Southeast Iowa Working Horse Challenge

Our mission is to host a series of events promoting the working horse in the western disciplines. Our goal in these events is to educate and advance horsemanship to the novice and hobby riders in a fun, family friendly environment.

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Rules and Expectations:

-All ages will compete together for this first pilot year. Riders on stallions will be 18 years or older.

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Attire

-Traditional western attire, button down long sleeve shirt, boots, and western head covering required or helmet.

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Tack and Equipment

-Any safe, clean, rope, braided, nylon or plain leather halter is accepted.

-Tack and equipment should be clean and in working order with minimum silver.

-Roping saddle required for roping classes.

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Conduct

-Participants actions and conduct should display a positive family environment. Cursing will not be tolerated.

-Conduct will be left to the discretion of the judge (with eligibility to be disqualified from a class).

-If conduct is found unsatisfactory, a majority vote from the committee will be needed to have participants removed from the grounds.

 

In Hand Division

-The goal of the In Hand classes is to show off your horse’s conformation in the breed’s natural state, as well as how they and their handler work together through a maneuver.

• Conformation

Horses will be judged on their conformation and soundness, with the all-around equine in mind. Physical fitness of the horse will be given merit.

• Real Ranch Hand

Horses and handlers will be judged at the walk, trot, back, turn around, through a gate, ground tie, and handler’s knowledge of how to maneuver the horse smartly and keep the judge safe during examination.

• In Hand Trail

Handler will work the horse through a series of obstacles that may include, but not limited to:

Bridge, gate, back through, tarp, carrying an object, side-pass, turnaround in a box, raised poles, small jump, handling a rain slicker. Riders will be allowed 30 seconds per obstacle.

 

Undersaddle Division

-The Undersaddle division will judge the level of broke of your horse, by observing how well the rider and horse communicate with each other as they do maneuvers.

• Trail

Horses will be judged on how well the rider helps to navigate obstacles and how well the horse handles them. Obstacles may include, but not limited to: Bridge, gate, back through, tarp, carrying an object, side-pass, turnaround in a box, raised poles, small jump, handling a rain slicker, and ground tie. Rider will have 30 seconds to complete each obstacle.

• Ranch Riding

Horse and rider will be judged on how well they are able to maneuver through a pattern and how easy the horse is to ride. Pattern will be chosen by the judge and posted at time of registration.

• Pleasure on the Rail

Horses will be judged on level of brokenness and the ease and pleasure of ride. Horse should carry itself at a relaxed natural head set to the breed of the horse, but not bent and tucked past the poll.

The winning horse will be awarded according to the judge’s desire to use that horse to ride all day long.

 

Cattle Work

-The Cattle Work division will judge on the horse and rider’s ability to work cattle

• Working Cow Horse

The horse and rider will be given a cow to demonstrate how well they work as a team to maneuver the cow down the fence, making at least one turn in either direction and circling the cow in either direction. Contestant will have 90 seconds to maintain control of the cow and make all turns.

• Working Horse Boxing

The horse and rider demonstrate control over a single cow along the short side of the arena for 50 seconds. The reined work asks the horse and rider to perform fast and slow circles, lead changes, spins, sliding stops, and the backup. Rollbacks are not required.

• Cattle Daubing

Points based on location of mark, behind the point of the shoulder

• Cutting

The horse and rider will show how they work as a team in demonstrating their cattle handling skill. The contest begins as the pair approaches the herd. The horse and rider have 90 seconds to peal the cow from and hold away from the herd.

Major penalties:

o   Horse quitting a cow

o   Losing a cow

o   Changing cattle after specific commitment

o   Failure to separate a single animal after leaving the herd

o   Horse turning tail to cow

Credit on a run, may at least, but not limited to:

o   Excellence in herd work

o   Skill in driving and setting up a cow

o   Deftly handling a difficult situation

o   showing courage in confronting a difficult situation

• Breakaway Roping

Rope must pass over the point of the calf’s nose causing the rope to break loose from saddle horn. Judge will check rope tightness. White flags attached to rope tail will be provided by SIWH)

• Steer Stopping

Rider will rope steer passing the point of the calf’s nose, stopping forward motion and turning the calf to face horse and rider for a minimum of 5 seconds.

• Horsemanship points for cattle work

Points will be accumulated or subtracted based on how well the horse tracks and stays hooked to the cow, and how well the horse remains straight and balanced in the stop and maneuvers. Points will be subtracted if the horse exhibits resistance or the rider demonstrate poor horsemanship.

 

Speed Division

-The speed division will be judged according to the clock as well as points awarded to those who ride their horse in a smooth balanced manner, no excessive bounce on horses back on mouth. Points accumulated for exhibiting good horsemanship.

• Barrels

Traditional cloverleaf pattern will be run. Starting from either the Right or Left barrel will be allowed. Fastest time will win the class. Points will be awarded for good horsemanship at the judge’s discretion and will be accumulated for yearend Top Rider Buckle Award.

• Poles

Traditional pole bending pattern will be run, starting either on the right or left of pole line up.

Fastest time will win the class. Points will be awarded for good horsemanship at the judge’s discretion and will be accumulated for yearend Top Rider Buckle Award.

Tailer Scramble

A timed event, competitors will approach the trailer, dismount, load horse into the trailer and secure the trailer door. Then the rider will get into truck and shut the door for clock to stop. Fastest time will win the class. Points will be awarded for good horsemanship at the judge’s discretion and will be accumulated for yearend Top Rider Buckle Award

Horsemanship Points for Speed

o   5 points for an exemplary run. Rider was balanced and working with their horse with little to no contact on the bit.

o   4 points for an exceptional run. Rider was mostly balanced and moving with their horse with some to no contact on the bit.

o   3 point for a good run. Rider did not excessively bounce on the horse’s back or pull excessively on their horse’s bit.

o   2 points for a fair run. Rider had a clean run but was not balanced on their horse or moving with it and pulled on their horse’s bit more than necessary.

o   1 point for completing run. Rider stayed on pattern but knocked a barrel or pole.

o   0 points for an incomplete or incorrect pattern. Rider showed poor horsemanship skills.

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Awards

 

Top Horse and Mule

               Equines must compete in a minimum of 5 classes in each judged competition of the series. One class must be from the In Hand division, and one from the Undersaddle division. The remaining three can be any division(s). Winner will be awarded based in accumulation of points at each of the competitions. Equine does not have to be rode by the same rider to be eligible.

 

Top Rider

               Riders must compete in a minimum of 5 classes in each judged competition of the series. One class must be from the In Hand and one from the Undersaddle division, the remaining 3 can be any class from any division(s). Winner will be awarded based in accumulation of points at each of the competitions. Rider does not have to compete on the same equine to be eligible.

 

Excellence in Horsemanship

               This award is to be presented to an individual based on their growth from the clinic to the last competition of the series, and will be awarded by Cornerstone Horsemanship, an organization that influences Excellence in Horsemanship through it’s teaching and training program. This award is not based on point but through the horseman who demonstrates growth in their riding, confidence, care, and improvement in their communication with the horse. To be eligible riders must participate in the clinic and in the judged competitions, with no requirement of classes, but more entries better show individual grow.

 

Points

               One point for each horse entered into class. First place value of 5 points. Second place value of 4. Third place value of 3 points. Fourth place value of 2 points. Fifth place value of 1 point. Timed events will be awarded points according to placing plus additional points awarded by the judge for good horsemanship.

 

Show Fees

               $10 office fee per participant

               $8 class fee

Winning pay out to 4th place (40%, 30%, 20%, 10%)