NULLARBOR MUSTER RULES AND REGULATIONS
GYMKHANA AND BULLRIDE
As per ABCRA Rule Book
All competitors under 18 years of age, must wear a helmet when competing in all events, and anytime whilst mounted at an affiliated ABCRA event. The chinstrap must be securely fastened under the chin. Helmets are to comply with current industry and sports Standards.
Failure to wear a helmet properly secured whilst mounted or competing in events shall result in the imposition of a minimum $20 fine for each occasion the competitor is detected. The Judge (or committee within your committee pack) shall advise Head Office who shall convey the details of the fine to the competitor. Should the Judge be in possession of a fine book, the penalty may be imposed at the time the competitor is detected.
Should a junior competitor come under notice on two separate occasions for failure to wear a properly secured helmet, they shall be called before the Disciplinary Committee of the Board to show cause why some other punitive penalty be imposed upon them.
Barrel Racing Whips
Barrel racing whips are to be no longer 75cm in overall length including the flap.
Stallion Control
All stallions must be double tied by neck strap and halter on all grounds. Stallions will be allowed to be unrestrained in panel yards through daylight hours ONLY. Stallions must be double tied at night. Panels must be a minimum of 1500mm in height with a minimum of four bars. Panels must be constructed using a minimum of 25mm box or pipe equivalent. Panels must be anchored securely to a solid object i.e truck, post, tree. t 50mm long and 18mm wide.
Drugs & Welfare Policy for Horses
The Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association recognises the importance of sound animal welfare policies, which prevent the use of animals which are not fit for competition. Fitness may be gauged as appropriate physical fitness or lack of suitability for competition due to injury or disease.
The ABCRA recognises that animals used in competition must be treated in a humane manner and that the ABCRA does not condone the ill treatment or abuse of any animals whilst competing at campdrafts or rodeos.
1. The following provisions regarding conduct shall apply to any event whether in competition or practice.
a. Inhumane treatment or abuse of a horse in any manner whilst in the arena or on the grounds is prohibited. Inhumane treatment includes, but is not limited to, the following:
i. Riding of a crippled, injured or lame animal.
ii. Riding of a horse with a health abnormality, which could result in the horse’s undue discomfort or distress.
iii. Abuse of an animal which includes excessive jerking, spurring, whipping or any other act intended to cause trauma or injury to the animal.
b. Any act of abuse or intent to abuse an animal whilst in the campdraft or rodeo arena or on the grounds or the vicinity which could also endanger the safety of other persons or animals will not be tolerated and the persons may be subject to disciplinary action.
2. If the Campdrafting and Rodeo Committee discovers inhumane treatment or abuse of a horse it may immediately bar the responsible party and horse from further participation from the event. This decision should be based on consultation with a veterinary surgeon. In the event that a Veterinary Surgeon is not available then the committee shall consult with the judge(s) of the event before any action is taken under this rule.
3. Administration of a drug or drugs while on the grounds or the vicinity of campdrafting and rodeo grounds, including the arena, practice area or stables is strictly prohibited with following provisos:
i. Any horse winning an event may be swabbed. Other horses will be chosen at random before the running of an event and they will be swabbed at the completion of the event. The number chosen will depend on the number of entries in the event.
ii. All testing will be by blood sample. Entry to any event will be contingent on permission for such blood samples to be obtained. The blood test will be an accurate determination of drug levels in the blood stream (not a screening test). A registered drug-testing laboratory will perform the test. Blood samples will only be taken by veterinarians using tamper proof sample kits supplied by the testing laboratory.
iii. A veterinarian must gazette all drugs that he has prescribed and administered to a horse up to 10 days prior to competition. This information must include a statement that the horse is fit for competition, the reason the drug has been given, the drug administered. The dose, the route of administration and the date and time that the last dose of the drug was administered.
4. All of these conditions are mandatory. Any horse found to have a positive swab in the absence of a Veterinarian’s certificate will be reported to the governing Associations Drug Committee.
i. The result of drug tests will be reported to the governing Associations Drug Committee who on advice from the testing laboratory will determine whether any offence has been committed and what penalty will be imposed. Drug levels that are not high enough to have influenced the performance of the horse will not attract any penalty. These levels will be taken from internationally published data. All results of negative tests will be destroyed.
ii. The cost of these tests will be borne by the governing Associations except where such a test is positive in which case the cost will be borne by the Owner. In the event that a committee discovers or has a complaint made to them regarding inhumane treatment, abuse or any drug administration not in accordance with the above rules, the governing Associations shall be notified and a hearing to consider disciplinary action against the responsible party (s) shall be scheduled.
