​​Grading consists of filling out an application form and submitting this along with a required set of approved IHAA grading score sheets from approved tracks and officials and completed within 24 months of the application date. The application sheet for IHAA grading is available here: HERE

Everybody in Canada can grade regardless of being a CFMA member. CFMA members may grade for free and may purchase a grade pin for $10. Non members pay $25.00 per submitted grading with pin.

Grading scores may be achieved through organized CFMA grading events, CFMA or International competition events (providing they are consistent with IHAA rules), or at private home or club events provided the performance is observed and timed by two additional witnesses (other than the athlete), 1 witness must be trained as a grading official. Grading must be done on an approved track. New tracks can be approved by either an official assigned by Canada’s grading officer, or via pictures and/or video footage submitted to mountedarcherycanada@gmail.com

​New facilities and tracks must apply for a grading event no less than 30 days before the event. This gives time for track corrections/ approvals/ and training officials. If a track does not meet the IHAA standards within the time frame they cannot grade.

​Established clubs with approved tracks and officials can hold events at their own will and as often as they wish. Grading on a specific track can only be done ONCE a day, you can submit multiple grades on the same day if the tracks are different. Example: 1 Korean 2-3-3, 1 Hun 99, etc…

​Grading papers received outside of Canada are to be sent to Canada’s grading officer for review. Foreign grading papers must follow IHAA protocol for track and officials. Failure of this will void the grade.

​Athletes are responsible for keeping track of their grading sheets and can choose which sheets to submit. Please only submit grading papers once a grade has been achieved. Random grading sheets are hard to keep track of and are the responsibility of the athlete. Athletes send their sheets to Uwe Schneider mountedarcherycanada@gmail.com . We have a 24 month window to submit scores. Athletes must keep this in mind when submitting scores and make sure they leave a time frame available to the grading officer to receive, process, and submit the grade to the IHAA. Grading papers that are not within 24 months of each other are not applicable.​

About the International Horseback archery Alliance (IHAA)​

The International Horseback Archery Alliance is devoted to encouraging the standardization of rules and scoring systems for horseback archers around the world. The Canadian Federation of Mounted Archery works closely with the IHAA as the governing body and representative for Canada.

IHAA maintains a horse archery grading system for assessing the skill level of horseback archers towards the following aims:​

To allow mounted archers to have a fixed standard with which they can compare their ability from season to season, individually or against friends, so that they can monitor their improvement and find encouragement to practice and improve.

To provide an achievable goal for anyone in the sport, from beginners to experts.

As more people enter the sport grading provides a structure by which people may be grouped in competitions, so that they are competing against opponents of similar standard, and all have a chance to win against their peers.

To allow competition organizers to identify those with sufficient ability to compete at a particular event and potentially satisfy insurers of the competence of participants.​​​

IHAA Grading offers an amazing system for monitoring our personal development as horse archers and gives us an ability to see where we stand in relation to horse archers from around the world! Grading can help us define our long term goals and keep us inspired and aware that we are progressing.

IHAA grading is open to all Canadian horse archers through the CFMA. CFMA board member Uwe Schneider is our Canadian IHAA representative and handles all IHAA grading results for Canada. Anyone can participate in IHAA activities and grading regardless of club affiliations.