International Silken Windhound Society

ISWS Coursing Program Rules

CHAPTER 1

LURE COURSING TESTS AND CERTIFICATIONS ARE SPORTS AND ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

Section 1 - Purpose of the ISWS Lure coursing test and certification program. The purpose of the ISWS lure coursing program is to develop, demonstrate and preserve the natural coursing instincts and skills inherent in the Silken Windhound, and for which all sighthounds were originally bred.

Section 2- Lure Coursing Tests and Certifications Defined-a lure coursing test is an event at which legs toward a title are earned either by dogs running solo or in braces. This event may be conducted by any entity that has the equipment, field and a judge available and willing to preside. These tests or certifications could be held at practices held by AKC or ASFA
clubs or at fun runs if a judge is available.

A lure coursing test is an event at which an instinct test is given by one of the entities defined in section 2.

A lure coursing certification is an event at which qualification and certification runs are held by one of the entities as defined in section 2.

Section 3- Eligibility of Silken Windhounds-Silken Windhounds that are one year of age or older and that have been registered with the ISWS are eligible to be awarded titles. No Silken Windhound that has not been individually registered with ISWS shall be eligible to be entered in a test or certification. Spayed and neutered hounds can compete.

Section 4- Risk- The owner or handler entering a Silken Windhond in a test or certification does so at his own risk and agrees to assume all responsibility for any damage to facilities or persons caused by him or his hound(s). He agrees to hold harmless for injuries to his hound or himself, the sponsoring club, the judge, the ISWS Board, the Coursing committee and the landowner.

CHAPTER TWO

SECTION 1-Registration of event results- A Silken owner wishing to document their hounds progress through testing and certification must provide the following documentation to the Coursing Registrar via SNAIL MAIL. Email documentation will be NOT be accepted.

SECTION 2-Documentation required
A. For the hounds first entry in the coursing tests, a copy of the hound's ISWS registration certificate must be attached to the testing form which has been signed by an approved judge.
B. For subsequent entry into tests and certifications the signed certification forms by the judges must be submitted to the Coursing Registrar.

It is advised that you keep a COPY of all signed testing or certification forms before mailing them to the registrar in the event that they are lost.

SECTION 3-Fees
A. Most all coursing clubs require a fee for practices, this will be set by each club and the owner or handler of the Silken is responsible for paying the fee the club charges. Since you will require one of their judges to watch your dog and fill out a form, this fee may be more than the usual practice. At practices, there are also fees to help defray the wear and tear on the equipment. ISWS does not determine fees incurred at events unless they are an ISWS event.

B. Upon submitting the required documentation to the Coursing Registrar, a fee of $6.00 should also be submitted in either check or money order made out to ISWS in the event that you wish to have a certificate of title. Your dogs title will be recorded regardless of whether or not you pay the $6.00 fee. This fee is to cover the printing and mailing cost of the certificate.

SECTION 3 DETRIMENTAL SUBSTANCES. There shall be no consumption of any type of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on the event grounds during the hours of the event. Said consumption is deemed detrimental to the sport of lure coursing.

SECTION 4- RULE INTERPRETATION- The Board of Directors of the ISWS shall have the authority to issue as necessary notices that amplify, clarify, interpret or amend these regulations.

CHAPTER THREE

SECTION 1 APPOINTMENT OF LURE COURSING TEST AND CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE - Should ISWS hold a stand alone test and certification then the ISWS board and /or Coursing Registrar will appoint a field committee. This committee shall be responsible for compliance with all the rules and regulations and has the authority to decide upon all matters arising during the running of the event except for those matters coming under the sole jurisdiction of the judges. There shall be at least 3 members on this committee and at least one of them shall be an ISWS club member. The committee shall be responsible for the duties enumerated in the following sections which may be delegated.

