Rated Trail Program

The Rated Trail course is designed in a natural trail environment fashioned to accommodate any level of rider and will allow sufficient time for course completion.  There will be a minimum and maximum time for each ride. Each ride lasts 2-3 hours long.

The Rated Trail Director will send riders and horses to the trail at intervals so as not to create congestion.  Riding in pairs or small groups is allowable, provided there is enough space between riders at the judged areas. 

Within the trail ride, each horse and rider will encounter five judged obstacles.  See 2010 obstacle course listing.

There will be a judge at each location to score each horse on an established scale based on the horse’s attitude, manners, style and willingness to perform each task. 
At the completion of each competition, judges will submit their score sheets to the registrar who will tally the results and forward to the RMRTP Secretary.

At the completion of the year’s competition, the RMRTP Committee Secretary will calculate and disseminate total accumulated points for each competitor.  The RMRTP committee will arrange for recognition of the participants.

Rules for RMRTP

A.  Event Eligibility:

1.  Events are open to all RMHA members in good standing.

a.     Participants 17 years of age must compete in the Junior Division.

b.     Members over 60 years may participate in the Senior Division.

c.     All other applicants will compete in the General Division.

d.     A horse may compete in one division--Senior, Junior or General. 

e.     One parent or legal guardian must attend the competitions with their juveniles in order to compete.  The RMRTP strongly recommends a parent ride with their child in the competitions.

2.  Riders must have a Rated Trail Rider card to be eligible for points or payouts.

3.  Rides are open to all Registered and Certified Rocky Mountain Horses, 36 months of age and older, including

                registered & certified grade mares.

4.  Only Registered and Certified Rocky Mountain Horses will qualify for awards.

B. Registration:

1.  Pre-Registrations:  The committee will publish on the appropriate web sites downloadable application forms that participants may submit between 30-90 days in advance of any scheduled event.  Supporting documents (see below) must accompany all applications.

2.  Day of Event Registration:  Applicant must present their applications, along with required documentation (see below), to the registrar at least one hour before the scheduled start time of the event.  No horses should be brought to registration.

C.  Required Documents & Information:

1.    Completed registration form.

2.    Payment of entry fees per ride:  $20 per rider.

3.    Original copy of horse’s registration papers.  If the rider submitted a copy with pre registration, they must still show the original to the registrar on the day of the event.

4.    Registration papers must show horse Certification as all horses must be certified to compete for awards.

5.    Horse must be 3 years old (36 months of age) by event day.

6.    Current RMRTP Rider’s Card.

7.    Current RMHA Membership Card.

8.    Current negative Coggins test.

9.    Current State Health Certificate indicating horse is free of disease.  Kentucky certificates are good for one year or until Coggins expires.  Out-of-state health certificates must be within 30 days.

10.  For youth, a signed release for the rider and the horse. One parent or legal guardian must attend the competitions with their juveniles in order to compete.   The RMRTP strongly recommends a parent ride with their child in the competitions.

Event Management:

The RMRTP director will assign the following personnel to manage an event. 

A.  Registrar:

1.  The RMRTP Committee and/or Director will appoint a Registrar for each ride.

            2.  Registrar will be familiar with the rules of registration and the process of recording and compiling scores. 

Registrar’s Duties:

1.  Accept/record all registrations.

2.  Give each applicant a trail map.

3.  Issue a back number to each participant.

4.  Record assigned back number in the records of the ride along with the completed registration forms.

5.  At completion of the event, the registrar will: 

              a.  Collect the score sheets from each judge.

              b.  Record completion time as each participant returns.

B.  Timer:  The Timer will:

       1.  Assign the starting order of the participants.

       2.  Record starting time for each rider on a score sheet.

       3.  Record completion time as each participant returns.

       4.  Notify the Trail Master of any minimum/maximum time violations.

C.  Trail Master:  The Trail Master’s determination is FINAL.   They will be responsible for all aspects of the event on the trail including the Judges score cards.  The RMRTP Assistant Director will be the Trail Master.

