EXAMPLES of SHOW CATEGORIES:

Local: Two or three Operating Centers' riders are invited.

Regional: All Operating Centers and independent riders within a 4-hour drive are invited.

State: All Centers and independent riders in your state are invited.

National: Invitations go out to your region and in national publications; you may request to be a qualifying show for international competition. Organizers may set certain criteria to compete, as well as international qualifying criteria established by USCPAA and IPEC.

ORGANIZATION:

SHOW COMMITTEE: we recommend the following: Manager or Co-Managers, Arena Manager, Safety Manager, Volunteer Coordinator. Depending on the size of your show, you could also add people for: Public Relations, Awards, Facility, Communications, Hospitality, Housing/Transportation, Medical, Barn Manager, Horse Master, Tack/Equipment, Show Secretary, Treasurer. Keep in mind that one person can fill more than one job; for example at a one-day show: PR/awards/hospitality/communications. Detailed job descriptions are available.

VOLUNTEER STAFF: Organizers will recruit sufficient volunteers to ensure the safety and quality of the competition. ACORD can furnish a detailed grid of volunteer jobs, depending on the size of the show.

APPEALS COMMITTEE: Recommended members of the Committee: Show Manager(s), Technical Delegate, Safety Manager, Horse Master, Medical Chair.

JUDGES: We recommend licensed judges with disability awareness. A listing of judges with experience or interest in riders with disabilities is available from ACORD.

SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZERS

A. Organizers are eligible for grants from ACORD to help with organizational expenses.

B. ACORD can provide a Technical Delegate and pay travel expenses.

C. ACORD can provide experienced management staff and pay travel expenses.

D. ACORD staff will train and work with local staff.

E. ACORD can recommend qualified judges with disability awareness

F. ACORD can do national Press and Promotion and will assist with local media.

G. ACORD can provide assistance with pre-event administration and clerical work, including Registration Packages, entry processing and competition paperwork.

FACILITY:

The facility should offer a fenced arena (that may be divided into two or more rings) to accommodate the planned classes. It is preferable that the entire facility be perimeter fenced. Areas are also needed for: staging, warm-up, mounting, audience, food, relaxing, office space for administration and scoring, announcing equipment (including cassette or CD player), wash racks, tack storage, parking.

ARENA(s): A minimum of 100' x 200' with safe fencing at least four feet high with two gates. Footing should be in excellent condition.

Dressage and Futures: 20m x 40m with the perimeter marked by a .30m fence with a 1m closable opening at A. Visually-impaired riders may need accommodation on size of letters. If visually-impaired riders use callers, bleepers or a headset, classes should be held beyond the hearing of other competitors.

Equitation: Adjust the size of the Equitation Ring to the largest class - the ring should not be too large - horses should be "visually confined" in case of a problem during the class. Trot and Canter classes generally have riders trotting and cantering individually (at the judge's discretion).

Obstacle: Ring should be proportionate to your course; not too large and fully fenced. One course should accommodate all skill levels; you adjust the way-of-going to each level. Sample Courses for all 4 skill levels are available from ACORD.

Warmup: close to the competition rings, managed by a Ring Steward, with Safety Monitors, and available at all times. If possible, a separate schooling ring should be set aside for Walk and Minimal Trot riders' exclusive use.

Mounting Area: A Mounting Steward shall have authority over the Ramp and Mounting Block. The Mounting Area shall be located in a safe, quiet place easily accessible to the schooling and competition rings..

CLASSES: may include Equitation, Dressage, Obstacle, Jumping, Driving, Vaulting, Western, Gymkhana/Games, Costume. Separate classes may be offered for own and borrowed horses.

Equitation and Dressage: Walk, Minimal, Intermediate and Advanced Trot/Jog, Canter/Lope and Advanced Canter/Lope

Obstacle and Futures: Walk, Minimal, Intermediate and Advanced Trot/Jog

Pole Bending: Walk or Trot/Jog

Organizers will procure dressage courts, obstacles, stop watches, poles and other equipment as required by classes described in the Class List.

Samples of Forms & Checklists needed for a show are available from ACORD.

DIVISIONS: If entries warrant, separate divisions can be set up:

PD Division: classes for riders with a physical disability

NPD Division: classes for riders without physical disabilities

Riders and coaches are responsible for the honest assessment of skill and ability levels, which will be stated on the Entry Form. A detailed Rider Profile will be completed and promptly submitted for each entrant wishing to borrow a horse. If offering borrowed horses, Organizers are responsible for skilled assessment of horse's training and talent to correspond with the needs of entrants as stated on each Rider Profile.

RIDER SKILL LEVELS: Walk; Minimal Trot/Jog, Intermediate Trot/Jog, Advanced Trot/Jog, Canter/Lope, Advanced Canter/Lope

RIDER ABILITY LEVELS: a) 3 aides: leader and 2 sidewalkers b) 2 aides c) 1 aide d) independent

RIDER IDENTIFICATION: Organizers will provide colored armbands for visual impairment, hearing impairment, non-verbal, non-post and non-sit, as outlined in the Rules.

