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CONE BENDING

 

Horses must be 48 months of actual age or over to compete in this event

 

 

Rules of the Race

 

  • This is a timed event.

  • The horse is to be held by the handler at the horse’s side and the handler must run with the horse around each cone.

  • There will be a well-defined Starting and Finishing line.

  • The handler must run with the horse in and out of each cone in a zigzag pattern.

  • Each contestant will begin from a running start, and the time shall begin when the horses nose crosses the starting line.

  • The distance of the run up prior to the starting line is at the discretion of the handler.

  • The time shall finish as the horse’s nose crosses the finish line.

 

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Course and Timing

 

  • The cone bending pattern is to be run in and out of six cones set in a straight line.

  • Each cone is to be spaced at:-

    • No less than 7 feet apart for Miniatures

    • No less than 9 feet apart for Small Horses

    • No less than 11 feet apart for Little Horses

  • The first cone is to be 9 feet from the Starting Line

  • The last cone is to be 7 feet from the Finish Line

  • The horse will start near side of the first cone (left hand side)

  • Timing will begin as soon as the horses nose crosses the starting line and finishes when the horses nose crosses the finishing line.

 

 

 Permitted Tack

 

  • Halter – Rope, Webbing, plastic or leather. Rope halters must not have pressure knots on the bridge of the nose or behind the poll. Webbing, plastic or leather halters must sit flat against the horse’s head. Normal halter with buckle off to one side on noseband is allowed.

  • Lead – Minimum length 1.8 metres and maximum length 2.4 metres. 

      Leads may be flat or rounded made of strong material with a secure attachment that

      attaches directly to the halter.

  • No other equipment is permitted other than stated. – Uncertainty as to gear that is border line regarding what is permitted can be presented to the show committee for scrutiny.

 

Prohibited

 

  • Whips or any other item carried to hit horse.

  • Leads with loops at the end.

  • Chains

  • Bits

  • Metal on end of leads

 

  

Penalty

 

5 second penalty

  • Horse or Handler Knocking over or moving a cone

 

 

Elimination 

 

  • Failure to follow the course.

  • Handler or horse falling.

  • Horse getting free of handler.

  • The judge, at his/her discretion, may disqualify a contestant for excessive use of the lead or abusive behaviour towards the horse on the handler’s part.

  • The, judge at his/her discretion, may disqualify a horse for bad and dangerous behaviour.

  • Horse seen by the judge to be unfit, unsound or unwell to run the course.

 

 

Tie

 

In the event of a tie, the horse declared the winner in the runoff must re-run the pattern within two seconds of it’s original time or the runoff must be held again. Penalty time will not apply to the two-second rule but will apply to the final runoff time.

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