       1.  Laying out trails with directions along the way.  

       2.  Setting up trail obstacles.

       3.  Advising participants of the following prior to the ride:

              a.  Review of the trail map.

              b.  Identification of trail marks.

              c.  The minimum and maximum times for ride completion.

              d.  Water locations.

              e.  Safety requirements while on the ride.

       4.  Announcing trail changes during the ride. 

       5.  Enforcing the rules of the ride. (All participants must fully comply with the Trail Master’s instructions.)

       6.  Submitting ride results and information to the RMRTP Committee Secretary. 

D.  Judges: 

       1.  The RMRTP Director and or Assistant Director will recruit and train judges.

       2.  Judges will assess scores based on a scale of 0 to 5.

                             0  =  Bypass obstacle

                             1  =  Insufficient, beyond skill level

                             2  =  Made effort, skills need development

                             3  =  Adequate job, obvious mistakes

                             4  =  Above average, very minor mistakes

                             5  =  Perfect, no discernible mistakes

3.     After all Riders have completed an obstacle, the judge will promptly submit the score sheets to the Trail 

Master.

4.     RMRTP competitors may not speak to the judges in reference to their scores.  Please see the Trail Master for all questions.   Complaints/Evaluations same as Show Rules  –  see RMHA website for rules and form.

General Rules of the Ride

• Horses with a history of kicking must have a red ribbon tied to their tail.  Horses that have kicked on a ride must be reported.
• Bits will be optional for all horses except stallions.  If using a curbed bit, shanks shall not exceed 8 inches measured from the top of the top ring to the end of the metal at the bottom, not including the bottom ring.  Unacceptable:  Bit mouth pieces made of chain, bicycle chain, saw chain, wire, twisted wire or twisted mouth pieces, including but not limited to single wire, double wire, straight wire, jointed wire, twisted wire bits or twisted bits of any kind.  In addition, no bits may be wrapped.  No double mouth pieces or bits the judge considers inhumane.
• No tie-downs.  You will be asked to remove it.
• No protective devices, ice boots, or wraps on the legs and/or feet.
• Junior riders must wear a helmet—strongly recommended for all others.
• Saddles may be English or Western.
• A bare back saddle is acceptable for adults only.
• All falls or accidents should be reported immediately to the RMRTP Director or Trail Master.
• Competitors with a negative or aggressive attitude will be asked to leave the competition.
• Horses bleeding or lame before the competition will not be allowed to continue.

Shoes:

• Horses may be shod with simple factory made keg shoes with modest amounts of borium (or drilltech) not to exceed 5/8 inch.
• Caulked shoe total thickness should not exceed 7/8 inch.
• Natural toe length must not exceed 4½ inches, including the shoe.
• Horses may go bare foot.  Easy boots are allowed.

Stallions:

• Stallions will have a yellow ribbon tied in their bridle and around their tail.
• Stallions must have a bridle and bit.

Post Registration:

• Riders and their mounts must remain in the designated assembly area and may leave only to attend the pre-ride meeting and when called to begin the ride.
• Horses in the assembly area must be tied at all times, unless in motion either by lead or when rider is mounted. 
• Do not bring your horse to registration.

Rules On the trail

• Practicing an obstacle before the competition will result in zero points and disqualification.    
• A horse or rider not completing any part of the trail will result in assessing one point per violation.
• The rider must be on the horse when in forward motion.  (Rest stops are permitted but there must not be any forward motion without the rider in the saddle.)
• The horse and rider may proceed at any speed they desire keeping in mind the minimum and maximum times allotted to complete the course.
• Any violations of the minimum and maximum ride time window will result in a one point penalty for every 15 minutes up to 5 points. 
• When the rider approaches a designated obstacle, they will await the judge’s signal to proceed.  They will complete or bypass the obstacle, as desired, then continue down the trail.  One horse and rider at a time,
• Riders may address questions (about safety or trail conditions) to the trail master before they make any deviation of the assigned route, except in instances of extreme danger.

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