Standards
for the Northwest Cavalry Association
Regarding
the Humane Treatment of Horses Used in NCA-Sanctioned Events; Health
Standards for Horses Used in NCA-Sanctioned Events.
v.
8/10/00
While
the NCA recognizes that most participants in NCA sanctioned events are
responsible and caring, the use of horses in historical reenactments and other
public demonstrations is a demanding activity that is subject to public
scrutiny, and as such requires regulation. The NCA's concern in establishing the
following rules and regulations is to (1) assure that accepted humane practices
are followed in the use and care of horses; and (2) assure that horses used in
NCA-sanctioned events are in a good state of health and do not pose a health
risk to other horses. The following rules apply not only to horses, but to other
equines (mules and donkeys) used in NCA sanctioned events.
1.
Cruelty to, abuse of, and neglect of
horses is forbidden at NCA sanctioned events and renders the offender subject to
penalty.
1.1
The following acts are included under the words Cruelty and Abuse but are not
limited thereto:
a)
Any actions defined as "animal abuse" or "animal
neglect" under Oregon law.
b)
Excessive use of a whip, crop, bat, or other implement to strike the horse;
applying any foreign object in a manner that would be perceived as
"beating" the horse.
c)
The use of unreasonable force in disciplining a horse, especially when it is
accompanied by a display of overly emotional behavior on the part of the
horseman.
d)
Striking the horse about the head or face (on the poll or forward of the
poll).
e)
Striking the legs of a horse at or below the knees or hocks.
f)
Excessive or over-zealous use of spurs and/or bit.
g)
Any correction which results in drawing the horse's blood.
h)
Any use of spurs forward of the girth shall be deemed excessive.
i)
Disciplining a horse while it is secured to a
picketline or other object in such a way as to cause other horses to become
agitated.
j)
Any handling or treatment that is likely to be perceived as inhumane by the
general public.
k)
Riding or driving an obviously lame or exhausted horse, or a horse that does
not meet the minimum Standard of Condition (see section 4).
l)
Withholding food and water for prolonged periods.
m)
Use of equipment, training
devices, or practices banned by the American Horse Shows Association.
2.
The Unit Commander shall bar any person in his unit who engages in cruel or
abusive practices from further participation for the remainder of the event. In
addition he may levy other sanctions. Sanctions available to the unit commander
include official warning, loss of rank or privileges, barring the participant
from bringing a horse to one or more future events, or requiring that remedial
lessons be taken before bringing a horse to events. The Unit Commander shall
report to the Chair of the Horsemanship Committee any person who indulges in
cruel or abusive practices for such further action as may be deemed appropriate
(see section 2.1).
2.1
Following a hearing, the Horsemanship Committee may levy sanctions up to and
including permanently barring the individual from membership in the NCA and
participation in NCA sanctioned events, in the following instances:
a) Egregious cases of abuse or cruelty;
b) A participant has refused to comply with sanctions taken by the unit
commander;
c) A unit commander has refused to levy sanctions against a person
indulging in cruel
or abusive practices.
2.2
Any witness to cruel or abusive acts may report what
he observed. Reports should be made in writing to the unit commander of
the individual in question (if known), and to the Chair of the Horsemanship
Committee.
3.
Following a hearing by the Board of Directors and the Horsemanship Committee,
the NCA may deny or suspend the privilege to participate in or go upon the
grounds of officially sanctioned events and/or deny, expel, or suspend the
privileges of membership in the NCA to any person, whom indictment has asserted,
or whom any court has found, to have committed or participated in any act or
cruelty or abuse to a horse, whether or not any such alleged or actual act,
plan, or conspiracy occurred on the grounds of an NCA sanctioned event.
4.
