Types of obstacles 
(each obstacle is rated 1R- Easiest to 6R- Hardest)

Archery Shoot:
Where the rider must pick up the bow and blunted arrow and shoot at a target.
- Standing Still 3R
- Walking or Trotting 4R
- Loping 5R-6R
- Maximum of 2 arrows
- Will be judged on smoothness & control.
- Deductions for: poor marksmanship, Uncoordinated effort, or loss of control of horse.
Bareback Riding:
Rider removes saddle at point A, mounts horse from the ground or mounting block, then rides to point B.
- 6R Only.
- Can walk, trot, or lope.
- Judged on Smooth mount, maintaining good balance, control and loose reins.
- Deductions for: Inability to remount, poor balance, lack of control, tight reins and slower speed.
Bareback Double Rider:
Rider removes saddle at point A, mounts horse from the ground or mounting block, then rides to point B and picks up double rider
- 6R Only.
- Can walk, trot, or lope.
- Judged on Smooth mount, maintaining good balance, control and loose reins.
- Deductions for: Inability to remount, poor balance, lack of control, tight reins, slower speed, inability to carry double rider.
Blindfold and Lead Your Horse:
blindfold can be made out of a fly mask with a piece of material sewn to the outside, covering the horses vision. Rider is to blindfold the horse at point A and lead the horse to point B over or through obstacles.
- 5R - 6R (Non-pro & Pro Only) 
- Judged on your horse leading easily without hesitation, trust in the handler, athletic dismount, willingness to accept the blindfold, and willingness to lead to or through the obstacle.
- Deductions for: Awkward, sloppy dismount, hesitation or unwilling to accept the blindfold, hesitant or unwilling to lead once blindfolded.
Branding-Chalk:
Rider steps off horse at point A, picks up a "branding iron", dips iron into chalk and brand a tied horse on a specific spot, then puts iron back, remounts' horse.
​- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R.
- Usually brand the hip or shoulder.
- Judged on dismount, approach to the horse with iron, application of the brand, how well the horse stood ground tied, and their remount.
- Deductions for: Uncoordinated dismount, sloppy, fast approach that spooks horse, sloppy application of the brand, horse NOT staying ground tied, and uncoordinated remount and departure.
Cache Hoist:
A lariat tied to the end of an object to hoist it off the ground. The rider will take hold of the rope and begin to backup or side pass raising the object, then tying the rope off.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
Carry Saddlebags:
Rider picks up saddlebags with lose items in them that create noise, delivers bags at drop off point.
- 3R, 4R, 5R
- Judged on smoothness, unhesitant when picking up, good stop on the hindquarters, a smooth & balanced ride to drop off point with a good stop at drop off.
- Deductions for: Balking, Spooking or hesitating during pickup of drop off, rough stops, tight reins, unbalanced rider.
Climb Windmill-Ring Bell:
Rider Dismounts, climbs the ladder, rings the bell. Rider then climbs down the ladder and remounts.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on a smooth stop, an athletic, coordinated climb up and down of the ladder, horse remaining ground tied, a smooth remount.
- Deducted for: Not ground tying, sloppy stop, difficulty climbing the ladder, horse not standing for remount.
Cowboy Curtain:
Curtain will be made of rope or plastic strips (7-10in wide). Must ride the horse through the curtain.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on a non-hesitating approach, loping through the obstacle with good balance and a loose rein.
- Deductions for: Balking, hesitating, refusing to go through, jumping or leaping through, poor balance, lack of control and tight reins.
Dead Fall:
Made of limbs, branches, logs, or natural debris reaching lengths 15' to 120'. Walk or trot depending on the obstacle. 
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R.
- Judge on sure footedness, low head and crossing the obstacle in a safe manner.
- Deducted for: Reckless speed, tripping, high head, and poor control.
​Hay Carry:
Dismount, ground tie horse, and carry hay to point B and stack neatly. 
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on horse staying quiet and ground tied, without moving away while you move hay.
- Deducted for: Horse not staying ground tied, inability to move or re-stack hay.
