By Leigh Ballard
On Saturday, September 15, the second challenge in a buckle series of three Extreme Horsemanship Obstacle Challenges (EHOC) was held at Buffalo River Resort in Lobelville, Tennessee. The event was sponsored by Trademark Farms, and took place following an American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) event held earlier in the day.
Eighteen competitors lined up to test their horses’ bravery and “handle” through a series of 13 obstacles with varying degrees of “fright factor” or maneuverability requirements. The competition was judged by Jennifer Brown of J and M Performances Horses in Adamsville, Tennessee. Jennifer has been a past competitor in “America’s Favorite Top Trail Horse” and in Extreme Mustang Makeover.
The course consisted of an assortment of obstacles scattered around an open field. The time limit for completing the total course was eight minutes. A competitor could spend as much time as she needed at any obstacle, as long as the course was completed within the alloted timeframe. The riders could proceed through the obstacles or between the obstacles at any gait they chose, as long as they were controlled and had good transitions between gaits. Speed combined with accuracy negotiating the obstacle was the goal.
The judge walked the course with the field of competitors to explain what she would be looking for in judging each obstacle. She also offered suggestions for best ways to get through the obstacle. She explained that horsemanship was key; and how the rider approached and negotiated the obstacle was more important than speed, especially if speed caused a sloppy job. Since several breeds and riding styles were represented, she emphasized that her judging would not be affected by the breed of horse or style of tack. A gaited horse could proceed at its preferred gait. A rider in an English saddle could hold her hand on the pommel when going through the obstacle that required a half dally with a rope.
The obstacles tested several aspects of a horse’s training. The “Trash Pit” tested willingness to move through unfamiliar ground. It was a 12 x 12 square like a sandbox filled with milk jugs, tarps, feed bags and other “trash;” pretty spooky to walk through! The drag obstacle consisted of large cans tied together like wedding cans on the back of a car. The cans were at the end of a long rope so they didn’t make noise until the horse walked off a bit and the tension was achieved; then they were very noisy with chains rattling among the cans! That obstacle really tested noise tolerance and spook resistance! A tire pedestal and a teeter totter bridge tested the horses’ height and movement tolerance.
Another tire showed the horses’ knowledge of where to put their feet and how well they moved off the rider’s leg. The horse had to keep its front feet inside a tire on the ground and pivot 360 degrees on the forehand to the right and then reverse 360 to the left. Backing through a partial maze also demonstrated the horse’s ability to manage his feet and cue off the rider’s legs. Other obstacles included a flock of geese decoys, a claustrophobic tunnel, a wall of spider legs made of pool noodles, and a honking bicycle horn on a stake lined with balloons. The final test was for the rider to dismount, load the horse in a trailer, shut the door and then smoothly unload the horse. Crowd participation was encouraging as contestants finally made it through a scary obstacle, or finished the course just in the nick of time.
Winner of the Youth division was Rhiannon Cain on Blaze; second place went to Sara Beth Treece on Pepper; and third place to Alana Tapp on Mouse. Winner of the Amateur division was Jan Neeley on Toby; second place, Kim Brown on Lola; and third place, Marsha Howard on Pepper. Non-pro division winner was Babs Steele on Bo; second place, Danielle Cain on Beauty; and third, Babs Steele on Rebel.
The next EHOC in the Trademark Farms series takes place October 20 at the Buffalo River resort. Visit www.tctoc.us for more information.
On Saturday, September 15, the second challenge in a buckle series of three Extreme Horsemanship Obstacle Challenges (EHOC) was held at Buffalo River Resort in Lobelville, Tennessee. The event was sponsored by Trademark Farms, and took place following an American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) event held earlier in the day.
Eighteen competitors lined up to test their horses’ bravery and “handle” through a series of 13 obstacles with varying degrees of “fright factor” or maneuverability requirements. The competition was judged by Jennifer Brown of J and M Performances Horses in Adamsville, Tennessee. Jennifer has been a past competitor in “America’s Favorite Top Trail Horse” and in Extreme Mustang Makeover.
The course consisted of an assortment of obstacles scattered around an open field. The time limit for completing the total course was eight minutes. A competitor could spend as much time as she needed at any obstacle, as long as the course was completed within the alloted timeframe. The riders could proceed through the obstacles or between the obstacles at any gait they chose, as long as they were controlled and had good transitions between gaits. Speed combined with accuracy negotiating the obstacle was the goal.
The judge walked the course with the field of competitors to explain what she would be looking for in judging each obstacle. She also offered suggestions for best ways to get through the obstacle. She explained that horsemanship was key; and how the rider approached and negotiated the obstacle was more important than speed, especially if speed caused a sloppy job. Since several breeds and riding styles were represented, she emphasized that her judging would not be affected by the breed of horse or style of tack. A gaited horse could proceed at its preferred gait. A rider in an English saddle could hold her hand on the pommel when going through the obstacle that required a half dally with a rope.
The obstacles tested several aspects of a horse’s training. The “Trash Pit” tested willingness to move through unfamiliar ground. It was a 12 x 12 square like a sandbox filled with milk jugs, tarps, feed bags and other “trash;” pretty spooky to walk through! The drag obstacle consisted of large cans tied together like wedding cans on the back of a car. The cans were at the end of a long rope so they didn’t make noise until the horse walked off a bit and the tension was achieved; then they were very noisy with chains rattling among the cans! That obstacle really tested noise tolerance and spook resistance! A tire pedestal and a teeter totter bridge tested the horses’ height and movement tolerance.
Another tire showed the horses’ knowledge of where to put their feet and how well they moved off the rider’s leg. The horse had to keep its front feet inside a tire on the ground and pivot 360 degrees on the forehand to the right and then reverse 360 to the left. Backing through a partial maze also demonstrated the horse’s ability to manage his feet and cue off the rider’s legs. Other obstacles included a flock of geese decoys, a claustrophobic tunnel, a wall of spider legs made of pool noodles, and a honking bicycle horn on a stake lined with balloons. The final test was for the rider to dismount, load the horse in a trailer, shut the door and then smoothly unload the horse. Crowd participation was encouraging as contestants finally made it through a scary obstacle, or finished the course just in the nick of time.
Winner of the Youth division was Rhiannon Cain on Blaze; second place went to Sara Beth Treece on Pepper; and third place to Alana Tapp on Mouse. Winner of the Amateur division was Jan Neeley on Toby; second place, Kim Brown on Lola; and third place, Marsha Howard on Pepper. Non-pro division winner was Babs Steele on Bo; second place, Danielle Cain on Beauty; and third, Babs Steele on Rebel.
The next EHOC in the Trademark Farms series takes place October 20 at the Buffalo River resort. Visit www.tctoc.us for more information.
