(Revised 2008)

Competition Rules.
This document in PDF format.

Other Class Descriptions.
Non-standard FIPO class descriptions in PDF format.

FIPO Rules.
Complete, official FIPO rules in PDF format.

Prohibited equipment at Sport Events

FEI - Fédération Equestre Internationale (The international Federation for Equestrian sports)

Sanctioned shows must be approved. Contact Competition Committee Chair person for details. Current Chair person is Will Covert, competition@icelandics.org

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USIHC COMPETITION RULES

Last Updated: June 18, 2008

The USIHC adopts all provisions contained in FIPO (Rules for Icelandic Horse Events) 6.8 / 2008 (Valid as of April 1, 2008) as well as FIRO (General Rules) established by FEIF (International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations). Eight Sections of FIPO are modified as set forth below to achieve the maximum measure of USIHC compliance with Sections as is presently possible in the United States.

Section 2.4.2 Inspections:

Inspection of shoes and protective equipment lies within the responsibility of the judges.

If there is no mandatory shoeing check, the riders should be given the opportunity of a voluntary check before the competition. During the competition, the judge can check tack as each horse leaves the track after completing a class.

Any judge in doubt as to whether or not there has been a breach of the shoeing or protective equipment rules may order an inspection to be carried out. One or more judges appointed for this purpose will carry out the inspection. The riders and the judges may call on the assistance of an official farrier and veterinarian if these have been designated by the show. The judges decide whether the shoes or the protective equipment are complying with the regulations. They can demand that the shoes be removed and replaced. The rider concerned has no right to claim compensation. If the official farrier removes the shoes, the cost is to be paid by the organizer; otherwise it is the responsibility of the rider concerned.

At every competition the riders using soles shall inform the show organizer at the time the horse is entered for the competition. A list shall be prepared for the judge of all horses wearing soles.

In the event a rider refuses to follow the request of the judge, the horse will be eliminated from the entire competition.

Section 4.2 Tracks:

The definition of regulation tracks is as defined in FIPO Section 5.1.

In the event a regulation track is not available tests may be conducted on a track or in an arena with a minimum circumference of 650 feet with long sides a minimum of 200 feet.

Sections 4.3 and 5.2 Judges:

All FIPO classes must be judged by at least one International FEIF Sports Judge. In the event classes are scored by more than one International FEIF Sports Judge, they will judge individually, separately and openly.

Section 4.7 Starting Order:

Where Open Classes are conducted as individual programs (FIPO 5.4.1) the starting order will be drawn by lot. Any horse entered for a class after the starting order has been set has to start at the beginning of the class.

The starting order must be strictly adhered to. Any change, even with the consent of those concerned, is forbidden.

Section 4.8 Demonstration Rider:

At the discretion of the show organizer, a demonstration rider should ride the class fifteen minutes before the start of each class. This performance is to be discussed with the judges in order to ensure uniform scoring.

Section 5.5 Left rein and right rein groups:

In classes, which are conducted in groups, starting groups of no more than six riders are formed by the show organizer, judge or gatekeeper. Choice of rein shall be by majority vote of the riders in the group. In the event of a tie, left rein is to be assumed to be the preference.

The first group shall enter the arena and perform the class, after which they shall exit the arena. Succeeding groups shall do the same. When all groups have ridden the entire class shall return to the arena for the announcement of the results.

In finals, the majority of the riders determine the rein on which the first section is begun.

In the event of a tie vote, the vote of the preliminary round’s winner is doubled.

Section 5.9 Prizes:

In the case of equal marks for first or succeeding places, the judges shall re-examine their marks and shall determine the placing of the riders tied until the first five riders are placed.

RULES OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Finals. The riders in finals shall be the first five placing in the preliminary round. If two or more horses share the fifth position, all horses involved qualify for the final round.

Eligibility.

Open: Any rider 14 years and over.

Pace disciplines: Any rider 16 years and older.

Professional: A professional rider is one who has accepted remuneration of any kind within a two-year period prior to the show in question for training or riding Icelandic Horses.

Intermediate: Any non-professional rider who has not achieved a final score of 6.0 or higher three times, riding the same or different horses, in a specific discipline at USIHC sanctioned competitions.

Novice: Any non-professional rider who has not achieved a score of 5.0 or higher three times, riding the same or different horses, in a specific discipline at USIHC sanctioned competition. In other words, a rider who has achieved a score of 5.0 or higher three times in Novice Tölt is ineligible to enter that class again and must advance to the Intermediate level in Tölt. This rider may continue to compete as a Novice in the other discipline until he/she achieves a score of 5.0 three times in those remaining Novice classes. Thereafter he/she must advance to Intermediate Division.

Youth: Youth classes may be split into classes with the following age groups:

1. Eleven years and under.
2. Twelve through sixteen years.

A rider may enter any class or level unless specifically prohibited by the definition of that class or level. In other words, a rider may enter at the same show, Intermediate and

Novice classes if he/she is a non-professional rider and has not achieved a score of 5.0 or above three times at USIHC sanctioned competitions in that discipline.

