Merit System as of '13

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You need only note us once you've reached a new Merit Level.

  Images made by others count for only HALF the credit listed here.

  Images may only be counted once.

Only HARPG or other SIM/RPG stable horses may be counted for Lineage Points.

  You must have proof for ALL placings, or else we can't give you the bonus points.

  In order to count offspring for Breeding Points, the foals MUST have been shown in something OTHER THAN HALTER. </textbox>



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  1a If the horse has a known sire and/or dam = 1 point per parent
1b If the horse's parent(s) are registered with the URA, add another .5 points per reg. parent

  2 If the horse's parents have merits (ie, L1, L2, or L3 and so on) DISREGARD 1a and 1b, and count the value of the highest merited parent.

EXAMPLE:
<sub>Jason the Argonaut is an L5 Thoroughbred. He was bred to Suzy Q, a L2 Thoroughbred, to create Argo Q. Argo Q will have 5  lineage points, because his sire is an L5.

Suzy Q was bred to an unregistered, and therefore unmerited starter Thoroughbred the next season. This foal will only get 2 lineage points, because that's all the parents (Suzy Q) have.

Argo Q was bred to a registered, but unmerited grade mare for his first season. The foal only gets 1.5 points per parent, so has 3 lineage points.</sub>

ALWAYS GO WITH THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE POINT VALUE, OKAY? If you're unsure what your horse has, note and ask me, I'll answer you within a week's time!!!</textbox>




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3a Monthly Race ticket entries = 3 points per image/entry ticket.
 3b Placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th in a Monthly Race =5 points TOTAL, UNLESS you rolled that ticket over from a previous month.
  3c Rolling over a monthly ticket doesn't count for any points.</b>

EXAMPLE:
<sub>Calico the QH raced in February, and won first place. He gets 5 points for his entry and for winning.
The ticket was rolled over for use in March, which means Calico won't get any points, even though he won first that month as well.

Tupan the Akhal Teke won first place in March, so he too gets 5 points.
To try and get another 5 points in April, Tupan's owner made a whole new entry/ticket for April, instead of rolling over the March entry. Tupan placed 4th this time, though, but he still gets 2 points for entering again.</sub>

While it's still allowed to roll over a ticket, you don't get any points for it… You actually get more for trying and failing to place. </textbox>





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4a Competing in a Group Hosted Race, such as the WSCC, Summer Endurance Trek, etc = 5 points
4b Placing in a Group Hosted Race = ADD to 4a
5 points for 1st place
4 points for 2nd place
3 points for 3rd place
2 points for 4th place
1 point for 5th place
All places below get no extra points.


EXAMPLE:
_{Akgal the Akhal Teke has run enough Monthlies to enter a Group Hosted Race, which he proceeds to place 1st in. Akgal will get 5 points for ENTERING (4a) and for PLACING first, 5 more points (4b) for a total of 10 points.}

This category will include sponsored and sanctioned races, even though they are technically outside of the URA, from now on.</textbox>





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5a Competing in a random race = 1 points
5b Placing in a random race = ADD to 5a
3 points for 1st place
2 points for 2nd place
1 point for 3rd place
All places below get no extra points.

EXAMPLE:
_{VKing the grade horse raced in the 35th Annual RandomStables' 3 Mile Race. VKing placed 4th. He gets only 1 point for entering (5a), because it is an outside show, he gets no credit for placing in the money.}

This category will include any race not sponsored or sanctioned from now on.</textbox>




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6 Competing in a random show or class = .5 points

EXAMPLE:
<sub>Mantra the Arabian took part in the AHA's show, in the Halter, Conformation, and Costume categories. The show was neither sponsored nor sanctioned. Because none of them are racing (which would be counted in the above category, as number 5a/5b), Mantra only gets .5 point per entry in that show, for a total of 1.5 points.

Mantra's brother, Mantis, also took part, but he participated in a Desert Race class instead. Mantis actually gets 1 point, for one entry, because his entry was a race, rather than a "show."