Hay Ring:
1-3 Bull rings of min. 6ft. Rider must ride up right through the ring on the dirt path.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on not slowing down at the approach, balking, spooking or refusing to go through in a relaxed manner on a lose rain.
​- Deducted for: Stopping or slowing down when approaching, balking, spooking or refusing to go through the ring, lack of balance, lack of control, and tight reins.
Lead Across Water:
Rider dismounts and leads their horse through the water.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on the horse willingly following you through the water with a loose rope, steady consistent pace and exits smoothly.
- Deducted for: Refuses or balks entering water, tight rope, handler losing balance, pulling/tugging on the horse in the water, difficulty exciting the water.
Log Crossing:
Logs or ground poles of different sizes, lengths, and heights that the team must go over. walk, trot, or canter.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R (Novice- no more than 12inch high)
- Judged on riding or jumping with a loose rein, crossing in the center in a straight line.
- Deducted for: refusing, ducking, diving, hitting the log, tight reins, & the rider bouncing or becoming unseated. 
Mail Box:
Rider must open and close mailbox or remove the mail and deliver the mail
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on the horse standing quietly with easy access to the mailbox, can side pass to the mailbox, and do a roll back when leaving the mailbox.
- Deductions for: Not standing at the mailbox, failure to open or close, sloppy approach or departure, sloppy rollback, lack of control. 
Move Golf Ball:
A golf ball is placed on the top of the cone. Lean over and grab the golf ball off the cone take and place it on another cone.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on an athletic lean down with horse standing still.
- Deducted for: uncoordinated lean down, the horse moving, inability to pick up the ball or drop off.
​Open & Close Gate:
Rider must unlatch gate and re-latch gate.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on approach, opening/closing the gate without bumping or hitting the gate or post in a smooth, controlled manner without letting go of the gate.
- Deducted for: losing contact with the gate, hesitation, failure to open or close the gate.
Pick up Horses Feet:
A task that is performed on the course at a designated point. Rider stops, dismounts, and is required to 1 to all feet. 
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on your stop, dismount, handling of feet, and how well the horse stands.
- Deducted for: Rough stops, sloppy dismount, horse moving away or not pickup up feet, sloppy re-mount.
​Pistol or Rifle Shoot: (Black powder blanks)
Rider will pick up pistol/rifle, shoot 1-3 balloons in a straight line or triangle.
- 4R, 5R, 6R- pistol
- 5R, 6R- rifle
- Judged on working smoothly, no spooking at gun fire, and hits all balloons.
- Deducted for: Spooking at gun fire, missing the balloons, loosing control.
(If gun misfires no points deducted)
Pony or Lead a Second Horse:
Rider will pick up a horse from another handler or untie the horse leading it to another point.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on handling of the pony, consistency, and smoothness.
- Deducted for: Pony getting loose, riders' horse being aggressive or kicking, or the rider handling the pony in a rough manner.
Ravine Ride​: (Deep or Shallow)
A natural or manmade ravine or gully that can be deep or shallow, long or short. Can have brush, debris, logs, or water.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on position and the horses willingness, loose rein, smoothness, and awareness of their feet.
- Deducted for: Lack of control, inability to negotiate the entire ravine.
​Ride Through Round Bales:
Large round bales set up with a narrow path between them.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on a clean, smooth, non- hesitant, quick run through the path.
- Deducted for: Horse hesitating or shying away, failure to move through the obstacle at a consistent pace with a loose rein and willing attitude.
Roll Backs:
A stop from a lope with a 180 deg turn on the hindquarters going back the other directions.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on the smoothness of the sliding stop on the hindquarters with a pivot going the other direction, while switching leads.
- Deductions for: Stopping on the front end, jerking on the reins, horses head high, turning on the front end, trotting off or on the wrong lead.
​Serpentine Through a Pattern:
Built with anything to form an S shape pattern. Rider must navigate horse through the serpentine.
- Judged on good balance, lead changes, good control, and a loose rein.
- Deducted for: breaking gait, poor lead changes or lack of changes, lack of balance or control, and tight reins.
