Minnesota Walking Horse Association

The MWHA High Point Program started many years ago for the TWH exhibitors to be able to show at local shows and not have to travel many, many miles to show their horses (at that time, horse shows were held in Milwaukee WI, Sioux Falls SD and Waterloo IA).  Our program has been revamped through the years and we now offer year-end awards for our plantation, lite shod, trail pleasure, country pleasure, juvenile riders, rookie riders, trail riding and driving walking horse owners and exhibitors.

Premium lists will be mailed, emailed and/or posted on the MWHA website.

The entry being shown does not need to be registered to participate in TWH classes at all MWHA affiliated shows.

Only registered TWH are eligible for year end awards in the MWHA High Point Program, except in the Country Pleasure division.

Horses cannot show in another TWH division (plantation, lite shod, trail pleasure, country pleasure) at the same show, but may show in other classes for which they qualify.

Horses may change divisions once during the year.

Rules for showing in Plantation, Lite Shod, Trail Pleasure and Country Pleasure classes

Eligibility – Only registered TWH owned by MWHA members will be eligible for year-end awards.  If the horse is owned by more than one person, both owners shall be current MWHA paid members and only one owner needs to pay the “Nomination Fee” each year, which makes all horses owned by them eligible for year-end awards.

When a horse is sold during the show season, points will continue to accrue provided the new owner is a paid MWHA member and also has paid the annual nomination fee.  The new owner may pay the fee at time of purchase.

A horse must be shown under their full registered name.  Owners must enter this same name for the horse at all approved shows.

Approved Shows – Only horse shows within the State of Minnesota and shows sponsored by the MWHA that offer TWH classes will be approved.  Nominated horses can acquire points toward annual year-end awards only at approved shows.

Requirements and Computations of Earning Points toward Year-End Awards

Points will not be counted in any class that is more restrictive than the class listed in the current MWHA High Point Championship Listing. Points will be counted in classes that have been split (i.e., Model – Stallions/Geldings and Mares).

Regular class points will be counted as follows:

     1^st Place – 20 points                   4^th Place –   8 points                       

     2^nd Place – 16 points                  5^th Place –   4 points                       

     3^rd Place – 12 points                   6^th Place –     1 point

Stake/Championship class points will be counted as follows:

     1^st Place –  30 points                  4^th Place –  12 points

     2^nd Place – 24 points                  5^th Place –    6 points

     3^rd Place –  18 points                  6^th Place – 1.5 points

Half points will be counted in classes that have less than three (3) entries, i.e., regular classes: 1^st Place – 10 points and 2^nd Place – 8 points and in stake/championship classes: 1^st Place – 15 points and 2^nd Place – 12 points.

Trophies and Awards – A Champion and Reserve Champion will be awarded in each of the following:

Points will be counted in Open, Amateur & AOT English & Western classes for the following awards

• Plantation Three Gait
• Plantation Two Gait
• Lite Shod Three Gait
• Lite Shod Two Gait
• Trail Pleasure Three Gait
• Trail Pleasure Two Gait

Points will be counted in Amateur & AOT English & Western classes for the following awards:

• Country Pleasure Three Gait
• Country Pleasure Two Gait

Junior Horse:  4 & under in Plantation, Lite Shod, Trail Pleasure & Country Pleasure

Juvenile Rider:  17 & Under in Plantation, Lite Shod, Trail Pleasure & Country Pleasure

Rookie Rider:  Any age rider in Plantation, Lite Shod, Trail Pleasure & Country Pleasure

Model:  Plantation, Lite Shod, Trail Pleasure & Country Pleasure

Size, style and cost of said awards will be determined by the MWHA Board upon suggestion of the High-Point Program committee.  These awards will be presented at the annual MWHA Banquet.

Class Definitions and General Procedures

Three Gait – flat walk, running walk and canter both ways of the ring

Two Gait – flat walk, running walk both ways of the ring

AOT – Amateur Owned & Trained – open to horses that are owned, trained and exhibited by an amateur and/or amateurs within their immediate family; horse cannot be ridden, trained or schooled by a professional trainer 90 days prior to being shown in an AOT class; exhibitor cannot be coached or assisted by a professional trainer at a show (except for holding a horse so the amateur can remove or re-saddle their horse during DQP inspection; immediate family members of a professional trainer cannot shown in AOT classes

OT - Optional Tack – either English or Western, but not a combination of both

Rookie Rider:  The rider hasn’t shown a Tennessee Walking Horse in a riding class prior to January 1, 2011. To be eligible for the Rookie class, an adult must be a MWHA member.  Children 17 and under are eligible if the horse is owned by a current MWHA member.  The rider will only be eligible for Rookie status through the 2011show season.  The same horse/rider combination must be shown throughout the year.  There is no nomination fee for the Rookie Award.  Points will be tabulated for the rider/horse combination showing and placing in any TWH class at Minnesota horse shows.  If the “Rookie” rider chooses to earn points towards other year-end awards in the MWHA High Point Program, they must pay the nomination fee.  Their horse will then be eligible to earn points in their respective divisions (Plantation, Lite Shod, Trail Pleasure, and Country Pleasure) at all MWHA approved shows.

For information on Qualifying Gaits, Attire and Equipment and Shoeing Regulations, please refer to the National Walking Horse Association Rulebook (www.nwha.com).