Horse Trail

You, Your Horse, and the Course

How do you know if you're prepared to compete on a horse trail course? If you know what to expect when you arrive at the show and have taken the time to practice with your horse, you are off to a great start.

There is more to getting ready for trail competition. Below we will be discussing an overview of a trail course, the judging criteria, and some helpful tips to get you started on the right path to showing in this class.

Class Breakdown

Competing in a horse trail class is much more difficult than it seems. It is a pure pattern class involving obstacles, and a copy of the

pattern should be posted no later than one hour before the class.

When you arrive at the gate you may have to perform your pattern in a scheduled order with the other horse trail exhibitors. Each obstacle on the course is judged individually. According to the AQHA handbook, the average score for a horse and rider team is 70. From this point the judge will either add or subtract from this score with the completion of each obstacle.

Think of this class as a horsemanship class combined with obstacles. You can expect a gate obstacle in almost any horse trail class. You can also plan to maneuver through, around or over a series of ground poles.

Expect to be judged at the walk, jog, extended jog, lope, stop, back, lead change, and side pass. It is a class that takes lots of preparation time to be able to complete successfully. You will not be judged at all on the rail for this class.

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Judging Criteria

A horse trail course is judged on your horse's performance over obstacles. Positive points are given to horses displaying proper manners, responsiveness to rider cues, and overall quality of movement through the course.

Taking too long with obstacles will count against a team. The judges are looking for speed and accuracy throughout this class. According to the AQHA handbook, the judges are also looking for a cadenced and well balanced horse when traveling between obstacles.

As stated above, the horse and rider teams begin with the average score of 70. Deductions occur for various reasons in the trail course. For example, ticking of a log or pole or any obstacle will likely cost about 1/2 point. A whole point is deducted from hitting or stepping on an obstacle, breaking gait or incorrect gait.

Larger deductions will come from larger scale mistakes such as: knocking over obstacles, refusal of an obstacle, falling off your horse, kicking, bucking and rearing.

On a trail course you can be disqualified for the use of two hands unless you are using the appropriate snaffle bit, not attempting to complete an obstacle, three refusals for an obstacle, or completing an obstacle in the wrong direction.

Helpful Tips

Before you complete the trail pattern with your horse, you may find the following tips helpful.

Take the walk-through tour before the class starts to get an idea for the spacing out on the course
Gain extra points from the judges by working hard at keeping your horse consistent and cadenced throughout the course
Get the pattern solid in your mind; you do not want to question anything when showing
Keep focused on one obstacle at a time; don't focus too far in front of you