Horsemanship Challenge Rules
1) Competitors MUST compete in which age division they fit into; age is determined as of January 1st, 2026 (Example-Rookies MUST compete within the Rookie Level)
2) Horses in the In Hand Level must be age 2 and under, the handler can be any age
3) Horses in the Junior Horse Level must be age 3, 4, or 5 to qualify (as of 1-1-26)
4) Ownership of horses have no regulations at this time (you may enter someone else's horse as long as the horse ONLY goes through the pattern once with only one rider (jackpot class excluded-one time through with one rider as well))
5) Leadline riders who are riding a horse who is registered under someone else must compete AFTER other rider has already gone through the pattern (leadline riders will be at the end of the draw before the Jackpot)
6) Dress code is full western attire (long sleeve button-up shirt, cowboy hat/helmet, and jeans). Must have full western attire to be eligible for Best Dressed Award (jackpot excluded)
7) There is a time limit to be able to complete all the obstacles so please be aware of this. Will be announced before the event. This is for OFFICE USE ONLY to keep things moving along in a timely fashion, the fastest time will not necessarily be the winner as you are only being judged on the obstacles you complete, gaining points for each obstacle completed.
8) You may use the little arena for warming up, but NO HORSES ARE ALLOWED IN THE BIG ARENA BEFORE START. Only riders are allowed during the walk through
9) Competitors will go in order according to the draw, your name will be called into the arena 3 times, and if you are not in the arena, you will be skipped
10) If you/your horse takes out/messes up an obstacle to where there is not an obstacle left, you cannot try to complete the obstacle and must move on (EX: drop the gate, drop the mail, or tip over mailbox) (but you could win the Garage Sale Award aka messiest pattern or lowest score)
11) Competitors may enter multiple horses, but horses can only go through the pattern once (Horse must ride in their age division first (if leveling up into Open can go after)) (Jackpot is excluded as that is the horse's second time through the pattern with ONE rider)
12) Due to time constraints, we WILL NOT be having exhibition rides after the completion of the event
13) Tie breakers are set by the judge/producers with these parameters in mind: middle level obstacle, obstacle difficulty for all riders, arrangement of obstacles in pattern
14) You may talk to the judge/office AFTER the awards ceremony for scores/questions/comments/concerns and we would love feedback! Scores will be posted on our Facebook page afterwards, using your first name and last name initial.
15) Series points will be updated on our Facebook page afterwards as well.
16) Good Sportsmanship/Horsemanship is REQUIRED, and you will be asked to leave if deemed necessary.
17) MUST be present in person at end of challenge to collect prize or have designated pickup person for prizes.
Horsemanship Challenge Series Rules
1) For points to be kept for series awards, Series registration available for $35 until May 31. After May 31, a $20 late fee will be added to the registration fee (total of $55) until series registration close of July 31st.
2) Memberships for series points will be considered as:
Team 1: Person 1 and Horse A $35
Team 2: Person 1 and Horse B $35
3) Multiple Memberships for the same person may be bought as shown above, as series points will be kept for the TEAM not the single horse/rider. Horses may only have one series membership bought for them.
4) Each big pattern challenge pattern will be worth the same amount of points each time, each mini jackpot pattern will be worth the same amount of points each time, and each Age Division will have the same amount of points per pattern (InHand not eligible for overall highpoint due to not having as many mini patterns)
5) Mini Jackpot Patterns will be eligible for Series Points
6) Each big challenge will have the same judge and each mini jackpot pattern will have the same judge with different patterns to keep competition fair (some obstacles may be repeated but in a different pattern)
7) High Point Awards for Series will be up to 5th place, ribbons up to 10th place, and along most improved in each age division will be awarded. Top 3 Overall High Point Awards will be awarded to (3) single competitors who earned the most accumulative points in all patterns (mini and big combined) (InHand excluded from Overall High Point Award). Along with the Horse with the Most Heart Award.
8) Competitors MUST compete in their age group for their age as of January 1st, 2026 or appropriately in Rookie/Open (see list above)
9) Prizes for Series will be handed out on September 26th at 10:00 AM and prizes will be forfeited if not picked up by competitor themselves or other person who is APPROVED by the arena official BEFORE the award ceremony
10) Ties will be broken by:
1) Challenge One Tiebreaker #1
2) Challenge Two Tiebreaker #1
3) Challenge Three Tiebreaker #1
11) Series Points will be kept as scores from each pattern (big and mini) (EX-Bonnie earns a 85 point score from Challenge One and a 92 point score from Challenge Two making her Series Points a total of 177 thus far)
12) Series Points will be updated and posted on our Facebook page after each Challenge is completed-please be patient with us
13) Most Improved Awards will be given to those who the judge/producers feel have the best increase in scores from Big Pattern One to the last Mini Pattern in each Age Division.
Contact Vern with any questions, concerns, comments
701-629-5044