We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine August 2019 | Page 33

Mark

Learn more online:

www.imtca.org

Next put your left foot in the stirrup or iron and swing your right leg over and mount up.

When judging by IMTCA rules (International Mountain Trail Challenge Association) the horse must walk into and up to and stand parallel to the dismount obstacle.

The horse is not to move until the person is standing on the obstacle.

One point is taken off if the dismount procedure is not followed. Once the horse is asked to move off it must not stop until doing a 360 and standing parallel to the obstacle. Each time it stops before completing the 360 one point is taken off for a break of gait. When mounting I take off one point for each time the horse moves before asked and one point for improper mounting.

If you take the time to do it right the first time you will have much more success impressing the judge and most importantly your horse will be relaxed along with you.

Happy Trails and Bolender Blessings.