Rules & Regulations

1. MEMBERSHIP

Membership will be applied for on official forms supplied by the International Drum Horse Association (IDHA) and sent to the Secretary of the Association. The application must include payment for dues. Membership year runs from January 1 through December 31 of each year and dues will not be prorated. If during the year an Associate Member chooses to upgrade membership to a General Membership, only the difference in dues will have to be paid.

Members in good standing are defined as a member who has paid all dues, has no fees in arrears and is not under any investigation for violation of any Rules and Regulations, or the By-Laws of the International Drum Horse Association. All members in good standing have equal rights and responsibilities with respect to the International Drum Horse Association and its properties, shall be bound by its Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and by the actions of its Board of Directors. Every member in good standing shall have the right to attend all general membership meetings, have floor privileges and the right to hold committee assignments except where limited in the Bylaws.

Rights and privileges to members include:a) Listing in the published membership list
b) Listing on the website of the Association
c) Association newsletter
d) Ability to list Drum Horses for sale on sales list
e) Participation in general meetings and general elections.
f) Reduced fees.

2. FEES

All dues and fees are payable in US dollars. Any fees charged to the Association due to the acceptance of fees in electronic form will be added to the fees due and payable by the member using the service.

3. LITAGATION

No Director or Officer of the International Drum Horse Association will bring action or suit against the International Drum Horse Association while in office. Any member or non-member who purchases International Drum Horse Association registered horses, attends Society events, participates in International Drum Horse Association sanctioned shows, or files any Association forms or applications will be responsible for their own attorney fees if they file action or suit against the International Drum Horse Association. In addition, if they are unsuccessful in their attempts, they will reimburse the International Drum Horse Association for all attorney fees, court costs and other expenditures used in defense of such suit or action.

4. REGISTRATIONS

a) Application for registration/certification will be submitted to the Registrar on the official registration application form provided by the society, along with fees and other requirements of registration as stated on the application for registration form.b) The International Drum Horse Association will only register horses that qualify. The Association may deny registration/certification or cancel registration/certification of a horse if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the horse does not meet the standards or requirements for registration, or that any information on the registration form is false or incorrect.

c) DNA testing is required for all horses registered. The DNA test samples are due to be submitted within 30 days after approval of registration application.

If DNA results show pedigree or other discrepancies, the application and registration can be changed, denied or revoked.

a) The name of a horse submitted for registration cannot be the same as any other Drum Horse already registered with the association. Names cannot be changed once the horse is registered, and cannot exceed more than 25 letters including any prefix. No names will be accepted that are deemed to be offensive.b) If the application is for an imported horse the name submitted can be different from the name on the passport or other import documents. If there is a passport for the imported horse a copy of it must be submitted with the registration application. If no passport was required for import, a copy of other importation paperwork will be submitted.

c) Upon the death of a registered Drum Horse the original certificate must be returned to the registrar within 90 days. The certificate will be recorded with the date of death and returned to the final owner of the deceased animal. The date will also be recorded in the permanent records of the registry.

d) The owner of the dam will be considered the breeder and owner of any foal born to that mare. Foals pre-sold inutero, or sold as embryo transfers, will still be considered owned and bred by the owner of the dam, and a transfer of ownership must be made as described in item 6 below (Transfer of Ownership), after initial registration application is made.

The IDHA provides due diligence, including DNA testing when accepting a horse for registration in the IDHA books. We strive very hard to ensure that each horse qualifies for the book that it is registered in, and that it meets the rules and breed standards of the IDHA. Because this is a new breed and many of the horses in the pedigrees of the IDHA registered horses are not yet in the DNA database we cannot be absolute when stating a pedigree on a registration certificate. Therefore the IDHA cannot accept liability for any parentage, pedigree, or other registration information that it cannot verify.

5. BREEDING RECORDS

a) All stallion owners must submit a stallion breeding record to the Registrar on the form provided by the International Drum Horse Association. This record must be submitted to the Registrar prior to December 31 of each year.b) The stallion owner must provide to the owner of each mare bred a stallion statement of breeding as provided by the American Drum Horse Association.

c) Frozen semen can be used after a stallion’s death for as long as it is viable.

6. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

To transfer ownership of a registered horse the original registration certificate, a transfer form properly signed and the fee must be submitted to the Registrar.

7. REGISTRATION AND USE OF A PREFIX

a) The International Drum Horse Association will record and recognize exclusive use of a prefix for registration purposes.b) The prefix will be included in the 25-letter limit that can be used in the name on the registration.

c) A prefix can only be owned by one person or farm and cannot be transferred.

d) A prefix must be unique and must not be too similar to one already in use. The International Drum Horse Association reserves the right to deny registration or use of any prefix. No prefix considered offensive in anyway will be approved.

e) Registration of a prefix by The International Drum Horse Association protects it from being used by others when registering Drum Horses. It does not protect the name beyond the International Drum Horse Association use.

f) If a person (or farm) purchases a prefix it then MUST be used as the prefix of the name when registering all foals bred by that person (or farm).

g) The registration of a prefix does not supersede the US laws concerning trademarks or certification marks.

8. HEARINGS AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

a) The Board of Directors will investigate possible violation of rules, regulations, or bylaws. After any investigation the Board will determine if the violation exists and how it can be resolved. This will be presented to all parties involved in writing. Results of the investigation can be determined as “no action needed” to suspension and expulsion from the organization, or something in between.b) If any one would like to request a hearing regarding any board decision, any decision regarding a registration, records or prefix, or any disciplinary decision, they can request the hearing by submitting it to the board in writing. The board will determine the time and place of the hearing. The decision and actions of the board after the hearing will be final.