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Ideas for fun tasks

Finding Challenges around Your Place

Kristen and Snowy discovered many interesting things to play with around the farm.

Squeeze around the verandah post

Walk up the chutre and over the cattle scales

Stand between hay rolls and cope with a person above.

Tasks featured at the
Agfest Challenge Tournament

The idea of this event is to have fun and complete as many of the challenges as you can in the allotted time. The total time is 30 minutes and each task successfully completed scores 5 points. You will be able to add 5 extra points for every additional part of a task marked with an asterisk* and typed in bold italics – these are optional.
No points will be scored for each part of a section not completed successfully.

Equipment you need to have ready: (Place in the arena at the witches hat before you start).
Helmet
Saddle
Sticks & String
12’ rope (a 22’ will be at the float).
Halter or hackamore on your horse.
Any additional props for imagination task
FLOAT LOADING –4 mins.
1. Load from the marker on the corner of the tailgate. Once both back feet are in, ask horse out after 20 secs.
2. Load from the mudguard - Once both back feet are in, ask horse out after 20 secs
3. Load from the marker 12’ away from the tailgate. Once both back feet are in, ask horse out after 20 secs
4. Load while standing with one foot in the front door* Once both back feet are in, ask horse out after 20 secs
LIBERTY – 8 mins.
1. Drive from zone 3 a full circle around the yard in each direction at the walk or trot with the horse closest to the tape. Stop and backup 4 steps*
2. Then play the circling game for 2 laps in each direction at the trot or canter* with friendly game in between direction change.
3. Play the yo-yo game to 12’ away.
4. Squeeze game out of the round yard then see how many tasks on the trail section you can complete within the time limit. You can choose any of the tasks and each successful one receives an extra 5 points.
Liberty Trail course (you can leave halter & rope on around neck but 1 point penalty for each time you touch it)
1. Squeeze your horse through the gate without taking your hand off it* then close the gate.
2. Back through the L shape (you can walk through it first) then go sideways over the poles back to the start.
3. Cross the tarp length ways and stop on the bridge.
4. Drag the bag around the tarp, replacing the rope on the drum.
5. Weave around the markers in a line to the end and back, at the walk or trot*
6. Put the raincoat on and walk past the wine bladders and under the umbrellas.
7. Disengage hindquarters and face up to umbrellas.
8. Have your horse follow you at a walk or trot* to the drum –stop and back up 6 steps keeping the horse behind you then leave the coat on the drum.
FREESTYLE RIDING – 16 mins (incl. Trail course & optional tasks)
1. Saddle from the off side without tying or at liberty* (stirrups down – bareback pad ok)
2. Send horse over a jump after each girth tightening (at least twice) online or at liberty*
3. Mount and ride a figure 8 at the trot with 1 rein or 1 stick*. (Keep rein on one side)
4. Stop and backup for 6 steps in a straight line.
5. With 2 reins or 1 rein* canter around the round yard 1 complete lap and come down gracefully to sideways for 1 section of the yard (6m) and then stop.
6. Pivot on the hindquarters away from the fence to change direction.
7. Canter again and come down to sideways and a stop.
Proceed to Trail Course and complete tasks then return to the optional Freestyle tasks for extra points.
TRAIL COURSE Ridden
8. Go to the drum and mount bareback, put string around neck – (optional to remove halter & reins)*
9. Back up 6 steps in a straight line.
10. Weave around the slalom at a walk then go sideways over the pole or jump from a trot then stop with an indirect rein*.
9. Open and close the gate with a string looped around it or without taking your hand off the gate*.
10. Back through the L shape (you can walk through it first) then go sideways over the poles back to the start.
11. Cross the tarp length ways and stop on the bridge & drop your reins for 10 secs..
12. Drag the bag around the tarp, replacing the rope on the drum.
13. Weave around the markers to the end and back at the walk or trot*.
14. Put the raincoat on and ride past the wine bladders and under the umbrellas.
15. Disengage hindquarters and face up to umbrellas then dismount..
16. Lead horse behind you at a walk or trot* to the drum –stop and back up 6 steps keeping the horse behind you then leave the coat on the drum.
Optional Freestyle tasks - unsaddled
EXTRA-ORDINARY TASK – 2 mins. – Score is 20 points if successfully completed. Use your imagination to show something fun and intersting that isn't a task in the Parelli program.

