Class Descriptions

The Using Horse (Ranch work obstacle course)

Description: A series of elements and maneuvers designed to showcase the partnership and efficiency of the horse and rider to accomplish tasks common to daily ranch work. Demonstrate ability to move cattle in a ranch work setting

Elements & Maneuvers: Bridge, Rope Dummy, Work 3 Gates, Move cattle (Demo: youtu.be/GG0ROTgP1N4 ), Strippin’ Chute, Roping Chute, Logs, Deadfall, Drag, Pick up & Carry chaps, horn wrap, etc.,

Walk, Trot, Long trot, Lope, Stop, Sidepass, Pivot, Move Hips, Move Shoulders, Back, Ground tie

Scoring : 70 -1.5, -1, -½, 0, +½, +1, +1.5

*horsemanship

*stockmanship

*eye appeal

*efficiency

Penalties: 5 pt incompletion of element/maneuver (1 attempt permitted)

Time Limit: 6 min 30 sec

The Drover (Demonstrate ability to hold, drive and pen a steer)

Description:Demonstrate ability to control one steer on the short end of the arena between the markers, turn it at least once each direction, drive it down the long side of the arena and into a 3 sided pen. Credible runs will be slow and precise.

Elements: Hold, drive & pen 1 steer, using 3 markers & 1 3-sided pen

Scoring: 70 -1.5, -1, -½, 0, +½, +1, +1.5

*horsemanship

*stockmanship

*efficiency

*eye appeal

Penalties: Penalties:

* 2 pt penalty every time steer passes outside marker while holding

* 5 pt penalty every time horse lopes if when beat and retrieving steer

DQ: Loss of steer after crossing center line while driving

Time Limit: 2 min 30 sec

The Cowhand (Demonstrate ability to hold a steer)

Description: Demonstrate ability to hold a steer by maintaining control of the steer, between 4 markers on the short end of the arena (2 markers on each side)

Elements: Hold one steer

Scoring: 70 -1.5, -1, -½, 0, +½, +1, +1.5

*horsemanship

*stockmanship

*eye appeal

*control

Penalties:

*1 pt penalty every time steer passes inside marker

* 2 pt penalty every time steer passes outside marker

* 5 pt penalty every time horse lopes if when beat and retrieving steer

Time Limit: 1 minute

Ranch Rail Class

Exhibitors will work individually. Horses will be showcased at the walk, natural jog, long trot, and the lope.

Elements:

1. Natural Jog

2. Lope on the Left Lead

3. Stop

4. 180 degree turn

5. Lope on the Right Lead

6. Transition from Right Lead to a Long Trot

7. Trot Around Cone (Natural Jog or Long Trot)

8. Stop and Back 10 ft

Scoring: 70 -1.5, -1, -½, 0, +½, +1, +1.5

• Horsemanship

• Willingness

• Precision

• Usefulness

• Eye appeal

Penalties: 5 point Penalty for incompletion of a maneuver (including loping on incorrect lead if not corrected)

Pattern: Enter at a walk on the rail. Walk to the 1st cone. Transition to natural jog at the 2nd cone. Transition to Lope on the Left Lead at the 3rd cone, Lope Halfway around pen to 4th cone. Stop and pivot 180 away from rail to reverse direction. Walk to the 5th cone. At the 5th cone, Lope on a right lead back to the 3rd cone. At the 3rd cone, Transition to a long trot. Trot to and around the 6th cone. Stop and back.

The Wrangler (Demonstrate good horsemanship)

Horse and Rider will be judged on their ability to execute a simple pattern that will demonstrate basic good horsemanship, communication, and partnership.

Elements:

1. Long Trot (Extended Trot) to Center of Arena

2. Large Fast Circle

3. Stop in Middle

4. 360 Turn to Right

5. 360 Turn to Left

6. Transition from Lope to Trot/Jog

7. Stop over Log

8. Sidepass Over Log

Scoring: 70 -1.5, -1, -½, 0, +½, +1, +1.5

Horsemanship

Willfully Guided

Loose Rein

Efficiency

Willingness

Eye Appeal

Precision

Penalties: 5 point Penalty for incompletion of a maneuver or element (including loping on incorrect lead if not corrected)

Pattern: Long Trot to center of the arena. Lope off to the Right in a Large, Fast Circle. Stop in the Center of the Arena. Complete a 360 degree turn to the Right. Pause. Complete a 360 degree turn to the Left. Pause. Lope off to the Left in a Small, Slow Circle. Continue at a Lope through the center of the arena to the Left. Transition to a trot/jog after the center and before the log (located at ¼ of the large circle). Stop over log. Sidepass to the Left, clearing the end of the log. Exit the arena.

Reining (NRHA-style reining class)

Elements:

Circles each direction; combination of large fast and small slow

Stops

Spins

Lead Changes (none in beginner division)

Back

Rollback

Scoring: 70 -1.5, -1, -½, 0, +½, +1, +1.5

Precision

Eye Appeal

Willfully Guided

Athleticism

Cow Horse Reining

NRCHA Style and Scoring System

Elements:

Circles each direction, combination of large fast and small slow

Cow horse style stops

Cow horse style spins

Lead Changes (none in beginner division)

Back

Rollback

Scoring: 70 -1.5, -1, -½, 0, +½, +1, +1.5

Precision

Eye Appeal

Willfully Guided

Athleticism

Scoring System

For all classes, elements will be scored on the judging scale of 0-70-infinity in half point increments up to 1.5 points per element

Characteristics of a Creditable Run:

Horsemanship (communication between rider and horse)

Willfully Guided

Loose Rein

Efficiency

Willingness

Eye Appeal

Precision

Stockmanship

Athleticism

Penalties (1 pt unless otherwise noted in class description):

Missed markers

Break of Gait

Trotting into a lope departure from a walk

Overturns/Underturns