HERDING TRIAL PROGRAM

The AHBA Herding Trial Program allows herding dogs and their trainers to demonstrate herding skills at graduated levels of herding training. The emphasis is on accomplishment of requirements rather than on competition.

The Herding Trial Program is run on a system utilizing numerical qualifying scores. The "Herding Trial Dog" section, using a standard course, leads to the title "HTD" followed by numerals indicating the dog's level: HTD I (started level), HTD II (intermediate level), and HTD III (advanced level). The "Herding Ranch Dog" section, using a variety of courses held in a ranch or farm setting, leads to the title "HRD" similarly followed by numerals indicating the dog's level: HRD I, HRD II, and HRD III. The "Herding Trial Arena Dog" section, using one of several specified courses in an arena, leads to the title "HTAD" followed by numerals indicating the dog's level: HTAD I (started level), HTAD II (intermediate level), and HTAD III (advanced level). The "Herding Trial Championship" (HTCh.) is earned after dogs have earned an advanced title in either the HTD, HRD or HTAD section.

SANCTION OF EVENTS

Events may be open to all breeds or limited to a specific breed.
Clubs or individuals wishing to obtain sanction from the AHBA must complete a sanction form and return it to the AHBA Sanction Coordinator at least 60 days before the event, along with a sanction fee of $15.00. The fee will cover an event held over consecutive days. In addition, Junior Herding Dog tests may be held in conjunction with trials, in which case the sanction fee for the trial will also cover the Junior Herding Dog test. Sponsors must carry insurance. Sponsors will be notified as to granting of sanction; if sanction cannot be granted the fee will be returned. Refund of the sanction fee for a canceled event is at the discretion of the AHBA board and will be provided only in the case of extreme weather, disasters, or unusual circumstances preventing the holding of the event.
Copies of the AHBA scoresheets will be provided to the sponsor or individual requesting sanction, from which the necessary number of individual scoresheets needed for the event can be made. Trial Recording Forms (for recording runs) and Trial Report Forms will also be provided.
The language set out in Appendix A to these Rules must be incorporated into the entry form/release form which must be signed by each entrant of an AHBA event. The original forms must be kept by the sponsor for a period of six months after the test so as to be available to the AHBA upon request.
Judges must be approved prior to the event by the AHBA Sanction Coordinator and must be selected from the list of approved judges of the American Herding Breed Association. Potential judges not on the list must apply to the AHBA for entry onto the list at least six weeks prior to any event at which they may be asked to judge. Application forms and information regarding requirements can be obtained from the AHBA Judges' Coordinator. If applicants have not received approval at least two weeks before an event they have been asked to judge, they are not eligible to judge that event. If judges are paid, they should be paid by the sponsor or a designated representative of the sponsor.
A copy of the flyer or premium list should be provided to the AHBA Sanction Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the event. The flyer or premium list should provide complete information regarding the event, including starting times for classes and indication of any ribbons or other awards which may be provided to qualifying dogs. It must also include a description and diagram of any HRD course offered.

ORGANIZATION AND RECORDING

The event secretary or a designated assistant to the secretary must be present throughout the event. The judge must be provided with an assistant or assistants to serve as scribe and timer. The event secretary and the judge must have a copy of the current AHBA rules with them at the event. A copy of the rulebook can be obtained by contacting the AHBA Secretary. Rules can also be found at: http://www.ahba-herding.org.
A designated stock supervisor must be in charge of the stock and must be present throughout the event. There must be a designated course director, whose responsibility is to see that the course is set correctly for each class.
Total entries per day are not to exceed 40 dogs per judge.
Waiting dogs and people must keep a sufficient distance from the arena where a run is taking place. There shall be no outside interference or double-handling.
Good sportsmanship is to be shown at all times. The sponsor and sponsor's representatives have the responsibility for the overall conduct of the event; the judge has the responsibility for conduct of the event in the arena(s). Should any controversy develop, the following shall apply: The sponsor or their representatives shall first do all in their power to minimize any interference with the event and any other participants at the event. This shall include but is not limited to providing a quiet private area in which to resolve such controversy or dispute. The nature of the controversy/dispute shall be taken down in writing and statements by any witnesses or evidence available collected. The sponsor or their representatives and all other parties involved shall make every effort to ascertain the facts and resolve the issue. If a resolution is not possible or further action is necessary, all details shall be put into written documents and sent to: ahbaboard@ahba-herding.org and it will be taken into consideration by the board. AHBA will only consider those items that fall under the rules and regulations of AHBA, and not any other controversy or dispute.
Awards and ribbons are provided at the discretion of the sponsor and the details must be clearly stated in the entry flyer or premium list. It is recommended that ribbons/and or awards be given for first through fourth place in each class and that all other qualifiers receive qualifying ribbons or awards.
Participating dogs shall have scoresheets filled out in full. The original scoresheet must be given to the owner of the dog or the owner's agent. A complete record of entrants and results must be kept by the sponsor for a period of at least one year after the event; this record may be one or more of the following: copies of the scoresheets, copies of the Trial Recording Forms, or a completed catalog.
A Trial Recording Form must be completed in full for each qualifying entry, with a separate form being used for each run; only this form will be accepted for recording. (Note: If desired, the sponsor may provide this form to prospective entrants, who can then fill out the top part of the form and return it to the sponsor for subsequent indication of results.) The original completed Trial Recording Forms are sent to the AHBA Sanction Coordinator.
A Trial Report form shall be completed by the Trial Secretary and the Judge(s) for the event and sent to the AHBA Secretary.
Sponsors of sanctioned events shall pay a recording fee of $2.00 per qualifying dog for those dogs to be recorded by the AHBA.
It is the duty of the sponsor to see that all scoresheets and forms are completed and that the Trial Recording Forms, the Trial Report, and the recording fees are sent to the AHBA Sanction Coordinator no later than 30 days from the date of the event. A fine of $50.00 will be assessed for forms and recording fees submitted after the 30-day period.
Failure to conduct the event according to these Rules may result in suspension of the judge and/or sponsor. Failure to provide the required reports and/or fees and failure to pay an assessed fine will preclude sanctioning approval in the future.