SECTION 2 FIELD CHAIRMAN
a. chairman of the field committee unless the coursing registrar is available
b. responsible for securing the grounds
c. shall appoint the inspection committee
d. responsible for seeing the course is laid out according to plan
e. responsible for setting up the equipment and keeping it running
f. responsible for handing out awards
g. responsible for seeing that the grounds are policed after the event
h. must individually approve for anyone to be in judging area other than judges
i. can levy and collect a penalty fee of $5.00 from the owner or handler of any hound that is loose on the field and not in competition or testing at the time.
j. cannot serve as a judge at the event

SECTION 3 FIELD SECRETARY
a. is a member of the field committee
b. is responsible for applying to the Coursing Registrar for a date for testing or certification
c. schedules judges and solicits them in writing, email will suffice for this
d. prepares premium lists and entry forms

SECTION 4 HUNTMASTER
a. shall be in charge of all hounds and handlers on the field
b. shall call up hounds for courses
c. shall ensure that correct hounds are present
d. shall ensure a handler only handles one hound per course
e. shall ensure that blankets are on correctly and securely
f. shall check that slip leads are in slip position
g. shall explain release and retrieval procedures before each preliminary course
h. shall stand close to the hounds and handlers but not in front of them
i. shall ensure that the lure is in front of the dogs and is traveling in the correct position
j. shall ensure that the hounds are in the correct yellow or pink blanket with yellow always on the left
k. shall ask the judges, lure operator and handlers if they are ready and upon an affirmative from all of them shall begin the course
l. provides a hand signal to the lure operator to start the lure and a verbal signal of TALLYHO to the handlers to release their hounds
m. will provide a verbal order to retrieve any hound that does not course or to retrieve hounds at the end of a course
n. shall cause the lure to be stopped if a potentially dangerous situation develops on the field
o. shall inspect the lure before each course and replace if needed
p. shall notify the trial chairman if a hound comes to the line and appears lame so that the field committee may reinspect the hound if needed
q. shall inform the judge of any aggressive behavior by one of the hounds

SECTION 5 LURE OPERATOR
a. shall be responsible for laying out the course plan per the premium
b. shall make at least one pilot run of the lure before commencing the test or certification
c. starts the lure at the huntmaster's signal and stops it at least 20 yards from the machine or from a pulley
d. after the start of the course shall attempt to keep the lure 10-20 yards in front of the lead dog and keeps it moving throughout the course
e. stops the course at the judge's or huntmaster's signal or if any dangerous situation develops on the field

SECTION 6 INSPECTION COMMITTEE
a. are members of the field committee and shall consist of at least 2 persons
b. shall have entries trot in a circle to check for lameness and shall visually inspect and wipe all bitches to check for any discharges
c. shall report any lame hounds or bitches in season to the secretary and those dogs shall not be allowed to run

SECTION 7 FIELD COMMITTEE
Field committee decisions with regards to the rules are final. Field committee does not make determinations on judges rulings. The field committee may use a substitute judge if the advertised judge is not available. This must be announced prior to the start of the event and also posted in writing to allow persons the opportunity to cancel their entries for refunds . The field committee may decline any entry or remove any hound from the field for cause. In each instance of this occurring the committee is to file a report of explanation with the ISWS board of directors and the Coursing Director.

CHAPTER FOUR
SECTION 1 APPROVAL of Judges. For the purpose of ISWS documentation of lure coursing tests and certification runs all licensed AKC lure coursing judges, all licensed Canadian Kennel Club coursing judges and all ASFA judges including provisional judges shall be acceptable. In addition the following persons are approved and others may be added from time to time. Other persons may apply to be added to the list for judging tests and certifications by contacting the Coursing Registrar who will verify their experience and ability.

List below of judges who are not on the AKC, CKC and ASFA judges lists.

SECTION 2 JUDGES HANDLING HOUNDS- NO judge may sign off on a test or certification certificate for a dog that they own or coown or that they have owned or coowned within the last 3 months, nor can they sign off for dogs that a member of their household owns, or coowns or has owned or coowned within the last 3 months.

SECTION 3 COURSE INSPECTION- Judges must inspect the course for safety issues by walking it prior to the event.

SECTION 4 PRECOURSE BRIEFING- in the event of an ISWS stand alone event then the judge(s) shall discuss with the participants exactly what is expected of the hound for a successful test run or certification run.

