Trail Rules & Regulations

FROM 2008 AQHA HANDBOOK

454B. TRAIL.

(a) This class will be judged on the performance of the horse

over obstacles, with emphasis on manners, response to the rider and

quality of movement. Credit will be given to horses negotiating the

obstacles with style and some degree of speed, providing correctness

is not sacrificed. Horses should receive credit for showing attentiveness

to the obstacles and the capability of picking their own way

through the course when obstacles warrant it, and willingly responding

to the rider’s cues on more difficult obstacles.

(b) Horses shall be penalized for any unnecessary delay while

approaching or negotiating the obstacles. Horses with artificial

appearance over obstacles should be penalized.

must be designed, however, to require each horse to show the three

gaits (walk, jog, lope) somewhere between obstacles as a part of its

work, and quality of movement and cadence should be considered as

part of the maneuver score. While on the line of travel between

obstacles, the horse shall be balanced, carrying his head and neck in

a relaxed, natural position, with the poll level with or slightly above

the withers. The head should not be carried behind the vertical, giving

the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving

a resistant appearance. Gait between obstacles shall be at the discretion

of the judge.

(d) The course to be used must be posted at least one hour

before scheduled starting time of the class.

(e) Scoring will be on the basis of 0-infinity, with 70 denoting

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an average performance. Each obstacle will receive an obstacle score

that should be added or subtracted from 70 and is subject to a penalty

that should be subtracted. Each obstacle will be scored on the following

basis, ranging from plus 1 1/2 to minus 1 1/2: -1 1/2

extremely poor, -1 very poor, -1/2 poor, 0 correct, +1/2 good, +1

very good, +1 1/2 excellent. Obstacle scores are to be determined

and assessed independently of penalty points. Penalties should be

assessed per occurrence as follows:

(f) The following deductions will result:

One-half (½) Point

-Each tick of log, pole, cone, plant, or any component of the obstacle

One (1) Point

-Each bite of or hit of or stepping on a log, cone, plant or any component

of the obstacle

-Incorrect or break of gait at walk or jog for two strides or less

-Both front or hind feet in a single-strided slot or space

-Skipping over or failing to step into required space

-Split pole in lope-over

Three (3) Point

-Incorrect or break of gait at walk or jog for more than 2 strides

-Out of lead or break of gait at lope (except when correcting an

incorrect lead)

-Knocking down an elevated pole, cone, barrel, planet, obstacle, or

severely disturbing an obstacle.

-Stepping outside of the confines of, falling or jumping off or out of

obstacle with one foot once the foot has entered obstacle; including

missing one element of an obstacle on a line of travel with one foot

Five (5) Point

-Dropping slicker or object required to be carried on course

-First or second cumulative refusal, balk, or evading an obstacle by

shying or backing

-Letting go of gate or dropping rope gate

-Use of either hand to instill fear or praise

-Stepping outside the confines of, falling or jumping off or our of

an obstacle with more than one foot once the foot has entered

obstacle; including missing one element of an obstacle on a line

of travel with more than one foot

-Blatant disobedience (including kicking out, bucking, rearing,

striking)

-Faults, which occur on the line of travel between obstacles, scored

according to severity:

(1) head carried too high

(2) head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers)

(3) over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the

nose is carried behind the vertical

(4) excessive nosing out

(5) opening mouth excessively

Disqualified 0 – Score

-Use of two hands (except in snaffle bit or hackamore classes desinated

for two hands) or changing hands on reins; except for junior

horses shown with hackamore or snaffle bit, only one hand may be

used on the reins, except that it is permissible to change hands to

work an obstacle as outlined in 443

-Use of romal other than as outlined in 443

-Performing the obstacle incorrectly or other than in specified order

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-No attempt to perform an obstacle

-Equipment failure that delays completion of pattern

-Excessively or repeatedly touching the horse on the neck to lower

the head

-Entering or exiting an obstacle from the incorrect side or direction

-Working obstacle the incorrect direction; including overturns of

more than ¼ turn

-Riding outside designated boundary marker of the arena or course

area

-Third cumulative refusal, balk, or evading an obstacle by shying

or backing

-Failure to ever demonstrate correct gait between obstacle as designated

-Failure to follow the correct line of travel between obstacles

-Faults that occur on the line of travel between obstacles, which

will be cause for disqualification, except in novice amateur or

novice youth classes, which shall be faults scored according to

severity:

