Trail

The following video is an example of the horse Its Only Natural in the Trail Class.

Its Only Natural – Trail

From AQHA Rules on the Trail Class:

TRAIL

1. This class will be judged on the performance of the horse
over obstacles, with emphasis on manners, response to the rider and
quality of movement. Credit will be given to horses negotiating the
obstacles with style and some degree of speed, providing correctness
is not sacrificed. Horses should receive credit for showing attentiveness
to the obstacles and the capability of picking their own way
through the course when obstacles warrant it, and willingly responding
to the rider’s cues on more difficult obstacles.

2.  Horses shall be penalized for any unnecessary delay while
approaching or negotiating the obstacles. Horses with artificial
appearance over obstacles should be penalized.

3. Horses must not be required to work on the rail. The
course must be designed, however, to require each horse to show the
three gaits (walk, jog, lope) somewhere between obstacles as a part of
its work, and quality of movement and cadence should be considered
as part of the maneuver score.

While on the line of travel between obstacles, the horse shall be balanced, carrying his head and neck in a relaxed, natural position, with the poll level with or slightly above the withers. The head should not be carried behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance. Gait between obstacles shall be at the discretion of the judge.

4. The course to be used must be posted at least one hour
before scheduled starting time of the class.

5. Scoring will be on the basis of 0-infinity, with 70 denoting
an average performance. Each obstacle will receive an obstacle score
that should be added or subtracted from 70 and is subject to a penalty
that should be subtracted.

Each obstacle will be scored on the following basis, ranging from plus 1 1/2 to minus 1 1/2: -1 1/2 extremely poor, -1 very poor, -1/2 poor, 0 correct, +1/2 good, +1 very good, +1 1/2 excellent.

Obstacle scores are to be determined and assessed independently of penalty points.

Penalties should be assessed per occurrence as follows:

6.  The following deductions will result:

One-half (½) Point
•each tick of log, pole, cone, plant, or any component of the obstacle

One (1) Point
•each bite of or hit of or stepping on a log, cone, plant or any component
of the obstacle
•incorrect or break of gait at walk or jog for two strides or less
•both front or hind feet in a single-strided slot or space
•skipping over or failing to step into required space
•split pole in lope-over

Three (3) Point
•incorrect or break of gait at walk or jog for more than 2 strides
•out of lead or break of gait at lope (except when correcting an
incorrect lead)
•knocking down an elevated pole, cone, barrel, planet, obstacle, or
severely disturbing an obstacle
•stepping outside of the confines of, falling or jumping off or out of
obstacle with one foot once the foot has entered obstacle; including
missing one element of an obstacle on a line of travel with one foot

Five (5) Point
•dropping slicker or object required to be carried on course
•first or second cumulative refusal, balk, or evading an obstacle by
shying or backing
•letting go of gate or dropping rope gate
•use of either hand to instill fear or praise
•stepping outside the confines of, falling or jumping off or our of an
obstacle with more than one foot once the foot has entered obstacle;
including missing one element of an obstacle on a line of travel with
more than one foot
•blatant disobedience (including kicking out, bucking, rearing, striking)
•faults, which occur on the line of travel between obstacles, scored
according to severity:
-head carried too high
-head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers)
-over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose
is carried behind the vertical
-excessive nosing out
-opening mouth excessively

Horse and Rider will be Disqualified with 0 – Score for the following:

•use of two hands (except in snaffle bit or hackamore classes desinated
for two hands) or changing hands on reins; except for junior
horses shown with hackamore or snaffle bit, only one hand may be
used on the reins, except that it is permissible to change hands to
work an obstacle as outlined in*****

•use of romal other than as outlined in ******
•performing the obstacle incorrectly or other than in specified order
•no attempt to perform an obstacle
•equipment failure that delays completion of pattern
•excessively or repeatedly touching the horse on the neck to lower
the head
•entering or exiting an obstacle from the incorrect side or direction
•working obstacle the incorrect direction; including overturns of
more than ¼ turn
•riding outside designated boundary marker of the arena or course
area
•third cumulative refusal, balk, or evading an obstacle by shying or
backing
•failure to ever demonstrate correct gait between obstacle as designated
•failure to follow the correct line of travel between obstacles
•faults that occur on the line of travel between obstacles, which will
be cause for disqualification, except in novice amateur or novice
youth classes, which shall be faults scored according to severity:
-head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers consistently)
-over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is
carried behind the vertical consistently

7. Management, when setting courses, should keep in mind
that the idea is not to trap a horse, or eliminate it by making an obstacle
too difficult. All courses and obstacles are to be constructed with
safety in mind so as to eliminate any accidents.

If difficult courses are set, novice trail should be less difficult. When the distances and spaces are measured between all obstacles, the inside base to inside base measurement of each obstacle considering the normal path of the horse, should be the measuring point. Enough space must be provided for a horse to jog [at least 30 feet (9 meters)] and lope [at least 50 feet (15 meters)] for the judges to evaluate these gaits.