SECTION 5 EXCUSALS DISMISSALS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS-
Judges may excuse a hound from the field for any one of the following reasons which will be marked on the certification form.
a. Hounds which course other hounds rather than the lure
b. Hounds which delay the course
c. Hounds that are unfit to compete
d. Owner or handler interference with the course in progress
e. Hounds that are not ready to run in their course and do not show up for 5 minutes past being called to the line by the Huntmaster

Judges may dismiss any hound from the field for the following reason which will be marked on the certification form
a . for interfering playfully or aggressively with the course of another hound (growling and/or barking in and of itself does not constitute grounds for a dismissal. If a hound is dismissed twice within 6 courses then it is disqualified and must be reinstated as in a QC run.

Judges may disqualify a hound for an aggressive attack toward another hound on the field. Barking and/or growling in and of itself does not constitute aggression. A hound that is defending itself shall NOT be disqualified. Any hound that in the opinion of the Event Committee, or the ISWS attacks a person or a dog at a coursing event and causes injury shall be disqualified. The disqualified dog canot participate in ISWS lure coursing again but can participate in conformation.

In areas of the country where there are clubs willing to host an ISWS coursing event and judge dogs running in braces or trios for championship points then the points and placements shall be accumulated in the same manner and the dogs shall be judged in the same manner as those awarded by the American Sighthound Field Association.

Records from such events must be sent to the Coursing Registrar in order for the points to be awarded. All dogs running at such events must have the QC title BEFORE running in open stakes or the points and placements awarded will be rescinded.

CHAPTER FIVE AWARDS
Ribbons and Rosettes are NOT required from events hosted by ASFA or AKC clubs. When an ISWS stand alone event is offered, if ribbons are awarded then they shall be as follows

Green ribbon for qualifying CIC leg
Green and white ribbon for a CQ certification

There shall be no ribbons for IC, or EC certification legs. If points are offered at the event towards a championship then the ribbons if offered shall be as follows:
1st -blue
2nd-red
3rd-yellow
4th-white
5th-pink
Best of Breed purple and gold

CHAPTER SIX PREMIUM LISTS

In the event of a STAND ALONE ISWS coursing event then Premium lists shall be prepared by the field trial secretary and shall contain the following information.

Date of event, location of event, directions to event, roll call time, name(s) of judges, prizes if any are to be awarded, course plan, amenities available, hotels and camping areas nearby, names of the field committee. If an actual trial awarding points is to be held then the premium list must state whether QC tests will be run before the trial or after and whether roll call for the trial will follow the QC testing if it is held before the trial.

This premium list may be prepared and sent out electronically.

CHAPTER SEVEN RUNNING THE TRIAL AND TEST PROGRAMS

SECTION 1. OPEN STAKE. Open to all hounds of a breed that have obtained at least one of the following:

1. ISWS Coursing Qualified (CQ) title

2. ISWS Lure Coursing Champion (LCC) title

SECTION 2 FIELD CHAMPIONS STAKE: Open to all hounds that have obtained the ISWS LCC (Lure Coursing Champion) title. Points earned in this stake will accumulate towards the title requirements of the SLCC (Supreme Lure Coursing Champion) title.

SECTION 3 OPEN VETERANS STAKE: Open to all hounds that have obtained the ISWS CQ title and who are over 6 years of age. Points accumulated in this stake will accumulate towards the V-LCC (Veteran Lure Coursing Champion) or V-SLCC (Vetern Supreme Lure Coursing Champion ) title.

SECTION 4 STAKES

1. Once the order of the stakes has been posted there will be no changing the order of running.

2. Every entry in a stake that is not excused, dismissed or disqualified or receives a score of zero shall run twice. The order of running in both courses shall be a random draw (unless an owner requests to separate their dogs and their are enough hounds in a stake to be able to do so)

3. Points shall be calculated in the same manner as ASFA calculates points.

4. Hounds absent at roll call or for the running of their course shall be marked absent after a 5 minute grace period.

5. After completion and posting of final scores all hounds not required for runoffs are excused .

6. The top five placing hounds in each stake shall be determined by adding preliminary and final course scores.

7. Ties for the top 5 placements shall be runoff or forfeited. If they are not runoff or forfeited then each hound will receive the lower placement and split the points. If a hound is excused, dismissed or disqualified in a runoff that hound is considered to have lost the runoff.

8. The highest scoring hound in each stake shall compete in the Best of Breed runoff. If there is only one stake then the winner of that stake is declared the Best of Breed winner. The winner of the Best of Breed runoff shall receive the highest points awarded in any ONE stakes on that day.

