Policy Document

POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS

OF THE

MARYLAND REGION

UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS, INC.

PART ONE - IDENTIFICATION

ARTICLE I (Name)

The name of this region is the MARYLAND REGION (Region).

ARTICLE II (Purposes)

This region has been established by The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., (USPC) to assist in promoting the policies and purposes of USPC within the geographical area of the United States of America described as follows:

Part or all of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince Georges, St. Mary's, and Washington Counties in the State of Maryland; and part or all of Adams, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry , and York Counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Within such geographical area, the region shall (i) oversee the policies and activities of member clubs, (ii) conduct regional activities, (iii) be the coordinator of all inter-regional and national activities, and (iv) perform such other duties and exercise such authority as may be assigned to it from time to time by USPC.

PART TWO - BY-LAWS

Until amended or repealed, the following By-laws, promulgated by the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. for its Regions, shall govern the operations of the Maryland Region.

PART THREE - MARYLAND REGIONAL POLICIES

ARTICLE I (Regional Council)

(i) The Regional Council's annual meeting will be held in the fall of each year, after September 1st. The Annual meetings of all member clubs within the region shall be held prior to the meeting of the Regional Council. Each Administrative Officer and Regional Officers, including U.S.P.C. Administrative Officers of Member Clubs shall be members of the Regional Council. Each member club shall be entitled to a single vote regardless of the number of U.S.P.C. Administrative Officers assigned to said Club. The attendees of said annual meeting shall include U.S.P.C. Administrative Officers from the Region and Clubs, Regional Officers, members of the Advisory Board and such guests and friends of USPC as may be invited by the Regional Supervisor.

(ii) In the event that the Regional Council meeting is held before the appointment of new District Commissioners, the member clubs representatives to the Regional Council meeting shall include both the current District Commissioner and the District Commissioner nominee. If both the District Commissioner and the District Commissioner nominee are the same person, the second representative shall be the Joint District Commissioner. If there is no Joint District Commissioner, the second representative may be designated by the District Commissioner. In the absence of either, the representative will be designated by the District Commissioner or the District Commissioner nominee

ARTICLE II (Treasurer and Secretary)

1. Pursuant to Article VII of the By-Laws, the Regional Council shall elect a Regional Treasurer and a Regional Secretary at the Council's annual meeting. Any person, other than the Regional Supervisor, Vice Regional Supervisor or members of their immediate family, may serve as either Secretary or Treasurer or as both. In the event that the Regional Secretary or Treasurer shall vacate the office between meetings of the Regional Council, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment made by the Regional Supervisor.The Regional Supervisor shall have the authority to remove and/or replace the Regional Secretary or Treasurer, at any time, from time to time and without cause.

ARTICLE III (Regional Competition)

1. Teams shall be selected to represent the Maryland Region at Inter-regional or above competitions based upon the USPC Rules of Rally for the particular sport.

2. Where the particular sport does not designate a method of selecting teams, the Regional Supervisor shall have discretion to designate a team as follows:

(a) In Games, Quiz and Polocrosse the team shall consist of the highest scoring team at the Regional Games/Quiz/Polocrosse Rally, which is qualified to represent the region at the USPC Championships. In the event that the highest scoring team has a vacancy, the club from which the team comes shall fill the vacancy from among the individuals who competed at the Regional Rally. In the event that the highest scoring team at the Regional Rally is unable to represent the Region at the USPC Championships, the Regional Supervisor shall have discretion whether to send the next higher scoring team or to send no Games, Quiz or Polocrosse team to said Championships.

(b) In Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage and Tetrathalon, the representatives for the Region shall be those riders who meet the qualifications for that sport, who received the best scores at the Regional Rally for that event and who were not eliminated in any phase of the event, and whose scores the Regional Supervisor deems competitive for Championships. Should said leading riders be unable to attend the Championships, the Regional Supervisor shall have discretion to send the next best scoring riders or to send a short team or to create a scramble team with another region or regions.

(c) Stable managers for each team shall be selected by the Regional Supervisor from a list of individuals who have informed the Regional Supervisor of their desire to be a Stable Manager on a championship team.

