Video Procedures

Procedures for Certified Videographers

1. All NCHA approved classes must be video recorded.

2. The Videographer must have the understanding that their first responsibility is to make quality videos for NCHA’s reviewing purposes. Only NCHA certified videographers can be used. Any replacement or fill-in videographers must be certified and a current NCHA member. Re-certification requirements are: a current NCHA membership and yearly approval from Video West on the video footage. New videographers applying must register and pass the on-line NCHA Videographer test with a minimum of 80%. This site is located at www.nchavst.com. 

All NCHA Videographers applying or re-certifying will be required to send a copy of their first video footage of the year with two classes (ex. Open and Non-Pro) to Video West Productions for review to remain or become an NCHA Videographer. If video sent does not meet their standards, the Videographer will not be certified till NCHA’s Judges Department gets their approval. Show producers must ensure the videographer has the proper certification, and are aware of and are complying with the requirements prior to the start of the show.

3. While videoing classes, videographers do not talk on a cell phone, do not talk to contestants and have only limited communication with the judges. It is very important that the judge or monitor reviewing the video hear all of the arena sounds and should not be distracted by ongoing conversations on the video.

4. NCHA will only accept DVD-R’s, S.D cards, thumb drives, or USB 3.0 External Hard Drives.
    a. The Videographer will turn in a Weekend Field Monitor’s Report along with all of the video runs and judges’ sheets to the designated judge.
    b. Each video should be labeled with the name of the show, date, classes and judge names. Retrieving a specific horse and rider video is important throughout the show and after the show. Each set, class and day needs to be easily identified to assure that information retrieval is guaranteed. All videos stored on DVD's, USB External Hard Drive, S.D. cards or Thumb Drives need to be organized, so that a specific horse, rider, set, class and day of the show can easily be identified for review purposes at any time.

5. You may be requested to forward additional videos to the Director of Judges for review.

6. Camera should be positioned as near the center of the arena as possible and should be at approximately the same height as the judge’s stand.

7. Must have horse, rider and cow in the picture at all times. Do not zoom in on rider too closely to prevent getting the overall action. Do not omit any horses in any class.

8. Allow lead-in footage before horse begins to work and after buzzer sounds, the horse leaves the arena and is no longer in the judge’s site. Be sure the horn or buzzer sound is heard on recording as well as the announced score.

9. Do not leave the camera stationary.

10. If camera is not capable of producing titles, it should be left on long enough to obtain names of horses and/or riders.

11. Each horse and rider exhibitor video within a set, class and day of a show must be distinguished from the next horse and rider video within that same set.  Whether using DVD, S.D. card, USB, or Thumb Drive media for storage purposes, individual video/movie files of each horse and rider must be produced. No extended stream of video containing multiple competitors is acceptable. Identifying the horse and rider/exhibitor at the beginning of each run is required. Begin recording early enough to record the announcer's introduction of each horse and rider. If it becomes necessary for the videographer to supply the introduction at the start of each run, please do not say the names of the horses or the exhibitors unless you are the official show announcer. As each horse approaches the herd, the videographer should speak into the microphone of the camera. For example, they should say: "This is the Non-Pro Class, third horse".

12. Take all precautions to ensure the lighting is proper.

13. If the secretary receives numerous complaints regarding a judge’s performance, the secretary may submit the video along with the judge’s score card to the Director of Judges for review. This will not replace a formal protest.

14. If a judge is going to use the Self Adjusted Monitor System (SAMS), please have adequate equipment available. A judge should be allowed to review the video in a place where he/she is completely separated from the contestants. All events using the Self Adjusted Monitor System (SAMS) must provide an isolated location to review the runs in question. The room is to include a large TV (preferably with at least a 30-inch screen) with 1/16 slow motion capability, video player and an NCHA Rule Book. Under no condition is a judge to review any runs in the arena or in the presence of contestants, owners or other judges. At all monitored events, two recorders and two video monitors/TV’s are required for the NCHA Monitor.

15. When a video is received at the NCHA office that is of poor quality, the NCHA Judges Department will:
    a. Notify the event’s producer and show secretary and the videographer will be fined $50.00.
    b. Additional footage may be requested and sent to the NCHA Video Support Team (VST) to be evaluated. The videographer will be contacted by the VST in an attempt to assist in resolving the issue.
    c. Upon receiving a second inferior quality recording from the videographer, the videographer may be fined $200.00, which must be paid prior to the videographer’s next event and verified by the show management that the videographer has been cleared to video any upcoming show for them.
    d. Upon receiving a third inferior quality recording, the Director of Judges shall take action as deemed necessary to correct or rectify the problem.
    e. If there is no video recording received from the videographer to the designated NCHA staff member, the videographer will be fined $500.00.

16. The Field Monitor system requires that each show reproduce and provide video copies for the NCHA Judge after each show. The judge will have three days to mail the copies of his/her judges’ sheets and a copy of his/her videos of the approved NCHA classes that he/she judges.
    a. All weekend classes, including weekend Limited Age Event classes, will be included in the Field Monitor Program.

17. If it is a multiple judge Weekend show, only the lowest ranking judge and any fill in judge will take the videos and judges sheets home. If it is a multiple judge Limited Age Event with $10,000 to $60,000 added, the videos and judges’ sheets will be given to the highest ranking judge.

18. All United States, Canadian and European judges will report to an assigned Weekend Monitor.

19. Show Management should make sure that their Video Contractors are aware of and are complying with all NCHA requirements PRIOR to the show.

See Guidelines for Weekend Monitor Program for Judges and Regulations for Limited Age Events.
Contact for video training:
Video West Production
Ted Petit 
1739 Marion Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
Cell: 661-492-2621 *best way
Office: 661-265-0341

Web site: www.videowestpros.com
Email: videowestpros@yahoo.com