OklahomaHorses Magazine May 2022

May/June 2022 • OklahomaHorses 21 as young as seven years old, youth and adult novice, intermediate, nonprofession- al, and professional. A “Ride Smart” class is available for riders 55 years old or more. Obstacles are designed with efforts to replicate situations a ranch cowboy might encounter, with the degree of difficulty customized for each class. The advanced classes frequently involve the use of cattle and roping skills. Each is assigned a diffi- culty rating from one through six, with six being the most difficult. Judging of each obstacle consists of three components: the approach to the obstacle, the obstacle itself, and the departure from the obstacle. Competitors are scored on obstacles and on overall horsemanship and time to complete the course. All breeds of horses with no specialized training are encouraged to participate, and two of the primary purposes of the sport are “to have fun with your horses and improve your horsemanship” at the same time. EXCA also features a nomi- nated futurity division and a Green Horse division, both based on the horse’s age and ability rather than the rider’s. For more information and event listings, visit the EXCA website at https://extremecowboyas- sociation.com. The American Horsemen Challenge Association, a fairly new organization based in Missouri, is focused on families and riders of all ages. AHCA features classes for in-hand and lead-line competitors, children, youth, and adult riders of all skill levels as well as two Green Horse levels, a junior horse class and an English division. The AHCA website states that the group’s mission is ”to promote horsemanship and sportsmanship at its highest level while providing an arena of camaraderie within a competitive obstacle course setting. Its purpose is to instill public awareness and respect for the horse while members strive to improve their horsemanship skills. All competitions will be conducted with the highest level of integrity.” Indoor and outdoor obstacle courses might apply and feature a single judge for all classes. Competitors receive points based on their ability to accomplish obstacles and their time to complete a course, but the emphasis is on horsemanship and camara- derie in a family friendly atmosphere. Another association with obstacle competitions is the Ultimate Horsemens Challenge Association, with headquarters in Kansas. UHCA was formed in 2008 by a group of EXCA competitors who enjoyed the sport so much they set out to share the opportunity with other riders. According to the UHCA website, eight divisions offer riders of every level the opportunity to compete and demonstrate their skills while improving horsemanship and communica- tion with their horses. UCHA events are aimed at fun for the entire family. The events challenge horse- and-rider teams to maneuver through a series of obstacles while demonstrating skill, finesse, horsemanship, and speed. Scores are given for each obstacle, and rid- ers are judged on overall horsemanship. The association welcomes all breeds of horses and mules and can be reached at www. ultimatehca.com. Many ranch-horse and versatility ranch- horse competitions also feature obstacles that might resemble situations likely in the ranching industry. Several venues and associations throughout the state offer ranch-horse shows and events, including the Oklahoma Stock Horse Association, Western Oklahoma Ranch Horse Asso- ciation, Oklahoma Foundation Horse Registry, and Heartland Ranch Horse Shows. Other disciplines that use various types of obstacles might include western and cowboy dressage, working equitation, endurance racing, and others. For many years, breed and other show organizations have featured trail classes with obstacles in an arena setting. Types of Obstacles Vary Obstacles used at competitions vary. Wooden bridges, teeter-totter bridges, and gates are common. Obstacle designers and builders are free to use their imaginations as long as the obstacles are safe for horses and riders. Combinations of materials that are used include tarps, logs, plastic pipe, pool noodles, barrels, potted plants, tractor tires, lumber, crossties, ropes, dirt, gravel, water, and much more. Some of the more advanced obstacles include moving objects from one place to another, dragging, push- ing, side passing, pivoting on the hindquar- ters, jumping, and more. Obstacle challenging is not only a fun sport, but the training also increases the horse’s ability to safely manage unusual sit- uations with confidence and to build trust in the rider. Obstacles help to enhance the horsemanship of riders and the relation- ships between horses and riders, resulting in solid partnerships. As we all know, it takes lots of saddle time to develop a good horse and a good rider. Regardless of the discipline, obstacles can help this process, keeping horse and rider engaged by adding variety to training sessions and pleasure rides as well as “seasoning” events and competitions. Tammy Burgard of Shawnee jumps her bay horse gracefully over an obstacle at an Extreme Cowboy Association event. Photo by Marilyn Merrick.