometime during the class.
D. Scoring: The scoring system suggested for this class is based on a scale of 0 to 20, with 20 denoting an excellent performance and turnout. Point allowances are listed below.
APPRARANCE OF THE MULE/DONKEY: 5 POINTS
1. Condition and thriftiness:
a. The mule’s/donkey’s body condition and overall fitness should be assessed.
2. Grooming:
a. The hair coat should be clean and well groomed.
b. The mane, tail, foretop and wither tufts should be free of tangles and clean. It is prohibited to use any ornaments on the donkey. Manes, tails, foretops and wither tufts may be English braided or manes may be Western banded if desired.
c. Hooves should be trimmed properly. If shod, shoes must fit properly and clinches should be neat. Hooves must be clean and may be painted or shown naturally.
3. Trimming:
a. Manes may be roached
b. Inside of ears may be clipped.
c. Long hair on jaw, legs and pasterns should be clipped.
4. Tack
a. Tack should be neat, clean and in good repair. Proper fit of the halter is imperative. Silver halters should not count over a well fitted, clean and functional halter.
APPEARANCE OF EXHIBITOR: 5 points
1. Clothes and person are to be neat and clean.
2. Appropriate western attire must be worn.
LEADING AND POSING MULE/DONKEY
1. The mule/donkey is to be shown using the Quarter Method.
2. At no time is the mule/donkey to be touched by the exhibitor with hands or feet, or visibly cue the animal by pointing their feet at the animal during the set up.
3. The mule/donkey should set up quickly with feet squarely underneath the body
PERFORMANCE: 5 points
1. The mule/donkey should perform the work accurately, precisely,
smoothly and with a reasonable amount of speed. The animal
should lead, stop, back, turn and set up willingly, briskly and readily with minimal visible or audible cueing. Failure to follow prescribed pattern, knocking over or working on the wrong side of the cones, or severe disobedience will not result in a disqualification, but should be penalized severely and the mule/donkey should not be placed above a mule/donkey that completes the pattern correctly.
2. The mule/donkey should be led directly to and away from the judge in a straight line and track briskly and freely at the prescribed gait. The mule’s/donkey’s head and neck should be straight and in line with the body.
3. The stop should be straight, prompt, smooth and responsive with the mule’s/donkey’s body remaining straight.
4. The mule/donkey should back up readily with the head, neck and body straight.
5. When turning the donkey to the left 90 degrees or less, the mule/ donkey should be turned to the left. On turns degrees, the ideal consists of the mule/donkey pivoting on the right hind leg, while stepping across and in front of the right front leg with the left front leg. The mule/donkey shall not be penalized if it performs a pivot on the left hind leg, but a mule/donkey that performs the pivot correctly should receive more credit..

THE QUARTER METHOD.
The following suggested guidelines of movement are meant to serve as an illustration for movement around the animal while showing and are for the exhibitor’s information. Imaginary lines bisect the animal into four equal parts as seen in the following figure. (Note: the quadrants will be numbered I, II, III, IV for each of identification) One line runs across the animal just behind the withers. The other imaginary line runs from head to tail. When the judge is in I, the handler should be in IV. As the judge moves to II, the handler should move to I. When the judge moves to III, the handler moves to IV. As the judge moves up the animal to IV, the handler returns once more to I. This method is based on safety as the handler can keep the animals hindquarters from swinging toward the judge should the animal become fractious.greater than 90 turn

Justification and impact if rule is not changed

Justification: This will take the place of “Showmanship” for the Open mule/donkey divisions.
Since we correctly removed Showmanship from the open classes we need to replace this popular, well attended class with an In Hand Preformance Class.

Impact: There is no longer an In Hand Performance class for the mule/donkey open divisions.

Committee Comments

The Committee sees no difference between this class and showmanship since the Quarter Method emphasizes the ability of the handler to be judged. The performance of the animal is to be judged in order to assign points on the animal.

Unanimous

This is a Rule Change By Law Change