[Wild Foal]

I think CTR would be tons of fun. But I want to know what it really is. I know you follow a course and try to have the best time without over working your horse. My questions are does you horse have to be 5 (like in Jumping and Gaming) or just bomb proof? Do you do it alone or with a partner? Does your horse have to be reg.? If you have any other info on this PLEASE share, I would love to look into doing it with Starlight.

Thanks,
Holly

[Top Dun]

1. any horse can compete registered or not

2. it is a set course and you are judged on how well you do the obstacles. You don't have to be perfect you just try and do them and they judge you on that.

3, you can ride alone or with a buddy, but it is an individual competition in that you and your horse get judged against everyone else.

[Bella]

Top Dun.. I think you are thinking of a Judged Trail Ride... Competitive Trail Rides do not have obstacles that are judged.

It is based on endurance riding, only it's not exactly a race. Riders are sent out at different time intervals, and their ride is timed. There are check points along the way and the horse is graded by a vet at each point.

Points are awarded on how they handle the ride physically, as well as time it takes to finish.

-Bella

[MaggieSue]

Yes...no obstacles. And you have a vet check before and after the ride, then they take points off for different things...lameness, swelling, dehydration, etc. The horse with the highest score wins-so you could come in dead last (in the time allotted)and still win!
My horse in her last race got a score of 99.5 out of 100!
Needless to say, she won.

[Wild Foal]

MaggieSue: Congrats!! Glad to know you and your horse won.

Thanks for the info. Does the horse have to be 5 or can you do it with a 3 year old.

[Top Dun]

NATRC DOES have judged obstacles. Things like
1. walking a horse over logs.
2. Backing a horse up a hill
3. Controlled canter and then stop quitely on command.
4. Crossing water.
5. Climbing rock hills

http://www.natrcregion6.org/

The horse is judged on condition, soundness and trail ability on natural trail obstacles.

http://members.aol.com/MFTHorses/natrcn1.htm

Also along the route, the horsemanship judge asks horse and rider to navigate natural obstacles in ways that demonstrate the rider's horsemanship skills. Examples:
1 Walk to the judge, do a forehand turn or 90 degrees and then back up the trail which has a slight upward incline.
2. Perform an on-side mount, off-side mount and dismount in front of judge.
3. Judge is at a creek on a hot day. He observes if riders dismount, cool and water horses.
The horsemanship judge fills out each competitor's ride card, scoring on grooming, in hand presentation, tack and equipment, trail equitation, trail care, safety and courtesy, and stabling.

Competitive trail WILL judge how well a horse crosses obstacles. It's not the same at all as endurance. Competitive trail and Judged trail rides are practically the same thing.

I've even heard about obstacles in Competitive trail rides where the individuals had to ride up near a person holding a llama and sign in on a paper then get back on the horse and ride off with the horse being quite and not flipping out about the llama.

However NATRC did recently allow for "milage only" rides where you ride the distance but don't get judged on the performance.
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-ne...ce-only-option

Originally Posted by Bella

Top Dun.. I think you are thinking of a Judged Trail Ride... Competitive Trail Rides do not have obstacles that are judged.

It is based on endurance riding, only it's not exactly a race. Riders are sent out at different time intervals, and their ride is timed. There are check points along the way and the horse is graded by a vet at each point.

Points are awarded on how they handle the ride physically, as well as time it takes to finish.

-Bella

[Jess!]

Top Dun is correct CTR's do have obstacles

That is why I prefer endurance. Someone I knew got points taken off because she was in her western saddle, and riding with two hands "english" instead of one rein.

I'm not out there to be picked apart for my equitation, I'm out there to race against the clock, myself, and just to finish.

[bunnie]

I always loved doing it. My daughter always place in the trail class she loved it. Just go in there and do your best. The way i always told my daughter you go in there and do your best it is not always about winning but doing your best and letting your horse do it's best. Good luck in the trail class.

[Top Dun]

in NATRC the horse has to be a minimum of 4 years old for the limited distances and then 5 years old for full distances.

Originally Posted by Wild Foal

MaggieSue: Congrats!! Glad to know you and your horse won.

Thanks for the info. Does the horse have to be 5 or can you do it with a 3 year old.

[Finallyownhorse]

Originally Posted by Bella

Top Dun.. I think you are thinking of a Judged Trail Ride... Competitive Trail Rides do not have obstacles that are judged.

It is based on endurance riding, only it's not exactly a race. Riders are sent out at different time intervals, and their ride is timed. There are check points along the way and the horse is graded by a vet at each point.

Points are awarded on how they handle the ride physically, as well as time it takes to finish.

-Bella

I think that sounds like a lot of fun! I need to look into that too.

So is it slower pace than endurance?