Join us for our mounted games competition, which is open to riders of all ages.
The competition is open to individual riders, each bringing an unmounted friend or family member to take part. This means you can rope in a non-rider. If you are struggling with an unmounted friend to take part, we will step in and help.
We'll be doing the following races: Bending Race, Two Mug Shuffle, Egg and Spoon Race, Sock and Bucket Race and Duck Race. Full race descriptions are below.
Sections
Junior, under 12 years including lead rein
Junior, 12 – 16-year-olds
Seniors, 17 years and over
Entry Fee: £10 entry into all races
Prizes for each section: Rosettes for top placings in final of each individual race, as well as rosette and trophy for overall points winner.
Spectators welcome!
Secure parking in the Tip Field (opposite Tanfield Railway), Hedley West Farm, NE16 5EQ. No access to event from Hedley West Farm.
By kind permission of John and Carol Swinburn
GENERAL RULES:
1. Horses will be mounted correctly at all times. Vaulting on to the horse is NOT allowed.
2. No whips to be carried or spurs to be worn.
3. Riders are individuals plus a unmounted friend.
4. The unmounted person is an integral member of the team and in every race will be positioned behind the end line, at the opposite end of the arena to the start/finish line. When equipment is dropped, or a bending pole knocked over, the unmounted member must leave their post, retrieve the dropped/knocked item and hand it to the rider/replace it as appropriate. The rider must not continue until the unmounted member has returned to their post at the bottom end of the arena - if they do, the rider will be eliminated from the race.
5. No rider will dismount in order to pick up any dropped or knocked over equipment – any rider dismounting or falling off during a race will be eliminate from that race/heat.
6. Riders falling off must be checked by a first aider before remounting. They will be allowed to continue if both they and the first aider agree they can. If the first aider is not happy for them to continue, the Chief Steward’s decision will be final. .
7. Riders/horses (all four feet) must be behind the start line before commencing the race.
8. Reins cannot be knotted during any race.
9. If the whistle is blown during a race it indicates a safety incident and all riders must halt. The Chief Steward will restart the race when it is safe to continue.
10. Riding helmets to current standards, with chinstraps done up, must be worn at all times when mounted on site at the event.
11. Rider must wear suitable footwear, as must the unmounted person.
12. Hitting, rough handling (including any overzealous "Pony Club kicking"), or any ill treatment of a horse will result in elimination. In extreme circumstances, the rider will be disqualified from the competition. The Chief Steward’s decision on this is final.
13. Only team members and officials are allowed into the field of play.
14. Any appropriately fitted tack may be worn (Western saddles fine!) - it is the rider’s responsibility to ensure tack is safe and fit for the purpose.
15. It is the rider’s responsibility to ensure the horse is fit and well to compete. Any horse causing serious concern in terms of soundness, fitness or safety will be withdrawn from the competition and entry fees will be forfeit - the Chief Steward’s decision is final.
16. It is the rider’s responsibility to ensure that the horse and rider combination are appropriately sized for each other. If you are in any doubt whether your combination meets the "appropriate size" stipulation, please feel free to contact us in advance to discuss. Any horse/combination causing serious concern will be withdrawn from the competition and entry fees will be forfeit - the Chief Steward’s decision is final.
20. Riders must attend a short briefing before the start of the competition.
22. In a dispute in relation to any aspect of the competition, the decision of the Chief Steward is final.
Disclaimer:
The organisers have taken reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone present. For these measures to be effective, everyone must take reasonable precautions to avoid and prevent accidents.
RACE DESCRIPTIONS:
Please note these race descriptions and rules must be read in conjunction with the ‘General Rules’ above. General rules apply to all races. The race rules will be explained, and any queries answered, in the rider briefing on the day of the competition.
There will be heats and a final for each race. A random selection draw will take place before the day to decide which riders go into which heat. The winning rider in each heat will go into the final for each race. Only the final will score points – 4 points for the winner down to 1 point for fourth place. Points awarded in each final are accumulated to decide the overall result.
RACE 1 - BENDING RACE
Four or five poles (depending on the size of the arena) are placed in a line in the ground, approximately 10 metres apart. All riders line up at the top of the arena behind the start/finish line. .
On the signal to start (a whistle), rider rides down the arena and back again, weaving through the bending poles. On crossing the start/finish line, they repeat this, so in effect they are bending twice through the poles.
If a rider knocks over a bending pole, she/he must stop and wait until the unmounted member has replaced it and has returned to their position at the end of the arena. Only then can the rider continue.
RACE 2 - TWO MUG SHUFFLE
Tin mugs are placed on the top of the first and third poles along the arena. The riders will line up, behind the start/finish line, at the top of the arena.
On the signal to start, rider rides straight down the line of poles (not weaving between them) moving the first mug from pole one to two and the second mug from pole three to four and then continues to cross end line. They then ride straight up the arena replacing the mugs to their start position. Once they cross the start finish line, they then repeat again.
If a mug is dropped the rider must stop and wait until the equipment is retrieved and handed back to them by the unmounted member, who then returns to their place at the bottom of the arena. Only then can the rider continue with the race.
RACE 3 - EGG AND SPOON RACE
The rider is given an egg and spoon. On the signal to start, the rider must carry the egg on the spoon straight down the line of poles (not weaving between them). Once they cross the end line they must ride straight up the arena still carrying the egg on the spoon. Once the rider crosses, the start finish line, they then repeat again.
The rider is only allowed to touch the egg when placing it on the spoon. If the egg is dropped the rider must stop and wait until the equipment is retrieved and handed back to them by the unmounted member, who then returns to their place at the bottom of the arena. Only then can the rider continue with the race.
RACE 4 - SOCK & BUCKET
A bucket is placed at the start/finish line. A dish containing two rolled up socks is placed on the top of the last bending pole, near the bottom end of the arena. All riders line up behind the start/finish line and the unmounted member of the team is in position at the bottom end of the arena.
Rider rides down the arena to the last pole and picks up a sock (not weaving in an out of them). They then ride back up the arena, depositing the sock into the bucket on the way. Once rider has crossed over the start/finish line, they must then repeat the process collecting the second sock
If a sock is dropped on to the ground at any point or when attempting to put it into the bucket, the rider must stop and wait for the unmounted member to retrieve it and hand it back to them. The unmounted member must have returned to their position at the bottom end of the arena before the rider can continue.
RACE 5 - THE DUCK RACE
A bucket is placed half way down the arena containing two ducks, and the unmounted member stands at the bottom of the arena with a bucket. Rider has a pole & hook, rides to the bucket and hooks a duck, then rides to the bottom of the arena where the unmounted member removes the duck from the pole and places it in the bucket. The rider returns to the start/finish line and then repeats the process for the second duck
If a duck is dropped in the field of play then the unmounted member has to retrieve it, place it back on the hook and return to their place at the bottom of the arena before the rider can continue. A dropped pole must be retrieved in the same way.
Location
The Tip Field, Hedley West Farm, NE16 5EQ
Also check out other Sports events in Gateshead, Contests in Gateshead, Health & Wellness events in Gateshead.
