ACTHA Monthly February 2015 | Page 12

Trail Boss Obstacle Tips

POLES - Cavaletti

Deadfall falls in a forest in an unpredictable fashion. We suggest 3-6 poles 2 ft. 8in. to 3 ft. 6 in. apart for a trot, 11 ft. for a canter/lope; distance may be changed per ride host's discretion, as well as gait (walk, trot, canter across the poles).

Judge Criteria

Penalize for hitting, bumping, stepping directly on a pole (higher penalty), stumbling or moving the pole (most sever penalty).

The rider is to rise slightyly off the back of the horse, however, the rider should not collapse too much as to unbalance the horse (over weight the horse's forehand). Balance and soft hands are important.

Options

In-hand: lead horse

over the poles

Raise poles 6 in. off

the ground

Uneven spacing

Lay a cross pole

diagonally

Log jumble

Stop between poles

Straddle mid-pole

Stop before last pole

Straddle last pole

and side pass off

the pole (right or

left)

ACTHA Monthly | February 2015 | 12

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ACTHA Obstacles >>

VIDEO is available on this obstacle on the ACTHA Obstacles Page by clicking the Poles (Cavaletti) icon on the website. Click to go >

ACTHA Ambassadors Judy Limsky and Picasso