Obstacles

The obstacles you encounter at an Equine Trail Sports event are not timed, and may challenge you and your equine in the following skill sets: Confidence, Ground Manners, Horsemanship, and Precision. Some sample maneuvers are below.

Skill Set	Maneuver	Example Obstacle	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
CONFIDENCE	Control Reaction to Movement	Pulley	Obtain rope, back 3 steps pulling rope, walk forward until bag is on the ground. Release rope.	Obtain rope, back until bag reaches designated height above equine's head, walk forward until bag reaches the ground. Replace rope.	Obtain rope, back until bag reaches designated height above equine's head. Yield the hindquarters, side pass to lower the bag to the ground. Replace rope.
	Control Reaction to Setting	Campsite	Walk past campsite on path furthest from campsite.	Walk past campsite at midpoint from campsite.	Walk past campsite on path closest to campsite.
	Cross Over Obstacles	Bridge	Walk over bridge.	Walk to midpoint of bridge, stop for 3 seconds, and walk off bridge.	Walk to end of bridge, stop for 3 seconds, step off bridge leaving hind feet on bridge, stop for 3 seconds. Walk forward off bridge.
	Cross Through Obstacles	Water	Place equine's front feet in water, stand still for 3 seconds, back out.	Cross water at a walk in designated shallow area.	Cross water at a walk in designated deeper area.
	Handle Items	Broom Polo Playoffs	Obtain broomstick, at a walk approach ball, stand beside ball for 3 seconds. Replace broom.	Obtain broomstick, at a walk, use broom to hit the ball between two cones. Replace broom.	Obtain broomstick, at a walk use broom to weave ball through 3 cones and then into the goal. Replace broom.
GROUND MANNERS	Grooming	Spray Bottle	Dismounted, obtain spray bottle, spray legs and body from both sides of the equine.	Dismounted, obtain spray bottle, spray shoulders, chest, legs, and body from both sides of the equine.	Dismounted, obtain spray bottle, spray throat latch, chest, neck and shoulders from both sides of the equine.
GROUND MANNERS	Mounting	Mount	Mount facing away from hay.	Mount from the left side, in front of a loose pile of hay.	Mount from the off-side, in front of a loose pile of hay.
HORSEMANSHIP	Backup	L Back	Back straight part of L, stop, walk forward out.	Back the entire L.	Back the entire L, using leg and body signals only.
HORSEMANSHIP	Forward Movement	Downhill	Walk downhill over pole to end cone. Exit.	Walk downhill, pause for 3 seconds straddled over pole, walk to end cone.	Walk downhill, pause for 3 seconds straddled over end of pole, side pass off the opposite end of the pole, walk to end cone.
PRECISION	Gates	Ranch Gate	Walk up to gate, unlatch gate, open, walk through, release gate.	Walk up to gate, unlatch gate, open, walk through gate, close gate, latch gate.	Trot up to gate, unlatch gate, open gate, back through gate, close gate, latch gate.
	Handle Item	Spanish Pole	Obtain pole, place one end of pole in center of circle, holding opposite end of the pole, walk for a complete circle. Halt. Replace pole.	Obtain pole, place one end of pole in center of circle, holding opposite end of the pole, trot pole for a complete circle. Halt. Replace pole.	Obtain pole, place one end of pole in center of circle, holding opposite end of the pole, lope/canter pole for a complete circle. Halt. Replace pole.
	Turn on the Haunches	Keyhole	Walk into keyhole, stop, turn around, depart keyhole at a walk, stop back at the start cone.	Trot into keyhole, stop, turn on hind (yield fore) a half turn either direction, depart keyhole at a trot, stop back at the start cone.	Lope into keyhole, stop, turn on hind (yield fore) 1 1/2 turns either direction (may spin), depart keyhole at a lope, stop back at the start cone.
	Sidepass	Sidepass V	Sidepass right one length of the V.	Sidepass right the entire V.	Sidepass right over the entire V, then sidepass left over the entire V.