Central Oregon Trail Course

Just wanted to say Thank you to everyone that attended the trail course competition last weekend (10/24/09) at Silver Horse Ranch in Tumalo. I had a blast judging the competition.

I will be posting tips for the trail course novice on this page.  If you have a tip you would like to share or a question to ask, please reply below.

Tips:

• Don’t ride thru the trail course before the comeptition – it could get you disqualified
• Don’t bring your horse to the walk thru.  The horse is not suppose to see the obstacle before the competition.
• Ask questions – think about how you are going to negotiate the obstacle safely – if you are not sure – ask.
• Ask if you are allowed to ask questions during the competition.
• If allowed – walk the course one more time before the start of the competition.  You are looking for things that you might have missed the first time thru.
• Safety is foremost – it’s not just the obstacle you are judged on.  If the obstacle appears to be unsafe, perhaps the ‘test’ is to not do it or find a safe way to do it.
• Never tie your horse using your bridle and reins – it’s just not safe or fair to the horse.
• Find a local ranch or farm that has a trail course set up and call to see if you can use it to practise.
• Don’t give up, if you run into trouble, that obstacle probably cause a problem for most riders.
• If you are required to dismount during the competition, CHECK YOUR cinch before remounting.
• Trail Course designers can come up with some pretty wacking obstacles, when practising at home see what you can come up with.
• Enter the obstacle and exit the obstacle, straight and in the middle.
• Let the horse lower his head and “see” the obstacle.
• Desensitize your horse – don’t “tip toe” around your horse.  Get him/her use to load noises, flapping objects.
• Don’t walk in front of your horse when negotiation obstacles from teh ground.  What happens when he spooks and run you over.  Learn to “send” your horse thru obstcles.

more tips to come…