TITLE – This Association shall be known as the BAY AREA HORSEMAN’S ASSOCIATION, and shall at all times be operated and conducted a s a non-profit organization in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, and the County of Pinellas, providing for such organizations and by which it shall acquire all such rights granted to association of this kind.

OBJECT – The purpose of this association shall be to stimulate an interest in any person involved with, or wanting to become involved with, horses of any breed, size, or color, by providing information and organizing activities for and about horses.

PLACE OF BUSINESS – The principle place of business shall be at Helen Howarth Park 6301 94th Avenue North Pinellas Park, FL 33782. Members or officers of this organization may reside in other cities or counties. Organizational business may be carried out at any place convenient to officers and members, and not limited to Helen Howarth Park.

MEMBERS – Membership is open to any person wanting to participate in an organization created for people to learn about, exhibit, and enjoy horses of any breed. A person becomes a member when a membership form is filled out and membership dues are paid. A copy of the bylaws shall be presented to each paid member and members shall familiarize themselves with the current bylaws.

A member is considered to be in good standing when dues have been paid and disciplinary action is not in effect. Members in good standing shall be entitled to discount entry fees at BAHA circuit horse shows, entitled to voting privileges, eligible for year end awards, and eligible to become officers of the Association.

Member will be notified of BAHA functions such as meetings, activities, outings, horse shows, and pint standings via website www.bayareahorsemansassociation.com or by email.

Members of the Association shall be admitted, retained, suspended, and expelled in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

OFFICER ELECTION – Candidates for officers of BAHA shall be nominated by a committee of present officers, a committee appointed by the present officers, and/or nomination by a member in good standing. Officer candidates may not be, but must become a member of the Association once nominated. The nominations shall be presented to the general membership during a scheduled meeting or the awards banquet, and put to a vote. Each member shall cast one vote for each office open. The election date shall follow the last horse show of the circuit year, and prior to the first show of the new circuit year. If no show circuit is conducted, then a one year time period will be in effect and officers must hold elections prior to their 365 days in office.

OFFICER DUTIES –

PRESIDENT – The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall preside over all meetings. The president shall see that the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the Association are provided for and enforced. The president shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

VICE PRESIDENT - The Vice President shall assist the president in all duties. In the absence of the president, the vice president shall preside. Should the president resign or leave office, the vice preside shall automatically preside over the Association until the end of the term.

SECRETARY – The secretary shall be the primary keeper of all records pertaining to the activities of the Association. The secretary shall record all minutes of meetings, maintain horse show records, coordinate with the media, be responsible for membership data, mail outs of information, and other activities as assigned. In the absence of the president and vice president, the secretary shall preside over the function at hand.

TREASURER – The treasurer shall receive and record all monetary transactions. The treasurer shall maintain the Association checking account and provide budget information to other officers and to the general membership at meetings. The treasurer shall be made aware of any monetary transactions conducted by the other three officers and shall record such activity. In the absence of the president, vice president, and secretary, the treasurer shall preside over the function at hand.

REMOVAL OF OFFICERS – If an officer of the Association neglects the duties assigned to their office, or commits flagrant violations of the Association’s rules, or displays deplorable or criminal behavior which has become a burden or embarrassment to the Association, the other three officers shall meet to discuss the situation and then make a determination of whether or not to call a special vote of the membership for removal of the officer. During this meeting the facts of the situation shall be discussed, agreed upon, and documented and a majority vote of present officers shall determine if a special vote is necessary to remove the person from office. If a special vote is called for the remaining three officers shall coordinate the contact of all members. The facts as known shall be made available to each member, then each member shall cast one vote whether to retain the officer, or to remove the officer. The vote may be done by ballot or by phone with each vote being documented. To remove an officer from office, a majority of the total membership must cast a vote for the removal to the person from office

MEETINGS – Regular meeting of the general membership shall be held at such a time and place as may be designated by any officer in a written or an oral notice. Any officer may call a general meeting to order and may act a chairman, precedence being given as follows: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In the absence of all officers, a chairman for the meeting may be elected by the members present.

