AQHA 2015 Rule Book | Page 12

g) The exhibitor represents the owner in regard to his/her horses entered in an approved show. 2.3 Prohibited conduct No person on the grounds, including but not limited to barns, stall, practice areas, or show arena can treat a horse in a manner that includes, but is not limited to: a) Continuous and/or relentless pressure from the bit, legs or spurs; b) Placing an object, other than a legal bit, in a horse’s mouth so as to cause undue discomfort or distress; c) Placing a legal bit in a horse’s mouth in an abnormal manner; d) Leaving a bit in a horse’s mouth for extended periods of time so as to cause undue discomfort or distress, broken skin and/or bleeding; e) Tying a horse’s head up (above the withers), back, or around in a manner as to cause undue discomfort or distress. The horse must be able to hold its head comfortably in a "normal" position; f) Tying a horse in a stall without access to food or water for an extended period of time; g) Use of excessive training techniques such as striking a horse’s legs; h) Excessive spurring or whipping; i) Excessive spinning (defined as more than eight (8) consecutive turns in either direction); j) Continuing to work or exhibit a horse which appears to be sullen, lethargic, emaciated, dehydrated, depressed, drawn or overly tired; k) Schooling using rails higher than 1.2 metres; l) Breaking the skin and causing bleeding from the spur, bit or any other equipment; m) Riding or training in such a way that the horse is subject to periods of mental or physical distress; n) Exhibiting a horse that has an open wound and/or shows traces of blood; o) Using prohibited equipment on the horse at Association approved events. 2.4 Prohibited Equipment The use of prohibited equipment includes but is not limited to: a) Saw tooth bits; b) Hock hobbles; c) Tack collars; d) Curb straps with tack/rivets or tack hackamores; e) War bridles or like devices; f) Riding in a curb bit without a curb strap; g) Wire or solid metal curb straps, with or without padding; h) Wire cavesson; i) Wire or cable tie downs; j) Bumper bits; k) Metal bosals with or without padding; l) Metal lunging hackamores; m) Chambons; headstalls made of metal, with or without padding; n) Running martingales used without rein stops; o) Excessively tight nosebands; Page 12