The Show Chairman/Manager is appointed by the CFTA Board of Directors.  At the discretion of the Show Manager, an issue may be referred to members of the Board of Directors present at the show for discussion and vote.

1. A Judge may be, but does not necessarily have to be, an MFTHBA carded Judge.

2. Approved Judge's materials should be sent to every Judge a minimum of 30 days prior to each show.

3. Neither the Judge nor any member of his/her immediate family may exhibit or act as agent or handler of a horse at a show at which he/she is officiating, nor may any horse be shown under a Judge if that Judge has been owner, trainer or conditioner of that horse within the previous six months.  If such a horse is entered in a show, its entry fee, if any, shall be refunded and it shall not be exhibited, unless the Judge for that class chooses to disqualify him/herself.

4. There will be no class sheets in the arena at any time.

5. There will be no coaching of any participant by any Judge, at any time, in the arena during the show.

1. A Judge's decision, representing his/her individual preference, is not subject to protest unless it is alleged to be a violation of the rules.  Any person who approaches the Judge for any reason with abusive language is subject to expulsion from the CFTA.  Anyone other than the Show Management or other designated show persons speaking to a Judge before the end of a horse show will forfeit all points earned at that particular show.  All questions should be directed to the Ring Steward or Show Management.  The protest should be filed at the Entry Booth and then the MFTHBA rules apply.

2. Anyone protesting another's compliance with the CFTA Show Rules and Regulations will be required to make a deposit of $50.00 to the Association before action to prove or disprove the protest is begun.  Should the one protesting be correct in his/her protest, the deposit will be refunded and the cost of proof will lie with the transgressor.  Should the protest be proven wrong, the deposit will be given to the person protested.  A one-hour limit per protest will be applicable.

1. No one, other than the Show Management or designated show persons, may speak to the Judge before the end of the show. Exhibitors and/or Owners shall forfeit all points earned at that show.

2. Horses shall enter the ring in the order called by the Gate Steward.

3. Anyone showing their horse or having their horse shown may not act as an official in the arena before their horse has been judged.

4. Horses shown in an authorized CFTA/MFTHBA show should be well groomed and properly tacked up.  MFTHBA rules apply in all cases.

5. Horses shall be shown with ribbons (except as noted in the MFTHBA rulebook).

6. Pads on horses' feet are prohibited.

7. All tack changes must be cleared through the entry booth a minimum of two classes prior to the first call for the class in question.  Tack changes are to be used when a horse or rider is in two consecutive classes and tack must be changed.  It is not for the convenience of the contestant who is not ready for any other reason.  Granting of tack changes will be at the discretion of Show Management.

8. Riders and handlers will wear western attire.  Western attire consists of a western hat (optional for ladies), western style long sleeved shirt (jacket or vest is optional), and western style trousers.  On exceptionally hot days, Show Management may waive long sleeved shirts and hats.  Come prepared with both styles of clothing.  Riding boots are required; spurs and whips are optional.  Special requirements apply to the Western Pleasure class and the English Pleasure class, and are listed in the MFTHBA rulebook.

9. Youth Riders competing in Barrel Racing and/or Pole Bending must wear helmets.

10. Novice means inexperienced or untrained. A novice rider and/or novice horse has not won 3 or more blue ribbons in performance classes in previous years. Exception: classes where rider was the only entry. If a rider or horse is considered novice at the start of show season, they are novice for the rest of the show season.

11. Horses exhibited as Fox Trotters must be registered with a recognized Fox Trotter Horse Registry (MFTHBA or AFTHBA).  Horses exhibited must be entered under full registered name and registry number, or if under one year of age, be eligible for registry and registration applied for.  Any horse two years or older must have been issued a permanent and approved registration certificate from either the MFTHBA or AFTHBA.

12. Awards are made to the owner as shown on the registration at the time the horse wins its last point for competition for that year.  Ownership of a horse may be transferred during the year without affecting the animal's points.  Transfer of ownership must be completed through the MFTHBA or AFTHBA and on file with the CFTA Show Chairman by the last show date of the show season or proof that such transfer is applied.

13. Any CFTA sponsored Horse Show shall obtain prior approval of such show from the CFTA Board of Directors.

14. The show date and classes should be announced in the CFTA Newsletter a minimum of 30 days prior to the show, or premiums should be sent to all CFTA members by this time.

15. Rain dates will be recognized for points if the show originally met approval guidelines and does not extend past the end of the horse show season.

16. Continued behavior problems with a horse may result in suspension of that horse for the remainder of that show or that show season or until such time as the owner of that horse can show to the satisfaction of the Board that the problem has been resolved.

17. Coaching from ringside when done in moderation is acceptable.  If such coaching becomes distractive or disruptive, the individual or individuals may be asked to stop and the Judge may disqualify the rider/handler from that class.

18. Except for special cases previously approved by the Show Management or Board of Directors, no wireless communication devices may be used between the rider/handler and any person at ringside during any class.

19. When showing foals, another individual may lead the dam next to the foal.  The dam needs to stand far enough away from the foal so the Judge can evaluate the foal's conformation.  Even though she isn't being judged, the mare should be well groomed and wear ribbons.

20. In equitation classes, while the quality of the gaits is not a factor, the ability/inability of the rider to cue the horse into the proper gait and to maintain the correct gait is considered.

21. A youth may show in adult classes that are not restricted by age on the show premium. However, a youth is restricted to show only in those youth classes that reflect their age. A youth's age is determined as of January 1 of the current show season.

22. Two-year old horses showing in performance classes will be subject to Missouri time limit rules.

23. Exhibitors 17 and under may not handle or ride any stallion; exhibitors must be 13 or older to handle horses 2 years and under.  Riders must be a minimum of 8 years old, or receive permission of the Show Management or Board of Directors, unless noted otherwise on the class schedule.

24. In the Versatility Trail Classes, the horse and/or rider can be penalized in the point process and still be placed, but not disqualified, for not completing the trail obstacles correctly.

25. A horse and rider will be disqualified during any class if the horse and/or rider falls during the class. The disqualification is for that particular class and not the remaining classes in the show. A horse is considered to have fallen when the shoulder and haunch on the same side touches the ground.