BUSINESS AND AMENDMENTS – The officers of this Association shall have the authority and power to make, amend, and repeal the bylaws of the Association by vote of the majority of the officers at any regular or special meeting, subject to the right of the members to a discussion before such vote.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION – Any member who violates any rule or regulation may be subject to disciplinary action by the Association. The disciplinary committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Association. An effected member shall be notified of the violation in writing and will be given 14 days to respond, after which time the committee shall decide on the disposition of the allegation. If the allegation is not sustained, the member will be notified and there will be no further action on the incident. If the allegation is sustained, disposition may range from a warning, suspension, or member being expelled from the Association. Members on suspension will not accumulate pints at circuit horse shows, nor be afforded membership price reductions at circuit shows during the time of their suspension. Those expelled from the Association shall not be eligible to return as a member until the start of a new circuit year.

ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES – The officers of the Association shall discuss and determine all activities in which the Association may become involved in. this will include the production of horse shows, participation in parades, political stands, special activities, utilization of funds, etc.

CLUB DUES AND FEES – Membership dues for BAHA shall be $25.00 for a single membership. Family membership dues are $40 and include 2 adults and their children less than 18 years of age. Membership dues are accepted all year long. Membership cards are issued at the time dues are paid. Dues remain in effect from the date paid and expire the day after new officer elections have taken place (which are normally held in conjunction with the banquet). There are no lifetime memberships.

HORSE SHOW FEES – Horse show entry fees are established at the beginning of the circuit year. Special show and benefit horse show fees are established prior to that particular show and may differ from circuit show fees. Circuit show fees shall remain constant throughout the circuit year.

ACTIVITY FEES – Fees for other activities, such as outings, trail rides, campouts, clinics, shall be set in accordance to the cost of such activity. Such fees will be announced prior to such activity beginning.

SPONSORSHIP – Sponsorship fees are accepted all year long. Sponsorship fees are as follows; Gold $250.00, Silver $150.00, Bronze $75.00 and Class Sponsor $25.00 for each class on the show bill. In exchange for the sponsorship, BAHA will publicize the sponsor in advertisements, show bills, and by announcement. Gold sponsors will also be able to hang a banner along the arena fence during horse shows and other Association activities.

FINANCE – The Association shall utilize all acquired funds by the end of the circuit year. The officers may leave no more than $1,500.00 in the account as a rollover for the next circuit year.

GENERAL RULES –

GR 1 Members shall conduct themselves at all Association functions in an orderly and respectable manner. Members who are intoxicated shall not be permitted to participate in Association functions.

GR 2 Members shall treat other members and all persons with respect and courtesy during Association functions or business. Physical fighting or abusive language will not be tolerated.

GR 3 Members shall treat their own animals and other animals in a humane manner at all times. Animal abuse will not be tolerated.

GR 4 Members shall not ride or handle horses beyond their capabilities.

GR 5 No sick, injured, diseased, or lame horses shall be allowed to participate in Association functions.

GR 6 All members shall abide by the laws of the State of Florida, ordinances of Pinellas County, and the City of Pinellas Park (when applicable) when involved in Association functions.

HORSE SHOW REGULATIONS –

HSR 1 Show rules shall be guided by the rules established by the American Quarter Horse Association. Final decisions on rules questions rest with the officers of the Association. AQHA rules shall only act as a guide.

HSR 2 Exhibitor age divisions are as follows:

Youth – 10 years and under

Junior – 11 to 14 years of age

Senior – 15 to 18 years of age

Adult – 19 years and older

For members who are showing the circuit year, they are allowed to remain in the age bracket they started at eh beginning of the year, even if their age changes to a higher bracket. All non-members not showing the circuit must compete in their correct age bracket.

HSR 3 Horse and pony sizes are established as follows:

HORSE – 14.2 hands and over

PONY – under 14.2 hands

Ponies will be measured at the start of the circuit and will be given a card to be presented during registration for the remaining of the circuit year.

HSR 4 The horse show circuit shall consist of seven shows, one per month, on the fourth Sunday of every month. If the show is canceled, the show shall be rescheduled to the next feasible date.

HSR 5 All classes shall be paid for as entries are submitted. No open tabs. Blank checks will be accepted with the entry. All returned checks are subject to a $35.00 service charge.

HSR 6 All horses brought to the show must have a current negative coggins according to law. Proper paperwork must be made available upon demand, or the horse must be removed from the function.

HSR 7 Refunding of entry fees shall be at the discretion of the officers. Generally, refunds will be granted only in the event of an injury or sickness to the horse or rider.

