SPEED EVENTS

These events are timed events where horse and rider race to accomplish a pattern or course in the least possible time. In all these events, riders are disqualified if their horse "breaks" the pattern or runs outside the prescribed pattern.

POLE BENDING: The horse and rider enter the arena where a straight line of 6 poles has been placed 21 feet apart. The rider races to the opposite end of the line of poles and weaves in and out, slalom style, and then repeat this back to point where he/she started and then races to the finish line. There is a five-second penalty for knocking down each pole.

BARREL RACING: Three 50-gallon barrels are set up in a triangular pattern in the arena and the horse and rider run a cloverleaf pattern around the barrels. The pattern can be started either to the left or the right. There is a five-second penalty for knocking over a barrel.

FLAG RACE: For the flag race, rider and horse run a modified triangular pattern around a three barrel-pattern. There are 5-gallon buckets on barrels one and three with pellets in them. The first bucket has a red flag in it that the rider must pick up as he/she rides by. The rider continues to run around a pole in and then plants the flag in the bucket on the third barrel. There is a five-second penalty for knocking over the first or second barrel or bucket. The rider is disqualified for not picking up the flag from the first bucket or if the flag misses or falls out of the second bucket.