(d) In no event may a competitor represent the Maryland Region on more than one championship team.

(e) If the Regional Supervisor, in the Supervisor’s sole discretion, decides an individual rider or team will not make a suitable representative of the Region, The Regional Supervisor may: (1) send the next best finishing rider or team; or (2) exercise the inherent power to elect and send no team or individual riders to Championships.

(r) A competitor who has qualified for a place as a rider on the Regional team to Championships, under either (i) or (ii) above shall have until Tuesday following the Regional Competition to contact the Regional Supervisor and declare whether they will take their place on said team or will waive their place on said team. A competitor who waives their place on the Regional team may not change their election, unless one of the final team members is unable to ride and the Regional Supervisor considers the original qualifier as a possible substitute rider.

ARTICLE IV (Regional Trophies)

The Region annually presents the Bedford Bowl as a perpetual award to the club whose receives the highest score for results of Round Robins. A Round Robin is a one day horse trials ridden by individuals against others of the same rating. Points are awarded to the first six places in each division, i.e. first place receives six (6) points, while second place receives only five (5) points. At the end of the year, the club, whose members have accumulated the most points, shall have possession of the Bedford Bowl for the next year and shall have it's name engraved on the trophy.

(b)Roberta Ligon Horse Management Trophy

The Region annually presents the Roberta Ligon Horse Management Trophy as a perpetual award to be held by the team with the best horse management score in Combined Training at the Regional C1 and C2 level Combined Training Rally.

The Region annually presents the Dr. Robert Crosby perpetual trophy to the junior games team that has the best sportsmanship at the Regional Games Rally

The Region presents the James Ligon perpetual trophy to the senior games team with the highest overall score at the Regional Games Rally.

The Region presents the Mr. and Mrs. Dean Bedford Perpetual Trophy to the C level Combined Training team with the best overall score at the Regional Combined Training Rally.

The Region presents the Nancy Boyer Memorial Perpetual Trophy to the Starter Novice team with the best overall score at the Regional Combined Training Rally

The Region presents the Don Bebee Perpetual Trophy to the team with the best overall score at the Regional D1/D2 Combined Training Rally.

The Region presents the Mickey Skipper Perpetual Dressage Trophy to the team with the best overall score in the Regional Dressage Rally qualifying for a National Championship.

The Region annually presents the Patsy DuPont perpetual trophy to the junior games team with the highest overall score at the Regional Games Rally.

The Region presents the J. Eunesse Abolt perpetual trophy to the Show Jumping team with the best overall score at the Maryland Regional Show Jumping Rally

The Region presents the Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Skipper, Sr., Perpetual Memorial Trophy to the highest scoring team at the Regional D level Dressage Rally.

The Region presents the Manada Creek Perpetual Polocrosse Trophy to the Maryland Regional Advanced Team with the highest score at the Regional Polocrosse Competition.

The Caviston family has donated a perpetual trophy to the Maryland Region in honor of Amy Caviston's horse, Priority Red. The trophy will be presented each year to the best scoring competitor in the C3/A division of the Regional Combined Training Rally.

The Region presents a perpetual trophy to the highest scoring individual from the Maryland Region in the Regional Tetrathlon Rally. A perpetual trophy is presented to the team with the best score at the Regional Know Down Rally.

The Maryland Region presents the William H. Minor Perpetual Polo Trophy to the Maryland Region team with the highest score at the Regional Polo Competition.

The Maryland Region presents the Frances Pitts Novice Division Perpetual Trophy to the winning team in the Novice Games Division in the Maryland Region.

The Maryland Region presents the Frances Pitts Sportsmanship Perpetual Trophy to the team displaying the best sportsmanship in the Senior Games Division.

The Maryland Region presents the We 3 Polocrosse Trophy

is awarded to the top Intermediate horse Team.

The Millenium Trophy is awarded to the top overall Intermediate Pony Team.

The Bowman Cup donated by the Maryland Region is awarded to the Novice Team showing best sportsmanship.

The Maryland Regional Perpetual Trophy is awarded to the top Maryland team overall in all divisions.

