​Miniature Horse Federation Inc.

TRAIL

 

Junior – Only horses 12 months of actual age or over and under 48 months are eligible to compete in this event.

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Senior – Only Horses 48months of actual age or over are eligible to compete in this event.

 

Trail is a disciplined event designed to test the working relationship between horse & handler. Trail is not an obstacle race. Trail gives the Horse the opportunity to demonstrate with a number of obstacles its ability and willingness to work with the Handler without hesitation and with precision.  It is about the horse listening and responding to the handler and the handler’s ability to communicate with their horse.  The horse should not be responding through fear, it should be well trained and willing.  Nor should the horse be showing resentment to the handler’s directions, as in trying to bite, kick, or strike the handler.  If a horse is showing fear or resentment to the handler this type of displayed behaviour will have points deducted or may even be eliminated.

 

Course

• The Exhibit should move through the set course fluently and correctly.

• Minimum of Six obstacles – maximum of 12 – with 3 mandatory objects to be used.

• An Exhibitor may attempt any obstacle up to three (3) times but then they must move onto the next obstacle.  However, the Judge may at their discretion send the Exhibit onto the next obstacle at any time.

• Two markers will indicate a start and finish line.  The Exhibitor must go between these markers to officially start and end the pattern otherwise the Exhibitor is considered off course and eliminated.  Horse must cross the line in the proper direction to start and complete the course.

• The course shall not be altered after the first horse has completed the course.

• In Shows where there are Youth Trail Classes at least three of the obstacles must be different from the open course.

• The sequence of the obstacles may vary and two or more of any of the obstacles may be combined.

 

Mandatory Obstacles: -

 

• Backing

• Gate

• Bridge

 

 Optional Obstacles (but not limited to): -

 

• Turn In Square

• Cones

• Serpentine

• Bridge

• Lunging

• Pivot

• Sidepass

• Straddle (only for Senior)

• Tarp

• Jump

• Walk Over Poles

• Trot Over Poles

• Water obstacles

• Raised Trot Poles (only for Senior)

• Archway

• Circle Horse

 

Judging and Scoring

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To be judged on performance and way of going with emphasis on manners throughout the course. Credit will be given to horses that go through obstacles with style.

The following will assess judging of the Exhibit/Handler:

• Manners;

• Performance and Style;

• Responsiveness of horse to handler;

• Competence of the Handler and Horse;

• Handlers ability to communicate his/her directions to the horse;

• The least penalties at each obstacle;

• The technique used by the handler in directing his/her horse through the course.

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Judge’s decision is final.

 

Penalties

 

• Failure to complete an obstacle

• Any unnecessary delay in approaching an obstacle

• Aggressively shaking of the lead rope to intimidate horse to move away by the handler

• Stepping on or in an obstacle with the horse unless the course layout requires it

• Physically pushing the horse or poking the horse to make it move in any direction

• Hitting horse with lead rope or another object

• Failure to follow the correct line of travel within or between obstacles

• The horse showing fear or resentment towards the handler throughout the course

• Failure to demonstrate correct gait if designated

• Failure to take an obstacle in any other manner than how it’s described by the course

• Not attempt to perform an obstacle

• Holding the halter and not the lead

• Intentionally making contact with the horse with their body or hand

• Any act that would be seen as aggressive intimidation of the handler towards the horse

• The handler sending the horse away from them in an obstacle, unless they are otherwise direction by the course design

• Each tap of log, pole, cone or obstacle

• Each hit of a pole or steeping on a log, pole, cone, or obstacle

• Jumping over or failing to step into a required space

• Failure to meet the correct strides on walk over and trot over log obstacles

• Swinging the lead rope threateningly

• Hitting the horse with the lead or hand or kneeing the horse

• First refusal, baulk, or attempting to evade an obstacle by shying or backing more than 2 strides away

• Second refusal, baulk, or attempting to evade an obstacle by shying or backing more than two strides away

 

Disqualification (relates to ALL Trail Obstacles)

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• Off Course eg. negotiating obstacles in the wrong direction or in wrong order – handler losing their way on the course.

• Falling of the horse or handler

• Horse running free of the handler

• Wilful abuse of the horse by the handler

• Carrying a whip (except for lunge event)

• Blatant disobedience of horse (kicking out, bucking, rearing, striking)

• Having a bit in the horse’s mouth

• Baiting a horse to encourage it to perform one of the obstacles

• Any horse in the Judge’s opinion to be unfit or unsound to complete a trail course.

• Exhibitor disrespectful towards the judge(s)

 

Equipment

 

• Halters can be made of leather, plastic or webbing that sits flat against the horse’s head and across the nose.  No buckle is to be on the noseband. Rope halters are allowed as long as the knots are not positioned to be used as pressure point areas on the horse’s head and face, for example knots should not be on the bridge of the nose they can be to each side. Knots cannot be behind the poll.

• The lead can be flat as in webbing or rounded and must attach under the chinstrap.  The lead attachment can be a loop, which the lead threads back through or it can be a clip with a swivel.  The lead must not be shorter than 1.8 metres (6 feet) and it should not be longer than 2.4 metres (8 feet).

 

 

Prohibited Equipment

 

• Whips or any other object other than stated in Acceptable equipment for trail

• Chains either in mouth, under or over face of the horse, nor can they be attached to the lead

• Bridles and bits

• Wrapping of any kind anywhere on the halter that could conceal any pressure knots or objects

• Any gear that is used for a head check.

 

Appropriate Attire for Handler

 

• As in all MHF Inc Shows the handlers must be dressed according to the show rules dress code.