Description of Events

Clover Barrels

This is the standard 3-barrel barrel race. Horse and rider try to complete the fastest time around the course without knocking over any barrels. [Video Example]

Speed Barrels

Horse and rider try to make the fastest time weaving around 3 barrels in a straight line in both directions. [Video Example]

Arena Race

Horse and rider try to make the fastest time running down a straight stretch, around a single barrel, and back to the start. [Video Example]

Stakes Race / Figure 8

Three barrels are set up in a line and a very low jump is placed at the start/finish in line with the middle barrel. Horse & rider try to make the fastest time through the course without knocking over any barrels. Jump, loop around middle barrel, loop around right barrel, weave past middle barrel, loop around left barrel, loop around middle barrel, back to jump. [Video Example]

Keyhole Race

A "keyhole" shape is drawn in the dirt/sand of the arena floor in white power (typically chalk or flour). Horse and rider try to make the fastest time running into the keyhole, making a complete turn without stepping over the keyhole lines, and back to start. [Video Example]

Flag Race

Three barrels are arrange as in the cloverleaf barrel race, with a bucket containing a flag on the first barrel. Horse and rider try to make the fastest time running around all three barrel (looping around the whole set, not each barrel), picking up the flag on the way past the first barrel at the start and dropping it back in the bucket on the way back. Alternative: 2 barrels spaced much further apart. [Video Example]

Keg Race

All competitors in the class run at the same time! Everyone starts near a crate/box in a line. On the start signal, everyone races to the other end of the arena, loops around a single barrel (all horses around the same barrel) and back to the crate/box they started at. The rider must dismount, turn the crate/box on its end, and sit on it to finish the race. [Video Example]

Pole Bending

Horse and rider try to make the fastest time running to the end of a line of 6 poles and weaving back through them to the start. [Video Example]

Polo Turn

Horse and rider try to make the fastest time running down a straight stretch, looping aound a single pole a designating number of turns (typically 2), and back to the start. [Video Example]

Western Jumping

Horse and rider try to make the fastest time around a jumping course (very low obstacles) in a western saddle.

Quintain

This is a modern jousting event where a swinging target (known as a quintain) is struck instead of an opponent. [Video Example]

Ring Jousting

This is a modern jousting event where a hanging ring is caught on the lance. [Video Example]

Tent Pegging

This is a modern jousting event where a flag/paper on the ground is pierced to collcet it with a pointed lance ("tent peg"). [Video Example]

Musical Pylons

Similar to "musical chairs," contestants walk there horses around a set of pylons. When the music stops, stop your horse at (facing) a pylon. One horse & rider will be left without a pylon, and will thus be disqualified. A pylon is removed each round until a winner is determined.

Egg & Spoon Race

Horse and rider try to make the fastest time through a designated course -or- be the last horse & rider remaining in the ring (depending on event rules) while the rider balances an egg on a spoon without dropping it. [Video Example]

Boot Scramble

Everyone's boots have been placed in a large pile at the far side of the arena. Everyone rides their horses down to the pile (everyone at the same time), dismounts, finds their own boots, puts their boots on, re-mounts, and races back to start.

Ride-A-Buck

Everyone places a dollar bill under their thigh while mounted. A judge calls out instructions (walk, trot, canter, etc.) and contestants obey. They last rider with their bill in place wins.

Ribbon Race

Horse/Rider teams are paired off and asked to execute an obstacle course while holding a ribbon (crate paper, toilet paper) between them without tearing it.

Carrot and Cracker Race

A cracker & a carrot are supplied at the end of the arena for each horse & rider in the race. The object of the game is to run to the end of the arena, consume the cracket (rider) and carrot (horse) completely, then race back to start.