Even de volledige tekst uit het AQHA-rulebook:
Citaat:
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(f) Prohibited surgical procedure or injection of foreign
substance or drugs: Any surgical procedure or injection of
any foreign substance or drug which could affect a horse’s performance
or alter its natural conformation or appearance is prohibited,
except for those surgical procedures performed by a duly licensed
veterinarian for the sole purpose of protecting the health of the
horse. However, no foreign substance or drug which is of such character
as could affect a horse’s performance is acceptable, whether or
not administered to protect the health of the horse and, on the contrary,
is prohibited. Upon discovery of the existence of prohibited
surgery or injection of foreign substance or drug, show management
shall immediately report the matter to AQHA.
(g) Alteration of Tail Function:
(1) The above prohibition includes application or administration
of any drug, chemical, foreign substance, surgical procedure,
or trauma, accidental or intentional (as to trauma, this prohibition
applies to horses foaled after January 1, 1990), which results
in, or could result in, alteration of normal tail function, carriage,
conformation or overall appearance of the horse.
(2) In the case of trauma to a horse’s tail which does alter
or could result in alteration of tail function, to shorten the stipulat-
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ed one year period prior to consideration for reinstatement provided
below, the owner shall file a written report concerning the injury
and its circumstance with AQHA within 30 days of the occurrence.
(A) Upon receipt of this report, at the owner’s
expense, AQHA may require a veterinarian examination which
becomes a part of the horse’s file. The veterinarian must be approved
by AQHA.
(B)Within one year from the filing date by the owner
of the trauma report, if the Executive Committee has, in the meantime,
barred the horse from participation in AQHA-approved
events, or if an owner’s report has been filed, after one year from the
date of Executive Committee action barring the horse, the owner
may request, in writing, a re-examination of the horse and rehearing
before the Executive Committee for a determination as to whether
the horse’s tail function, carriage, conformation and overall appearance
is normal. If the Executive Committee’s determination is
adverse, the owner may repeat his request for reinstatement at the
expiration of one year from the date of the latest hearing. The owner
shall have the burden of persuasion to prove normal tail function and
appearance.
(3) If, upon examination by AQHA or show representative
(after obtaining prior AQHA authorization), a horse’s tail function
or appearance is found to be abnormal, the horse shall be immediately
reported to AQHA. Upon written notification to the owner by
AQHA, the horse’s participation privileges in AQHA-approved
events may be temporarily suspended pending hearing.
(4) A horse found to have abnormal tail function or
appearance may have its participation privileges reinstated if, upon
examination by AQHA’s approved veterinarians, the tail is found to
be normal in both appearance and function. A minimum of one year
from the time of suspension of privileges must elapse before the
horse is eligible for re-examination at the owner’s expense. After such
examination, participation privileges of the horse will remain suspended
until reconsideration by the Executive Committee or any
appropriate committee of the Association, which the owner must
request in writing. The owner shall have the burden of persuasion to
prove normal tail function and appearance.
(5) Violation of this rule is grounds for the Executive
Committee, or an appropriate committee of the Association, to bar
the horse from future participation in AQHA-approved events or
shows for such period as determined appropriate, and upon request,
the owner shall deliver the horse’s registration certificate to AQHA
for such ineligibility to be prominently marked on the face of the
registration certificate. Although ownership of the horse may thereafter
be transferred to another party, the transfer of ownership will
not dissolve or shorten the term of ineligibility.
(6) The exhibitor, owner, and/or absolutely responsible
person defined by AQHA rules, are each responsible for a horse’s
condition, and presumed to know all AQHA rules and regulations
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and the penalty provisions. Such individuals voluntarily act in entering,
exhibiting or causing to be exhibited a horse in an approved
show, makes the individual eligible for disciplinary sanctions,
whether or not the owner, exhibitor, and/or absolutely responsible
person had actual knowledge of the surgery or the presence of the
foreign substance, drug, or trauma, or directly authorized the surgical
procedure, injection, or had knowledge of the trauma. Purchase
and subsequent exhibition of a horse with such condition in an
approved show makes an individual responsible under this rule.
(7) Every owner, exhibitor and/or absolutely responsible
person shall, upon request of show management or AQHA representative,
permit examination of a horse for determination of the
presence of prohibited surgery, foreign drug or substance and normal
tail function, and refusal to comply with such request shall constitute
grounds for immediate disqualification of the horse from further
participation at the show, or from further approved events pending
hearing; shall bar the horse from participation in future approved
events or shows for such period as determined by the Executive
Committee or other appropriate committee; and shall constitute
grounds for suspension of AQHA membership of the owner,
exhibitor and/or absolutely responsible person.
(8) Pending final hearing by the Executive Committee or
such other appropriate hearing committee, AQHA’s Executive Vice
President may, by giving written notice of action to the record owner
at his current address as shown on AQHA records, temporarily suspend
a horse from further participation in an AQHA-approved event
or show, and request the return of its registration certificate, if preliminary
examination indicates a violation of this rule.
(9) The definition of an absolutely responsible person as
provided in AQHA’s rules prohibiting administration, internally or
externally of a horse, of medication, drug, mechanical device or artificial
appliance pertains also to this rule.
(10) AQHA representatives may examine any registered
American Quarter Horse for an altered tail if entered in any event
held in conjunction with an AQHA-approved show, whether or not
said event is approved by AQHA.