13 - Trail

13.1 Categories

Available in Walk/Jog, Novice Rider, Amateur, Open and all Youth divisions, Little Britches and all horse classes.

13.2 Prohibited Equipment

• Wire curbs regardless of how padded or covered.
• Any chin/curb strap narrower than 1/2".
• Mechanical hackamores.
• Martingales, nosebands and tie-downs.
• Draw reins.
• Crop or quirts.

13.3 Optional Equipment

• Rope or riata. If used, the rope or riata must be coiled and attached to the saddle.
• Protective boots or leg wraps.

13.4 This class will be judged on the performance of the horse while negotiating the obstacles, with emphasis on manners, response to the rider, and quality of movement.

13.5 Credit will be given to horses negotiating the obstacles with style, authority, and some degree of speed, providing correctness is not sacrificed. Horses should receive credit for showing attentiveness to the obstacles and the capability of picking their own way through the course when obstacles warrant it and willingly responding to the rider's cues on more difficult obstacles.

13.6 Horses shall be penalised for any unnecessary delay while approaching obstacles. Horses with an artificial appearance while negotiating obstacles should be penalised.

13.7 Except for the novice rider section and junior or novice horses shown with hackamore or snaffle bit, only one hand may be used on reins, except that it is permissible to change hands to work an obstacle (Reins to be carried as per para 5.7).

• While a horse is in motion, the rider's hands shall be clear of the horse and saddle.
• Spurs or romal shall not be used forward of the cinch.

13.8 Horses must not be required to work on the rail. The course must be designed, however, to require each horse to show the three gaits (walk, jog, lope) somewhere between obstacles as part of its work, and quality of movement and cadence should be considered as part of the manoeuvre score.

13.9 The gait between obstacles shall be at the discretion of the judge.

13.10 The course to be used must be posted at least one hour before the scheduled start time of the class.

13.11 Suggested scoring will be on the basis of zero to infinity, with 70 denoting an average performance. Each obstacle will receive an obstacle score that should be added or subtracted from 70 and is subject to a penalty that should be subtracted. Each obstacle will be scored on the following basis, ranging from plus 1½ to minus 1½: -1½ extremely poor, -1 very poor, -½ poor, 0 correct, +½ good, +1 very good, +1½ excellent.

13.12 Working a rope gate. If riding in a snaffle, having unlatched the gate it is acceptable to revert to two hands to complete the obstacle, as is carrying an object from one part of the arena to another.

13.13 Obstacle scores are to be determined and assessed independently of penalty points. Penalties should be assessed per occurrence as follows:

13.14 Trail Penalties A contestant shall be penalised each time the following occur.

13.15 One half (½) point

• Each tick or contact of a log, pole, cone, plant or any component of an obstacle.

13.16 One (1) point

1. Each hit, bite, or stepping on a log, pole, cone, plant or any component of an obstacle.
2. Incorrect or break of gait at walk or jog for two strides or less.
3. Both front feet or hind feet in a single-stride slot or space at walk or jog.
4. Skipping over or failing to step into required space.
5. Split pole in lope over.
6. Incorrect number of strides, if specified.

13.17 Three (3) point

1. Incorrect or break of gait at the walk or jog for more than two strides.
2. Out of lead or break of gait at the lope (except when correcting an incorrect lead).
3. Knocking down an elevated pole, cone, barrel, plant, obstacle, or severely disturbing an obstacle.
4. Falling or jumping off or out of a bridge or water box with one (1) foot once the horse has got onto or into that obstacle.
5. Stepping outside of the confines of an obstacle with designated boundaries (i.e. back through, box, side pass) with one (1) foot once the horse has entered the obstacle.
6. Missing or evading a pole that is a part of a series of an obstacle with one (1) foot.

13.18 Five (5) point

1. Dropping slicker or object required to be carried on the course.
2. First or second cumulative refusal, balk or evading an obstacle by shying or backing.
3. Letting go of gate or dropping rope gate.
4. Use of either hand to install fear or praise.
5. Falling or jumping off or out of a bridge or water box with more than one (1) foot once the horse has got onto or into that obstacle.
6. Stepping outside of the confines of an obstacle with designated boundaries (i.e. back through, box, side pass) with more than one (1) foot once the horse has entered the obstacle.
7. Missing or evading a pole that is a part of a series of an obstacle with more than one (1) foot.
8. Blatant disobedience (including kicking out, bucking, rearing, striking).
9. Holding saddle with either hand.