​Slicker or Tarp Carry:
Rider will pick up slicker/tarp from a handler and wear or carry the item to the designated spot.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on the reactiveness of the horse, and carries the slicker/tarp with ease from A to B.
- Deducted for: Dropping the slicker/tarp, horse spooking or shying from object.
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Backing Flat:
Where rider must back straight or on a designed path from one point to another.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Can vary from 10ft to 60ft.
- Judged on fluid, straight, willingness, and a good, collected position of the horse.
- Deductions for: Heavy hands, unwillingness, high head, & loss of straightness.
Backing Downhill:
Riders are to back down a hill or a grade
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Can vary from 10ft to 60ft.
- Judged on loose rein, fluid, straight, willingness, and a good, collected position of the horse.
- Deductions for: Heavy hands, unwillingness, high head, & loss of straightness or off course.
Backing Uphill:
Riders are to back up a hill or a grade
-  4R, 5R, 6R
- Can vary from 10ft to 60ft.
- Judged on loose rein, fluid, straight, willingness, and a good, collected position of the horse.
- Deductions for: Heavy hands, unwillingness, high head, & loss of straightness or off course.
Barrel Jumps:
3 or 4, 50-gallon drums, laid horizontally, side by side, on the ground and jumped.
-  4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on willingness, straight non-hesitant approach with the rider maintaining balance, position, hands forward creating a nice crest release.
-Deductions for: Refusing the jump, hesitation, not staying in the center of the jump, poor crest release, poor balance, poor position, and incorrect lead between jumps.
Barrel Turns:
Rider rides around 50-gallon drums in a traditional clover leaf pattern or a simple figure 8 pattern.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on tight, fluid turns, correct leads, lead changes, straightness, speed & control.
- Deductions for: wide sloppy turns, incorrect leads, failure to change leads, lack of straightness, lack of speed, poor control and incorrect us of the reins.
Bridge:
Rider must ride horse across bridge that may be slightly elevated (no more than 24 inch)
-2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on safe speed, no hesitation, the horse working with a low head and lose rein.
- Deductions for: Balking, spooking, refusing to go on or not fully crossing the bridge, unsafe speed, high head and heavy hands.
Broken Jump:
3 series of jumps that are connected, with two jumps set in a vertical pattern that has a connecting horizontal jump, rider can approach from the right or left jumping all 3 jumps.
- 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on the approach, correct leads, clean jumps, departure, and loose rein.
- Deductions for: wrong leads when approaching or departing, failure to go over jumps, and tight reins.
​Circles Big & Small:
Where a rider rides perfect designated circles, first slow, then faster. Rider may be required to change speeds at any point.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on correct leads, flying or simple lead change, noticeable speed change. 
- Deducted for: Wrong Leads, no speed change, dropping gait, high head, tight reins, and rider leaning in the circles.
Cow Sort:
Rider must sort out a certain cow from the herd. Rider may be required to open and close a gate.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on opening and closing gates in a smooth manner, enters herd quietly, stays controlled, sorts the designated cow within time allowed.
-Deductions for: Inability or awkwardness opening/ closing the gate, disturbing the herd, not sorting the right cow within the time allowed.
Daisy Chain:
Constructed of 5 poles or 5 cones- 4 placed in a square 21' to 28' ft in between each corner with 1 placed in the center of the square.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on maintaining the correct lead, flying lead changes, and loose reins.
- Deducted for: wrong leads, no lead changes, tight reins, dropping gate.
Ground Tie:
Dismount and leave your horse and walk a prescribed distance from your horse or walk around a chalk circle, or object while your horse stands.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on a smooth, athletic dismount, walking around in a quiet manner while horse is standing still, re-approaching the horse in a quiet manner.
- Deducted for: Sloppy, hurried dismount; hurried away from horse, horse moving or walking away; re-approaching the horse in a hurried fashion, horse moving while re-mounting
Hay Maze:
Round or square bales, creating a tunnel, winding trail for the team to negotiate. May be a walk, trot, or canter.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on smooth, balanced ride through the maze at requested gait on a loose rein.
- Deductions for: Lack of balance or control, tight reins, slow pace, or failure to negotiate the maze.