Muhaj, Mantra and Mantis' other brother, from another mother () took part in a sanctioned race instead and got more points- with only one race entry Muhaj gets 5 points instead.</sub>

If you're ever confused about counting up points here, just remember: races do NOT equal shows! Shows will always be worth way less points, and races worth way more. Also, you can always note and ask, I'll get back to you with exact answers!
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8a Pureblood offspring = 1 point
8b Halfblooded offspring = .5 points

9 Once offspring reach a merited status (L1, L2, L3, L4, or L5) = count the value of the level!

EXAMPLE:
<sub>Dash's first son Calico has reached L3. Calico is a purebred offspring, BUT, because he's an L3 now, Dash gets 3 points for Calico, rather than just 1. Dash's second foal, a filly name Goodnight, is a halfbred filly, unmerited. Dash only gets .5 points for Goodnight.

Once Goodnight reaches L4 though, and her merits are approved by the group, Dash will get 4 points for her, even though she's a halfbred.</sub>

AGAIN, always go with the HIGHEST possible number of points!</textbox>






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10 Reference images, which are full body = 3 points

11 Headshots = 1 point

12 Other  full body images, not old references! = 2 points

13 Training images for racing, at least 50% of the body, fully tacked and backed (meaning in full racing gear and with a rider shown) = 3 points

14 Other training images (not racing but still fully tacked at the very least) = 1.5 pts
It's important to keep working even after retiring!

15 Not quite full body but not a headshot either? = 1.75 points

EXAMPLE:
_{Lackluster the Anglo-Arabian has 3 references, 5 training images, and 1 headshot. She gets, respectfully, 9 points (3 refs x 3 points each), 15 points (5 training images x 3 points each), and 1 point (headshot). Her total merit point count is 25 points, making her an L1.}

Moshing a bunch of images together will count individually… If you have a full body reference with two headshots in the background, you get full points for the full body image, and full points for the headshot image.<textbox>






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Because the values in the Merit system have changed so drastically, we have changed some things here as well.

To collect your merit points, please send a note titled “MSR” to the group with the following information:
Horse’s Name:
Horse’s Age:
Stables/Owner:
Merits accrued, and proof of them- thumbs only. Links are funky sometimes, so, we require thumbs.
Remember to include thumbs to your proofs of placing in events as well!!!
See here for info on where to find the thumb for your work: FAQ #511: How do I post thumbnails of my art on the Chat Network or Forums?



We have five levels of merit, and each one DOES affect your horse in all URA hosted and sanctioned events.



L1 horses MUST have at least 20 Merit points.
Their scores will be drawn from the top 90%.

Example: If a race RNG is drawing from 1 to 100, then an L1 horse's scores would be adjusted, and drawn from 10 to 100 instead. You get the lowest number by multiplying the highest possible score (100) by the percentage (90% = .9). Then, subtract your answer from the highest score, and the answer to that is the lowest possible score for that horse.

100 x .9 = 90. -----> 100 - 90 = 10.  So, from 10 to 100. ^^


L2 horses MUST have at least 45 Merit points.
Their scores will be drawn from the top 80%.

Example: If a race RNG is drawing from 1 to 50, then an L2 horse's scores would be adjusted, and drawn from 10 to 50.

50 x .8 = 40. -----> 50 - 40 = 10. So, from 10 to 50.


L3 horses will be given a by their names, and MUST have at least 95 points.
Their scores will be drawn from the top 75%. (I've shown you the math above, if you have any questions, please ask and I'll be happy to help you figure it out!)


L4 horses will be given two s and MUST have at least 125 points.
Their scores will be drawn from the top 50%.


L5 horses will be given three s and MUST have at least 200 points.
Their scores will be drawn from the top 25%.</textbox>




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Do grandfoals count towards merits?
Answer: No. Points are awarded only for direct foals.

If the system changed and my horse no longer has enough points to be whatever level, do I lose my L2 or stars or anything like that?
No. We NEVER take levels away from folks- as long as your note came in before we changed the system, your horse is still that level. It might take you longer to reach the next level, BUT, in the meantime you hold your place. ^^
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