13.19 Disqualified - 0 Score

1. Use of two hands (except when showing in a snaffle bit or bosal) or changing hands on reins, except that it is permissible to change hands to work an obstacle or to straighten reins when stopped.
2. Performing the obstacle incorrectly or other than in specified order.
3. No attempt to perform an obstacle.
4. Equipment failure that delays completion of pattern.
5. Excessively or repeatedly touching the horse on the neck to lower the head.
6. Entering or exiting an obstacle from the incorrect side or direction.
7. Working an obstacle the incorrect direction; including overturns of more than ¼ turn.
8. Riding outside designated boundary marker of the arena or course area.
9. Third cumulative refusal, balk or evading an obstacle by shying or backing.
10. Failure to ever demonstrate correct lead and/or gait as designated.
11. Failure to follow the correct line of travel between obstacles.
12. Excessive schooling, pulling, turning, stopping or backing anywhere on the course.
13. Failure to open and shut gate or failure to complete gate (except in novice classes where they are placed below all who complete course correctly).

13.20 Faults which occur on the line of travel between obstacles, scored according to severity.

1. Head carried constantly too low.
2. Head carried constantly too high.
3. Over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical.

13.21 Management, when setting courses, should keep in mind that the idea is not to trap a horse, or eliminate it by making an obstacle too difficult. All courses and obstacles are to be constructed with safety in mind so as to eliminate any accidents. If difficult courses are set, novice trail should be less difficult. When the distances and spaces are measured between all obstacles, the inside base to inside base measurement of each obstacle considering the normal path of the horse, should be the measuring point. Enough space must be provided for a horse to jog (at least 30 feet; 9m) and lope (at least 50 feet; 15m) for the judge to evaluate these gaits.

13.22 At least six obstacles will be used, three of which will be mandatory, and three others selected from an approved list. The course shall be reset as originally after each horse has worked. If an obstacle fails and cannot be repaired, it shall be removed from the course. Scores for that obstacle shall be deducted from all previous works for that class.

a. Mandatory obstacles are:

1. Opening, passing through, and closing a gate. The design of the gate must not endanger horse or rider. If gate has a metal, plastic or wooden support bar under the opening, contestants must work the gate moving forward through it. Working the Trail Class Gate: Competitors are advised that, when changing hands to work a gate, there is no specified way to hold the reins in the 'new' hand, i.e. it is permissible to hold them 'romal' style and, with split reins, you do not have to cross tails to the opposite side. However, do remember that you must revert to the correct hand position when the gate is closed and you are exiting the area.
2. Ride over at least four logs or poles. These can be in a straight line, curved, zigzag or raised. All elevated elements must be placed in a cup, notched block, or otherwise secured so they cannot roll. The height should be measured from the ground to the top of the element. Spacing: walkovers 20-24" (40-60cm), may be elevated to 12" (30cm) and at least 22" (55cm) apart; jog-overs 3' to 3'6" (90 to 105cm), may be elevated to 8" (20cm); lope-overs 6' to 7' (1.8 to 2.1m), may be elevated to 8" (20cm).
3. Backing obstacle: to be spaced a minimum of 28" (70cm). If elevated, 30" (75cm) spacing is required. Entrants cannot be asked to back over a stationary object such as a wooden pole or metal bar. Back through and around at least three markers through an L, V, U, straight or similar shaped course. May be elevated no more than 24".

b. Optional obstacles are (but not limited to):

• Water hazard (ditch or small pond). No metal, concrete, or slick bottom boxes will be used.
• Serpentine obstacles at walk or jog. Spacing to be a minimum of 6 feet for jog.
• Carry an object from one part of the arena to another (only objects which reasonably might be carried on a trail ride may be used).
• Ride over wooden bridge, negotiated at walk only. Suggested minimum width 36" (90cm) and at least six feet (1.8m) long. Bridge should be sturdy and safe.
• Pick up and carry a western type slicker.
• Remove and replace materials from mailbox.
• Side pass (may be elevated to 12 inches maximum) - over obstacle is optional.
• An obstacle consisting of four logs or rails, each 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2m) long, laid in a square. Each contestant will enter the square by riding over a log or rail as designated. When all four feet are inside the square, the rider will execute a turn as indicated by the pattern and depart.
• Any other safe and negotiable obstacle which could reasonably be expected to be encountered on a trail ride and meets the approval of the judge may be used. A combination of two or more of any of the obstacles is acceptable.

c. Unacceptable obstacles:

• Ground tie; tires; animals; hides; PVC pipe; dismounting; jumps; rocking or moving bridges; water box with floating or moving parts; flames, dry ice, fire extinguisher, etc.; logs or poles elevated in a manner that permits such to roll; metal, concrete, and slick bottom water hazards.

13.23 The judge has the right and duty to alter the course in any manner or remove any obstacle they deem to be unsafe. In addition, any officer of the society who considers a trail course to be unsafe may request it be altered. Should an event continue without such a request being considered, it will void its cover under the WES Insurance.