Belgian Merit

Merit Results

2022 Belgian Merit Program

2021 Belgian Merit Program

2019 Belgian Merit Program

2018 Belgian Merit Program

2017 Belgian Merit Program

2016 Belgian Merit Program

2015 Belgian Merit Program

2014 Belgian Merit Program

2013 Belgian Merit Program

2012 Belgian Merit Program

2011 Belgian Merit Program

2010 Belgian Merit Program

2009 Belgian Merit Program

2008 Belgian Merit Program

2007 Belgian Merit Program

2006 Belgian Merit Program

2005 Belgian Merit Program

Open to all registered Belgian draft horses.

1. Weanlings have until September 1st to be registered with their respective breed registries or forfeit weanling points and standings.
2. There is no entry fee or sign up necessary to participate.
3. Canadian breeders, owners, and horses will be recognized in the same manner as American breeders, owners, and horses.
4. It will be the responsibility of the owner or exhibitor to monitor their animal’s points through the show season on the Corporation’s website and address all concerns and questions to the Belgian Alliance immediately.

Participating Shows

1. Each state is allowed one State show and two Regional shows to represent them in the Belgian Merit Program®. In the event that the state does not have a state fair that represents the Belgian draft horse then a show can be chosen by the Belgian Draft Horse Alliance Board of Directors to represent the breed for that state.
2. In the event that a state has a State show and two Regional shows, a show may apply to become a Belgian Merit Regional show by completing a Belgian Merit Program application. This application needs to be submitted to the Belgian Draft Horse Alliance prior to December 1st to be considered as a regional show into the Belgian Merit Program the following year. The show must meet the following criteria: 
   1. Show must be open and unrestricted to all registered Belgians. 
   2. Show must offer all recognized Merit Classes. 
   3. Provide proof of maintaining an index level of 2 for the past two (2) consecutive years.  
      1. If these qualifications are met, the shows with the 2 highest number of registered Belgians shown the will qualify for the 2 Regional shows.  

**Note – if a show submits an application and meets the requirements of maintaining a level 2 index for the past two (2) consecutive years and the state currently has a State show and 2 Regional shows, the shows that are current Belgian Merit Regional shows will be notified that a 3rd show has submitted an application. Prior to January 1st, the Belgian Alliance Merit Committee will evaluate the total number of Belgians shown at the three shows (2 current Regional shows + the show that submitted and application) and determine which 2 shows will be designated as the Belgian Merit Regional shows. These qualifying shows will be notified prior to January 1st. 

1. In the event that a state has no Regional shows or only 1 Regional show, a show may apply to become a Regional Belgian Merit show by completing a Belgian Merit Program application and submitting to the Belgian Draft Horse Alliance prior to March 1st to be accepted as a regional show into the Belgian Merit Program the following year. The show must meet the following criteria:  
   1. There are no index level requirements (providing there are not 2 Regional shows in the state).  
   2. Show must be open and unrestricted to all registered Belgians. 
   3. Show must offer all recognized Merit Classes  

• Following are the current recognized State shows:
  • Georgia National Fair, Idaho State Draft Horse Show, Illinois State Fair, Indiana State Fair, Iowa State Fair, Kansas State Fair, Keystone International Livestock Exposition, Michigan Great Lakes International Show, Minnesota State Fair, Missouri State Fair, National Western Stock Show, Nebraska State Fair, New York State Fair, North American International Livestock Exposition, Ohio State Fair, South Dakota State Fair, West Virginia State Fair, Wisconsin State Fair
• Following are the current recognized Regional shows:
  • Grange County Fair
  • La Porte County Draft Horse Show
  • Mississippi Valley Fair
  • TLA Classic
• Shows that are supported by the Belgian Alliance will be recognized shows:
  • National Belgian Futurity
  • National Belgian Show
  • North American Belgian Championships

Halter Points Awarded

The first five animals of each class will get the following awarding of raw points:

• • 1st gets 10 points
  • 2nd gets 7 points
  • 3rd gets 5 points
  • 4th gets 3 points
  • 5th gets 2 points

The following sixteen halter classes will be recognized:

• • Stallions 4 years old and over
  • Stallions 3 years old
  • Stallions 2 years old
  • Stallions 1 year old
  • Stallions weanling (Senior)
  • Stallions weanling (Junior)
  • Brood Mares Five and Older
  • Yeld Mares Five and Older
  • Mares 4 years old
  • Mares 3 years old
  • Mares 2 years old
  • Mares 1 year old
  • Mares weanlings (Senior)
  • Mares Weanlings (Junior)
  • Registered Geldings 4 and Over
  • Registered Gelding 3 and Under

