Judges & Stewards

The Accredited National/Regional (N/R) Interview Process

(Formerly Level I)

1. Accredited National/Regional candidates must attend Seminar in the year Accredited National/Regional status is sought and obtain a score of 90% or better on the Seminar examination.

2. An application is required by the Judges & Stewards Commissioner for each individual applying for Recertification of their Accredited National/Regional Classification. The information contained in this application will be used by the Commissioner's office and the AHA Education/Evaluation Commission in their evaluation process to determine whether an individual meets the requirements to maintain their Accredited National/Regional Classification.

3. Applicants are interviewed by a panel made up of members of the Education/Evaluation Commission and knowledgeable individuals selected by the Commission.

4. Interview times are limited and are filled by qualified candidates on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants are responsible for the timely submission of applications to the Commissioner's office.

5. Interview schedules are set by random drawing. Interview schedules cannot be changed on arrival at the Accredited National/Regional testing location.

QUALIFICATIONS TO MAINTAIN AN AHA ACCREDITED NATIONAL/REGIONAL JUDGE STATUS

General Description

An AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge is recognized for his/her integrity, show ring expertise, commitment to AHA and its goals, Code of Ethics and rules and regulations. An AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge is an individual who has demonstrated a keen awareness of the Arabian horse as a proud and noble breed, and who has treated fairly and humanely any and all horses with whom the individual has contact, either in or out of the show ring. The AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge is recognized for his/her courtesy and professional behavior and personal integrity at all times. Designation as an AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge is the highest honor and privilege that can be bestowed upon an AHA Recognized Arabian Judge. As such, the AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge agrees to give AHA his/her best at all times.

AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge designation is maintained through a process, which includes an interview regimen, designed to determine the applicant's skill, knowledge, ability, background and suitability to continually serve in the privileged position of an Accredited National/Regional Judge.

As a condition to being designated an AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge, applicants must comply with US Equestrian Federation/CEF "Regulations Governing Showing Under Judges."

The AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge applicant shall have his or her name published in International Arabian Horse so the general membership has the opportunity to comment on the individual's background, education, personal integrity or suitability to maintain their AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge status.

An AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge must not have any AHA Ethical Practice Review Board, US Equestrian Federation, Canadian Equestrian Federation, or other equine association or federation charges pending and/or findings of violations within five (5) years prior to re-applying.

In the year in which the applicant is required to maintain their AHA Accredited National/Regional Judge designation, the judge must attend the regularly scheduled AHA Judges' Seminar in its entirety. The judge must obtain a score of at least 90% on the written examination.

At the same seminar, the AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge must complete at least one interview. The interview panel shall consist of the Education/Evaluation Commission members and other knowledgeable people of the Arabian horse community, as determined by the Education/Evaluation Commission members. The AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge must pass the interview(s) to maintain their AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge status.

The AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge may not adjudicate the same division at an AHA National event more than once every two- (2) years. The AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge may adjudicate at three (3) different National events in any five-year period.

The Education/Evaluation Commission will conduct the foregoing interview(s) and tests, and make a final determination as to the judge's fitness for the AHA National/Regional Accreditation designation. The Education/Evaluation Commission determination shall be forwarded to the AHA Judges & Stewards Commissioner for implementation.

AHA National/Regional Accredited designation is valid for a period of six (6) years. Prior to the expiration of six (6) years, the AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge must make application for re-approval and complete the same evaluation process as the initial AHA National/Regional Accredited approval process. The AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge must continue to comply with all other requirements for maintaining the status of an AHA National/Regional Accredited Judge. [Refer to Section II.]