All horses participating in NCA-sanctioned public events must meet a minimum
Standard of Condition. Qualified Inspectors (see section 5) may be appointed to
determine whether the minimum standard is met. The minimum standard is defined
as follows:
a)
The horse must be serviceably sound and fit for its intended use.
b)
The animal must not show
evidence of lameness or broken wind. Stiffness or soreness (which the horse
will warm up out of) is not considered to be lameness (damage or trauma).
c)
The animal must not be emaciated or obese; should score not less than 3.0
and not more than 7.0 on the standardized scoring method for body condition
used by the American Humane Association (where a score of 1 indicates
extreme emaciation and a top score of 9 indicates extreme obesity).
d)
The horse must be free of sores, lacerations, and wounds on the limbs and
body, including the mouth, that would be aggravated by riding or driving. It
must be recognized that lesions caused by tack and interference may be from
mild to severe and need to be evaluated on their own merits. A horse may
participate if tack can be adjusted, or protective bandages used, that will
prevent further aggravation of the wound.
e)
The animal must not show signs of having a communicable disease, unless the
participant can produce a veterinarian's certification of health stating
that the horse does not pose a health risk to other horses.
4.1
Horses failing to meet the minimum Standard of Condition shall not be ridden
or driven on the grounds of the event for the duration of that event; to do so
is considered a violation of NCA humane standards. Horses not meeting the
minimum standard of condition due to emaciation or suspected communicable
disease shall be removed from the event immediately. Horses not meeting the
minimum standard for any other reason (including horses that sustain injuries
while participating in NCA sanctioned public events) may remain at the event
if adequate and appropriate care can be given at the event.
4.2.
Inspection of Condition.
Inspections
may occur at NCA-sanctioned public events to determine whether on not horses
and other equines meet the minimum standard of condition, before being
ridden or driven in any public demonstration. The inspection shall take
place before the first public
demonstration of the event. Inspections may occur at the request of unit
commanders. If the health of an individual animal is in question, the Chair
of the Horsemanship Committee may direct that it be inspected before being
used in a public demonstration.
Horses
must be brought to inspection wearing a halter only (i.e., without tack,
blankets, or leg wraps.) Inspection shall consist, at a minimum, of a
thorough visual examination and having the participant (or person designated
by the participant) trot his or her horse in-hand, straight out and back, on
a hard, level surface. A more thorough examination may be conducted at the
inspector's discretion in doubtful cases. For each horse the inspector must
note "Passed," "Failed," or "Conditional Pass"
(see section 4.3) and any lameness, wounds, emaciation, or disease symptoms
noted. Results of inspections shall be submitted to the commander of each
unit, and copies kept on file by the Horsemanship Committee Chair.
The inspector's decisions regarding the horse's fitness shall be
final and the commanders of NCA member units shall stand by that decision.
4.3
Special Circumstances, Conditional Pass. A
horse that is physically unfit to participate in strenuous activities due to
unsoundness, age, or lack of muscle tone or development, but otherwise healthy
and in good flesh, may be allowed to participate in static or walk-only living
history demonstrations at the Inspector's discretion. The Inspector is to
document the horse's condition and allowed activities in writing and submit
this to the unit commander and the chair of the Horsemanship Committee.
4.4.
The inspector may at any time during an event eliminate from further
participation any horse he judges unfit for the use it is being put to,
whether on account of lameness, exhaustion, lack of condition, or for any
other reason. The inspector must document his decisions and the reasons for it
in writing and submit this to the unit commander and the Chair of the
Horsemanship Committee.
4.5.
The inspector shall report any
rider or driver whom he witnesses engaging in actions defined as cruel or
abusive under Section 1 to the unit commander of the individual in question.
5.
Inspectors; Qualifications, Duties, and Selection
One
or more inspectors shall be appointed by the Horsemanship Committee to conduct
health inspections, and to monitor the humane treatment and care of horses at
public events.
5.1.
Inspectors shall be one or more of the following: (A) Veterinarian or
veterinary technician with experience in large animal medicine; (B) a Humane
Investigation Officer or humane inspector certified by the American Humane
Association ; (C) a show judge, steward, riding instructor, or ride manager
certified, or approved, or carded by the AHSA,
AERC, FEI, or Pony Club; or who can demonstrate equivalent experience.
5.2.
Inspectors shall be selected by the Horsemanship Committee by majority vote.
The Committee shall work from nominations provided by members of the NCA
and/or the NCA's list of prospective inspectors. It is the Horsemanship
Committee's responsibility to verify that conditions under 5.1 are met.
5.3.
Inspectors may conduct inspections of camps where horses are kept, at the
request of unit commanders, or if the conditions under which horses are being
kept are in question. Inspectors may observe any NCA-sanctioned public
demonstrations where horses are ridden or driven and report and violations of
the health and humane standards.