The cut-off score in those classes will follow the rider only. It will not follow the horse or the horse and rider combination.

An amateur rider who enters a open class may also enter the same class at the Amateur Level riding the same horse at the same competition.

A rider may ride in Novice if they meet the criteria or Intermediate if they meet the criteria. In addition they may also enter Amateur and/or Open levels. This includes entering any of the Tölt classes on the same horse, or 4 Gait and 5 Gait on the same horse.

A rider may enter the same class with more than one horse. Where the Open Class is conducted as individual programs, no limit shall apply. In classes conducted in groups, the rider shall be allowed, as many entries as there are groups for the class.

Compliance. The individual responsible for enforcing compliance with all the USIHC Sport Rules at sanctioned shows shall be an Intern Judge. If an Intern Judge is not available then the official Scribe shall enforce the rules. In the absence of either an Intern Judge or Scribe then a designated member of the Sport Committee will enforce compliance by all show participants with the rules. In all cases the individual must have a solid working knowledge of the USIHC Sport Rules. All the materials and information needed to ensure proper compliance shall be provided by the show organizer. If a dispute arises as a result of a decision made by this individual an appeal may be made in a timely fashion to the Judge who shall have the final decision.

Jurisdiction. The USIHC Competition Rules are National Rules, to be utilized in any USIHC Sanctioned Show. In the event an International FEIF Show shall be conducted in the United States it must be conducted pursuant to the entire FIPO then in effect, including the provisions excluded or amended in these National Rules.

Revisions to FIPO and the USIHC Competition Rules. As revisions to FIPO are approved by FEIF, the USIHC will determine if the USIHC Competition Rules should be revised in accordance with the FIPO revisions. Other revisions to the USIHC Competition Rules may occur as circumstances demand.

Arbitration. For the duration of a competition an Arbitration Committee must be formed consisting of the following:

1. The competition manager or a representative previously appointed by him/her
2. The head judge
3. A rider’s spokesman, elected before the start of the competition by those actively competing. If the riders’ spokesman has to be substituted, then the rider with the second highest votes will become the spokesman’s representative.
4. The sport chairperson or delegate previously appointed by him/her

All decisions made by the Arbitration Committee are final. No one may be involved in any arbitral decisions, who is either directly concerned or has interests therein or is any other way prejudiced.

Arbitration proceedings are conducted verbally. Minutes are to be taken, which should at least include the following information:

1. Members of the arbitration committee
2. Place and time of the proceedings
3. Parties present
4. Issues and decisions of the committee.

Arbitration proceedings are public. Conferring is done in private. Decisions by the arbitration committee are taken on a simple majority. In the event of votes being equal, the chief judge will have the casting vote. The decision then must be immediately given in writing to the party concerned.

Dress Code. All provisions in FIPO Section 3.3 shall apply. The dress requirements in all FIPO classes at USIHC sanctioned shows shall be those required at international sport competitions. The dress requirements in all non-FIPO classes shall be those allowed in Pace Race and Pace Tests.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

The class descriptions listed below are taken directly from FIPO and will be the USIHC required classes. The scores from these classes will be recorded in the USIHC National Ranking database.

OPEN DIVISION

These classes may be entered by any rider 14 years and older.

Tölt 1 Open (FIPO T1) or Tölt 3 Open (FIPO T3)

Preliminary Round:

At the discretion of the show organizer, the preliminary round may be conducted pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.1 (Preliminary rounds with one rider on the track) or FIPO

Section 5.4.2 (Finals and preliminary rounds with more than one horse on the track). The manner in which the class will be conducted must appear in the show premium.

Sections:

1. Begin at the middle of the short side and ride one round in slow tölt on either rein. Return to walk at the middle of the short side and change rein.
2. From the middle of the short side ride one round in slow tölt, lengthen stride distinctly on the long sides.
3. From the middle of the short side ride one round in fast tölt.

Final round:

The finalists ride together and are instructed by the speaker. They ride the same sections as in the preliminary round on both reins as described in 5.4.2.

Tölt 2 Open (FIPO T2)

Preliminary Round:

This class is ridden with three riders on the track at once. The horses show the three sections as instructed by the speaker as described in FIPO Section 5.4.2. They start on the rein chosen by the riders in each group pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised.

Sections (called by the speaker):

1. Any speed tölt
2. Slow, steady and calm speed tölt. Return to walk and change rein
3. Slow to medium speed tölt, holding both reins in one hand clearly showing no rein contact with the horse’s mouth

The marks for section 3 are doubled.

Final round:

The finalists ride together and are instructed by the speaker. They ride the same sections as in the preliminary round as described in 5.4.2.

