Standing Rules of the New Mexico Dressage Association
Approved May 7, 2008



  1. The Board of Directors will meet at least quarterly, and may meet more often. The frequency of meetings, and the dates, times, and locations of meetings, will be determined by the Officers, who may consult with other Board members before making their decision. A special meeting of the Board of Directors may be requested by a petition of 3 or more Board members, as specified in the By-Laws.
  2. Board and General Membership meetings, both regularly scheduled and special, are open to current paid members and invited guests, and will be announced to the general membership no less than six weeks prior to the meeting. Such notification can be by USPS Mail, newsletter, e-mail, or any other means deemed appropriate. (Members are urged to keep NMDA informed of changes of physical address AND e-mail address.) The Board reserves the right to hold closed meetings, or to close parts of meetings, for discussion of sensitive issues.
  3. Meetings of the Board and of the General Membership will be conducted by modern business management methods, and decisions will be reached by consensus. Robert's Rules of Order will not generally be used, but may be invoked if necessary.
  4. All petitions requesting additional meetings, either Board or General Membership, must be in writing, and must include a printed name as well as a signature for each member. Signatures of non-members are not valid. The petition will be considered to be filed as of the date it is received by the President, and it will be considered valid if on that date it contains signatures of the required number of Board or NMDA members, as specified in the By-Laws and Standing Rules. Dates, times, and locations of these additional meetings will be set in accordance with the By-Laws.
  5. Membership Obligations and Benefits
    1. Each member is encouraged to contribute to the success of NMDA by service as a Committee Chair, Committee member, volunteer at schooling or recognized show, or other service to the organization.
    2. Member contact information supplied on the Membership Form will be published in the Handbook or a separate Membership Directory, unless specific exemption from this is requested on the Membership Form.
    3. Benefits of NMDA Membership
      1. Subscription to newsletter
      2. Receive NMDA Handbook and/or Directory
      3. Eligible for Year End Awards
      4. Eligible to participate in NMDA educational programs and activities
      5. Eligible to vote and hold office, subject to requirements of the By-Laws
    4. Benefits of USDF Group Membership
      1. All paid NMDA members are automatically USDF Group members
      2. Subscription to USDF Connection Magazine
      3. Eligible to compete at USDF recognized shows
      4. Eligible to participate in USDF Rider Award program
      5. Eligible to earn USDF University credits
  6. Membership classes and dues associated with each are:
    1. Individual - $45
    2. Family - $45 (one GMO membership / one vote / one Newsletter)
    3. Business - $45 (one GMO membership / one vote / one Newsletter)
    4. Active Existing Life - current USDF GMO membership fee (GMO membership / one vote / one Newsletter)
    5. Inactive Life - $7 (no GMO membership / no vote / one Newsletter)
  7. Voting by proxy is allowed by the By-Laws. Issues eligible to be voted on by proxy shall be ONLY those that have been discussed at a previous meeting, and/or printed in the newsletter or the minutes of a previous meeting. Examples include, but are not limited to, election of Officers at the Annual Meeting, or voting on By-Laws changes at a General Membership Meeting. All proxy votes must be in writing, with both signature and printed name, and submitted to the Secretary of the Association, as specified in the By-Laws. Proxy votes received after a vote has been taken are invalid.
  8. NMDA will give Year End Awards following these guidelines:
    1. Average of 3 scores from 3 different NMDA schooling shows. The scores can be from any test of the level.
    2. Owner and Rider must be NMDA members.
    3. Entrants don't have to submit copies of tests; each show manager will e-mail final scores to club officials and results will be published in the Newsletter.
    4. Champion and Reserve Champion will be awarded in each of these divisions:
      1. Introductory
      2. Training Level Amateur
      3. Training Level Open
      4. Training Level Junior
      5. First Level Amateur
      6. First Level Open
      7. First Level Junior
      8. Second Level Amateur
      9. Second Level Open
      10. Second Level Junior

        A Junior is 18 years of age or under. You cannot enter Open and Amateur divisions at the same show. Only one horse/rider combination can win at each level (i.e. you cannot win both Training Level Amateur and Training Level Open Championships.)

        Championship Awards will be presented at the lunch break during the October Recognized Show. Preliminary placings will be published after the last schooling show.
  9. NMDA Schooling Show Guidelines
    1. ENTRIES
      1. Opening and Closing Dates: Entries open two to three weeks before schooling shows. Entries must be postmarked before the closing date. Some post entries will be accepted if space and times are available.
      2. Payment: Make checks payable to NMDA only. Checks returned for non-payment will incur a fee of $20.
      3. Entry Form: The entry form must be entirely filled out and full payment of fees must accompany the entry form. All signatures are required. No entries will be accepted over the telephone. A class entry will be presumed to be an Open class unless specifically marked otherwise.
      4. Refunds and Scratches: Refunds will be made only if withdrawals are received prior to closing date (full refund minus office fee). NO EXCEPTIONS.
    2. SHOW CONDUCT
      1. General: All classes are subject to the rules and regulations of the US Equestrian Federation and all aspects of the show will be conducted in accordance therewith. Show management reserves the right to allow or disallow competitors to school around show arenas prior to or during competition. Show management reserves the right to refuse any entry of any exhibitor for cause; to have any horse removed from the grounds for cause; to return any entry fee and eliminate the exhibitor for cause; all without being liable for damages or compensation.
      2. Classes: Show management may cancel, change, combine, or split classes if circumstances require it.
      3. Substitutions: Substitution of rider, horse, or times will be made only at the discretion of the show management and will require a fee of $10.
      4. Tests: Tests will not be released or shown until a class is completely scored and posted. No test will be released to anyone other than the rider or the rider's representative. Riders are urged to check their tests for errors.
    3. GROUNDS
      1. Horses on the Grounds: All horses brought to the show grounds must be entered in the show, or pay a $20 seasoning fee. This includes all horses, young or otherwise, that are brought to schooling shows for "seasoning". A liability release form must be signed for all horses. A horse on the show grounds must wear its assigned number at all times except when it is in its stall.
      2. Access to Show Arenas: A rider may neither warm up nor ride in any official show arena except during his or her test. Use of arenas before the show starts and during breaks is subject to the discretion of show management.
      3. Dogs: Dogs are not welcome on the show grounds. If a dog is brought to the show, it must be kept on a leash at all times.