Extreme Trail Horse Challenge Rules
RHRC Extreme Trail Horse Challenge Rules
Purpose: Promote horsemanship and sportsmanship, provide awareness of the Rolling Hills Riding Club and improve horsemanship skills. Provide an enjoyable recreational venue for horse owners.
Organization Structure: RHRC Officers
Participation: Extreme Trail Horse Challenge is open to members and non-members. Cost is $20.00 for adults with a 50% pay back and $10.00 for youth with no pay back. There shall be five extreme horse events during the season. To qualify for end of season awards one must compete in a minimum of four events and pay $25 into the prize fund before the start of the 2nd event of the season. A rider entering more than one horse in each competition can accumulate points on more than one horse if they paid into the prize fund for each. If only accumulating points for awards on one horse, rider must declare which horse prize fund is designated to when paying. All points are averaged per team per obstacle and used to determine the winner for that event. Points in aggregate for the season will be used to determine winner of the season awards.
Definition of Team: A team is defined as one horse and one rider. Points earned go to the horse not the rider. A rider may compete in the same division with a different horse. A horse can only be entered one time to compete for points. If you are a youth entering the adult division, you will not be eligible for awards or points in the adult division.
Categories of Participation: Youth and Adult. Each horse and rider team may only compete in one division.
Youth Riders: Youth Division is open to anyone 16 years old and under, age is determined by age on January 1 of the Extreme Trail Horse Challenge season. A parent may be in the arena with their child, without assisting the child, and must stand near the judges at all times.
Course: Courses and Obstacles are to be designed to be non-discipline specific and should be designed for each divisions’ capabilities. All obstacles should be developed to create success versus failure. The course design should consist of a minimum of six obstacles working up to 12 throughout the season. Not more than 12 obstacles will be used per competition.
If rider loses control of their horse, they have 60 seconds to regain control and continue course. NO ONE MAY ASSIST RIDER REGAINING CONTROL. Judges may disqualify a horse when the 60 seconds is met, or if the judges think safety is an issue.
Youth riders must complete the obstacle without any assistance other than verbal from the judges.
Obstacles: Safety should be the primary focus in all obstacles for both the horse and rider. Obstacles should be designed for each divisions’ capabilities.
If any horse is too small, or too large, to complete an obstacle safely, the obstacle will be withdrawn from the competition.
Jumps no higher than 24 inches, drops or elevation change not to exceed 36 inches.
Bridges must be at least 18 inches wide, and no more than 30 inches above ground.
Water depth not to exceed 36 inches in depth.
Abuse of horses to complete an obstacle will not be tolerated and is at the judges’ discretion.
Prior to start, each division will be provided the opportunity for a walk-thru of rider only.
NO HORSES ARE ALLOWED IN THE ARENA OR PRACTICING ON ANY OBSTACLES BEFORE THE START OF COMPETITION OR THEY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR THAT EVENT.
The order of go per division will be based on random pick.
Obstacles must be done in order, but a rider may choose to skip an obstacle by advising the judge prior to doing so.
Riders with any deviation of course pattern will be deemed as rider/horse off course and will be disqualified for that run.
If there is any obstruction/distraction deemed viable by the judges’, the rider can be given an opportunity for a re-ride.
There will be no coaching of individuals from outside the arena, only judges are allowed to speak to the rider while completing the course.
Judges will advise rider when they are out of points and able to move on, rider may move on at their discretion.
Judges: All judges are to be elected by the Rolling Hills Riding Club members and must be RHRC members themselves. The judge has the right to disqualify any rider based on conduct, abuse or any action deemed misconduct during the challenge. Each event shall have two approved judges. In the event that a judge is not able to make it to an event, an alternate judge will be chosen by the current judges. Judges must conduct themselves in a professional manner. A judge CAN judge a family member that is competing.
Each obstacle is worth 5 points from each judge, totaling 10 possible points per obstacle. Judges deduct points from the 5 points during scoring. (A perfect score would 60 to 120 points, depending on the number of obstacles present at that event.)
Contestants may look at their own scoresheets but not anyone else’s.
Dispute Settlement: All disputes will be settled by the judges. The ruling on this individual by the judges will be final.