(1) head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers

consistently)

(2) over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the

nose is carried behind the vertical consistently

(g) Management, when setting courses, should keep in mind

that the idea is not to trap a horse, or eliminate it by making an obstacle

too difficult. All courses and obstacles are to be constructed with

safety in mind so as to eliminate any accidents. If difficult courses are

set, novice trail should be less difficult. When the distances and spaces

are measured between all obstacles, the inside base to inside base measurement

of each obstacle considering the normal path of the horse,

should be the measuring point. Enough space must be provided for a

horse to jog [at least 30 feet (9 meters)] and lope [at least 50 feet (15

meters)] for the judges to evaluate these gaits.

(h) “If disrupted, the course shall be reset. In the case that an

obstacle is used in combination, the obstacle cannot be reset until the

contestant finishes the entire obstacle.”

(i) At least six obstacles must be used, three of which must be

from the mandatory list of obstacles and at least three others selected

from the list of optional obstacles.

(j) Mandatory obstacles:

(1) Opening, passing through and closing gate. (Losing

control of gate is to be penalized.) Use a gate which will not endanger

horse or rider. If the gate has a metal, plastic or wooden support

bar under the opening, contestants must work the gate moving forward

through it.

(2) Ride over at least four logs or poles. These can be in a

straight line, curved, zigzag or raised. The space between the logs is

to be measured and the path the horse is to take should be the measuring

point. Trotovers and lopeovers cannot be elevated in novice

classes. All elevated elements must be placed in a cup, notched block,

or otherwise secured so they cannot roll. The height should be measured

from the ground to the top of the element. Spacing for

walkovers, trotovers, and lopeovers should be as follows or increments

thereof.

(A) The spacing for walkovers shall be 20” to 24” (40

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cm to 60 cm) and may be elevated to 12” (30 cm). Elevated

walkovers should be set at least 22” (55 cm) apart.

(B) The spacing for trotovers shall be 3’ to 3’6” (90

cm-105 cm) and may be elevated to 8” (20 cm).

2.1 meters) or increments thereof, and may be elevated to 8” (20 cm).

(3) Backing obstacle. Backing obstacles to be spaced a minimum

of 28” (70 cm). If elevated, 30” (75 cm) spacing is required.

Entrants cannot be asked to back over a stationary object such as a

wooden pole or metal bar.

(A) Back through and around at least three markers.

(B) Back through L, V, U, straight or similar-shaped

course. May be elevated no more than 24” (60 cm).

(k) Optional obstacles, but not limited to:

(1) Water hazard (ditch or small pond). No metal or slick

bottom-boxes will be used.

(2) Serpentine obstacles at walk or jog. Spacing to be minimum

of 6’ ( 1.8 meters) for jog.

(3) Carry object from one part of arena to another. (Only

objects which reasonably might be carried on a trail ride may be used.)

(4) Ride over wooden bridge. (Suggested minimum width

shall be 36” (90 cm) wide and at least six feet long). Bridge should

be sturdy, safe and negotiated at a walk only.

(5) Put on and remove slicker.

(6) Remove and replace materials from mailbox.

(7) Side pass (may be elevated to 12” (30 cm) maximum).

(8) An obstacle consisting of four logs or rails, each 5’ to 7’

(1.5 to 2.1 meters) long, laid in a square. Each contestant will enter the

square by riding over log or rail as designated. When all four feet are

inside the square, rider should execute a turn, as indicated, and depart.

(9) Any other safe and negotiable obstacle which could reasonably

be expected to be encountered on a trail ride and meets the

approval of the judge may be used.

(10) A combination of two or more of any obstacle is

acceptable.

(l) Unacceptable obstacles:

(1) Tires

(2) Animals

(3) Hides

(4) PVC pipe

(5) Dismounting

(6) Jumps

(7) Rocking or moving bridges

(8) Water box with floating or moving parts

(9) Flames, dry ice, fire extinguisher, etc.

(10) Logs or poles elevated in a manner that permits such

to roll

(11)Ground ties

(m) The judge must walk the course and has the right and duty

to alter the course in any manner. The judge may remove or change

any obstacle he deems unsafe or non-negotiable. If at any time a trail

obstacle is deemed to be unsafe by the judge, it shall be repaired or

removed from the course. If it cannot be repaired and horses have

completed the course, the score for that obstacle shall be deducted

from all previous works for that class.

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