|
|
|
|
|
MINNESOTA HORSE & PONY PULLING ASSOCIATION RULES updated may 2003
1.The required distance to pull is 27 1/2 feet. 2.Any driver using profane language or slapping horses shall lose his pull . If he is called on his actions three times , he will be disqualified. 3. Each driver is entitled to three pulls. He must take his first pull ; if he fails to make the distance and wishes to have three pulls , he must leave his team hitched after pull #1 and try for pull #2 . If this is not successful , he may unhook and have the load spotted where he chooses for pull #3 ,or his final pull . If he unhooks his team after pull #1 ,he forfeits one pull (pull#2). 4.Foul lines should be laid on the ground , making space of 16' wide to travel in . The tractor is hooked to the boat once and will stay inside the ropes . 5. A driver is allowed two hookers . Hookers must be 14 years of age or older . Hookers must walk to the rear of the eveners while the team is pulling . They are not allowed to help urge the team in any way . 6. Light weight and medium weight horses must be weighed in before competing in any contest. 7.Switching sides is allowed if it does not delay the contest . No changing of bridles with the exception of a breakdown. 8.All drivers must be seated while the team is pulling or the pull will not qualify. If the team runs away during a contest ,it will be disqualified and will recieve no money . 9. Weights on the machine shall not be raised more than 250 lbs. at any one time after 2750 lbs. is registered on the dynamometer. 10.Any horse puller ,hooker, or helper caught using a nail or other sharp object that will abuse or harm horses while participating in a contest shall be immediately disqualified from the contest. 11.No horse puller will be allowed to change drivers while he is participating in a contest unless he becomes sick or injured. 12. No one is allowed to lift up on halters ,heads ,or chests in any way while weighing in for a contest. All teams to weigh in at the specified scale and time frame by the party sponsoring the contest, or you may be called back to the scale . 13. Weigh in times to be strictly enforced . 14. When spotting boat , it must be placed in the center of the ropes ,not to the sides of the ropes. 15. The adding of the weight will be left up to the conditions of the ground and judges. 16. No heading of horses unless a breakdown occurs , then you must unhook from the boat or machine. 17. Split team (previously pulled in another class) cannot take prize money away from teams in that class . They can be awarded prize money behind the teams in the class and the team must be pulled out ( stuck). 18. Any driver who loses part of his load during a pull will not be held responsible. 19. Any driver that fails to get his team hooked in three consecutive tries will be disqualified from the contest . If the team crosses the ropes it is a foul , if he misses a hook , teamster can back the team up to attempt to hook ,as long as the team stays inside the ropes ( a foul will be counted only if team steps outside the ropes) 20. Any driver caught slapping or otherwise abusing his horses before or while participating in a contest will be disqualified. 21. No person shall administer a drug to a horse either internally or externally for the purpose of altering the performance of the horse in a horse pulling contest. The exhibitor must submit his horse for examination by a licensed veterinarian to determine the presence of drugs. Diuretic (lasix) may be used after 1 hour wait . This is a required condition for participation in the contest. Both exhibitor ,driver, and horses will be barred if caught with drugs for 1 year from the date he receives a letter of such barring. Anyone checked and found to have drugs and not returning prize money will be barred for 2 years. Time limit on this is 30 days from the time he is notified by certified mail . All horses can be checked on the grounds any time before or after a pull . Any man and horses that are barred cannot participate in hooking , driving , or anything ; they are not allowed in the pulling arena for 1 year. MN horse pullers assoc . will not test for "anabolic " steroids. 21A : When a teamster does not cooperate with the veterinarian in obtaining a sample and with the vet's discretion , the matter will be treated as refusing the drug test and will then result in being barred for 1 year ,with no prize money given. 22. Anyone pulling horses in Minnesota is not allowed to use any device other than his original equipment on his team , nothing sewn between the leather , nothing wrapped around any strap on any harness, nor anything radio or remote controlled. If he is caught using some , he is disqualified from the contest and forbidden to pull . 22A. Pullers may use a ring or some type of safety device or spreader on the cross lines , no larger than 4 inches to help prevent lines from pulling through. 23. You cannot pull horses at a contest without blinds, or with open bridles. 24. No team of horses shall be tied together with ropes ,neck yokes, or extra straps , or anything except lines while participating in a contest. 25. You "cannot" unhook on any pull : being try #1 ,try#2 or your spot pull , if you do so ,it will be counted as a pull . If it is your spot pull and you unhook ,you will not be allowed another try . 26. Memberships must be paid before you can pull and by June 15 of each year to qualify for high point awards at the end of the season. 27. The third pull may be taken at the end of the round , but must be taken in the same order as the pullers pull in the contest. 28. All drivers must be a member of the Minnesota Horse Pullers Association to compete in any horse pull. 29. Point system to be based on the number of teams present per class , with each team receiving points. 30. Weigh slips will be accepted for 3 consecutive days , from Minnesota and Wisconsin pulls . Teams must weigh under Minnesota weight class , 20 lbs per team allowed in MN rules (also given in WI) . Horses must be pulled all three consecutive days and must pull in the class weighed in the first day and can move up a class the next day (2nd day) and back down third (3rd day) . All horses must be pulled out . 31. If the boat is moved two foot , it is counted as a pull ,NO MATTER WHO HAS THE LINES. 32. For additional pulls ( by next team ) after a spot pull, the boat will remain where it is if there is room for a full pull , unless all teams are to start out of the hole.
|