II. Article II – Purpose

To promote the pursuit of a dedication to equestrian sports and an understanding and commitment to horsemanship, and to pursue individual and team goals via intercollegiate and Ivy League equestrian competitions.

III. Article III – Membership

A. Membership is open to all students, alumnus, and affiliates of the colleges of Columbia University and Barnard College; membership preference is given to riders eligible for IHSA competition.
B. Members must participate in the weekly lesson program arranged by team captains and miss no more than two lessons per semester unless excused for health, academic, religious or comparable reasons.
C. Members must also attend all horse shows unless excused for health, academic, religious or comparable reasons.
D. The co-captains will determine reasonable consequences for members who miss lessons or show a lack of commitment to the team.
E. Members must pay club dues each semester, and must assist team in fundraising campaign to attain financial requirements of the team.
F. Members who have committed themselves to compete at a horse show are expected to attend and will be required to pay for the cost of their entry fees should they fail to attend.
G. Each member is encouraged to present his/her concerns to the team captains and to offer amendments to the constitution for the team’s consideration.

IV. Article IV – Meetings

A. A minimum of two mandatory team meetings per semester are to be held. More meetings may be announced at the discretion of the captains.
B. Members have the right to suggest topics deemed important for discussion at team meetings, and reserve the right to organize alternative meetings, in addition to those required, when deemed necessary.

V. Article V – Executive Board

The team will have two co-captains, and the duties of the captains will be to:
A. Meet with each other and the coach at least once a week.
B. Organize the lesson schedule in conjunction with the barn management and lesson officer.
C. Organize the show schedule and generate and submit all show entries in consultation with the coach.
D. Submit a list of show entries to the treasurer at least one week in advance of said horse show.
E. Attend all Club Sports meetings and meetings of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, unless one or both captains have delegated a replacement.
F. Ensure that all IHSA membership forms and required fees are submitted in a timely fashion.
G. Take responsibility for the planning of the Columbia IHSA horse show in coordination with the team coach.
H. Assist the treasurer and social officer with fundraising.
I. Ensure that members take lessons and show at an appropriate and safe level of instruction and competition.
J. Communicate team issues with the head of club sports regularly.
K. Maintain a respectful and appropriate demeanor when communicating with team members, Columbia University, IHSA officials, and barn staff.
L. Maintain a respectful and appropriate demeanor when communicating with team members, Columbia University, IHSA officials, and barn staff.

The team will have one treasurer. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to:
A. Manage all budgetary issues.
B. Request and pick up all checks from the head of club sports.
C. Request and collect club membership dues from team members
D. Coordinate all fundraising issues in conjunction with social chair and co-captains.
B. Aid the co-captains in presenting a budget at the end of each year, which reflects the projected financial necessities of the team.
E. Provide the coach and co-captains with a working budget proposal for the year, which includes all possible income and expenditures.
F. Monitor and advise the coach and co-captains of the team’s financial standing throughout the year.
G. Ensure that all team expenditures paid for by an individual team member is recorded and reimbursed to said member.
H. Maintain a respectful and appropriate demeanor when communicating with team members, Columbia University, IHSA officials, and barn staff.

The team will have one social officer. It shall be the duty of the social officer to:
A. Plan team-only and inter-team events.
B. Fundraise in conjunction with the treasurer.
C. Coordinate orders for team jackets and other team paraphernalia.
D. Organize alumni events.
E. Maintain a respectful and appropriate demeanor when communicating with team members, Columbia University, IHSA officials, and barn staff.

The team will have one show officer. It shall be the duty of the show officer to:
A. Plan and organize show transportation and any necessary lodgings.
B. Record and inform team of horse draws.
C. Record and manage individual points.
D. Record and manage team points and standings.
E. Manage Horse Bible.
F. Help prepare teammates for each class.
G. Maintain team gear for each show (towel, crop, etc.).
H. Maintain a respectful and appropriate demeanor when communicating with team members, Columbia University, IHSA officials, and barn staff.

The team will have one lesson officer. It shall be the duty of the lesson officer to:
A. Help organize the original lesson schedule each term, in conjunction with the barn management, co-captains, and coach.
B. Manage and organize lesson cancellations and rescheduling.
C. Plan and organize lesson transportation.
D. Inform members of horse assignments for each lesson.
E. Monitor member attendance, including rosters for each van and sign-ins.
F. Inform co-captains of any unexcused absences.
G. Help assure that each lesson starts and ends on time.
H. Ensure that each driver has funds for tolls from and with approval of the treasurer.
I. Maintain a respectful and appropriate demeanor when communicating with team members, Columbia University, IHSA officials, and barn staff.

If any member of the executive board is unable to fulfill her/his duties, the membership will select a committed, responsible replacement, via an additional election, following the election procedures outlined below.