RIDER ASSISTANTS: Riders are strongly encouraged to come with a Coach, Groom or Helper. Organizers should screen exceptions individually and may offer to provide a helper to a rider. A fee for helper's expenses can be charged to the rider.

HORSES:

If Organizers are furnishing horses, Riders can compete on their own horse or a borrowed horse. Organizers may charge a fee for a borrowed horse. Organizers will set a reasonable deadline for requesting a borrowed horse. Suitable tack and health records should be provided for each horse. Adaptive tack brought by the Rider shall be approved by the Owner. Organizers will arrange for horses to be delivered to the facility several days ahead of time for evaluation.

Organizers will create a Management Record for each horse, including feed, medicine, vitamins, schooling instructions and general information. Owners will complete a Horse Profile on each borrowed horse. Each borrowed horse will have a completed Stall Chart affixed to the stall door. Each horse will have prominently displayed a number on his stall door and on his halter or bridle when outside the stall. Organizers may provide a qualified groom for each horse. Owners are generally welcome to groom their own horse.

HORSE & RIDER MATCHING: The Horse Master will select appropriate mounts matched by Horse Profile and Rider Profile. Coaches may try a potential horse for ten minutes; the horse may not be schooled. Riders shall be given access to the horses for a designated time period to confirm or change the match. Organizers will supervise all matching and training periods. Horses may be shared.

RIBBONS/MEDALS: It is recommended that ribbons be awarded through eighth place. Often medals are given for first through third place. Trophies are very much appreciated by the competitors, and many times can be collected in the community and refurbished. Equitation awards are given at the end of each class. All other classes are given at the end of the show.

SHOW PROGRAM: Contains list of riders, show schedule, sponsors. Can be as elaborate or simple as you wish.

REGISTRATION PACKAGES: Consist of Entry Form, Rider Profile (if riders are borrowing horses), Medical/Liability/ Media Release, Proof of Insurance, Class List, Futures and Dressage Tests, Tentative Schedule, Information Form, Transportation/Lodging Information and Map, Rules.

Organizers shall furnish written Barn Rules to each competitor. ACORD can furnish Horse Show Etiquette Guidelines and Volunteer Information. Judges and Officials should be sent a copy of the Registration Package for reference and a copy of the Rules that the show will follow.

COMPETITION ORGANIZATIONS:

ACORD is an umbrella organization for competition for athletes with disabilities. ACORD works with other equestrian organizations to promote quality horse shows for athletes with any disability around the United States. ACORD provides funding and management expertise. ACORD managed Equestrian for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games.

USCPAA is the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association and works with physically- involved athletes. USCPAA is the national governing body for Equestrian, and a Group E member of the United States Olympic Committee. USCPAA is in charge of sanctioning, organization of national competitions, selection of athletes and sponsors Team USA to represent the United States at international competitions.

IPEC is the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee and works with physically-involved athletes. IPEC is in charge of rules, dressage tests and organization of international competitions, including World Championships and Paralympics. International competition for riders is generally in dressage. IPEC is a sub-committee of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

For more information, please contact:

ACORD, American Competition Opportunities for Riders with Disabilities, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation:

Sandy Dota, Pennsylvania - ph 610 588 7890 fax 610 588 2019

Nora Grassmyer, California - phone/fax 510 846 4140

Karen Lang, Georgia - phone 404 256 5878

Judy Serie Nagy, California - ofc ph 408 261 2015 fx 261 9438 hm ph 263 3143 e-mail danivar@aol.com

ACORD, 5303 Felter Road, San Jose CA 95132

Thank you for contacting ACORD about organizing a Horse Show for Riders with Disabilities. We are interested in assisting you with your first show ... offering help in enlarging an existing horse show ... or supporting your efforts at expanding your competition in new directions. ACORD is a volunteer organization promoting "more competitions for more riders", and help is generally offered without charge. We have created the enclosed Guidelines for Organizers to give you some basic information and a solid foundation upon which to build your event. We would appreciate your feedback.

You will find ACORD's experienced management staff ready and willing to answer your questions and give you guidance. We have many years of experience in all aspects of competitions, from the one-day show with 30 riders to a weekend competition for 200 riders.

Please remember - these are GUIDELINES only, Organizers must be flexible. ACORD can furnish you with samples of every form and checklist you need to create a successful horse show. ACORD has a volunteer staff that is able to travel to a show and work with Organizers to ensure a safe, quality event. With our support, we hope you will be motivated to "get out there and get it organized".

Organizing a horse show requires lots of work by lots of people. The rewards are great. You and your group can experience the satisfaction of a successful competition while watching the pleased smiles of riders and coaches as they pick up their ribbons.

We will be happy to hear from you.

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