8 www. wsca. org 2025 WSCA Championship Show
Code of Conduct
1. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.
2. No person on show grounds may treat a horse in an inhumane manner. Inhumane treatment will be measured as that which a reasonable person, informed and experienced in generally accepted equine training and exhibition procedures, would determine to be cruel or abusive.
3. Unsportsmanlike conduct shall be defined as any action of disrespect, deceit, or fraud directed to judges, show management, show representatives, the WSCA, WSCA members, employees, or other exhibitors, or spectators, or in any media context.
4. Unsportsmanlike conduct by WSCA members, non-members, exhibitors, trainers, owners, owner representatives, spectators and all other persons, including but not limited to other WSCA events, such as the WSCA Championship Show,
sanctioned meetings and seminars, and other public forums such as social media, will be subject to the same rules and sanctions described below.
5. Anyone found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct is subject to disciplinary action by WSCA, including, but not limited to, fines or suspension.
Unsportsmanlike includes, but is not limited to: a. Verbal Abuse: Using offensive language, derogatory remarks, or personal insults towards fellow members, participants, or officials. b. Physical Altercations: Engaging in physical confrontations or acts of aggression towards others during WSCA events or activities. c. Disruptive Behavior: Intentionally disrupting events, practices, or activities, which interferes with the enjoyment and / or safety of others. d. Failure to Comply: Refusing to follow the instructions and decisions of officials, show committees, judges, or organizational leadership.
Consequences for violations may include warnings, fines, suspensions, or expulsion from WSCA events or activities, as determined by the association’ s Board of Directors.
Violations of the Code of Conduct may only be reported to the WSCA Board of Directors by a WSCA official, judge, or organizational leadership. The Board of Directors must be notified in writing within thirty( 30) days of the violation. Disciplinary action must follow the usual procedures to allow for due process. A simple majority vote by the Board of Directors is required to impose any penalty. Those in violation of the code are subject to a fifty dollar($ 50) fine and a letter of reprimand for the first offense. The fine is increased to one hundred dollars($ 100) for the second offense. The member’ s name will also be published in the Spotlight and at the discretion of the Board of Directors, the member may also be suspended from the WSCA Championship Show for one( 1) year. A third offense will initiate proceedings by a Review Committee appointed by the Board of Directors to consider suspension or permanent expulsion from the association. Records of violations shall be kept open by the association for seven( 7) years, after which time to be considered inactive and the member’ s record reinstated as violation-free. Violations by non-members may result in suspension from future events, at the discretion of the Board of
Directors, and shall be treated on a case-by-case basis.