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DQP Name: ______________________________ HIO Name: ______________________________

DQP Training Assessment

Please review each question carefully and circle the answer that corresponds to the best answer.

1. The definition of “Horse Show” is: A public display of any horses, in competition, except events 

where speed is the prime factor, rodeo events, parades, or trail rides.

True 

False

2. All beads, bangles, rollers, and similar devices, with the exception of rollers made of lignum vitae 

(hard-wood), aluminum, or stainless steel, with individual rollers of uniform size, weight, and 

configuration, provided each device may not weigh more than 8 ounces, including the weight of 

the fastener is allowed.

True

False 

3. Any horse found noncompliant with the Scar Rule is considered to be “sore”.

True

False

4. Each horse owner, exhibitor, trainer or other person having custody of, or responsibility for, any 

horse at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction, shall allow any APHIS 

representative to reasonably inspect such horse at all reasonable times and places the APHIS 

representative may designate. Such inspections may be required of any horse which is stabled, 

loaded on a trailer, being prepared for show, exhibition, or sale or auction, being exercised or 

otherwise on the ground of, or present at, any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or 

auction, whether or not such horse has or has not been shown, exhibited, or sold or auctioned, or 

has or has not been entered for the purpose of being shown or exhibited or offered for sale or 

auction at any such horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction.

True 

False

5. The management of any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction has the authority to 

restrict APHIS personnel from areas of the show grounds outside of the inspection and warm-up 

area.

True

False 
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6. With respect to space and facilities, it shall be the responsibility of show management to provide 

at least:

A Protection from the elements of nature, such as rain, snow, sleet, hail, windstorm, etc., if required by the 

APHIS Show Veterinarian.

B A means to control crowds or onlookers in order that APHIS personnel may carry out their duties without 

interference and with a reasonable measure of safety, if requested by the APHIS Show Veterinarian.

C An accessible, reliable, and convenient 110-volt electrical power source, if electrical service is available at 

the show, exhibition, or sale or auction site and is requested by the APHIS Show Veterinarian.

D All of the above. 

7. Minimum standards of conduct for Designated Qualified Persons (DQP’s) shall include:

A A DQP shall not exhibit any horse at any horse show or horse exhibition, or sell, auction, or purchase any 

horse sold at a horse sale or horse auction at which he or she has been appointed to inspect horses.

B A DQP shall not inspect horses at any horse show, horse exhibition, horse sale or horse auction in which a 

horse or horses owned by a member of the DQP’s immediate family or the DQP’s employer are competing 

or are being offered for sale.

C A DQP shall follow the uniform inspection procedures of his certified organization or association when 

inspecting horses.

D All of the above. 

8. Responsibilities and liabilities of management include:

A Dismiss DQP’s immediately when they disagree with violations.

B Ensure DQP’s inspect as many Tennessee Walking Horses as they can prior to being shown.

C When a show has more than 150 horses entered they must appoint at least 2 DQP’s (when using DQPs). 

D All of the above.

9. Inspection procedures for DQP’s include:

A During the preshow inspection, the DQP shall direct the custodian of the horse to walk and turn the horse 

in a manner that allows the DQP to determine whether the horse exhibits signs of soreness.

B The DQP shall digitally palpate the front limbs of the horse from knee to hoof, with particular emphasis on 

the pasterns and fetlocks.

C The DQP shall instruct the custodian of the horse to control it by holding the reins approximately 18 inches 

from the bit shank.

D All of the above. 

10. The DQP shall inspect horses no more than three classes ahead of the time the inspected horses 

are to be shown, except that, in shows with fewer than 150 horses, the DQP shall inspect horses 

no more than two classes ahead of the time the inspected horses are to be shown.

True 

False
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11. Who has the overall responsibility to disqualify horses from Horse Shows?

A APHIS VMOs

B APHIS Show Veterinarian

C Show Management 

D Head of Security

12. When assessing the anterior pastern under the Scar Rule focus, there must be generalized hair 

loss associated with non-pliable, hard ridge(s)/nodule(s) with distinct edges (not uniformly 

thickened) in order to consider the horse noncompliant with the Scar Rule.

True

False

13. Who is responsible to furnish and maintain control over approved lubricants (petrolatum, mineral 

oil or glycerine, or mixtures of these only) for use on horses after inspection?

A Owner

B Rider

C DQPs

D Show Management 

14. The HPA applies to any horse, regardless of its breed. However, certain requirements contained in 

the HPA regulations only apply to Tennessee Walking Horses and racking horses, including the 

prohibitions on the use of certain substances and the competition restrictions and minimum rest 

periods for 2 year-old horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions.

True 

False

15. DQPs are responsible for inspecting horses for compliance with the HPA and regulations and

notifying management of any horse which, in his opinion, is sore or otherwise noncompliant with 

the HPA regulations.

True

False

16. Management must appoint and retain a DQP to inspect horses for compliance with the HPA and 

regulations.

True

False

17. If a horse has an accidental field scar on one of its pasterns, the horse is not in compliance with 

the scar rule criteria.

True

False
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18. Which of the following may be signs of physical pain?

A. Consistent and repeatable withdrawal responses to palpation of the pastern

B. Reluctance to lead

C. Gait abnormalities or problems with locomotion

D. Shifting of weight to the rear legs

E. All of the above

19. Exhibitors can apply their own lubricants to horses after inspection.

True

False

20. If management decides not to use a DQP, it must:

A. Inspect all horses that place first in a class or event.

B. Inspect all Tennessee Walking Horses and racking horses that place first in a class or event.

C. Identify and disallow any horses that are sore from participating or competing in an event.

D. A and C

E. B and C

21. DQPs must examine the rear limbs of all horses during every inspection.

True

False

22. DQPs must examine all Tennessee Walking Horses and racking horses entered in any animated 

gait class.

