2026 Trail Horse Challenge
Other Competitions
Below are the other activities that you will be assessed on for the Competition.
If you missed the information about the Challenge itself, you can view it here.
Tow a Float:
You will be assessed on your ability to tow a float smoothly, reverse it with relative precision, and corner with care. See below for the actual tasks and for the Assessment Sheet
Nominations have not yet opened for this event.
Tie a Knot
You will be required to tie a:
Bank Robber’s Knot; and a
Stockman’s Bowline
See the link below on how to tie these knots.
Note: the reason it’s important to be able to tie knots while trailriding is that you must be able to keep your horse and yourself safe, i.e.
your horse cannot escape unless you undo the knot;
your horse can’t shorten or lengthen the rope and get itself tied up;
you can undo the knot when needed (it doesn’t get jammed).
Here Ryan Rose, from Ryan Rose Horsemanship, demonstrates how to tie these knots.
Carrot Stick Handling
You’ll be assessed on 2 tasks:
Quickdraw and Strike; and
Reverse Quickdraw
In the videos below you’ll see an excerpt of a lesson by Coach Kristi Smith as she teaches students at her Clinic in Jacup.
Photo credits are to student Jane Bushby.
Quickdraw With this activity you will end it by striking the bucket after you have caught the carrot stick;
Reverse Quickdraw This requires you to catch the carrot stick behind you with your other hand.
Barrel Race
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Barrel Race pattern, see the diagram below.
The task is to be done either online or ridden and the person who is able to complete the pattern without knocking the barrels over, and has the fastest time, is the winner.