ELIGIBILITY

This program shall be open to all dogs 9 months age or older.
Spayed bitches and neutered dogs may participate.
Bitches in heat may take part, and need not wait until all other dogs have participated.
Dogs must be sound and in good health. Any dog that appears to be unfit will be removed at the judge's discretion; examples are: lameness, injury, illness, advanced pregnancy.
Owners of participating dogs need not be members of any club or organization.
A dog owned by the judge or any member of the judge's immediate family or household may not be evaluated by that judge, nor may a judge evaluate a dog of which that judge has been the owner or primary trainer/handler within the last six months.

TITLE REQUIREMENTS

A dog may enter at any level for which it is trained. No title is a prerequisite for another. A sponsor of a particular event may, however, limit entries to dogs with specified accomplishments.
For each title, two qualifying scores are required, earned under different judges. Upon completion of the second leg, a certificate will be issued awarding the title.
A dog may not be entered at different levels on the same kind of stock on the same trial course on the same day, nor may a dog entered in a Junior Herding Dog test be entered in a trial class on that day. The dog may, however, be moved up upon the completion of a title.
Once a dog has earned a leg toward a particular title, it may not enter at a lower level in regular classes. Titles are earned separately, however, on different types of stock and on different courses, so a dog may enter at a lower level on a different course or a different type of stock in regular trial classes (see no. 6 below); for example, a dog with a leg toward HTD II-s may not enter HTD I on sheep, but it may enter HTD I on ducks or HRD I on sheep. Dogs may enter at any level on any type of stock or course for exhibition-only runs (see no. 15 below under General Requirements for Trials) with the permission of the sponsor.
The score needed to qualify in trials is a minimum of 70% of the total score available (within that total, no scoring section may be zero). Total score available is 90 for HTD/HRD/HTAD I and II (63 or above qualifying) and 100 for HTD/HRD/HTAD III (70 or above qualifying). The Junior Herding Dog title (JHD) is earned on a pass/not pass basis.
Titles are earned separately on different types of stock, with two legs being required, under two different judges, for the title on the particular type of stock. The type of stock on which the title was earned will be indicated by use of small initials after the title: "s" for sheep, "c" for cattle, "d" for ducks, "g" for goats, "ge" for geese, "t" for turkeys. Trial titles on different types of stock may be earned concurrently or consecutively, at the same level or at a different level. Similarly, HTD, HRD, and HTAD titles may be earned concurrently or consecutively, at the same level or at a different level.
Sixty days after the date of earning a trial title, a dog may no longer compete at that level on that course on that type of stock; it may, however, be allowed to run noncompetitively.
After a dog has earned at least one advanced title on one type of stock (either HTD or HRD), the dog becomes eligible to earn points for the title Herding Trial Champion (HTCh.). To earn the HTCh.:
1. the dog must earn 10 points, each point obtained by achieving a score of 80 or above in an advanced class.
2. points may be earned on either HTD, HRD, or HTAD courses or any combination of the three.
3. points must be earned under at least three different judges.
4. points may be earned on one type of stock or on more than one type of stock, but no more than 3 points may be earned on ducks or geese.
5. in some cases it may happen that a dog is entered in more than one advanced class on the same day, finishes a title and then subsequently, on the same day in another class, earns a score qualifying for a point. Scores qualifying for points that are earned on the same day but subsequent to a title being finished, will be recorded as points only upon written request of the entrant with a verification by the sponsor; otherwise the point count will begin on a separate day after the earning of the advanced title.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIALS

