SWIT&DR

               POINTS/AWARDS

                     CRITERIA

I.               INTRODUCTION

 The purpose of the SWIT&DR year-end awards program is to recognize

  1.   Horses, Riders, and Horse & Rider Teams who excel

throughout the year in either mileage or placings.

 2.   Riders new to the sport.

 3.   Junior Riders.

 4.   Riders who consistently support club rides by participating

 through the year.

 II.               GENERAL CRITERIA

 A. SWIT&DR members accumulate points by completing club competitive

 rides 25 miles or longer.  For the purposes of SWIT&DR, a Limited 

 Distance ride is defined as one that is 25-35 miles.  The ride must

 be an approved SWIT&DR ride and must be managed by a SWIT&DR member

 in good standing.  

B. Points and miles do not begin accumulating until the rider's dues

 are paid.  New members' points begin to accumulate as of the date

 they join.

C. The Ride Season is December 1 thru November 30.

D. A Junior Rider is a rider that is under the age of 16 at the start

 of the ride season (December 1).

E. The "SWIT&DR Points/Awards Criteria" must be printed in the

 newsletter at least twice a year; once in March, or before the first

 club ride of the ride season and again in July.

 F. Eligible Rookie Riders and Rookie Horses must declare eligibility

 to the Points Keeper on or before the date of last club ride of the  season.

G. Members who rank in Points and Mileage award categories will

 receive only a single award that will recognize both achievements.

H. Trail Rides are defined as any non-competitive trail ride, less than  20 miles, 

held in connection with a SWIT&DR competitive ride. 

I. The Awards Committee Members will be appointed by the Board of 

Directors.

J. The Points Keeper will publish "Career Horse Mileage" in each 

February Newsletter.

 III. POINTS INFORMATION

Each rider receives 1 point for each mile they complete.  In addition, 

bonus points are awarded based on placing and distance, according to the

chart below:

Trail Rides will be credited per number of rides completed

(i.e., one ride completed equals one credit, two rides completed

equals two credits, etc.)

 IV. AWARD CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA

A. Senior Top 15 Riders - Points: Senior rider, total points, any
horse, any competitive distance.

 B. Junior Top 2 Riders - Points: Junior rider, total points,
any horse, any competitive distance. 

C. Senior Top 10 Horse and Rider Teams 50+ Mile Division - Mileage:
Senior rider, total mileage, same horse & rider team, ride distances
of 50 miles and above. Ties will be broken by the rider’s points earned by the horse and rider team on 50+ mile rides.

D. Junior Top 2 Horse and Rider Teams 50+ Mile Division - Mileage:
Junior rider, total mileage, same horse & rider team, ride distances
of 50 miles and above. Ties will be broken by the rider's
points earned by the horse and rider team on 50+ mile rides.

E. Best-Best Condition 50+ Mile Division: this award is given to the
horse with the most "Best Condition" awards in the 50-mile
and over rides. The horse must have at least 2 BC awards in 50-mile
and over rides to qualify for this award.  Junior or Senior rider
and can be a different rider.  Ties will be broken by the total miles of rides on which the BC’s were earned.

F. Senior Top 5 Horse and Rider Teams 25-Mile Division - Mileage:
Senior rider, total mileage, same horse and rider team, ride
distances of 25-35 miles. Ties will be broken by the rider's points earned by the horse and rider team on 25-35 mile rides.

G. Junior Top 1 Horse and Rider Teams 25-Mile Division - Mileage:
Junior rider, total mileage, same horse and rider team, ride
distances of 25-35 miles. Ties will be broken by the rider's points earned by the horse and rider team on 25-35 mile rides.

H. Best-Best Condition 25-Mile Division: this award is given to the
horse with the most "Best Condition" awards in the ride distances of
25-35 miles. The horse must have at least 2 BC awards to qualify
for this award. Junior or Senior rider and can be a different rider. Ties will be broken by the total miles of rides on which the BC’s were earned.

I. Rookie Rider - Points: Junior or Senior rider, total points, any
competitive distance, any horse. A Rookie Rider is one who, prior to
the beginning of the current ride season, has not completed:
1)more than one endurance ride; 2) more than two limited distance rides,
or 3) any combination of endurance and limited distance rides. 

J. Rookie Horse - Number of Consecutive Miles: Junior or Senior
rider, any competitive distance, same horse, can be a different
rider, total number of consecutive completed miles. A Rookie Horse
is a horse who, prior to the beginning of the current ride season,
has not completed: 1)more than one endurance ride; 2) more than two
limited distance rides, or 3) any combination of endurance and limited
distance rides. (NOTE: If your horse is pulled or fails to complete a ride
entered, you maintain your previous number of consecutive
miles; unless you begin again and exceed your original number
of consecutive miles). Ties will be broken by the horse's
placings. 

K. Most Rides Completed: this award is given to the member who
finished the most club rides of 25 miles and up. Junior or Senior
rider, any horse, any competitive distance. Ties will be broken by
the number of miles. (NOTE: Each day of a multi-day ride will be considered a separate ride). 

L. Thousand Mile Horse Award: starting in 1996, this award will
honor all horses that accumulate 1,000 miles in 50+ mile ride
distances. Only SWIT&DR approved rides will count towards this award.
Mileage is accumulative through the years and the award is given at
each 1,000-mile mark thereafter. 

M. Five Hundred Mile Horse Award: starting in 1996, this award will
honor all horses that accumulate 500 miles in 25-mile Division.
Only SWIT&DR approved rides will count towards this award. Mileage
is accumulative through the years and the award is given at each
500-mile mark thereafter. 

N. Trail Rider Award: this award goes to the Trail Rider with the most
Trail Rides Completed. 

O. The Awards Committee has the discretion not to give awards in certain cases. The committee also has the discretion to give out special awards (up to 2) to honor exceptional achievements.          

NOTE: The Awards Criteria was presented to the SWIT&DR membership
at the March 14, 1996 club meeting held at the Chicago Connection
in Meridian. The attending members received a hard copy of the
proposed Awards Criteria, which was read and discussed.
Attending club members voted to accept the proposed Awards Criteria
as printed. Awards criteria were subsequently amended by the membership at a meeting on March 12, 1998.

Awards criteria were further amended by the membership at a meeting
on December 16, 1999.  Additional amendments were adopted by the membership at meetings on March 12 and December 10, 2003.