7.  If disrupted, the course shall be reset. In the case that an
obstacle is used in combination, the obstacle cannot be reset until the
contestant finishes the entire obstacle.

8.  At least six obstacles must be used, three of which must be
from the mandatory list of obstacles and at least three others selected
from the list of optional obstacles.

9.  Mandatory obstacles:

(1) Opening, passing through and closing gate. (Losing
control of gate is to be penalized.) Use a gate which will not endanger
horse or rider. If the gate has a metal, plastic or wooden support
bar under the opening, contestants must work the gate moving forward
through it.

(2) Ride over at least four logs or poles. These can be in
a straight line, curved, zigzag or raised. The space between the logs is
to be measured and the path the horse is to take should be the measuring
point. Trotovers and lopeovers cannot be elevated in novice
classes.

All elevated elements must be placed in a cup, notched block,
or otherwise secured so they cannot roll. The height should be measured
from the ground to the top of the element. Spacing for
walkovers, trotovers, and lopeovers should be as follows or increments
thereof.

(A) The spacing for walkovers shall be 20″ to 24″ (40
cm to 60 cm) and may be elevated to 12″ (30 cm). Elevated
walkovers should be set at least 22″ (55 cm) apart.

(B) The spacing for trotovers shall be 3′ to 3′6″ (90 194
cm-105 cm) and may be elevated to 8″ (20 cm).

(C) The spacing for lopeovers shall be 6′ to 7′ (1.8 to
2.1 meters) or increments thereof, and may be elevated to 8″ (20 cm).

(3) Backing obstacle. Backing obstacles to be spaced a
minimum of 28″ (70 cm). If elevated, 30″ (75 cm) spacing is
required. Entrants cannot be asked to back over a stationary object
such as a wooden pole or metal bar.

(A) Back through and around at least three markers.
(B) Back through L, V, U, straight or similar-shaped
course. May be elevated no more than 24″ (60 cm).

10.  Optional obstacles, but not limited to:

(1) Water hazard (ditch or small pond). No metal or
slick bottom-boxes will be used.
(2) Serpentine obstacles at walk or jog. Spacing to be
minimum of 6′ ( 1.8 meters) for jog.
(3) Carry object from one part of arena to another. (Only
objects which reasonably might be carried on a trail ride may be used.)
(4) Ride over wooden bridge. (Suggested minimum
width shall be 36″ (90 cm) wide and at least six feet long). Bridge
should be sturdy, safe and negotiated at a walk only.
(5) Put on and remove slicker.
(6) Remove and replace materials from mailbox.
(7) Side pass (may be elevated to 12″ (30 cm) maximum).
(8) An obstacle consisting of four logs or rails, each 5′ to 7′
(1.5 to 2.1 meters) long, laid in a square. Each contestant will enter the
square by riding over log or rail as designated. When all four feet are
inside the square, rider should execute a turn, as indicated, and depart.
(9) Any other safe and negotiable obstacle which could
reasonably be expected to be encountered on a trail ride and meets
the approval of the judge may be used.
(10) A combination of two or more of any obstacle is acceptable.

11.  Unacceptable obstacles:
(1) Tires
(2) Animals
(3) Hides
(4) PVC pipe
(5) Dismounting
(6) Jumps
(7) Rocking or moving bridges
(8) Water box with floating or moving parts
(9) Flames, dry ice, fire extinguisher, etc.
(10) Logs or poles elevated in a manner that permits such
to roll
(11) Ground ties

12. The judge must walk the course and has the right and duty
to alter the course in any manner. The judge may remove or change
any obstacle he deems unsafe or non-negotiable.

If at any time a trail obstacle is deemed to be unsafe by the judge, it shall be repaired or removed from the course. If it cannot be repaired and horses have completed the course, the score for that obstacle shall be deducted from all previous works for that class.

Green Trail

(a) The purpose of green trail is to allow a horse to compete
on an entry-level field with horses of the same level of experience.
The green trail is a stepping-stone to the more advanced level of
competition with seasoned horses. This class should be judged
according to the purpose of its intent.

(b) Green trail will be judged on the performance of the horse
over obstacles with emphasis on movement, smoothness in gaits and
transitions and willingness to execute the maneuvers with a willing
attitude. Horses shall be penalized for artificial appearance
over the obstacles.

(c) The course should be designed for the entry-level horse.
Ample space should be used to execute the obstacles.

(d) Horses, regardless of their age, may be ridden with one
hand and a standard western bit as approved by AQHA equipment
rules or with two hands and a snaffle bit or bosal as described
under AQHA equipment rules.

(e) With the exception of eligibility and equipment requirements,
the same rules apply in green trail as apply in trail.

(f) Horses eligible to compete:
(1) Horses in their first year of showing in AQHAapproved
shows in trail.
(2) Horses that have shown during previous years in
AQHA-approved green trail, open trail, amateur trail or youth trail,
but have not won more than 10 points or won more than $1,000 in
these classes as of January 1 of the current show year. Points from all
divisions will count and are cumulative in determining eligibility.
Novice points will not count.

(g) Green trail will not be held as a World Show class.