Trials may be held on sheep, goats, ducks, geese, or, with special approval, cattle. HRD classes may not use ducks. Stock must be healthy and in good condition and accustomed to being worked by a variety of dogs.
A minimum of three head of stock must be used for each run for HTD classes. A minimum of five head must be used for HRD and HTAD classes (larger numbers are preferred for HRD classes).
Total number of stock present must be at least one head of stock, preferably more, per every dog, plus reserves. Multiple entries of one dog are counted as separate runs.
Stock must be kept in identifiable groups and rotated after every run. There must be at least two groups for a small number of entries and three or more groups for larger numbers of entries, as needed to meet the requirements of how often stock may be used. In HRD classes with more than 20 animals in a group, a single group may be used (multiple groups are still preferred), but the animals must have a rest period of 45 minutes between runs. The number of times an animal may run is limited as follows: In the case of hoofed stock, no animal may be used more than 4 times per day in HTD classes or in HRD classes with groups of fewer than 20 head; no animal may be used more than 5 times per day in HTAD classes; and no animal may be used more than 6 times per day in large-flock HRD events with 20 or more animals in the group. In the case of poultry, no animal may be used more than 4 times per day. Any animal being used more than three times per day must have at least a half-hour rest period between runs.
Arenas must be well fenced, have good footing and be free from hazardous obstructions. If two adjacent arenas are being used simultaneously, visibility screens must be set up between them.
Safety and humane treatment of the animals are of utmost importance. There must be a separate, secure rest area for the stock, with shade and water. The area should be secluded, with dogs and people kept out of sight of the stock. Food must be provided for stock kept overnight. Water must be available for dogs. During the event, animals are to be removed from the arena at any sign of stress and promptly given any necessary care. A veterinarian must be in attendance or on call.
The judge is to provide time before the first class or before each class for a handler's meeting, at which questions regarding the class or course may be asked. For each run, the handler should check with the judge just before entering the arena or field to see that the judge is ready to begin.
Dogs may wear only plain buckle or snap-lock collars, or may work without a collar.
Handlers may carry only a standard herding crook or stock stick (wood, fiberglass or aluminum).
The dog may be removed or excused at any time for unnecessary roughness, overrunning of stock, or lack of control. The dog may be excused for nonproductive work after 5 minutes. If all or a majority of the stock leave the designated course limits, the dog is to be retired with no score. The handler may retire the dog at any time.
Should an animal need to be removed during a run for a reason unrelated to the behavior of the dog (e.g. lameness, excessive stubbornness or flightiness of an individual), or should outside interference occur, the dog may be given a rerun at the discretion of the judge.
In the event of a tie between classes, the tie shall be broken in favor of the dog entered in the higher class. In the event of a tie within a class, the tie shall be broken in HTD classes with the best fetch score, followed by best pen score, then time. In HRD classes, the course designer shall specify ahead of time which scoring section will be used for breaking a tie, with two sections listed in order, followed by time. In HTAD classes, the tie will be broken with the best gather/take-pen score, followed by best re-pen score, then time.
If time runs out before the course is completed, the handler shall retain the points earned up to that point.
Each obstacle or section of a course must be attempted, although not necessarily completed, for a qualifying score to be earned. In a case where it is not certain whether an attempt has been made, the handler may ask the judge, or the judge may inform the handler, whether an attempt is considered to have been made.
All runs are to be regular trial runs, with the exception that in certain circumstances and with approval of the sponsor and judge(s), noncompetitive runs and/or exhibition-only runs may be allowed. Noncompetitive runs will be conducted and judged as regular trial runs, except that the run is judged solely for the earning of a leg and is not eligible for any placements or prizes. Exhibition-only runs are handled similarly, except that no leg is being sought, and are likewise not eligible for any placements or prizes. Scoresheets for noncompetitive or exhibition-only runs will clearly indicate that the run is noncompetitive or exhibition only. Noncompetitive runs may be allowed for such circumstances as an individual who already has a leg under the regular judge for that class, or an individual who is judging that class at an event. An individual who owns the property and/or stock or is otherwise closely involved with holding the trial may also run noncompetitively if they desire, but this is not a requirement. Exhibition-only runs are allowed in the case of an individual who wishes to run in a class for which their dog has already earned a title, in order to gain more experience before moving up to the next level. A dog doing stock handling/pen work at an event may run either: (1) competitively if it completes its run or runs prior to any stockhandling work; (2) noncompetitively if it is to run at any time after it has begun any stockhandling work. Dogs entered in regular classes at a trial may not have noncompetitive runs in those classes in addition to their regular run. No dog may have more than one non-competitive run or exhibition-only run per trial in the particular class.
Up to two separate trials may be held per day. A trial may consist of either the full range of classes, courses and stock types, or a more limited range of classes, courses and stock types, one class for each level for each stock type and/or course. The two trials should be held in succession, with "Trial A" being completed before "Trial B" begins. A class should be judged by a single judge, except that a very large class may be divided between two judges, but will still be considered a single class with one set of placements and only providing one leg. For two trials held on one day, each class is to have its own set of placements and, if offered, placement awards. High score awards, if offered, may consist of separate High in Trial awards, or one overall "High in Event" or "High Score of Day" or "High Overall" award. Information about awards must be clearly stated in the premium list/flyer.

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