St. Louis County Fair presents...
22nd
Annual
22nd
Annual
Saturday, August 1st 2009 - 6:00
p.m.
Fairgrounds in Chisholm, Minnesota
OPEN PULL - LIGHT AND HEAVY WEIGHT DIVISIONS
Weight slips dated within 48 hours are required
The St. Louis County Fair Horse
Pullers Rules
as adapted from
The Wisconsin Horse Pullers
Association, Inc.
1.
Light weight class 3220 and below (includes halter and shoes) Heavy weight class 3221 and above.
2.
Lightweight teams must furnish a certified weight slip recorded within the last 48 hours.
3.
All horses must have a current Coggins Test. It must be presented to the barn superintendent before unloading the horses.
4.
Heading of horses, with the exception of a breakdown, is prohibited.
5.
The required pull distance is 27 ½ feet.
6.
Any driver using profane language or slapping his horses or otherwise abusing his horse shall lose his pull. If he is called on his actions before or while participating in a contest three times, the judge will disqualify him.
7.
The St. Louis County Fair Board shall hire the judge. The judge's decisions are final.
8.
Each driver is entitled to three pulls. He is required to pull when his turn comes up. If he fails to make the pull and wishes to have three pulls, he must leave his team hitched after pull number one (1), then try for pull number two (2). If not successful, he must unhook and have the load spotted where he chooses to pull number three (3) at the end of the round. If he unhooks after pull number one (1), he forfeits the round.
9.
If there is no tractor to spot the load, the driver takes all three (3) pulls consecutively or the 3rd pull at the end of the round.
10.
In the case of a breakdown, the clock will stop when it occurs, the teamster will come in at the end of the round. The time will continue at that point.
11.
Ropes will be laid down making a space of 16 feet wide. All pulls are to be made in the center of the lane. If a horse steps on or over the rope, the driver loses that one pull.
12.
A driver is allowed two (2) helpers. Helpers must walk to the rear of the eveners while the team is pulling. Helpers are not allowed to help urge the team n any way. If the helpers are found in violation of the rules, the teamster has to unhook and hook again.
13.
No changing of bridles with the exception of a breakdown.
14.
All drivers must be seated while the team is pulling or the pull will not count.
15.
Any puller of helper caught using sharp objects that will abuse or ham the horses shall be disqualified.
16.
No puller will be allowed to change drivers while participating in the contest unless sick or injured.
17.
No teams should be tied together with ropes, neck yokes or extra straps or anything other than lines while participating in the contest.
18.
Any drive who loses part of his load during the pull will not be held responsible.
19.
Any driver that fails to get his team hooked in nine (9) consecutive times will be disqualified.
20.
No control of a team, (without the lines in the hands of the driver) will be considered a runaway and will be automatically disqualified.
21.
If the driver drops a line or lines while hitched to the load he shall be given the distance if he has no other fouls against him.
22.
When a team runs away, that team will drop to the last place in prize money.
23.
When a team of horses appears to be out of control, the judge may disqualify them.
24.
Any single horse pulling in one class cannot be pulled in another class.
25.
A teamster who starts a contest with one team is to finish the contest with the same team.
26.
No person may administer a drug to a horse either internally or externally for the purpose of altering the performance of the horse in a horse-pulling contest. Horses suspected of being drugged must be examined and tested by the fair veterinarian. Pullers caught drugging their horses will be required to reimburse the fair for the test expenses and will be reported to law enforcement.
27.
All horses may be tested while on the grounds before or after the pull.
28.
Refusal to allow the horses to be tested for illegal drugs will result in forfeiture of any and all prize money.
29.
Puller should use only original equipment. Electronic shocking devices or other remote controlled apparatus sewed between the leather is prohibited.
30.
Horses must be pulled with blinds on their bridles.
31.
Once a puller's name is announced he has three (3) minutes to start his pull. Pull number two (2) has two minutes provided he does not unhook, to complete his pull. If the horse steps over the tug, the puller must unhook, but the time will go on the same as any of the three pulls above.
32.
When bumping a load and moving it one foot or more, it will be considered a pull regardless if the driver has called on his team or whether he has the lines or not.
33.
If there are two teams that crossed the last load, both teams must hook to the next load to determine the winner. All other ties will be placed by their second best distance.
For further information, contact Ed Nelson 218 262 4686
