GARY J. DANIELS SUNBELT RODEO RULES AND REGULATIONS

ELIGIBILITY: The Gary J. Daniels Sunbelt Rodeo is open to all evelopmentally disabled or otherwise handicapped persons regardless of race, creed, or sex. All participants must have a current physical and signed release form and must be officially entered in the rodeo.

RULES COMMITTEE: The Rules Committee of each local rodeo shall be comprised of representatives of the sponsoring organization, together with representatives of the local community, and at least one Rodeo participant.

The rules and regulations of the Sunbelt Rodeo are approved and determined by the Gary J. Daniels Sunbelt Rodeo Board of Directors of each individual state, and shall be subject to modification only by the Rules Committee.

In the event of complaints, protests, or problems, the Rules Committee shall also serve as a Board of Appeals and shall make all final decisions concerning their local rodeo, so long as they do not violate the goals of the Sunbelt Rodeo.

The Rules Committee shall be responsible for the organization, coordination, and implementation of their local rodeo. They shall appoint all judges, scorekeepers, and officials.

COMPETITION LEVELS: Contestants will be divided into separate divisions according to riding abilities. The responsibility for the assignment of a contestant to the proper division shall be determined by the coach, or the Rodeo Committee, on the first day of workshop, may decide on proper division. The decisions of the Rodeo Committee are final.

RED DIVISION: Those contestants capable of riding and handling a horse at a running speed.
GREEN DIVISION: Those contestants capable of riding and handling a horse at a walking speed.
YELLOW DIVISION: Those contestants who are unable to ride a horse without assistance.
PURPLE ADAPTED SADDLE DIVISION: Those contestants requiring the support of being strapped in a saddle, with the horse being lead at a walking speed through events. Designed for persons who require a wheelchair for mobility.

EXPLANATION OF OUTSTANDING COMPETITION: In the Red Outstanding Division, times from Go Rounds #1 and #2 for each contestant=s three events (Key Hole, Pole Bending, and Flag Race) will be totaled. These accumulated times will then be used to determine the top 15 Outstanding finalists; these 15 riders will be paired with a community rider/partner for the Finals held on Sunday morning and will compete in Barrel Race, Pole Bending, and Flag Race. All remaining Outstanding Division participants will compete in Pole Bending and Flag Race. No community rider/partner will be assigned to them.


EXPLANATION OF REGULAR COMPETITION: In the Green Regular Division and Yellow Regular Division, Go-Rounds #1 and #2 times for each event will be totaled for each contestant. Total scores of each event will be ordered, and the top 5 times (Group A) and the 5 scores following median (Group B) will participate in Finals. Awards will be given to all making Finals.


EXPLANATION OF ADAPTED SADDLE COMPETITION: In the Purple Adapted Saddle Division, contestants will be given an opportunity to experience the thrill of riding a horse, strapped in a saddle and with the horse being lead through events at a walking speed. No scores are recorded; each rider will be given a participation award.

HORSES ASSIGNED: Participants will ride the horses they are assigned if they brought no horses. If teams bring their own horses, they will be asked to put their horses into a "horse pool" so that anyone may ride their horses, but this is not mandatory. The decision to re run "bad horses" will be the sole discretion of the judges.

CHANGES IN DIVISIONS: Any changes in color divisions should be reported BY COACHES to the secretary's tent!!