GENERAL For ENDURANCE: 
--   All AERC rules apply to endurance riders.
--   Equines must be at least 60 months old for AERC 50/100.  
--  Rules regarding discourtesy to officials and protest procedures are stated in the AERC endurance rules.
--  No ties will be allowed for prizes (can AERC tie).  For a 'dead heat' a coin will be tossed or riders will decide.

JUDGING CRITERIA: 
Control checks will all be ‘gate into hold’, with 64 pulse requirement, unless control judge staff determines otherwise.  For non-finish checks, the equine must meet this criteria within 30 min of arrival at check or be disqualified.  Horses must be judged 'fit to continue'.  Other criteria, including exit exam, may be included in rider packet or announced at rider meeting if weather is a factor. 

Finishing criteria will be Fit to Continue including recovery.  For completion, recovery is to pulse rate of 64 or below within 1 hour of finish.  As soon as pulse is down, the equine may be brought for the final exam, but MUST be presented within the allotted time to avoid disqualification. 

Cardiac Recovery Index (CRI) may be used, including final vetting for Best Condition. 

VET DECISIONS ARE FINAL!

FIT TO CONTINUE:   

• The equine must be metabolically stable. 
• Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter (thumps) must not be present at the time of the vet exam for any checkpoint including post-ride exam. 
• There must be no gait aberration that is consistently observable under all circumstances that results in pain or threatens immediate athletic performance, exam to be conducted at trot, straight out and back, without prior flexion or palpation. 
• Any soreness or wounds that affect equine’s ability to go on may be cause for non-completion. 
• An equine may not have received medical treatment by a vet or layman prior to final exam.  An equine must not require treatment for a soundness or metabolic problem.  An equine that a ride veterinarian advises should be treated, but treatment is refused by rider or owner, shall be considered in the same light as a equine that has been treated and disallowed completion.

OPEN CTR:

The AHA Championship Competitive Trail Ride is actually an Open Competitive Trail Ride, with special AHA awards.  It is run using AHA Rules, which are a conglomeration of all the major CTR orgs.  

Basics are -

1) The ride speed will be between six (6) and seven (7) mph.  However, the time will ensure sufficient speed and challenge to allow for stress factors to be utilized in judging.  This may be modulated by weather extremes, but makes for a planning window. 

2) Horses that fail to complete the ride in the specified ride time frame (optimum ride time, plus or minus 15 minutes) will be eligible for completion awards and mileage credit only, provided that they do not arrive earlier than 30 minutes prior to the minimum time or exceed the maximum time allowed by more than 30 minutes.  This restriction applies to each day of a multiple day ride.  Optimum ride time includes:

==>  i. Actual riding time spent in forward motion on the trail.

==> ii. Lunch break: 45 minutes (15 for P&R and 30 for "rest") "lunch" break between the loops and one at end of day (after ride time stops).

==> iii. 15 minutes for each pulse check outside the lunch stop(to include 10 minute pulse time and 5 minutes for dismounting, remounting, etc.). These are done twice daily, once pre-lunch, one post-lunch.

3) vet in is baseline for most scores - vet will do a "fit to continue" type of quick exam at all P&Rs but no scoring - vets score only at end of day full exam

4) Leg protection from the coronary band up is prohibited. (so no "gaiters" or splint boots ...)

5) while vets can pull a horse on the trail, they are not otherwise scored in *any* fashion on the trail.

6) no horsemanship scoring - except depending on your point of view "manners"

7) pulse penalties start at 45 if Hand-held or 12 if stethoscope

Full CTR rules are attached.