​Miniature Horse Federation Inc.

Obstacle Ground Driving

 

Junior Horses – must be over the actual age of 24 months and under 48 months of actual age

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

 

 

Ground driving is executed with the horse being bridled, bitted and driven in long reins, with the handler either beside the horse’s hip, behind the horse or behind and off to the side of the horse.  All these different methods of driving may be used in the one course depending on the discipline or obstacle to be negotiated.

 

The Course

• The course is mostly obstacle and part workout to display the horses’ movement and willingness to respond to the handler.

• The workout would require the execution of a number of different movements at a walk and a trot designed to indicate the degree of cooperation between horse and handler.

• There must be at least 4 obstacles on a course and at least 3 workouts.

• In the workout a horse may be asked to perform:

  • A Circle (for Juniors at a walk, or trot) (For Seniors at a walk, trot or canter) – ideally the handler should stand in the centre of the circle

  • Figure 8 (for Juniors at a walk or trot) (For Seniors at a trot or canter) – Ideally the handler should walk fast from the centre of one circle through the centre of the figure 8 to the other circle.

  • Straight line at the walk or trot

  • Halt

  • Rein Back

 

 

 

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Horse is to enter at the centre of the figure 8, following black arrows go around left circle and then when starting to make the figure 8 and crossing over to right circle following the red arrows around the right circle and back through the centre to the left circle, cutting halfway across the first circle and exit the figure 8.

Handler enters left circle and when the horse starts to cross over to the right circle start to walk through to the right circle and stand in the middle.  To finish cross over to left circle again and cut half way across the left circle to exit.

 

Obstacle Choices

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• Backing

• Ground Poles to walk or trot over (poles can only be arranged in straight lines for Junior horses however senior horses can have poles arranged in different patterns).

• Water walk over obstacle (which will consist of blue plastic secured safely on the found with no hard-hidden edges)

• Reversing between poles

• Serpentine around cones

• Any other safe obstacle deemed by the MHF Inc. Committee may be added to a course design

• See trail obstacles for examples.

 

Points will be given for

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• Quality movement showing good impulsion

• Fluency/Ease in transitions throughout the workout

• Willingness and responsiveness to handler

• Precision over obstacles

• Presentation of horse and handler

 

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Penalties

 

• Resistance whether subtle or obvious e.g., rearing, bucking, kicking, biting, open mouth etc.

• Horse getting free from handler

• Handler falling and loosing control of the horse

• Horse displaying, in the judge’s opinion, dangerous behaviour towards handler

• Leaving the arena without the judges or stewards permission

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

 

Disqualifications

 

• Evidence of lameness - judge will immediately excuse horse from the arena

• Blatant striking horse with the whip

• Horse falls

• Loss of control of the horse to the point that the horse is loose in the arena

• Exhibitor disrespect towards the judge(s)

 

Tack

 

• Will consist of only what is listed below any other is prohibited unless deemed acceptable by the MHF Committee on the day.

• Standard bridge (not bridge with blinkers)

• Bits may be Egg but, Tom thumb, Snaffle bits – jointed or straight

• Reins – must be no shorter than standard driving reins and made of safe strong material

• Harness Saddle or Standard Roller with rings.  Saddle cloth fitting for harness saddle or roller may be used.

• Crupper – optional

• Whip - optional