transaction in question or resign from the Association’s
judges list, so that he or she may pursue the personal
objective.
Breach of this ethical rule will be subject to review by the
Judges Committee under the Association rules. Certain
specific areas of obvious conflict of interest for judges are
as follows:
a) Neither the judge nor members of his/her family will
exhibit or act as agents, representatives in any
capacity, or handlers of a horse at a show at which
he/she is officiating;
b) A horse cannot be shown under a judge if that judge
has been the owner, trainer or agent in any capacity, or
conditioner of that horse within the previous thirty (30)
days. Group lessons i.e. clinics, schools and seminars
are exempt from the above rule, but not Rule 76.1 c);
c) A horse cannot be shown under a judge if that judge or
their immediate family have exhibited that horse in the
previous thirty (30) days;
d) A horse owned by a person(s) cannot be shown under
a judge if that judge or their immediate family have
exhibited the horse owned by that person(s) in the
previous thirty (30) days;
e) A judge will not judge a horse that is owned by anyone
from whom he/she has received a salary, commission
or any kind of remuneration for selling or buying any
horse for that individual; or, whether or not the horse is
concerned in a transaction, has been in any employ or
has represented such individual in any capacity for
remuneration, within one (1) month from the date of the
subject show;
f) Any AQHA judge involved in the management of a
show cannot officiate as a judge at that show;
g) A Judge cannot judge a horse belonging to, or being
exhibited by, any member of his/her immediate family.
(Spouse, Defacto partner, parents, child of the family,
grandparents, brothers, sisters). If such a horse as
specified in rules 76.3 (a), (b), (c) and (d) is entered in a
show, its entry fee will be refunded and it is not to be
exhibited;
h) These specified areas of disqualifying conflict of interest
are not exclusive and Association judges are ineligible
to judge another’s horse in other situations not
designated by the rule;
i) If a judge cannot exercise his/her objective influence,
because of his/her connection with an owner, exhibitor,
or anyone else connected with the horse, or, for that
matter, if such connection would appear to others as
possible bias, whether or not the judge feels he/she
would be affected, a judge must disqualify
himself/herself;
j) Exemption may be given to AQHA Judges judging Trail
classes, to personally exhibit a horse(s) in a class other
than the Trail class at the same show that they are
officiating as an AQHA Trail Judge. However, all Trail
class exhibits must meet the requirements of Rule 76.3
k) The judge at any show may also be on any sifting or
elimination committee necessary;
Page 82