9. Hounds in a given stake shall be run in trios or braces and be designated by the following courses

First hound drawn YELLOW (place on left)

Second hound drawn PINK (middle or on the right in braces)

Third hound drawn BLUE (right)

SECTION 5 CONDUCTING THE DRAW

The running order of the hounds in all stakes shall be conducted by random draw. The draw will be conducted at the time and the place specified on the premium list for the closing and drawing of entries and is open to all who wish to attend.

The Field Secretary or Chairman shall be responsible for the draw.

1. The order and arrangements of the hounds shall be determined by random draw. Multiple entries from the same owner shall be divided as evenly as possible between stakes when there is more than one stake.

2. Upon request from an owner or owner's agent on the entry form multiple entries from an owner shall be divided as evenly as possible between courses where possible.

3. When there is but a single course in a regular stake in which an owner or his agent has more than one hound these hounds shall be run together or one or more will be scratched by the owner or agent WITHOUT REFUND OF THE ENTRY FEE.

4. If a hound is run in a position other than where it was assigned by the draw that hound will be EXCUSED, and the other hounds in the stake will be scored.

5. After the draw is complete should for any reason a competing hound fail to appear within the five (5) minute grace period for its course it shall be excused for the day. If a single hound remains to run the drawn course it may be run alone in its assigned blanket color or it may be reassigned to another drawn course should one exist but only if that course is comprised of a brace.

All draws must be open to the public.

CHAPTER EIGHT HANDLERS

Section 8 Handlers

1. A handler may handle any number of hounds at a trial or test but may only slip and handle one dog in each course.

2. Any owner who deputizes another to handle a hound during a course must not interfere with the hound or the handler during the course.

3. Handlers shall provide each hound being slipped with a simplified slip lead. No mechanical slips or slips with metal buttons releases are allowed. The slip must give almost instant freedom to the hound at the T in Tallyho from the huntmaster. Slips may be made of webbing or leather straps with wide collars and either double or single rings.

4. No collar or other paraphernalia shall be on the hound during the course except for the blanket. Protective wraps for the legs MAY NOT BE YELLOW, PINK OR BLUE. A muzzle may be worn by the dog if the handler so desires. If a muzzle is used it must be plastic with no hard edges and must allow the
hound to breathe. A muzzle must be either WHITE OR BLACK OR BROWN. No other colors are allowed. Prong collars, electronic training devices and haltis are not allowed on the coursing field.

CHAPTER NINE TEST AND TRIAL RECORDS
Test and trial records
1. In the event that the test has been held at a fun run , or a practice session the owner shall obtain the signature of a judge certifying which test the dog ran with a fully filled out certification form.
a. Owners of dogs seeking the CIC (Coursing Instinct Certified) certification must collect two different certifications from different judges and mail them in to the Coursing director with a copy of the dogs ISWS registration papers.

b. Owners seeking the CQ (Coursing Qualified -ran one time with another dog) must send in ONE certification for each dog completely filled out and signed by a judge along with copies of the dogs registration papers. If the Silken ran with a dog of a different breed this should be noted on the form. A dog cannot begin to run for its 8 IC (Intermediate Courser) legs until it has passed the CQ test.

c. Owners seeking the IC (Intermediate Courser) diploma shall collect 8 certifications that their dog ran with another dog of similar style on at least 4 different dates ( the dog may run twice in one day where possible or may run 1 time on 8 different days) and they must be signed by at least THREE different judges. These must be mailed to the Coursing Director. A dog may not begin to collect certifications for its EC until such time as it has collected 8 certifications for its IC.

d. Owners seeking the EC (Expert Courser) diploma shall collect 50 certifications that their dog ran with another dog of similar style on at least 25 different dates ( the dog may run twice in one day where possible or may run 1 time on 50 different days) and they must be signed by at least SIX different judges. These must be mailed to the Coursing Director

2. In the event that a trial is held by another club and is willing to allow Silkens to run for points towards a championship, then the owners must copy the score sheets and send them POSTAL MAIL to the Coursing Director along with the name of the field trial secretary so that this may be verified. Records must be POSTMARKED within TWO WEEKS OF THE EVENT.