HSR 8 No entries will be accepted once the gate has closed on the previous class, and the judge has begun judging the class.

HSR 9 All exhibitors shall enter classes and exhibit their horses in a fair manner, abiding by the rules. Any acts of intentional cheating, disruption of performances, or coercion of exhibitors or judges, shall be subject to disqualification and disciplinary action.

HSR10 An exhibitor that shows Trail in Hand cannot ride in the Trail class during the same show.

HALTER REGULATIONS –

HR 1 Appropriate attire should be worn by the exhibitor according AQHA rules.

HR 2 A horse can only be shown in one age category.

HR 3 The age of the horse will be determined by the number of years the horse has been alive since the first day of January. All halter horses being shown for BAGA circuit points, shall remain in their age divisions throughout the circuit year.

HR 4 No one under the age of 18 may show a stallion

HR 5 Helmets are not required for exhibitors under the age of 18 in halter classes.

HR 6 There is no entry fee for those horses invited back to compete in the GRAND and RESERVE HALTER CHAMPION class.

HR 7 Non-Stock horses are definedas those breeds of horses which their foundation background does not stem from quarter horse type genetics. Breeds allowed in this class are: Arabians, Paso Finos, Morgans, Saddlebreds, Thoroughbreds, Belgians, Clydesdales, Ponies, Donkeys/Mules, and others at the discretion of the Association.

WESTERN PERFORMANCE –

WP 1 AQHA rules apply concerning tack used in competition.

WP 2 Proper attire shall be worn in competition. Hats and boots must be worn into the arena.

WP 3 Riders under the age of 18 must wear ASTM/SEI approved helmets.

WP 4 Junior horses are those horses less than 4 years of age. Senior horses are age 5 and older.

WP 5 Walk class riders may not enter a class where the rider exceeds the gait of a walk.

WP 6 Lead line riders cannot compete in any other class, and must be under the age of 10. Horse and rider must have a leader controlling a lead line connected to the head of the horse. Rider must have a hold of a set of reins attached to the head of the horse. Rider cannot be strapped in or tied down to the saddle or the horse.

WP 7 Trail classes will be posted prior to the start of the class. Practicing of the trail course, once set will constitute a disqualification. After 2 refusals of an obstacle, the rider should move on to the next.

WP 8 Showmanship is a performance class; pints are accumulated on a handler/horse combination.

WP 9 The Judge will determine the scoring process for the Obedience class.

WP10 Entries in Walk/Jog may not compete in canter classes.

WP11 Youth, Junior, and Senior Walk/Jog classes are for Novice Riders only. Novice rider means the horse/rider combination has not won more than 3 blue ribbons.

WP12 Walk/Jog Green horse may not compete in canter classes.

ENGLISH PERFORMANCE –

EP 1 AQHA rules apply concerning tack used in competition.

EP 2 Proper attire shall be worn in competition. Helmets and boots must be worn into the arena. Jackets may be optional (judge’s discretion).

EP 3 Junior horses are those horses less than 4 years of age. Senior horses are age 5 and older.

EP 4 Youth, Junior, and Senior English Walk/Trot classes are for Novice Riders only. Novice rider is a horse and rider combination that has not won more than 3 blue ribbons.

EP 5 Walk/Trot entries may not compete in canter classes.

EP 6 Walk/Trot Green horse may not compete in canter classes.

EP 7 ASTM/SEI approved helmets with a chin strap are mandatory for all jumping classes. In addition, all riders age 17 & under are required to wear a helmet with a chin strap attachment in all riding classes.

EP 8 Jumping patterns will be posted. After 2nd refusal at a fence rider should move on.

EP 9 Jumping classes may be canceled due to ground conditions or lighting.

JUDGES – Judges for the horse shows shall be selected in advance of the show. During a particular circuit year, the same judge may be used a maximum of two times, with at least a 3 month interval between shows judged. If a scheduled judge cancels, an alternate judge will be called. Alternate judge may be selected at show time from those persons in attendance of the show as long as they qualify as a judge.

CIRCUIT POINTS AND AWARDS – All classes shall be placed from 1st to 5th. If there are more than 5 entries in a class, 1st place will receive a trophy.

Show highpoints will be awarded to both English and Western riders for each age division.