REGULATIONS & JUDGING GUIDELINES
NOVICE LEVEL

Page 2

10. Canter cavaletti
Obstacle consists of 3 or 4 raised groundrails placed in a fan shape.
Still holding the lance, the rider guides the horse over the groundrails.

DIRECTIVES - The judge should score the way in which the horse approaches the obstacle, its reaction to the groundrails, any movement of the pole and the rider's ease of movement
The horse should always advance at a steady pace and one rail at a time.

11. Wooden Bridge
The obstacle consists of a bridge made of wooden boards which the horse must cross.
The bridge will be approximately two metres long, 1.50 metres wide and 20 centimetres high.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the regularity of the gaits, transitions and willingness/confidence vis--vis the obstacle.
The judge should penalize a horse who shows reluctance in crossing the obstacle.

12. Using a Pole to dislodge a ball from a simlulated Bull
The obstacle consists of the figure of a bull as a target, upon which is placed a ball which should be struck by the end of the pole and dislodged.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should score the way in which the horse approaches the obstacle, its naturalness, the way in which the rider uses the pole and whether the ball is dislodged. If the rider strikes any other part of the obstacle with the pole, or uses the side of the pole to contact the ball, even if knocking the ball over, his score should be lower than if he had merely succeeded in striking the ball.

13. Placing a Pole in a Barrel
This obstacle should be classified as in Obstacle 9, with the only difference being that the pole should be placed in the barrel.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should score the way in which the horse approaches the obstacle, its reaction to the movement of the pole and the rider's ease of movement in placing the pole.
The exercise will be considered successfully completed even if the pole touches the bottom of the barrel and exits. The act of knocking the barrel over will be penalized. If the pole is dropped prior to being placed, the competitor may not continue the trial under penalty of disqualification. To avoid this situation the competitor will dismount, pick the pole up and then continue with the trial.

14. Pick up Hay feeder
The obstacle consists of a plastic 1/2 barrel attached to a rope that is draped over an upright post.
The rider canters to the post, retrieves the rope, and canters with the barrel in tow to the bridge. Rider proceeds to drag the barrel over the bridge.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the manner in which the horse approaches the post without showing any fear or reaction when the rider picks up the rope and drags the feeder. The rider will be penalized if the post is knocked over.

15. Drag barrel over Bridge
The obstacle consists of a wooden bridge which the horse must cross while dragging the barrel feeder.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the regularity of the gaits, transitions and willingness/confidence vis--vis the obstacle.
The judge should penalize a horse who shows reluctance in crossing the obstacle, or if the barrel falls off the side of the bridge and/or if the barrel damages the foliage around the bridge.

16. Drop off barrel and retrieve slicker from post
This obstacle consists of approaching an upright post with a slicker hanging from it. The horse will canter to the post, pause while the rider unhooks the slicker, and attaches the barrel rope to the post. The rider then takes the slicker and canters to the next obstacle.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the manner in which the horse approaches the post without showing any fear or reaction when the rider picks up the slicker and attaches the rope. The rider will be penalized if the post is knocked over.

17. Drop off slicker
This obstacle consists of an upright post with a hook.
The rider will leave the previous obstacle at the canter and will proceed at canter through the reinback corridor of Obstacle #5a before reaching the upright post, where the rider will place the slicker on the hook. The rider approaches the judge who acknowledges completion of the course.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the manner in which the horse passes through the L-shpaed corridor and approaches and remains at a halt next to the post without evidencing any signs of fear and lack of trust in the rider's use of aids. The rider will be penalized if post is knocked over or slicker is dropped.


C. Speed Trial
This trial will consist of the same obstacles as in the Ease of Handling trial, with the following changes:

- Obstacles may be negotiated at either walk or canter.
- After the judge has saluted the rider, the rider will commence his/her ride by starting a stopwatch at the start/finish and leaving it on the table.
- The slicker obstacle will not be included.
- The rider's last challenge is to retrieve the stopwatch from the table, stopping the timer before handing it to the judge taking care not to erase the ride time.

The only change to the rules on attire, tack and bits is that the use of protective boots is permitted.

The score will be based on the sum of the following:
- time taken to complete the course.
- time attributed to penalties.
- time subtracted for bonuses.

The event will be timed from the starting of the stopwatch by the competitor and will end when the competitor turns the stopwatch off.

In this trial, failure to complete an obstacle, or any uncorrected fault made during the course, will result in disqualification. A course fault is considered to have been committed when the competitor begins obstacle number ("n"+1), without having performed obstacle no. "n" or if he has not performed the pre-defined course within the obstacle.

General grounds for elimination:
- Taking more than a minute to enter the arena after being called
- Entering the arena before the bell has been rung;
- Taking more than a minute to begin the trial after the signal has been given;
- Failure to salute the judge;
- Moving away from the start before the judge has given the signal
- Failure to correct a course fault;
- Three consecutive refusals to perform the same obstacle;
- Fall of rider;
- Failure to complete an obstacle;
- Failure to move to the finish;
- Traces of blood on horse;
- Refusal of horse to advance for a period of 15 seconds;
- The same reasons pertaining to dress, tack and bits as in the dressage trial with the exception of the use of protective boots (which in this case are permitted).