Key Hole:
Set of 4 cones forming a square of chalk forming a keyhole. you enter the obstacle with speed, stop and perform a rollback on the hindquarters. 
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on entering the box straight and smooth, with a smooth stop, loose reins, and a nice rollback on the hindquarters.
-Deducted for: entering to slow, tight reins, rough stop and a sloppy poor rollback.
Leading Horse- from ground
lead your horse at a walk, trot, or lope from A to B.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on leading with a loose rope, horse traveling at the same rate as handler with the horses' head at the handlers shoulder.
- Deducted for: Refusing to lead, pulling or tugging of rope.
Log Pull:
Lariat is attached to a log, rider will take the lariat, dally to the horn or pull by hand to point B. Log may be heavy or light.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on not spooking, goes straight, has good cadence, loose reins.
- Deducted for: Spooking, going crooked, lack of cadence, tight reins, and log touching the horses hind legs.
Moguls:
Constructed of dirt or sand, different heights and sizes. Rider must ride over each mogul.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on keeping the horse moving forward at an even pace, centered with loose reins and perfect control.
- Deducted for: Lack of forward movement, moving to the side or off the side of the mogul, lack of control, lack of balance or tight reins.
Narrow Bridge:
Minimum of 12" maximum of 24" wide and 15'-20' long.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on crossing at a safe speed, without hesitation, with a low head set and loose rein.
- Deducted for: Balking, spooking, refusing to go or cross, not crossing the full bridge, crossing at an unsafe speed, head being high with heavy hands. 
​Pallet Pull:
A pallet is loaded with weight, tied to a lariat rope, rider must pull the pallet from A to B.
- 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on control, smoothness, straight and easy without spilling anything.
- Deducted for: poor control and spilling objects.
​Pin Wheel:
Made of a cone and 12' poles in length. Rider must ride in a circle around the cone and over the poles.
​- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on being on the correct lead at a lope, cleanly riding over the poles on a loose rein.
- Deducted for: Walking/ trotting, wrong lead, missing the poles, and tight reins.
Pivot Pole Swing:
10-12' pvc pole with 2 or 3 barrels. pole will be laying across the two barrels 8-10 ft apart. Rider must pick up one end of the pole and walk or side pass around the other barrel leaving the other end of the pole in contact with the pivot barrel.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on smoothness, not dropping pole.
-Deducted for: dropping pole, spooking, lost of control.
​Put on Easy Boots & Then Ride:
Rider stops, dismounts, and puts a pair of easy boots on the front feet of the horse then rides to point B and remove boots.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on a smooth dismount, horse standing allowing boots to be put on, smooth re-mount.
- Deducted for: Uncoordinated dismount, horse moving while putting boots on, awkward re-mount.
Ride a Straight Line:
Rider must navigate horse in a straight line, marked or unmarked, at a lope.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on no breaking of the gait, in a straight line,  horse being straight from poll to tail. loose reins, smooth turn and unity between horse and rider.
- Deducted for: not going in a straight line, walking/ trotting, breaking gait, and tight reins. 
Road Flashers and/or Road Signs:
Rider must navigate horse through or around flashers or signs.
- 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on no hesitation, and the willingness, and bravery of the horse.
- Deducted for: Hesitation, not willing, poor balance of the rider, lack of control, and tight reins.
​Rope Livestock:
Rider will enter the corral and attempt to rope the chosen cow; each rider will have two attempts.
- 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on quiet handling of the horse and stock, and throwing an expert loop.
- Deducted for: rough handling of the horse or stock, missing with the rope.
Side Pass:
Rider must side pass horse over a log, or through an obstacle.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on maintain cadence, straightness, and correctness, with legs crossing.
- Deducted for: stepping over or on the log, lack of straightness, lack of cadence and poor side passing
​Spearing Station Rings:
4" rings will be placed, rider will pick up spear (broom stick like object) out of a barrel and attempt to spear all three rings in a row, then places spear and rings on chosen object.
- 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R
- Judged on picking up of the spear, travels at a good pace, and collects all rings, and dropping off the spear.
- Deducted for: Missing the spear or rings, lack of smoothness and control.