Let's Talk Obstacles: Episode 1

Obstacles

Since my first post ended by discussing DQs..and the DQs were all on obstacles, I thought I'd start a series where we look at the obstacles one by one. I mean, there are a lot of them to look at and they each come with their own specific requirements for performance.

One of the most important guides in the rule book, BTW is found on page 37 of the current (ver. 5.1) rule book. It's table 6-1 and it will tell you the gaits at which each obstacle is to be performed. I can tell you that this is a question that is ALWAYS asked at a course walk and the judges almost always have to look at that very table to answer your question, so take note and have that chart available to consult. I actually print all this stuff and put it in a 3 ring binder that I keep in my horse trailer. I'm old and like an actual book to page through, but lots of folks screen shot the page and keep it on their phone. Either way that table is a must have at a competition.

The link to Appendix B of the rule book is HERE, because that's the appendix that contains the rules for each of the 23 obstacles (one of the obstacles is the 'herding cattle' BTW). There are 23 potential obstacles available for a course designer to choose from, and those course designers must also follow specific rules when laying out the course, but for now I'll just start in alphabetical order and we'll look at a few obstacles per post. I have bolded specific information of note and the descriptions etc. are copied directly from the appendix. 

The Bank

• Description.  The  obstacle  consists  of an  embankment  of  natural  substance  positioned  not more  than  30  to  60  cm  (1  to  2  ft) above  ground  level. A  level  plateau  is  at  the  top  and bottom  of  the  embankment; the  plateau  must be  at least 2-m  (6.5-ft)  long  in  the  direction of  travel.  There  may  be  ramps  leading  to  and  away  from  the  level  plateaus.   

• Execution.  The  horse  should  approach  and  maintain  the  chosen  gait  through  the  obstacle naturally  and  without  any  hesitation.  The  obstacle  can  be  executed  as  either  an  up-bank or  a  down-bank.  Both  an  up-bank  and  a  down-bank  may  be  incorporated  and  scored  as one  obstacle.  This  obstacle  is  not  used  for  Introductory  (L1)  riders. 

•   Assessment  Criteria  (EOH).    The  Judge  will  evaluate  the  manner  in  which  the  horse approaches  the  bank,  the  smoothness  of  the  execution, the  consistency  and  quality  of  gait throughout  the  exercise,  and  confidence  in  the  rider’s  instructions.  Lower  marks  are awarded  for  hesitancy.  A  horse  that  steps  backward  before  going  over  the  bank  or  steps off  the  side  of the  bank  will  receive  a  negative  mark.

I haven't ridden at a competition with a bank in it except when the course is also outside. The Oregon Horse Center has a bank obstacle available and the course in Montana at Regionals also had a bank obstacle. It can be really intimidating to canter up and down those banks (or when your clumsier horse catches a toe on the way up..it's darn near heart-stopping). Horses also frequently break gait on the down side and/or refuse the up side. I highly recommend practicing a two foot minimum step-up and down before you're faced with one in a competition.

Olivia Chapeski at the Bank, Missoula, MT
Used by Permission

Jen Lenz 
The Bank at Aspen 

The Bell Corridor

• Description.  A  corridor  is  made  from  two  parallel  rails  resting  on supports,  small  fences,  or  walls  at  least  30  cm  (12  in.)  in  height.  The supports  are  not  secured  in  the  ground.    The  rails  are  approximately 3.7-m  (12-ft) long  and  1.5  m  (5-ft) apart. A  bell  is  placed  2-m  (6.5-ft) high  at  the  end  of the  corridor.   The  support  holding  the  bell  is placed  so  that  the  bell  hangs  in  center  of  the  corridor.

• Execution.  The  horse  and  rider enter the  corridor at the  prescribed gait  for  the  level  and  halt  at  the  end  of  the  corridor.    The  rider  rings the  bell and  reins  back  through  the  corridor.  The  obstacle  is completed  when  the  front  of  the  horse  clears  the  obstacle  and  course markers  (if  present).

• Assessment  Criteria  (EOH).  The  Judge  will  evaluate  the  horse’s  attitude,  straightness, gait,  and  collection; the  immobility  of  the  horse  at  the  bell; the  rider’s  use  of aids; and  the fluidity, continuity, and  quality  of  the  performance.    A  higher  score  will  be  awarded  for performing  the  obstacle  well  at  the  canter rather than  at walk  when  allowed.    The  Judge will  give  a  lower  mark  to  a  horse  that  drags  its  feet during  the  rein  back. The  Judge  will give  a  lower  mark  if a horse touches the  rails, and  a  negative  mark  if the  horse  displaces or  knocks  down  any  of  the  rails  or  if the  horse  steps  over  the  rails.  Failure  of the  horse  to remain  still will be  penalized.    Failure  of  the  rider to  ring  the  bell will result in disqualification.  Exiting  the  destination  (bell)  end  of  the  corridor  with  all  four  feet  will result in  disqualification. 

The bell corridor is very much to be expected in almost every competition. The corridor can be a 'L' shape, which makes backing out of it a tad trickier. Make note that if your HORSE rings the bell instead of your hand, that's not OK, so don't accept that if it happens, ring the bell clearly with your hand even if your horse has done it for you. Also, it looks better and scores better if you don't lean forward or rise up in the stirrups to ring the bell. Try to position your halt so that you can simply raise your hand (the same hand must be used for ALL obstacles you touch) to ring the bell; all while at a miraculously square halt of course! This obstacle can be very scary for horses. Some don't like the bell ringing over their heads, some get claustrophobic headed into the corridor, and a LOT of horses really struggle with the rein back to get out of the obstacle. This is an obstacle that looks very innocent but, depending on where it's placed in the course can really present some challenges. At Regionals in Montana, Besita took issue with the bell corridor. She had to face the bell 6 times I think, and every single time got worse until she refused it at the last. Fortunately for me I could ask for a pass at Novice level, once we move up, that would be a DQ. Now a smart person would've set up a substitute at the second refusal and worked through that before the next test but no one ever accused me of being that smart, so when I got home I had to do some serious re-schooling of the bell corridor. 

I'd love to hear you experiences with these two obstacles, and if anyone has a PHOTO that demonstrates these two obstacles I'd love to share them. That's it for now so until the next post..Happy Riding!

Heather