Scoring and Penalties:

Start Stopwatch
Failure to start timer and leave on table - disqualification

1a. Bell at End of Corridor
Dislodging each fence in the corridor - 10 seconds each
Ringing the bell - deduct 10 second bonus
Failure to perform the obstacle - disqualification

1b. Gate
Dropping and failing to replace the rope - 30 seconds (rider may dismount to pick up the rope)
Failure to leave the gate latched - 20 seconds
Knocking over the uprights - 10 seconds
Failure to perform the obstacle - disqualification

2. Barrel
Touching barrel - 10 seconds
Course fault - disqualification

3. Pirouette inside a Triangle
Dislodging a rail - 10 seconds
Moving outside the defined areas - 10 seconds
Failure to perform the exercise - disqualification

4. Jumping over hay bales
The obstacle, in this trial, will be completed as rapidly as possible (any gait)
Dislodging rail - 5 seconds
Touching and displacing bale - 10 seconds
Failure to jump the obstacle - disqualification

5a. Backing up in corridor
Knocking over fences - 10 seconds each
Horse steps out of corridor - 15 seconds
Failure to perform the exercise - disqualification

5b. Sidepassing
Dislodging the rail - 5 seconds
One or more legs step over rail - 10 seconds
Failure to perform the exercise - disqualification

5c. Retrieve claw
Dropping claw - 5 seconds
One or more legs step over rail - 10 seconds
Failure to perform the exercise - disqualification

6. Pick up lost mailbag
Failure to pick up the bag - disqualification
Bag retrieved but is dropped and not picked up - disqualification

7. Jumping over brush pile
The obstacle, in this trial, will be completed as rapidly as possible (any gait)
Touching and displacing bale - 10 seconds
Failure to jump the obstacle - disqualification

8. Deliver mail and drop off claw
Dropping and failing to place the claw - 30 seconds (rider may dismount to pick up the claw)
Dropping and failing to place the mailbag - 30 seconds (rider may dismount to pick up the bag)
Knocking over the mailbox - 10 seconds
Failure to perform/complete the obstacle - disqualification

9. Removal of a Pole from a barrel
Failure to remove the pole - disqualification
Pole removed but is dropped and not picked up - disqualification
Knocking over the barrel - 10 seconds

10. Canter cavaletti
Dislodging rail - 5 seconds
Failure to complete the obstacle - disqualification

11. Wooden Bridge
The bridge will be crossed over as rapidly as possible in this trial (any gait)
Failure to cross bridge - disqualification

12. Using a Pole to dislodge the ball on the Figure of a Bull
Dislodging the ball - deduct 10 second bonus
Failure to strike the ball -10 seconds
Striking ball with side of pole instead of point - 20 seconds
Knocking over the bull - 10 seconds
Failure to pass through the zone defined for the obstacle - disqualification
Approaching the obstacle without collecting the pole - disqualification

13. Placing the Pole in a barrel
Failure to place the pole - 20 seconds
Pole is dropped but then picked up and placed in the drum after the rider mounts - no penalty
Knocking over the drum after placing the pole - 10 seconds
Knocking over the drum before the pole is placed - disqualification
The exercise will be considered to have been successfully completed when the pole strikes the bottom of the drum in which it is to be placed, even if it subsequently falls out. If the pole does not enter and is dropped, the competitor must dismount, pick it up, remount and continue the course (placing it inside the drum). The same procedure will be adopted if the pole is dropped at any point between exercise 9) and this exercise.

14. Pick up Hay feeder
Knocking over post - 10 seconds
Uncorrected course fault - disqualification

15. Wooden Bridge
The bridge will be crossed over as rapidly as possible in this trial (any gait) towing hay feeder
Feeder falls off bridge or damages foliage - 20 seconds
Failure to cross bridge - disqualification

16. Drop off Hay feeder
Knocking over post - 10 seconds
Uncorrected course fault - disqualification

17. Retrieve stopwatch from table
The exercise will be considered to have been successfully completed when the timer has been turned off and the stopwatch handed to the judge.
Failure to hand over stopwatch to judge - disqualification
Erasing of ride time by competitor before judge notes time elapsed - disqualification


APPENDIX I

The final individual score will be obtained by adding up the number of points awarded in each trial.

The points awarded per trial will conform to the following:

Number of competitors - N. Individual points for each trial:

1st . . . . . . . N+3 points
2nd. . . . . . . N points
3rd . . . . . . . N-2 points
4th . . . . . . . N-3 points
5th . . . . . . . N-4 points
..
..
last . . . . . . . . . 1 point
Competitors who have been eliminated in any of the trials will be awarded 0 (zero) points in each such trial but may participate in the following trials and earned points shall be included in the final classification.

FOR EXAMPLE:
For 12 competitors . . . . . N = 12

1st . . . . . . 15 points
2nd. . . . . . 12 points
3rd . . . . . . 10 points
4th . . . . . . . .9 points
5th . . . . . . . . .8 points
.. .. .. ..
.. .. .. ..
12th . . . . . . . 1 point
 
Points Multiplication Coefficients :
DRESSAGE - Coefficient 1.5
EASE OF HANDLING - Coefficient 1
SPEED - Coefficient 1.5

If you have questions please email: rafalet2ride@yahoo.ca

Click on links below to view PAALH 2006 Working Equitation information

* PAALH WE 2006 Home Page

• WE Obedience/Dressage 2006

• WE Course Map 2006

• WE Ease of Handling 2006

• WE Speed 2006

• Introduction to Working Equitation

Rafalet Equine Consulting Home Page

Last updated June 26, 2006

© 2006 K. Woollatt. All rights reserved.