True

False

23. VMOs are only responsible for inspecting horses for compliance with the HPA.

True

False
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24. Sore when used to describe a horse means:

A. An irritating or blistering agent has been applied, internally or externally by a person to any limb of a horse.

B. Any burn, cut, or laceration has been inflicted by a person on any limb of a horse.

C. Any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent has been injected by a person into or used by a person on any 

limb of a horse.

D. Any other substance or device has been used by a person on any limb of a horse or a person has 

engaged in a practice involving a horse, and, as a result of such application, infliction, injection, use, or 

practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer, physical pain or distress, 

inflammation, or lameness when walking, trotting, or otherwise moving, except that such term does not 

include such an application, infliction, injection, use, or practice in connection with the therapeutic 

treatment of a horse by or under the supervision of a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the 

State in which such treatment was given.

E. All of the above

25. The HPA prohibits pads or other devices in yearling horses (horses up to 2 years old) that elevate 

or change the angle of such horses’ hooves in excess of

A 1 inch at the heel

B 1.5 inches at the heel

C 2 inches at the heel

D No limit

26. When assessing the posterior pastern under the Scar Rule focus, generalized hair loss associated 

with non-pliable, hard ridge(s)/nodule(s) with distinct edges (not uniformly thickened) is a 

noncompliance with the Scar Rule and is sore.

True

False

27. How many times must a horse show a primary sign of pain in a specific area (withdrawing the foot 

to palpation) to be considered a consistent and repeatable pain response

A 1

B 2

C 3

D Every time the area is palpated

28. Signs of possible stewarding during an inspection

A Holding the reins tight (less than 18 inches from the bit shank)

B Twisting the shank of the bit

C Knuckling the horse

D All of the above

29. An unruly or unapproachable horse cannot be inspected is a noncompliance.

True

False
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30. Artificial extension of the toe length, whether accomplished with pads, acrylics or any other 

material or combinations thereof, that exceeds what percent of the natural hoof length is 

prohibited?

A 35%

B 45%

C 50%

D 60%

31. Metal hoof bands, such as used to anchor or strengthen pads and shoes, must be at least what 

distance below the coronet band?

A 1⁄4 inch

B 1⁄2 inch

C 1 inch

D 2 inches

32. The anterior aspects of the fore pasterns (extensor surface) may show bilateral granulomas.

True

False

33. Each horse industry organization or association having a Department certified DQP program shall 

develop and provide a continuing education program for licensed DQP's which provides not less 

than 5 hours of instruction per year to each licensed DQP.

True

False

34. Each horse industry organization or association having a DQP program certified by the 

Department shall issue a written warning to any DQP whom it has licensed who violates the rules, 

regulations, by-laws, or standards of conduct promulgated by such horse industry organization or 

association...and shall cancel the license of any DQP after the ___ violation of the rules, 

regulations, by-laws, or standards of conduct established by the HIO?

A 2

B 3

C 4

D 5

35. In the event management is dissatisfied with the performance of a particular DQP, including 

disagreement with decisions concerning violations, management shall dismiss said DQP during 

the DQP's appointed tour of duty.

True

False
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36. DQP Shall examine the rear limbs of all horses when:

A. They feel like it

B. The horse exhibits lesions on the rear limbs

C. On all horses

D. The horse exhibits unusual movement of the rear limbs

E. B & D

37. According to the HPA, if whips, cigarette smoke, or other actions or paraphernalia are used to 

distract a horse during examination, the DQP shall:

A. DQP shall be required to examine a horse

B. DQP shall do nothing and continue the examination

C. DQP shall report the incident to the Show Management and the DQP licensing organization

D. A & C

38. Presence of inflammation is considered noncompliant only if it is bilateral.

True

False

39. DQPs must submit a copy of their show reports to their HIO within how many hours after the horse 

show?

A. 24

B. 36

C. 72

D. None of the above

40. When palpating a horse with your thumb, you should:

A. While the VMO is watching, apply enough pressure to blanch your thumb, but, in areas where the VMO 

cannot see your thumb, lighten up on the pressure.

B. Apply some pressure with your thumb while also moving your body up and down to make it appear to the 

VMO that you are applying a lot of pressure

C. Determine the amount of pressure to apply based on who trains and/or owns the horse

D. Apply enough pressure to blanch your thumb, taking care to lift your thumb with each palpation, and 

consistently use the same amount of pressure throughout the inspection.

41. If you elicit a pain response from a horse during digital palpation, you should:

A. Quickly look over to see if the VMO saw the horse bump before determining whether it counts.

B. If USDA is not at the show, ignore the horse’s pain response

C. Keep going back to check the spot until the horse no longer bumps or the horse gives an inconsistent 

response so you are able to pass it.

D. Return to the exact location you elicited the pain response and palpate the spot(s) using consistent 

pressure
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42. Following pre-show inspection, a trainer/exhibitor discovers that one of the one of the hoof bands 

has become loose. It is permissible for the trainer/exhibitor to adjust the hoof bands:

A. In the warm-up area

B. In the area between the warm-up area, but before entering the ring

C. Never

D. By returning to the inspection area, presenting the horse to the DQP and identifying the loose band, 

borrowing a screw driver from the DQP and having the DQP re-inspect the band to ensure it is not over 

tightened