Horse Pulls

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Rules & Regulations

1. All horses will be weighed in the presence of a delegate appointed by the exhibition; the delegate shall inform the teamster of the weight of each horse and shall record the weight and name of each horse. The scale will be balanced with a man standing on the same. Only one (1) teamster, along with two (2) helpers, are allowed in the ring. No spectators are permitted inside the area of the pull.
2. Weigh in must take place between 9:00a.m. and 2:00p.m. on the day of each comperitors first day only.
3. For the safety of all concerned, once the horses enter the pulling area, and after each pull, they are to be securely tied to a facility provided by the exhibition.
4. All horses are to be weighed individually alone with head gear only.
5. Once a team is weighed in there will be no switching of horses. Once the pull starts, horses are not permitted to leave the pulling ring for any reason, unless directed by the judge. No horse is allowed to pull in more than one class.
6. Starting Weight: For the Light Class the startingweight will be 3,000lbs.; for the medium Class it will be 3,50lbs; and for the Heavy Class it will be 4,000lbs.; Weight at the end of each round will be added at the judges’ discretion.
7. Pulling Position: Will be determined by the weight of the team, starting with the lightest to the heaviest.
8. All teamsters competing in the contest shall have their team(s) ready at the published times (times subject to change due to scheduling).
9. A time limit of three (3) minutes from the time the team is called will be permitted for each team to complete their pull. The team must be hooked to the drag within two (2) minutes or the next team will be called. The team must stay hooked after each attempt.
10. Only one (1) teamster to a team will be allowed; along with two (2) helpers when hooking onto the drag. Once hooked onto the drag the helpers must move to the rear of the drag. Helpers must not touch, yell or whistle at the horses at anytime, except in the case of breakage of equipment or tangles.
11. Any teamster judged to be under the influence of alcohol will not be permitted to compete. No teamster shall slash, whip, slap or swear once they have entered the pulling ring, whether at the drag or at the rail. No cruelty to horses will be permitted on the grounds of the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition. Any teamster committing any of these offences will be warned only once. If any horse, of any team appears to be blemished or in poor condition, the judge, in consultation with the committee, shall have the right to eliminate that team from the competition.
12. If in the opinion of the judge, and in consultation with the committee, any team that appears to be unmanageable, or too difficult to handle, and becomes a danger to the public, the team will be disqualified and ordered to be separated and removed from the pulling area.
13. Teams must walk to and from the drag. Only one (1) warning will be given; a second offence will mean disqualification. Spreaders must be carried into the pulling ring, Dragging will not be tolerated.
14. Bunting the drag three (3) inches or more will constitute a start.
15. The pulling area will be an area marked off by white lines fourteen (14’) feet apart and stretching approximately one hundred (100’) feet. Any horse stepping over this white line during a start will lose the start.
16. PULLING DISTANCE – A good pull will be twelve (12’) feet. One (1) start will be allowed, with two (2) tries to move the load the twelve (12’) feet. The team must stay hooked to the drag between tries. In case of breakage of harness or equipment the team will drop to the end of the round. In case of repairs a team will be allowed a maximum time of five (5) minutes.
17. The Maritime Horse Pull will take place indoors while the Single Horse Pull will take place outdoors. The drag will be pulled back to the start line once it reaches the end of the pulling area. Should holes develop in the pulling area, the judge (at their discretion) may move the pulling area to an area within the existing pulling area. The move would take place when the first team left in the pulling order is called to pull.
18. The judge and committee will have complete control over all matters after contestants have entered the exhibition grounds, and all decisions by the judge will be final.
19. All teamsters and helpers must sign a waiver before being allowed to participate.
20. For safety reason, only a teamster, helpers (2 per team), Exhibition workers and pulling officials will be the only allowed personnel in the ring during the competition.
21. Any or all horses may be tested for drugs. Any evidence of drugs will result in forfeiture of any prize.
22. Third party liability is required. Owners, teamsters and helpers must show proof of at least $2,000,000 (two million) dollars liability insurance for this event. NO entry will be accepted unless proof of insurance is received with signed waiver.
23. The Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition reserves the right to refuse or prohibit entry of any individual, teamster, owner, their horse in the competition in any given year.
24. The judge’s decision will be final. Any harassment towards the judge or any other exhibition official will not be tolerated.

Participant Waivers

The below links will take you to the relvant waivers on speedwaiver.com – please note that all participants are required to complete a waiver before participating in the event(s).