Maximum points = 260

More Interesting Challenges
TEAM TASKS - these tasks are a good way for all levels to interact together while riding their horses.

1. CARROT STICK CATCHING - ride with saddles and 1 rein.
Have more riders than carrot sticks and toss the carrot stick to each other like its hot. Do this at the walk then try trotting. Don't hold onto the carrot stick for more than 10 seconds. Its handy to have someone on foot to pick up dropped carrot sticks.
This game helps the horse become calmer and the rider to develop an independant seat and focus.

2. LA BAMBA SQUEEZE - ride bareback or with saddles and 2 reins.
Place 2 44' gallon drums 22' apart and have 2 people stand on the drums, holding the 22' rope up high. Riders have to squeeze under the rope as it gradually gets lower. Riders are out when they touch the rope. See who can go the lowest! (Usually the smallest pony!)

Develops rider focus and flexibility and is a good emotional squeeze game for the horse.

3. BULLFIGHTER GAME - ride with bareback or saddles and 1 rein.
Have people on foot with carrot sticks pretend to be bulls. They can only charge (slowly) at zones 2 and 4 with the riders using either an indirect or direct rein to avoid being 'horned' by the bull.
Great for controlled catastrophe and mental, emotional and physical fitness.

4. HANDSHAKES - ride with saddle and 2 reins.
Ride straight towards someone and as you meet, shake hands while turning a full circle then ride onto the next person. Develops an independant seat, mental, emotional & physical fitness.

5. FIGURE 8 - ALTERNATE CROSSOVER - ride with saddle & 2 reins.
Evenly space riders on a circle and walk then trot while staying evenly spaced. Then have a lead rider start the 2nd circle of a figure 8. Riders should crossover alternately as they walk then trot.
Develops focus, Don't change gait and look where you are going.

6. HORSE SHOE CANTER WITH LEAD CHANGES - ride with saddle & 2 reins.
Form 2 even groups of riders with one group at each end of a horse shoe. One rider at a time canters around in a horse shoe shape towards the other group, bends to a trot then canters back to their group on the correct lead. Riders from each group take turns. Try this at the trot first.
Develops focus, independant seat and drop to trot changes.

7. PASSENGER RIDING - Bareback or with saddle and 1rein or no reins and carrot stick.
In an enclosed area, practice being a passenger. Ride at all paces, practice transitions of gait without touching the reins unless you need to avoid a problem situation. Let the horse go wherever he wants but keep moving at the pace you want.
Develops Don't change gait, look where you are going (horse), independant seat.

8. CARROT STICK POLO - ride with saddle & 1 or 2 reins + carrot stick. Large ball required.
Starting slowly, everyone to take turns at hitting the ball with the handle of the carrot stick.
Once mastered this can be developed into a game of 2 teams with goals and a goal scoring area marked out. Develops focus, independant seat, mental, emotional & physical fitness.

9. HORSEMAN'S STRING CONNECTION - ride bareback or with saddle and 2 reins.
Riders form pairs, connected by holding (easier) or sitting on a horseman's string while negotiating a course at various paces. Develops focus.

10. CLOVER LEAF WITH SENTRY - ride bareback or with saddle & 2 reins.
One rider at a time is to stand in the centre while all the others ride around in a cloverleaf pattern. The 'Sentry' (standing rider) must keep horse still and relaxed while others ride close by. Swap riders after 2 - 3 minutes so everyone takes a turn at being the sentry.
Develops emotional fitness for the horse and don't change gait or direction + focus for the rider.
EdDabney.com - has a page of challenging obstacles on his web site.

kbrhorse.net - also has pages of interesting obstacle courses.

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