HCBC PROVINCIAL RECOGNIZED OFFICIALS PROGRAM (PRO)
All Horse Council BC Provincially Recognized Officials must attend, updating clinics every three years or as specified in discipline policies. In addition to attending theses seminars, officials must hold a HCBC membership.
HCBC offers a provincial officials’ program for 9 categories. A Provincial Recognized Official can judge at any HCBC sanctioned competition and unsanctioned local competitions. Designation as a licensed official is a privilege, not a right, bestowed to individuals whose equine expertise and personal character merit the honour. The individual’s conduct as a member and as an official must be exemplary and is subject to review. A judge is expected to be proficient in the divisions and to possess a thorough knowledge of the rules. Provincial Recognized Officials may officiate at Provincial Recognized Events and unsanctioned events under their Provincial License in British Columbia
It is imperative that accredited officials exhibit the highest standard of integrity at all times and decisions are not made upon improper influence. The decisions of the officials constitute solely their individual assessment and not the opinions of or decisions by Horse Council BC.
Horse Council BC is pleased to offer members a credible provincial officials program. Categories of Horse Council BC Provincial Recognized Official Certification are:
- Hunter Judge
- Jumper Judge
- Hack Judge
- Equitation Judge (Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat, Stock Seat)
- Western Judge
- Basic Dressage (See separate criteria)
- General Performance
- Course Designer Hunter Jumper
- Arena Driving Trials
Categories of Provincial Recognized Officials
There are Three Levels of Recognition: Learner (L) Primary (P) Senior (S)
Learner - A Learner Judge category is an individual who is new to the judging arena, will have little or no judging experience in the specific discipline, but will have a background in horsemanship, competition, and the horse industry. Must attend a recognized EC or HCBC Officials clinic in year of application and pass the exam with a minimum score of 80%. Must complete PRO application and submit by Oct 15th including 4 references of which two references must be licensed Officials. Must be a member in good standing of HCBC. A Learner Official must complete a minimum of 4 shadow Judging competitions under a senior Licensed Official in the applicable discipline, and submit shadow judging report forms signed by Senior Officials for upgrading to Primary status. Must attend at least one recognized Officials Clinic every three year period to remain active as Learner Official.
Primary – Judge must have completed all the requirements of a Learner Judge and be considered by Senior Judges to have the knowledge to judge alone at provincial recognized competitions. Must have taken the provincial Officials Exam and passed with a minimum of 80% in the specific discipline. Must be a member in good standing of HCBC. Must attend one Provincial, National, or International Officials clinic within each three year period to remain currently active and listed as a PRO provincial Official.
Senior – An individual will have met all the requirements of the Primary Officials status and will have over five years of judging experience as either provincial or national judge in the discipline applied for. Senior National Federation Officials may be included in this category immediately upon application for HCBC PRO Status equivalent to their current senior status with the National Federation. Must remain current members in good standing of HCBC and Equine Canada and attend one National Officials updating clinic within each three year period. Senior National Officials may be approved as Provicially Recognized Officials at any time upon application to Horse Council BC Competitions Department
Advantage of Provincial Accreditation:
- Provincial Accreditation allows an individual to officiate at HCBC Recognized Events and local competitions under the scope of the HCBC Officials License in British Columbia
- The names of all current accredited Provincially Recognized Officials are published on our web site and in the Horse Industry Guide under the Competition Officials. .
- Provincially Recognized Officials are eligible for the HCBC group insurance program through CAPRI for competition officials.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- Complete and return the Provincial Recognized Officials application form that is available from the HCBC office prior to October 15 of the current year. Include the names and mailing addresses of four sponsors, preferably for each discipline applied for. At least two of the four sponsors must be certified officials. All sponsors must be members in good standing of their provincial and/or national equestrian federation. Sponsors should be active in the horse industry.
- Upon successful completion of the application and exam a panel established by the HCBC Vice President of Competitions will conduct a review of references. At least three of the four references must be favorable for each discipline applied for, in order for an application to be considered. Written notification to applicants will be completed by December 31 of the current year.
- Applicants must be a senior member in good standing with Horse Council BC
HORSE COUNCIL BC POLICIES GOVERNING PROVINCIAL RECOGNIZED OFFICIALS
- A Provincially Recognized Official is accredited only within the Province of British Columbia.
- Penalties for contravening the rules of HCBC member policies will be determined by a panel of peers as established by the Horse Council BC Vice President of Competitions.
- Provincially Recognized Officials are independant Contractors and may hold multiple cards with other equestrian organizations
TO MAINTAIN STATUS:
- A Provincial Recognized Official must be a Senior member in good standing with Horse Council BC.
- A Provincial Recognized Official cannot be under suspension from any other equestrian organization.
- A Provincial Recognized Official must attend one National, International or Provincially hosted officials’ development seminar/course within each three year period
DESIGNATION REVIEW
A Provincial Recognized Official’s conduct and ability must be exemplary and is subject to continual review. The accreditation is revocable at any time by the Officials Selection Committee ( that is appointed by the HCBC Vice President Competitions) with written notice served by registered mail or courier to the last known address of the Official.
Appeals of such decision may be made in writing and accompanied by a fifty dollar deposit to the President of Horse Council BC who at his discretion may or may not call for a formal review before a panel of peers not in excess of four (4). If the formal review finds in favour of the Official the fifty dollar deposit will be returned.
HORSE COUNCIL BC PROVINCIALLY APPROVED DRESSAGE JUDGES CRITERIA
- The Horse Council BC Officials application form must be used.
- The applicant must be Horse Council BC member in good standing.
- Of the four references, three must be certified Dressage judges of Senior Basic status or higher, from any nationally recognized federation and the other two must be Senior Horse Council members in good standing.
- The applicant must have competed in recognized competitions. Please list competition name, location date, and level competed at.
- Applicants must attend and be evaluated at a Horse Council BC approved Dressage judges clinic. Please include a copy of the evaluation report.
All provincially approved dressage officials must assume the responsibility for remaining current and notifying Horse Council BC of any clinics attended on an annual basis.
