My title says it all! I am looking to see if rules address the situation created when a pony is shown in the green ponies, qualifies for Pony Finals, but is later found to be lacking proper membership for owner, a measurement card or proper recording. This has happened several times this year and obviously impacts number of ponies that will qualify from particular area. Thanks!!
The rulebook is online at www.usef.org and there is also a pony finals FAQ. The rulebooks are really long and while you can search through them, it may be easier to write someone listed as a contact for pony finals qualifying questions. They would have an easier time digging up the rules and figuring out what to do.
Maybe I’m being dumb but it shouldn’t matter for the greens per the pony final rules I read. Points don’t matter just being champion or reserve. Equitation and jumpers points would.
but I’m no expert just how I read the pony finals qualifying faqs.
If the pony who was green champion at XYZ show was later disqualified, that means the pony who otherwise would have been champion at that show should be qualified for Pony Finals.
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Do you know where that rule is? That is the one I need!!
I have already checked the FAQ. It does not address this issue.
You are right-it is Champ and Reserve that qualify. I am approaching the points issue from the standpoint of if the Champion did not have a valid measurement card, does the Reserve Champ become Ch and the 3rd overall pony become Reserve and therefore qualify?
That’s what I thought you were referring to but it threw me off when you mentioned how many from an area going.
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Yes, but there is a contact name there for more info.
Hi Limerick2017, this is Bev Bedard. I’m a steward with USEF and have worked at Pony Finals. No one here can accurately answer your question. It concerns eligibility for Pony Finals and qualification. Any question concerning what you have asked relates right back to those 2 topics. It is USEF who makes decisions on those 2 topics, should a question be presented to them for verification. The USEF liaison to the Pony Finals is Natalie Norwood. Her office number is 859-225-6951. Start with her - she will be able to help you.
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Thank you! I am surprised there aren’t known USEF rules since PF is governed by USEF.
Thanks, Bev!! 
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I am very surprised to see this has happened more than once in your area … seems rather unfortunate if not highly unlikely. In which area of the country do you reside?
If the pony has been disqualified, the show management & USEF should have updated the results and this is no longer an issue. The show management through the steward should also have reported the disqualification and the reasons for it as there may be a disciplinary issue here if they didn’t.
However, someone would have needed, I believe, to file a protest at the show. If you, or another competitor did not file a protest, you may be unable to get the pony disqualified after the show and the results will stand. Bev Bedard, who posted earlier may be able to clarify here.
I don’t believe there was a way to know, at the show, that the pony in question did not have a valid card. This fact appeared on its USE record AFTER the show was complete. As a parent who has gone through the PF qualifying process a few years ago, I believe USE should have a rule in place that covers such matters. If a large green pony did the greens without a valid card AND WON, it is not a level playing field. The ponies that placed behind this invalid entry should move up in the placings as the division was not run according to USE rules.
East coast and it has definitely happened several times.
Natalie Norwood is very, very good at following up on questions and very familiar with PF.
I don’t understand how the DQd Pony got as far as it did without a valid membership, recording # or, the biggie, valid measurement card. Did they present fraudulent paperwork or did the show never bother to verify the info? OP says it’s not the first time, were the others at shows under the same management???
Good as NN is, she doesn’t have rule making authority, mainly an administrative position, maybe there is a general membership proposed rule clarification in order.
That sucks…somebody is really dropping the ball and OP needs them to investigate what happened before time runs out on qualifying for this years PF and there is no next year for a Green that’s already been showing this show year. This is more then just aggravating.
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I completely agree. We pay a lot to compete at A/AA shows and it is with the understanding that rules are being followed especially when it comes down to measurement cards.
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Call NN. If she can’t research it and get you in, she might be able to direct you how to proceed to get the credit your, legal, Green Pony is entitled to.I wouldn’t wait, PF is just a few months away. Going to go look at the rulebook, I’m sick and bored.
ETA. Well, that was not exactly entertaining. Could not find a thing about redistribution of awards due to disqualification, anywhere ( there’s an index, not even anentry for it )which is what you are looking for.
Did find a couple of general rules that at least give you a point of reference GR117 just defines disqualification and forfeiting awards.
Slightly more helpful is GR1119.2 Disputes. There is a procedure, with fee, and it says it goes to the CEO for judgement. I dunno if you need to go that far to get this attended to.
I KNOW they redistribute the points forfueted by DQd horses. I have some, including moving up to a Rsv Champ. on a drug bust but it was many moons later.
ETA #2 went back and think you could treat this as a Points Inquiry. There’s a form I found with Search function.
What you got is the Pony in question has " Bad Points" due to no membership, no recording and no measurement card. So…you need to ask where the good points that Pony wasn’t qualfied to earn go? Should be to the next in the order go which qualifies you assuming you were third in Champ points. Where that is in writing who knows.
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