Show Philosophy

The purpose of these rules is to promote a safe, fair, respectful, and enjoyable experience for exhibitors, animals, show staff, judges, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators.

Show Management reserves the right to take reasonable action to protect the safety, welfare, integrity, and overall experience of everyone participating in or attending the event.

Liability Notice

NOTICE: Participation in animal shows and related activities involves inherent risks. Animals may behave unpredictably and may bite, kick, scratch, jump, escape, collide with objects or persons, become frightened, or otherwise cause injury or property damage despite reasonable care and proper handling.

Participants are advised of and voluntarily assume the inherent risks associated with participation in animal show activities.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, a sponsor, animal professional, veterinarian, judge, volunteer, or other person involved in show activities shall not be held civilly liable for injury, death, or property damage resulting from an inherent risk of participation in animal show activities.

Participation in the event constitutes acknowledgment of these inherent risks and acceptance of responsibility for participating safely and appropriately.

Appropriate Attire

1. Exhibitors should follow the recommended attire or uniform established for the club, organization, or program they represent.
2. Closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended for all exhibitors and handlers.
3. Appropriate protective clothing, including long sleeves or arm protection when recommended for the species or activity, is encouraged.
4. Clothing and footwear must be appropriate for safe handling of the animal being exhibited.
5. Show Management or the Judge may require an exhibitor to modify attire or equipment when it presents a safety concern or is inappropriate for the class.

Animal Welfare

1. Animals must be physically capable of safely participating in their entered classes.
2. Animals showing signs of illness, contagious disease, significant injury, or other conditions that may compromise their welfare or the health of other animals will not be admitted or may be required to leave the show grounds.
3. Animals must meet applicable health, vaccination, identification, and veterinary requirements for their species, the event, and the facility.
4. Show Management reserves the right to require removal of any animal deemed unsafe, unhealthy, excessively soiled, or exhibiting signs of a contagious condition.
5. Standard, humane, and species-appropriate equipment and handling methods must be used. Questions regarding equipment or handling methods will be determined by the Judge and/or Show Management.
6. Abuse, neglect, excessive force, unethical treatment, or other violations of applicable animal welfare standards are prohibited.
7. Any exhibitor or participant found engaging in prohibited treatment may be removed from the show grounds and may be subject to additional action as determined by Show Management.
8. Show Management reserves the right to excuse or remove any animal exhibiting behavior that presents a safety risk to itself, other animals, exhibitors, handlers, volunteers, judges, staff, or spectators.
9. The welfare of the animal shall take precedence over competition, placing, awards, or completion of a class.

Safety Rules

1. Dogs and other non-entered animals are not permitted on the show grounds unless specifically authorized by Show Management or otherwise permitted by applicable law.
2. Service animals will be accommodated as required by applicable law.
3. If an emergency occurs during a class or in another designated show area, Show Management may halt activity and issue an emergency instruction such as “ALL STOP.”
4. When an emergency stop is called, exhibitors and handlers must immediately stop their activity and follow directions from Show Management, judges, staff, or designated safety personnel.
5. Exhibitors and handlers are responsible for maintaining control of their animals to the extent reasonably possible.
6. Animals must not be left in conditions that create an unreasonable risk to the animal, other animals, exhibitors, staff, volunteers, or spectators.
7. Exhibitors must clean up their assigned areas and properly dispose of animal waste and other materials before leaving the facility.
8. Exhibitors are expected to report safety hazards, loose animals, injured persons, or other emergencies to Show Management as soon as reasonably possible.

Facilities

1. Park only in designated areas. Do not block gates, entrances, emergency access areas, roadways, or designated traffic areas.
2. Exhibitors are responsible for maintaining clean, orderly, and safe areas around their animals, trailers, pens, stalls, cages, equipment, and personal property.
3. Animals, equipment, vehicles, and personal property must remain within areas designated or approved by Show Management.
4. Exhibitors are responsible for complying with posted facility rules and instructions from venue personnel.
5. Show Management may conduct events at different venues and organizations throughout the year. Venue-specific rules, policies, and requirements may apply and will be communicated to exhibitors as needed.
6. Exhibitors are responsible for following both these Show Rules and any applicable facility requirements.
7. Damage to facilities or property caused by an exhibitor, participant, or animal under their care may be addressed by Show Management and/or the facility according to applicable policies.

