Supreme Court of Virgina Administrative Law Judges with Equine Knowledge will Serve as ESC Hearing Officers
Equine Sports Council, and each show within our network are committed to providing a competition environment that promotes good sportsmanship, fair competition, and the highest standards of horsemanship. The welfare of the horse and the safety of exhibitors is paramount. To ensure a fair hearing process with the utmost integrity, ESC Co-Founders with their Legal Counsel have established the following process.
DESIGNATED HEARING OFFICERS: Administrative Law Judges experienced in equine sports, and licensed under the Supreme Court of Virginia will serve as Hearing Officers for horse show exhibitors suspected of Conduct or Drug violations at an ESC governed event.
ESC RULE ENFORCEMENT: Each show shall be responsible for enforcement of the show rules, and shall appoint a Show Commission comprised of three adults with knowledge of the show rules. The members of the Show Commission shall be designated at least 30 days prior to the date of the horse show and their names shall be published in the show’s prize list.
ESC RULE VIOLATIONS: In the event that the Show Commission finds that an exhibitor committed a Conduct or Drug Violation, both the Show Commission and ESC shall be notified. The Show Commission shall offer to the exhibitor an Acceptance of Penalty in accordance with the Table of Penalties within ESC Rules. If an exhibitor does not agree to the Acceptance of Penalty, then the exhibitor may request an independent Administrative Hearing.
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS shall be conducted within 30 days by a third-party Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer shall be an Administrative Law Judge qualified by the Supreme Court of Virginia who has knowledge of the equine industry. The parties to the hearing shall be the exhibitor charged with a violation and the Show Commission and ESC Legal Counsel. The hearings shall take place via telephone, video conference, or in person at a location within Albemarle County, Virginia.
SELECTION OF HEARING OFFICER: Within five (5) days of the refusal of the Acceptance of Penalty, the exhibitor may request a list of available Hearing Officers. The list shall contain the names of at least two (2) qualified Hearing Officers. The exhibitor shall select a Hearing Officer from the list and shall notify the Show Commission and ESC of the selection by filing a Notice of Selection.
FILING FEES: Once a Hearing Officer has been selected, the exhibitor shall pay to ESC a non-refundable fee of $250.00 in order to institute the hearing process. Such payment shall be made within five (5) days of the Notice of Selection. Failure to make timely payment shall result in abandonment of the hearing request, and the penalty set forth in the Acceptance of Penalty shall be implemented immediately without further recourse for the exhibitor.
