2026 Trail Horse Challenge
9th May 2026 - 9.00am start
Albany Equestrian Centre
Entries are now open for the 2026 May Trail Horse Challenge. This is the 1st of 2 Challenges for this year.
See the results of last year’s May Challenge here. Below are details of the activities and links to enter into this year’s May Challenge.
3 Activities:
The Trail Horse Challenge consists of 3 activities:
Trail Obstacles,
a Barrel Race, and
a Handy Handler Competition.
You are invited to participate with one or 2 horses and can either ride AND/OR lead your horse in any or all of the above.
Novice or Open Classes
There are 2 levels of competition: a Novice or an Open Class. If you nominate a horse in the Novice Horse section, it cannot compete in the Open section. Similarly, an Open Horse cannot compete in the Novice Horse section however you can compete in both Ridden and Online with the same horse if you wish.
Judges:
Obstacle Course: TBA
Barrel Race: TBA
Handy Handler: Julie Robins, Eva Bett and Jane Bushby
Each of your judges will be focussing on assessing your relationship over and above achieving the obstacles. They will be evaluating the following:
Novice
Obstacles:
Confidence (20) | Relaxation (20) / Connection (20) / Turnout (20)
with the Obstacle’s total score of 10 (10 x 12 obstacles) (120)
Maximum potential score of 200
Barrel Race:
You will be assessed on passing around each barrell in the correct sequence and direction and the person with the fastest time will win.
Handy Handler:
This will be assessed on your ability to perform 3 tasks - you will be competing with people from the Open class. Details coming soon.
Open
Obstacles:
Confidence (20) | Relaxation (20) / Connection (20) / Turnout (10)
with the Obstacle’s total score of 10 (10 x 13 obstacles) (130)
Maximum potential score of 200
Barrel Race:
As for Novice.
Handy Handler:
As for Novice.
The entry fee will vary depending on whether you’re an ANTs member; a member of another ATHRA club; a member of the AEC or club at the AEC; or none of the above. See the fees here.
Details
There are 2 categories in the Obstacle section, each with a Ridden and Lead (online) component. You may choose to do both components, or just the one.
Below are links to the Obstacle Challenge activity for all 4 categories, together with the scoring sheets, the Handy Handler and the Barrel Race. Be sure to check them out so you and your horse are prepared on the day.
Nominations will be opening soon.
Download the instructions for YOUR category of the Obstacle Course using the buttons below.
Nominations will be opening soon.
Ribbons will be awarded to the people with the highest score so remember to focus on:
Confidence | Relaxation / Connection / Turnout / Achievement