5.4
Inspectors must document any violations of the humane standards in writing and
submit a written report to the Horsemanship Committee Chair before leaving the
premises. Inspectors shall keep written records of the results of camp and
horse inspections and submit them to the Chair of the Horsemanship Committee.
Reports for individual units shall be given to the commander of each unit.
6.
Responsibilities of the Horsemanship Committee in regard to administration of
the humane and health standards.
a)
To arrange for an on-call veterinarian for all NCA-sanctioned public events.
b)
To arrange for camp sites that provide for setting up picket lines and
adequate shelter for horses (at a minimum, afternoon shade on hot days).
b)
To arrange, if necessary, for
health inspections of horses at public events.
c)
To appoint qualified inspectors to monitor health, care, and humane
treatment of horses in public events.
d)
To provide all members of cavalry and horse artillery units with copies of
the NCA Humane and Health Standards
at least two weeks prior to the first NCA sanctioned event of the calendar
year;
e)
To enforce the NCA's humane and health standards;
f) To notify humane authorities immediately of any case of abuse that
results in the serious physical injury or death of a horse;
g)
To keep health inspection reports on file for a minimum of two years, and
submit copies to the Board of Directors;
i)
To investigate reports of violations of the NCA's humane standards;
j)
To report violations of NCA Humane Standards to the unit
commander of the individual in question, and to the NCA's Board of
Directors;
k)
Within five days of the last day of each public event, issue a report
to the Board of Directors that includes:
i)
the numbers of horses meeting and not meeting the standard of condition for
each unit; and
ii)
any humane violations.
7.
Responsibilities of Mounted Participants and Horse Drivers in NCA Sanctioned
Events:
It
is the responsibility of each horse's rider or driver (usually this will be the
owner, but sometimes a person designated by the owner), to ensure the health and
well-being of the horses they use in NCA-sanctioned public events, and render
first aid or obtain veterinary care when necessary.
Each
mounted participant or horse driver must:
a)
Familiarize themselves with the NCA Humane and Health Standards before
coming to NCA sanctioned events;
b)
Treat their horses in a humane manner while participating at NCA-sanctioned
events; that is provide their horses with adequate food, water, shelter, and
(when necessary) veterinary care; and refrain from the actions defined as
cruel, abusive or neglectful under Section 1;
c)
Refrain from bringing horses that do not meet the minimum Standard of
Condition to NCA sanctioned events (if in doubt they should consult a
veterinarian prior to the event);
d)
Ensure that their horses are current on vaccinations (at a minimum, tetanus,
flu, and rhino);
e)
Take all necessary care to insure that tack and equipment fits and is
adjusted properly and that horses are properly secured to picketlines;
f)
Report possible violations of the NCA's humane standards to the commanding
officer of the unit;
g)
Notify humane authorities immediately of any case of abuse, whether
intentional, malicious, or reckless, that results in the serious physical
injury or death of a horse;
h)
Comply with the instructions or decisions of the Unit Commander, the Chair
of the Horsemanship Committee, the Inspector, and the Board of Directors.
8.
Responsibilities of Commanders of Cavalry and Horse Artillery Units:
The
duties of the Unit Commanders are the same as the duties of Mounted Participants
and Horse Drivers, but in addition they must:
a)
Make provisions for posting of a horse guard at all times when the public is
present (this is the minimum standard; horses being attended at all times is
preferred);
b)
For public events requiring horse camps, ensure that the unit's camp is set
up to provide adequate shelter for horses (at a minimum, afternoon shade on
hot days), and that picketlines are properly secured;
c)
Bar any person in the unit who engages in cruel or abusive practices from
further participation for the remainder of the event, and take other actions
to correct the behavior (see section 2).
d)
Document all instances, whether personally witnessed or reported by a unit
member, of cruel or abusive behavior in writing and submit a report to the
Horsemanship Committee Chair;
e)
Pull horses which he suspects of being unfit, injured, or ill from further
participation until an inspection can be arranged;
f)
Comply with and assist in enforcing the decisions of the Board of Directors,
the Horsemanship Committee Chair, and the Inspector.