Show Management Authority

Show Management is responsible for the overall operation of the show and reserves the right to:

1. Interpret and enforce these rules.
2. Address questions, disputes, and situations not specifically covered by these rules.
3. Modify schedules, class order, class procedures, or other show operations when necessary.
4. Combine, divide, cancel, or modify classes when circumstances require.
5. Take action regarding safety, animal welfare, exhibitor conduct, facility requirements, and the orderly operation of the event.
6. Remove an individual or animal from the show grounds when necessary to protect safety, welfare, or the integrity of the event.
7. Take appropriate action when conduct or circumstances are determined to be contrary to the rules, policies, or values of the show.

Decisions made by Show Management regarding safety, animal welfare, conduct, and rule enforcement shall be considered final.

Judge’s Decisions

1. The Judge is responsible for evaluating entries and determining class placings according to the applicable class rules and judging criteria.
2. Judge’s decisions regarding class placings are final.
3. Questions regarding scoring procedures, class requirements, or rule application may be directed to Show Management.
4. Exhibitors, parents, trainers, spectators, and other participants may not confront, pressure, threaten, or otherwise attempt to influence a Judge regarding a placing decision.
5. A disagreement with a Judge’s opinion, evaluation, or placing does not constitute grounds for changing the official result.

Protests and Appeals

1. Concerns regarding rule interpretation, show procedures, eligibility, safety, animal welfare, or exhibitor conduct should be presented to Show Management in a respectful manner and as soon as reasonably possible.
2. Concerns regarding class procedures or application of the rules must be directed through Show Management and may not be addressed directly with the Judge.
3. A protest may not be used to challenge a Judge’s personal evaluation or placing decision.
4. Show Management may review a concern to determine whether applicable rules or procedures were followed.
5. Nothing in the protest process guarantees that a class placing will be changed.
6. Decisions regarding Judge’s placings remain final.

Exhibitor Conduct

1. Exhibitors, parents, guardians, trainers, coaches, spectators, guests, volunteers, and other participants are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful, sportsmanlike, and appropriate manner at all times.
2. Harassment, intimidation, bullying, abusive language, threats, physical aggression, unsportsmanlike behavior, inappropriate conduct online or in person, interference with show operations, or conduct that negatively impacts the safety, enjoyment, or experience of other exhibitors, volunteers, judges, staff, sponsors, or spectators will not be tolerated.
3. These expectations apply to all interactions related to the event, including show grounds, rings, warm-up areas, barns, pens, parking areas, lodging or event-related activities, and online communications related to the event.
4. Individuals are expected to address disagreements and concerns through appropriate Show Management channels rather than confronting or disrupting other participants.
5. Show Management reserves the right to address inappropriate conduct through actions including, but not limited to, warnings, removal from the show grounds, disqualification, refusal of an entry, or restriction from participation in future events.
6. Serious conduct may result in immediate removal from the event without prior warning.
7. Participation in future shows is a privilege, not a right. Show Management reserves the right to refuse entries from individuals whose previous conduct has been determined to be disruptive, unsafe, abusive, threatening, or contrary to the values and expectations of the show.
8. These provisions apply regardless of whether the individual is an exhibitor, parent, guardian, trainer, volunteer, spectator, guest, or other participant.

Final Authority

These General Show Rules establish the baseline expectations for participation in the event. Species-specific, class-specific, program-specific, or venue-specific rules may provide additional requirements.

Where a specific rule conflicts with a general rule, the applicable specific rule shall govern that class or activity.

Show Management retains authority to address circumstances not specifically anticipated by these rules in a manner consistent with the safety, welfare, fairness, and integrity of the event.