Spurs
Spurs to have free running rowels, except in Bull Ride where semi locked rowels are permitted; sharp spurs will not be allowed. Rowels to be a minimum of 4 mm thickness with blunt points.
Barrels
The contestant may go either left or right barrel first but must make one left and two right turns or one right and two left turns. Illegal pattern-competitors will be disqualified for not following the pattern.
A 5 second penalty will be added for every drum knocked
Touching a barrel with the hand to prevent it from falling is permitted as long as the top rim of the drum has not hit the ground. Barrel must be sat on correct marker before next contestant.
Hitting a horse around the head or excessive use of a whip in competition is immediate disqualification, for the duration of the rodeo, ruled by judge and or directors. There will be no refund of entry fee. The Board of Directors may take further disciplinary action.
Contestants will be restricted to riding one horse only in a contest. Exceptions are made for 1 senior and 1 junior or sub-junior competitor.
Horse and Rider Equipment
1. All riders under the age of 18 years must wear, properly fitted helmets (includes use of the chinstrap) that comply with Industry and Sports standards and are less than five years old from the date of manufacture.
2. Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times when riding. This footwear must enable removal of the foot from the stirrup iron. It must also prevent the foot sliding forward and through the stirrup iron.
1. When handling horses (i.e. not riding) footwear should be worn that provide strong protection to the top of the foot.
2. Leather boots are preferred. Open toed sandals and thongs are not to be worn.
3. Participants should be advised on footwear and dress requirements.
4. All equipment (e.g. saddles, bridles) used with the horse should be in good repair and correctly fitted.
5. Saddles must be securely attached to the horse in a manner that keeps the saddle properly in place. A saddle must have at least two points of attachment.
6. Attachments are a double buckle girth, girth and surcingle, or double wrapped latigo.
Staff or Volunteers
Staff involved with horses and cattle must be such that they can confidently manage and handle interactions between horses, cattle and humans so that accidents, to themselves, spectators or competitors, are avoided.
Staff not involved with stock must be able to carry out their duties both efficiently and safely.
Consideration must be given to legal age limits for being in charge of an activity.
Horses
Owners of horses are responsible for ensuring the safety of the public is not compromised by horses that show dangerous behaviour. Owners must take all necessary action to isolate or control such horses.
It is the horse owners responsibility to ensure as far as possible that horses and riders are matched to each other for the activities being undertaken.
Each operation must promote humane conduct of horse use and management with proper consideration for the horses health and welfare.
At all times, horses must be either under control (e.g. being led or ridden) or securely tethered / stabled.
All riders, should not engage in, or be knowingly involved in, cruelty to a horse.
Dogs must either be excluded from the event, or kept on a leash or securely tied up at all times.
Where designated horse washing areas are used, the public must be excluded from the area
Harassment
A Rodeo competitor should be given a chance to explain his side of the story or to clarify a situation to the judge at the proper time and place. However, if the competitor is using abusive language or does not use good judgment in the time and place, the judge should at that time inform said competitor that any further action will constitute a “harassment” charge.
Complaints if any in respect of Judges are to come from competitors or committees or Event Directors only and must be in writing. Complaints will not be investigated unless this is adhered to. Allocation of points awarded by the Judge or Judges shall be final.
Entries Refused
Any competitor found guilty of the offences set forth in these regulations shall have his or her entries refused by all affiliated Committees for such a period as the Board of Directors may determine.
Consumption of Alcohol
Any competitor seen drinking alcohol in the immediate vicinity of the arena and or backyards will incur a fine for the first offence and immediate disqualification for the day.
Bull Ride Rules
To enter an open bull ride competitor must be 16 years of age and have won $1000 in novice bull ride events.
This is a one handed event. Bull to be ridden for eight (8) seconds, time to start when animals inside shoulder breaks the line of the chute.
Riding to be done with one hand, and loose rope, no knots or hitches to prevent rope from falling off bull when rider leaves him.
Rider shall not be allowed to re-set and re-pull the rope more than twice if bull is standing well in the chute.
The bull rider may be assisted by only two other cowboys to pull his rope.
If a bull ride contestant is fouled whilst clearing the chute he must appeal either during or immediately after the ride to a judge to claim a foul.