Horse Pulling Rules

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RULES AND REGULATIONS
WARREN COUNTY FAIR HORSE PULLING CONTEST
Pittsfield, PA

The Warren County Fair Horse Pulling Contest will be conducted under the following rules:

Mechanical or performance enhancing as well as including equipoise and Lasix are NOT permitted.

Horses competing in the pulling contest must be Coggins tested negative for equine infectious anemia within 1 year of opening date to enter the show. The Coggins report must be issued to the current owner and must list each horse with accurate identification including age, color, sex, and distinctive marks such as a tattoo, snip, blaze, stocking, ect. Thirty (30) days prior to the show a certificate of veterinary inspection is required. A current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian is required and rabies vaccination certificate or vaccination information must be included on the CVI. Horses found under the influence of drugs or medication, other than antibiotics or biologicals, shall be disqualified from the contest forfeit all ribbons and premiums and not be permitted to compete.

  1. WEIGHING: Horses must be weighed with functional halters the day of the contest starting at 7:30am — 10:30am. The scales will not remain open for official weighting past 10:30am. Teamsters are requested to keep their team in their trailer waiting area. Mandatory meeting will be at 12:30pm behind the Key Bank Pavilion. Pull starts at 1:00pm
  2. WEIGHT CLASSES: The contest will consist of 2 weight classes: Lightweight class — 3,425 pounds and under Heavyweight class — 3,425 pounds and over
  3. SLED: A sled will be used for the contest
  4. WEIGHT SETTINGS: Experience has shown that draft horses reach their maximum between the fourth and sixth pull. The judge and superintendent will consult on the weight settings.
  5. ORDER OF PULLING: Teamster will pull in order of the registration sign up.
  6. DOUBLETREES: Each teamster may use his own doubletrees provided they are sufficiently strong and equipped with hand holds and a hook. The sled is equipped to accept a doubletree with a hook. There will be no measuring of the doubletrees.
  7. HARNESS: Breakage of the harness during the pull will not constitute a trial.
    However, the driver has the option of counting the trial and the distance will then be credited to the team. In the event of harness breakage, the team will move to the end of the line in rotation. Open bridles are permitted however, the team must pull throughout the contest with the same bridle used during the first trial. What you enter the ring with is what you pull with, you cannot change. HITCHING WITH CROSS TUGS IS PROHIBITED. Horses shall not be tied together by neckyoke, straps, ropes, or in any other way. They are to be held together only by the regular lines used in driving. Horses may be switched from near to off side and vice versa, however the officials must be notified prior to the change
    Harness may not be modified in any way without the Box Judge’s approval. Penalty: Loss of trial
    Judges may at any time inspect the harness for mechanical devices or non-harness related items. Any exhibitor, driver, or helper failing to cooperate will result in automatic disqualification and forfeiture of premiums.
  1. HITCHING: If more than three (3) attempts to hitch are made, it will constitute as a trial. Teamster has 3 minutes to bring team to sled and begin pull.
  2. PULLING LANE: All teams must pull within the designated marked area of twenty feet (20′) wide. Failing to pull with in this area will constitute as a trial but no credit will be given for distance.
  3. DISTANCE OF PULL: The sled must be pulled the full official distance of twenty seven-and-one-half feet (27 h’) for each weight setting. Partial distance will be counted only in determining the placing.
  4. TRIALS: Each team will be allowed three (3) trials at each weight. All teams must take all trials in the order they are called. Once a teamster is called they will be permitted 3 minutes to bring his team to the sled and begin their pull. If the team fails to pull the required distance of twenty-seven-and-one-half feet (27 %), the teamster has the option to either stay hooked and attempt their 2nd pull or unhook in which doing so will forfeit your 2nd pull and only allow you to pull for your 3rd During the 2nd attempt you must pull again within a two-minute time period for that attempt. Teams must make an attempt on the first or second pull to move the sled in order to get a third pull. Penalty: loss of trial The judge shall blow the whistle signifying end of the trial. The head chairman shall blow the whistle signifying a full pull (27 1/2′) You may pass on the first load but must pull for the second load and beyond as weight is added.
  5. HELPERS: Each teamster must arrange for his helpers. A maximum of one driver and three helpers, per team are      permitted in the arena. If a helper steps in front of the doubletree after the pull has started a whistle will be blown, and a trial is counted against the team. No credit will be given for the distance pulled. If the driver elects to mount the sled and the team driven into position by and additional helper, that additional helper must remain behind the        doubletrees and outside the boundary line while the pull is in progress.Helpers may not touch the horses with their hands, lines, or any part of the harness from the time the team is called      until they are unhitched at the end of the trial. Penalty: loss of trial
  6. FUSSING AND MILLING: Fussing the team while hitching or milling after the team has been hitched will not be    tolerated. A reasonable allowance will be made for time and movement of the team to get them set for an even pull. PENALTY: The calling of a trial against the team.
  7. LUNGING INTO THE LEADS: Pulling the team back against the doubletree and jumping or lunging them into the  lead at the start of a pull does not help in moving the load and may cause injury to the horses. The harness tugs must    be reasonably tight when the pull starts. PENALTY: At the main Judge’s discretion, the driver may be disqualified for the rest of the contest. The trial will be counted against the team and no credit is given for the distance.
  8. DRIVING: The driver MUST ride on the seat of the sled. He cannot whip the horses, carry a whip, shake or rattle a     chain or a can of pebbles, use a buzzer or any other device to frighten the team. He may not hit the team with the free   ends of the line, swing the free ends of the lines over the horse’s back. Slap the horses with that portion of the line while  pulling, not jump off over a slow horse when he is about to give up. PENALTY: Disqualification and forfeiture of all premiums.
  9. HANDLING HORSES BETWEEN TRIALS: Whipping, slapping, jabbing, or punishing the animals in any way        between trials will not be tolerated. A competent official will be assigned to watch the teams that are not pulling. PENALTY: Disqualification and forfeiture of all premiums.
  10. RUNAWAYS: A team shall be eliminated from the contest if a complete runaway is the fault of the handlers and no premiums will be paid to the team. A team shall hold its placing if a complete runaway is the result of a mechanical or equipment failure.
  11. OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE: Special efforts will be made to keep the crowd quite from the time the team comes up  to hitch until the end of the pull trial is called. Whether the crowd interferes with the pull will be decided by the officials.
  12. LOCATION OF SLED: Sled will be spotted on 3rd pull by judge or taken where it is. If enough room teams can pull    either way.
  13. TESTING: The first and second place teams, plus one team selected at random, in both the heavyweight and the lightweight divisions, will be blood tested. (both horses will be tested) TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF DISALLOWED DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS immediately following the respective contest. EQUIPOISE AND  LASIX ARE NOT PERMITTED AND WILL BE TESTED AT A ZERO TOLERANCE. Following the competition, the pull horses to be tested must go directly from the arena to the blood drawing location. Failure to submit horses immediately for testing will result in disqualification and forfeiture of all premiums. If a blood test is positive for either horse, all teams stabled at the address, regardless of ownership, shall be disqualified, forfeit all placings and premiums, and the driver(s), exhibitor(s), horses, and owner(s) shall be ineligible to compete the following year.

Our testing results are final and there will be no retesting.

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