VI. Article VI – Elections

The election process will be conducted as follows:
A. A team member (or members) shall volunteer to act as an election representative, and thereby waive his/her right to vote or to run for a position on the executive board during the election which they are overseeing.
B. Only those who have fulfilled all of the previously stated requirements for team membership are eligible to nominate members for the executive board and to vote in the election.
C. All nominations for the offices of the executive board must be submitted by team members, via email, to the election representative, by one week prior to the last general meeting of the fall semester,.
D. The election representative must compile all nominations and determine which nominees are eligible for candidacy. In addition to eligibility, the election representative must contact all eligible candidates and confirm their intent to run for the specified position. All nominees have the right to decline nomination.
E. Co-captain candidates may run in pairs in the event that there is an even number of candidates for co-captaincy.
F. There will be an election for co-captaincy first. After the co-captains have been elected, a second election will take place for all other executive board positions. Both elections may be held during the same meeting if deemed more efficient by the election representative.
G. Any candidates for co-captaincy, who are not elected to co-captaincy, may run for other positions.
H. The election representative shall create a ballot, which includes all of the qualified candidates, first listing position, then listing candidate name alphabetically.
I. If a candidate does not meet the qualifications for nomination, they will be notified and not included on the official ballot.
J. Prior to the final meeting of the fall semester, a sample ballot will be sent out by the election representative, via email, to the entire membership.
K. If a member cannot attend the last meeting of the fall semester due to religious reasons, illness, or emergency, they are eligible to submit their vote via absentee ballot. In this case, the member may submit their official vote to the election representative, via email, at least two hours prior to the commencement of the final meeting of the fall semester. All members who vote via absentee ballot, waive their right to anonymity due to the nature of the process of their vote submission.
L. The official election ballot will be handed out in the last meeting of the fall semester by the election representative.
M. The election representative shall explain to the membership that they should submit votes for two co-captains and each of the executive committee positions on the ballot.
N. The election representative shall explain that if a member is running for two different positions, members may vote for them in both positions and not choose between one position or the other.
O. All members will determine and submit their votes anonymously and independently at this meeting (unless they submit vote via absentee ballot).
P. All votes will be compiled and counted by the election representative(s), at this meeting, in the presence of the attending membership.
Q. The results of the election will be announced at the end of this meeting by the election representative(s).
R. In the event of a tie between two or more candidates for a single, there shall be an additional, run-off election between the tied candidates to determine the election. The run off will be handled in the manner set forth in sections L-N and will necessarily exclude absentee voters from casting a run-off vote.

All executive board position candidates must have the following qualifications:
A. The candidate must be an undergraduate.
B. The candidate must fulfill all previously stated membership requirements.
C. Although there is no IHSA level qualification for any position in the executive board, the membership should consider the knowledge and experience of the nominees in determining if qualified.

VII. Article VIII – Funds

A. Funds are to be used to cover the costs of horse show entries, van use, and the payment of a coach.
B. The treasurer and the captains must communicate with the head of club sports on all issues of allocation of funds and budgeting for the semester.
C. The treasurer and the captains are responsible for presenting a budget at the end of each year, which reflects the projected financial necessities of the team

VIII. Article VIII – Affiliations

The club is affiliated with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association on the regional and national level. Members will compete in regional horse shows with the goal of qualifying for the regional, zone, and national finals. The co-captains and coach are responsible for informing the membership of all rules and regulations stipulated by the association.

IX. Article IX – Coach

A coach will be selected by the membership, in conjunction with the director of club sports, on the basis of his/her knowledge of hunt seat riding, horse show and training experience, and demonstration of a commitment to the team.

It shall be the duty of the coach to:
A. Maintain awareness of all logistical and social team dynamics.
B. Aid in addressing all team concerns put forth by members, Columbia University, and IHSA officials.
C. Be available as a resource and mentor to the co-captains, and aid them with any team responsibilities they deem necessary.
D. Attend all horse shows and specified team lessons.
E. Serve as a liaison between the team and the IHSA, keeping the team informed of any important developments within the organization.
F. Assist captains with the planning of the Columbia sponsored IHSA show (such assistance may entail: securing a date, stewards, a judge, a facility at which to have the show, etc.)
G. Meet with co-captains and treasurer, in person or via telephone, at least once a week.
H. Help co-captains ensure that members are taking lessons and showing at an appropriate, safe level of instruction.
I. Determine the IHSA show division placement of new riders, in consultation with officials of the IHSA, either via steward placement or at the New Rider Clinic.
J. Determine the pointed riders in each division at the beginning of every horse show.
K. Attend all Coaches and Captains meetings, unless he/she has delegated a replacement.
L. Walk courses and help members at the ringside prior to, during, and after their show classes.
M. Maintain a respectful and appropriate demeanor when communicating with team members, Columbia University, IHSA officials, and barn staff.

X. Article X – Ratification, Amendments, and Bylaws

The constitution will be ratified by the membership during the team meeting by majority. Amendments will be presented by co-captains or members for voting and will be passed by the vote of the majority. Co-captains shall institute bylaws at their discretion.