ARTICLE V (HMO Horse Management Organizer)

The Regional Supervisor shall designate a Regional Horse Management Organizer(s), subject to Regional Council approval, who shall be responsible for training and certifying Chief and Assistant Horse Management Judges under the Rules established by the USPC Horse Management Committee and the USPC Horse Management Handbook. The HMO (Horse Management Organizer) shall consult with each club hosting a regional rally and shall assign a duly qualified chief horse management judge and assist with staffing horse management assistants for the competition as required by the Horse Management Handbook.

ARTICLE VI (Regional Instruction Coordinator - RIC)

The Regional Council shall elect a Regional Instruction Coordinator, who shall serve as a resource to the Region and the Clubs within the Region. The Regional Instruction Coordinator shall act as liaison between the Club and the Regional Instructors and the National Instruction Council.

PART THREE - POLICIES

ARTICLE ONE (Driving)

Transportation of competitors and participants to and from regional competitions, clinics or seminars shall be the responsibility of the parents/guardians of the competitors. Chaperones are not obligated to transport the competitors in their charge; although, they may do so if an agreement is made between them and the parents/guardians of the competitors.

Nothing herein contained shall alter the power of the Chaperone to designate when and where team members must meet, curfew, lights out and all other matters affecting the competitors during the activity.

ARTICLE TWO (Cheating on Written Test)

An individual who cheats on a written test at a Regional Rally shall be disqualified from competing further in the event and shall not qualify for any ribbons or awards. The Offender's team shall be barred from placing in the event or receiving any awards. The Offender shall not represent the Region or USPC in any inter-regional Championship or International events for the period of one year from the date of the infraction.

ARTICLE THREE (Riding Facilities)

The Region and each member club should establish facilities to use for clinics, competitions and pleasure riding. All facilities should be covered by USPC insurance for all Pony Club events.

Facilities must be available without discrimination if they are to be the site of an official club or regional event. Should a member in good standing be barred from any facility, the club may not use that facility for an official club function. Likewise, no regional event may be held where any pony clubber in good standing is prevented from participating at the event site. This rule shall not apply to any individual whose participation is prevented by penalties applied pursuant to USPC, Regional or Club Rules and Regulations.

ARTICLE FOUR (Age of Competitor)

A pony club member who joined after November 15, 1992, may compete in a rally involving jumping fences only if they are eight (8) years of age by January 1, 1993 and have obtain the rating of D2. After January 1, 1994, no pony club member may compete in a rally involving the jumping of fences unless they are at least eight (8) years of age by January 1st of the year in which the event is held and have at least a D-2 rating.

Article Five (Rating of Competitors)

No pony club member may compete at a competition involving horses unless the competitor has been rated as a D1 or above.

Article Six (Entry Fees)

Any entry received not postmarked by the cut off date, will pay a $25.00 late fee, and at the discretion of the organizer maybe rejected.

Article Seven (Entries)

The organizer of a regional activity (competition, clinic or rally) shall have the absolute right to refuse an entry from any individual without cause. This discretion is separate and distinct from any limitations provided in Article Three above.

Article Eight (Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy)

Events being put on for the Maryland Region USPC need a consistent policy dealing with a participant’s withdrawal from the event and for refunds when an event is cancelled or postponed.

WITHDRAWAL – If a participant notifies an organizer that they are withdrawing their entry in the event, a refund shall be made on the following basis: (1) If the withdrawal is made prior to the closing date for entering the event, or after the closing date for valid reasons beyond the control of the Participant, the Participant is entitled to a refund of the entry charge less a 10% handling and administration fee; (2) if the Participant otherwise withdraws after the closing date for the event there will be no refund.

CANCELLATION – POSTPONEMENT. If the Organizer is forced to cancel an event due to inclement weather or due to unexpected safety issues and there is no alternative event planned (rain date), the Participant shall receive a full refund.

If the Organizer offers a make-up event for the Participants for a later date and/or at a different facility, the Participant shall be entitled to attend the make-up event. If for good cause the Participant can not attend the make-up event, they shall be entitled to a refund of the entry fee less a 10% handling and administration fee.

Organizers for events in the Maryland Region shall include a copy of this Policy on the Announcement or Invitation to the event or any web-site postings.