245th

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Originated in 1762
The Oldest Fair in the United States

Rules & Regulations

• All Massachusetts Department of Agriculture rules and regulations for horses must be followed, as per State website.
  
  1. All equines entering a Massachusetts fairground must have a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. Documents of health certification for out of state animals must be written on relevant state or federal health forms only. In state animals may be accompanied by a certificate of examination on a veterinarian’s letterhead stationery which clearly identifies the contact information for the veterinarian signing the certification. Certificates written on plain paper are not acceptable. These certificates must be available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated January 1, 2007 or later. These documents will be acceptable for the entire fair season. Show management is not requiring a health certificate.
     
     
  2. All equines must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases and conditions: mange, ringworm, soring, strangles, and open or draining wounds.
     
     
  3. All equines originating from within and outside of the Commonwealth must have a negative USDA approved EIA test (i.e., Coggins test or ELISA test) dated within twelve (12) months of entry. Show management states that an in state Coggins must be within 2 years, out of state 6 months.
     
     
  4. While not required, it is strongly recommended that all equines be vaccinated for rabies, tetanus, and EEE within one year of the fair.
     
     
• All horses must be under control at all times. Show management reserves right to remove unruly horses from area. Horses that kick must wear a red ribbon in the tail. Abusive behavior towards any animal will result in immediate dismissal from show grounds.
• NO DOGS WILL BE ALLOWED AT THE HORSE SHOW, ALL DOGS WILL BE REMOVED.
• All minors are required to wear protective head covering. It is suggested that adults do also.
• All riders must wear proper footwear. No barefeet or sandals in the horse show area.
• All events are time or skill oriented. Equitation skills will not be judged.
• All riders must wear appropriate clothing, but fashion will not be judged. No shorts or tanktops!
• Judges decisions are final.
• Show management reserves right to deal with any unforeseen circumstances as they arise.
• Management or judges reserve the right to cancel, divide or combine classes.
• Horses and riders enter at own risk. The Hardwick Fair, show management, or Great Meadowbrook Farm are not responsible for any damage to horse, rider or property at the show.
• Refunds only with a bona fide injury to horse or rider.
• Each horse and rider combination must have a separate entry and number.
• Classes will not be held for more than two minutes. When horse/rider combination are called for their turn, they have two minutes to report or face disqualification.

1. Trail: Skill event. Horses must move through and over obstacles. You have three chances to do each obstacle, before you need to move on. This will be on an outside separate course and must be run by 12 noon. Course will be posted.
   
   
2. Walk Trot Equitation – Youth (15 and under)
   
   
3. Walk Trot Equitation – Non Youth/Over The Hill (16 and up)
   
   
4. Open Equitation – Any Age – Walk Trot & Canter/Lope
   
   
5. Walk Trot Pleasure – Youth
   
   
6. Walk Trot Pleasure – Non Youth
   
   
7. Open Pleasure – Any Age
   
   
8. Walk Trot Command – Youth
   
   
9. Walk Trot Command – Non Youth
   
   
10. Open Command – Any Age
    
    
11. Lead Line Equitation - Any Age
    
    
12. Lead Line Trail - Any Age
    
    
    Noon (lunch break) — Dressage Demonstration by Torrance Watkins
    Torrance is a former member of the US Olympic Team and assisted in their Gold Medal Win in the 1984 Olympics. She is the first woman to be inducted into the USEA Eventing Hall of Fame.
    
    
    
13. Barrels: Timed Event. Horses can run cloverleaf pattern in either direction. 5 second penalty for knocking over a barrel. Not running pattern correctly or missing a barrel causes disqualification, unless you go back and run pattern correctly. Clock continues to run. Pattern will be posted.
    
    
14. Across the rails: Timed and skill event. Horses must run pattern over rails. Areas will be noted where horse must walk, trot, or canter. Each touch of a hoof will receive a 1 second penalty. Not running pattern correctly will disqualify, unless you go back and run pattern correctly. Pattern will be posted.
    
    
15. Potato Race: Timed Event. Two horses will run simultaneously. Three potatoes will be placed on a barrel. The three potatoes must be transferred to the other barrel while on horseback, one potato at a time. If you drop a potato, you must get off your horse and pick it up, but you must get back on your horse before you transfer it to the other barrel. Time will continue to run. If you do not pick up the potato, you will be disqualified.
    
    
16. Magazine Race: Timed event. Timekeeper will give rider a number. That person must ride their horse to the other side of the ring, where there is a telephone book on a pail, get off their horse, keep control of their horse, find that page number, rip it out, and run, leading their horse, back to the start line, and show the proper page to the time keeper. The page ripped out MUST be more than 50% of the page, and MUST have the number visible.
    
    

    2PM (Approximate) RAFFLE – Raffle prizes will be drawn
    
    

17. Egg and Spoon:  Skill Event. All horses will compete together at same time. Show will provide egg and spoon to riders. No fingers on egg during class or you will be disqualified. Horses will have 5 seconds to do command and must do command until told otherwise. Horses or riders not executing command in the stated time or stopping prior to being told, will be disqualified. Person running class will tell the next command and then ask for the command to be executed, Example: Get ready to walk, WALK. Last egg on spoon is the class winner. Class will be run walk trot.
    
    
18. Stick Horse: Each rider must provide their own stick equine. Registered and grade stick equines are welcome and will be judged against each other. All Participants will receive a ribbon, and winners will receive a special prize! Judged on handler’s ability and equine’s movements and response at the walk, trot and lope. Showmanship, appearance, and originality will count!

END OF SHOW – AWARDING OF CHAMPIONS AND PRIZES

COMMITTEE OR FOR QUESTIONS: Emily Bancroft – 413-967-4002
Elizabeth & Franklyn Cyran
Betty Ostiguy

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