1. The participating shows must have classes to match those of the Belgian Merit Program for points to be awarded. Example: Stallion classes of 3 and over would be accepted but stallion classes of 2 and over would not be accepted. Mare classes of 4 and over would be accepted along with mare classes of 5 and over, but mare classes of 3 and over would not be accepted.
2. Classes must be registered. Classes allowing non-registered horses will not be counted, unless it is a gelding class. Classes can be combined breed classes as long as the show indicates the horses that were Belgians.
   • Amendment: All mare and Stallion Classes must be registered. Gelding classes can be Open to non-registered, but the registered horses will only count toward Merit points and Merit Status.
3. The champions will get the following awarding of raw points:
   • Senior champion gets 2 additional points
   • Junior champion gets 2 additional points
   • Reserve senior champion gets 1 additional point
   • Reserve junior champion gets 1 additional point
   • Grand champion animal gets 4 additional points
   • Reserve grand champion animal gets 3 additional points
4. These overall raw points will then be multiplied by the index of the show to give the animal the total points earned at that show.
5. Index multipliers are determined by the number of registered animals shown in the halter classes (not the number entered) at that show that year. The index of the show will not be known until the completion of the show.
6.  The index is determined as follows:
   • Index of 9 if > 200 registered head shown
   • Index of 8 if 176 to 200 registered head shown
   • Index of 7 if 151 to 175 registered head shown
   • Index of 6 if 126 to 150 registered head shown
   • Index of 5 if 101 to 125 registered head shown
   • Index of 4 if 76 to 100 registered head shown
   • Index of 3 if 51 to 75 registered head shown
   • Index of 2 if 26 to 50 registered head shown
   • Index of 1 if 1 to 25 registered head shown

Registered Cart Points Awarded

1. The first five animals of each class will get the following awarding of raw points:
   • 1st gets 10 points
   • 2nd gets 7 points
   • 3rd gets 5 points
   • 4th gets 3 points
   • 5th gets 2 points
2. The following two cart classes will be recognized:
   • Registered Gelding Cart
   • Registered Mare Cart
     1. Either class can be driven by a man or woman
        1. No woman to drive or men to drive cart classes will be recognized.
3. Classes can be combined breed classes as long as the show indicates the horses that were Belgians.
4. These overall raw points will then be multiplied by the index of the show to give the animal the total points earned at that show.
5. Index multipliers are determined by the number of registered animals shown in the cart classes (not the number entered) at that show that year. The index of the show will not be known until the completion of the show.
6. The index is determined as follows:
   • Index of 7 if 31 to 35 registered head shown
   • Index of 6 if 26 to 30 registered head shown
   • Index of 5 if 21 to 25 registered head shown
   • Index of 4 if 16 to 20 registered head shown
   • Index of 3 if 11 to 15 registered head shown
   • Index of 2 if 6 to 10 registered head shown
   • Index of 1 if 1 to 5 registered head shown

Versatility Points awarded

1. To qualify for the versatility points, the horse must compete in both its respected registered halter class and registered cart class at any approved Belgian Merit Show.
2. Points will be tabulated by adding the total amount of halter points and cart points awarded at the Belgian Merit Show.
   • For Example: a horse received 30 points for halter (index multiplier included) and 15 points for cart class (index multiplier included). The total amount of versatility points awarded is 45 points.
   • Champion points will be included in the overall raw score for the halter portion.
3. If a horse does not place top 5 in either halter or cart, but participated in both classes. The horse still qualifies for the versatility program.
   • For Example: If a horse places top 5 in the halter portion but does not place top 5 in the cart portion- the horse’s halter points will still go towards the versatility points.

Show Season

1. The show season will run from January 1st to November 25th of each year.
2. As soon as the points are received by the Belgian Draft Horse Alliance and tallied, they will be posted on the Corporation’s website for viewing. No additions or changes will be accepted after the Friday following NAILE.
3. It is the responsibility of the owner or exhibitor to proof their animal’s points as they go through the show season and address any concerns or questions to the Alliance immediately. Results furnished with “entry” rather than the name of the animal will not be listed.
4. Exhibitors will be responsible for reporting the horses used in the Registered Mare and Gelding Cart classes if the information is not received from the show staff. All names must be reported by the Monday following NAILE. The committee will not track down the exhibitors to get the information.

Recognition

1. The recognition of the top three individuals of each class will be done at the annual meeting of the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation.
2. The owner of the animal will receive an award for gold, silver, or bronze.
   • If the animal has been transferred during the show season the owner who accumulated the most points will receive the award.
3. The breeder of the animal will be recognized with a gold, silver, or bronze plaque.
4. The gold, silver, and bronze winners for each class will be featured in the Belgian publications.
5. In the event of a tie, it will be broken by adding the total points earned at shows where the two animals were shown against each other and the animal with the most points will be declared the winner of the tie. If the tie cannot be broken by this method both animals will be recognized as a true tie and awarded in a similar manner.

Recording of Points

1. The points for the current year will be recorded and tallied on the Corporation website for viewing and inspection.
2. At the conclusion of the year the points for each and every animal will be transferred to the animal’s registration records.
3. All points earned in an animal’s lifetime will be stored on their registration record.

J.D. Conner, Jr. Sire and Dam Awards, Premier Exhibitor

1. Premier Sire Award: Awarded annually to the sire with the high point offspring from the current year.
2. Premier Dam Award: Awarded annually to the dam with the highpoint offspring from the current year. The dam must have a minimum of 2 offspring shown within the current year.
3. Premier Exhibitor Award: Awarded annually to the exhibitor with high point in all Merit categories. The exhibitor will be considered the owner of the horse.
4. In the event of a tie, both animals or exhibitors will be recognized as a true tie and awarded in a similar manner.

Recognized Merit Show Application