CHAPTER 10 CANCELLATION OF AWARDS

If an ineligible hound has been entered and run in a licensed or member test or trial or if a hound is run in a stake for which it has not been entered or its entry form is incomplete then all resulting qualifying scores and placements are null and void. If a placement is nullified then the next qualified hound in that stake shall be moved up and receive the points and placement originally awarded to the ineligible hound. The ineligible hound shall count as competition.

CHAPTER 11: Titles

Section 1 Titles
(Suffix to a hound's name)
a. CIC (Coursing Instinct Certified) A hound at least 12 months old running alone shall receive one qualification from a judge and a second qualification from a different judge on the same or separate dates stating that the hound completed a 600 yard course with a minimum of 4 turns. The hound must complete the course with enthusiasm and without interuption.
Dogs that trot part of the required course will NOT qualify.
b. CQ (Coursing Qualified) A hound at least 12 months of age (Qualifying hound running with another hound of the same breed or another breed with a similar running style (Testing Hound) shall receive certification from a judge stating that the hound completed a 600 yard course with a minimum of 4 (four ) turns. The hound must complete the course with enthusiasm and without interuption, and must not course the testing hound nor interfere with the testing hound in any way. The judge will certify that the qualifying hound ran cleanly and did not appear to present a hazard to the testing hound at any point in the qualifying course. This title is required
to enter an Open Stake. The handler presenting the qualifying hound shall be responsible for providing the testing hound for the qualifying course.
c. IC (Intermediate Courser)
1. must be eligible to enter the Open Stake
2. must complete 8 courses of at least 600 yards with a minimum of 4 turns on at least 4 different dates with enthusiasm and without interuption and must not course or interfere with the other hound(s) it is running with. This must be certified by at least 3 different judges.
d. EC (Expert Courser)
1. must be eligible to enter Open Stake
2. must have completed an Intermediate Courser title
3. must complete 50 courses of at least 600 yards with a minimum of 4 turns on at least 25 different dates with enthusiasm and without interuption and must not course or interfere with the other hounds it is running with. This must be certified by at least 8 different judges.

LURE COURSING CHAMPION (LCC)
Prefix to hounds name
Points and placements for the LCC title shall be accumulated in the same way as ASFA tallies points and placements for the title of field champion.

SUPREME LURE COURSING CHAMPION (SLCC)
Prefix to hounds name
Points and placements for the SLCC title shall be accumulated in the same way as ASFA tallies points and placements for the title of LURE COURSER OF MERIT

VETERAN LURE COURSING CHAMPION (V-LCC)
Prefix to hounds name
Points and placements for the V-LCC title shall be accumulated in the same way as ASFA tallies points and placements for the title of VETERAN FIELD CHAMPION

VETERAN SUPREME LURE COURSING CHAMPION (V-SLCC)
Prefix to hounds name
Points and placements for the V-SLCC title shall be accumulated in the same way as ASFA tallies the points and placements for the title of VETERAN LURE COURSER OF MERIT

CHAPTER TWELVE PROTESTS
Any person in good standing with ISWS may lodge a protest against a hound or handler. Protests must be in written form and include an explanation as to why the hound or handler is being protested and include any documentation. Protests must be signed by the protester and must include their address and phone number and a check for $25.00 made out to ISWS . This must all be mailed to the Coursing Director who will then bring it up to the Board of Directors of ISWS and the Coursing Director will make a recommendation in writing which the Protester will receive a copy of, as will the Board. The Board will also make a written recommendation which the protester will receive a copy of. If the protest is upheld the $25.00 will be returned to the protester, if it is not upheld the fee will be kept by ISWS. All such protests will be handled through the US Postal service.

CHAPTER 13 REINSTATEMENT OF DISQUALIFIED HOUNDS
The privilege to compete MAY be reinstated upon completion of the following
1. A minimum of a calendar month of retraining.
2. Certification in writing by TWO judges of separate courses on different dates stating that the hound ran cleanly with TWO other hounds of the SAME BREED. Neither of the judges may be owners, coowners or immediate family of the owners or coowners of the dog being reinstated.
3. The owner must send a letter explaining the retraining of the hound and requesting reinstatement must be sent to the Coursing Director along with the two certifications from the judges.
4. The decision to reinstate the hound or not rests solely with the Coursing Director
5. A hound disqualified a second time IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REINSTATEMENT.