Four-gait Open (FIPO V1) or (FIPO V2)

At the discretion of the show organizer, the preliminary round may be conducted pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.1 (Preliminary round with one rider on the track) or FIPO Section 5.4.2 (Finals and preliminary round with more than one rider on the track). The manner in which the class shall be conducted must appear in the show premium.

Preliminary round:

The test may be ridden on either rein. The rider has four and a half rounds to show the following gaits in any order:

1. Slow tölt
2. Slow to medium speed trot
3. Medium walk
4. Slow to medium speed canter
5. Fast tölt

Each gait may be shown only once, walk for a half round and the other gaits for one full round.

Final round:

The finalists ride together. The horses show the gaits in the order instructed by the speaker as described in 5.4.2. The rein is determined pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5.

Five-gait Open (FIPO F1) or (FIPO F2)

At the discretion of the show organizer, the preliminary round may be conducted pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.1 (Preliminary round with one rider on the track) or FIPO Section 5.4.2 (Final round and preliminary round with more than one rider on the track).

The manner in which the class shall be conducted must appear in the show premium.

Preliminary round:

The test may be ridden on either rein. The rider has four and a half rounds to show the following gaits in any order:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt
2. Slow to medium speed trot
3. Medium walk
4. Slow to medium speed canter
5. Racing pace

Each gait may be shown only once, walk for a half round and the other gaits for a full round. The racing pace is shown on the long sides only. The marks for tölt and pace will be doubled.

Final round:

The finalists ride together and show the five gaits in the order instructed by the speaker as described in FIPO Section 5.4.2. The rein is determined pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5 as revised.

The horses may show racing pace 3 times on one long side. The riders choose the long side by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the vote of the preliminary round winner is doubled.

The marks for tölt and pace will be doubled.

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION

Intermediate classes are open to all non-professional riders who have not achieved a score of 6.0 three times, riding the same or different horses, in a specific discipline at USIHC sanctioned competitions. Once a rider has achieved a score of 6.0 or higher three times in a specific discipline, he/she must compete in either the Amateur or Open Level classes thereafter in that discipline.

The conducting of a final round in Intermediate Classes is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Intermediate Tölt (FIPO T5):

The class is ridden with no more than six horses on the track at once. The rein is selected pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The horses show the sections as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow tölt. Return to walk and change rein
2. Slow tölt on the short sides, fast tölt on the long sides

Intermediate Loose-Rein Tölt (FIPO T6):

This class is ridden by no more than six riders on the track at the same time. The rein is selected pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The horses show the sections as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt
2. Slow to medium speed tölt, holding both reins in one hand clearly showing no rein contact with the horse’s mouth on the long side.

Intermediate Four-gait (FIPO V3):

Choice of the extended gait (tölt or trot) must be given on the entry form.

This class is ridden with no more than six riders on the track at once. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections are ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt
2. Slow to medium speed trot
3. Medium walk
4. Slow to medium speed canter
5. Fast trot or fast tölt

When calculating the final mark for a combination, the lowest mark for any gait except medium to slow speed tölt is disregarded.

Intermediate Five-gait (FIPO F3):

This class is ridden with no more than six riders on the track at once. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections are ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt
2. Slow to medium speed trot
3. Medium walk
4. Slow to medium speed canter
5. Racing pace

Racing pace will be shown three times on the long side. At least one-half of a long side should be shown to get any marks for pace. When calculating the final mark for a combination, the lowest mark for any gait except medium to slow speed tölt is disregarded.

NOVICE DIVISION

Novice classes are open to all non-professional riders who have not scored 5.0 three times, riding the same or different horses, in the Novice classes in USIHC sanctioned competitions. In other words, once a rider has scored 5.0 or above three times in a

Novice Tölt class, he/she hay not compete further in that class and must compete thereafter in the Intermediate Tölt class. He/she may continue to compete in the other

Novice classes until he/she has achieved a score of 5.0 three times in the other Novice classes. Thereafter he/she must compete in the Intermediate Division.

The conducting of a final round in Novice Classes is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted, it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Novice Tölt (FIPO T7):

This class is ridden with no more than six riders on the track at once. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections are ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow tölt. Return to walk and change rein.
2. Any speed tölt

Novice Four-Gait (FIPO V5):

This class is ridden with no more than six riders on the track at once. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections will be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Any speed tölt
2. Slow to medium speed trot
3. Medium walk
4. Slow to medium speed canter

YOUTH DIVISION

These classes are open to riders 16 years and younger as described below.

The conducting of a final round in Youth Classes is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Youth Tölt (FIPO T8):

This class is ridden with no more than six horses on the track. Rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5 as revised. The sections shall be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow tölt
2. Any speed tölt

Youth Four Gait (FIPO V6):

This class is ridden with no more than six horses on the track. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections will be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Any Speed Tölt
2. Slow to medium speed trot
3. Medium walk
4. Slow to medium speed canter.

The start into canter and the stop after canter into walk are shown in groups of two to three riders as instructed by the speaker.

RANKED CLASS CHART