RULES

MISSION STATEMENT

The Morgan Weanling Gala is an organization formed for the purpose of increasing the marketing value of Morgan mares, stallions and their offspring. This organization is governed by and under the auspices of the American Morgan Horse Institute. The Morgan Weanling Gala operates in accordance with policies adopted by the Morgan Weanling Gala committee. Current committee members are: Chairman, Larry Bolen; Secretary, Shanna Gish; Treasurer, Paulette Bodnar; members, Beth Fancsali, Elizabeth Hobby and Fran Pugh.

It is the committee’s responsibility to ensure the Morgan Weanling Gala is administered under the highest ethical conditions. It is the committee’s duty to promote and conduct the operations of the program efficiently.

HISTORY

The Morgan Weanling Gala was the idea of several Morgan breeders and owners interested in promoting their stallions and the sale of their offspring. This program was initiated in early 2008, with the first event to be held in 2009. The Morgan Weanling Gala is a completely new organization with no affiliation to any previous weanling programs.

NOMINATION TO THE MORGAN WEANLING GALA

Stallions may participate in the Morgan Weanling Gala on a yearly basis. Participation in the program is obtained by nominating a stallion. Nomination is accomplished by first year participation or by yearly renewal. Application for nomination must be made to the Morgan Weanling Gala c/o Paulette Bodnar, 6715 Meyer Rd., Marengo, IL 60152. The nomination fee is $3,000.00 per year.

Nomination to the Morgan Weanling Gala enables weanling offspring of nominated stallions to participate in a special class sponsored by the Morgan Weanling Gala. Prize money for this class will be determined by the number of stallions nominated. The $3,000.00 nomination fee may be paid in two installments. The first payment is due November 1st with the signed contract and the second payment is due February 1st of the following year. All payments must be paid in full in order to insure the participation of offspring sired by a nominated stallion.

Offspring of stallions nominated in November of a given year are eligible to show in a class held two years hence. That is, offspring of stallions nominated in November 2008 are eligible for the class held in 2010.

All stallion owners participating in the Morgan Weanling Gala must sign and abide by the official contract.

STALLION SUBSTITUTION

The substitution of a stallion can be made only in the event of involuntary sterility or death. The stallion being substituted must be owned by, or leased by, the original owner. An official American Morgan Horse Association lease must be submitted at the time of substitution.

RENOMINATION

The number of stallions to be nominated each year to the Morgan Weanling Gala program will not be restricted.  An unlimited number of stallions may participate. In order to encourage renomination of stallions in the program, the Morgan Weanling Gala offers a 10% discount to stallions kept current in the program each year, only after the first year. This discount will not apply to stallions whose owners do not maintain a yearly renewal.

ADVERTISING

The nomination of a stallion guarantees certain advertising and promotion of that stallion. Group advertising for all nominated stallions will appear in various publications that are affiliated with the Morgan horse. Each stallion will also be offered a page on the official website, MorganWeanlingGala.com. Stallion owners are responsible for supplying all advertising information. The Morgan Weanling Gala is not responsible for any incorrect information provided.

CLASS LOCATION

The location of the class will be determined by the Morgan Weanling Gala committee. The current class locations and shows participating are:

• Jubilee Regional 2009
• New England Regional 2010
• Jubilee Regional 2011
• New England Regional 2012

CLASS PROCEDURES

The class is open to all offspring of nominated stallions provided the stallion owners have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Morgan Weanling Gala. Stallion owners are encouraged to promote the stallion’s Morgan Weanling Gala eligibility and inform mare owners of the class and its location.

Entries must be made on the official horse show entry form. The Morgan Weanling Gala will not accept entries. Closing deadline for the class entry will be determined by the date of the class. Please check with the host show for deadline information and date of the class. Entries close at noon on the day preceding the class. Entry fee is $250.00.

JUDGING PROCEDURE

The Morgan Weanling Gala class will be conducted in two rounds. Each round will be scored separately and no scores will carry over from round one to round two. In the first round, each foal will show individually. A random drawing will be held on the day preceding the class to determine the order of appearance of each foal. Any owner or trainer who is showing more than one entry and draws consecutive spots will be given a new draw.

Three judges will officiate. After entering the ring, each foal will have up to two minutes in which to be judged. The entry shall be judged standing and then at the trot. The handler then has the remainder of the two minutes to show the entry to its best advantage. At the end of the time allotment, the entry must immediately leave the ring. Each entry must be waiting at the in-gate for its turn. Any entry showing out of order will have 5 points per judges’ card deducted from their score. When the final entry has been judged, show officials will tabulate the scores. After a short break, the ten foals (eleven foals if there is a tie for 10th place), will be asked to return to the ring for final judging in round two. These entries shall enter the ring in random order. These entries will then be judged in order of line up, both standing and at the trot. In round two, one judge will be designated as the call judge and the Majority Opinion System will be used. After all entries have been judged, the judges may ask to compare certain entries before marking and signing their cards. The judging cards will then be tabulated and Grand Champion through 10th place will be awarded in reverse order.

SCORING

In round one, each judge may award a numerical score from 1 to 100, 100 being the highest score. After each entry has shown, the three judges’ scores will be added together to arrive at a final first round score for the entry. The top ten scoring entries (eleven if there is a tie for 10th) will advance to round two. All scores from both rounds will be posted on the day following the class. USEF rules will prevail.

ENTRY LIST

A numerical list of entries, order of appearance, sire and dam listing, and owner/handler information will be provided to the exhibitors and spectators by the Morgan Weanling Gala.

JUDGES SELECTION

The judging selection will be determined by the horse show. The three primary judges hired by the horse show shall officiate the Morgan Weanling Gala class.

DNA

Any entry placing 1st through 10th in the Morgan Weanling Gala class must be registered with the American Morgan Horse Association. If the entry is not yet registered, it will be DNAed immediately following the class. This DNA may be used in the registration of the entry. The DNA fee and any applicable veterinary fees will be deducted from that entry’s prize money.

PRIZE MONEY

The amount of prize money awarded will be determined by the number of stallions nominated for each year’s program. Prize money will be awarded by the Morgan Weanling Gala/ American Morgan Horse Institute after the results of the DNA verify parentage.

Payout for the Morgan Weanling Gala class will be the following percentages of the total stallion nomination fees less program expenses:

• Grand Champion: 27% less $1000 to the nominated stallion and 10% to the handler.
• Reserve Grand Champion: 20% less $500 to the nominated stallion and 10% to the handler.
• 3RD: 13% less 10% to the handler
• 4TH 9.5%
• 5TH: 8%
• 6TH: 4.5%
• 7TH: 4.5%
• 8TH: 4.5%
• 9TH: 4.5%
• 10TH: 4.5%

INFORMATION

For any further information concerning the Morgan Weanling Gala program, please contact any committee member mentioned above or go to the website, MorganWeanlingGala.com.

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