The
Competition:
At present there are five levels of competition:
Starter, First Level, Medium Level, Advanced Level,
Freestyle Agility, and Wild Agility.
Starter
and First Level are not against the clock. No equipment
other than head collar, lead rope (at least 10 feet
long) and protective boots (where necessary) is allowed
on the horses (except Freestyle Agility where there
is no equipment on the horse at all except protective
boots if necessary.)
No whips, sticks etc are allowed.
All
handlers must wear hard hats and suitable footwear in
all classes.
The
course is made up of ten obstacles with a Leading Obedience
Test for Starter and First Levels (see below) between
obstacle 5 and 6.
The
course consists of a number of obstacles from a given
list. At least eight of the obstacles in the competition
must be from this list, the remaining obstacles may
be designed by the course builder to keep competitors
on their toes!
Examples
of obstacles:
1.
Tunnel
2. Seesaw
3. Jump
4. Passing through a Curtain
5. Weaving poles/cones
6. Hoop
7. Water
8. Crossing a Tarpaulin
9. Roll ball
10. Passing through a trailer
11. Carry a light load
12. Pick up feet
13. Step onto a podium
14. Stand still in circle
15. Pass through a narrow gap
16. Back through two poles
17. Back over poles
18. Walk through labyrinth
19. Climb through branches/poles
20. Crossing a bridge
21. Passing through a gateway.
23. Picking up feet.
24. Crossing over an A frame.
Test
of Obedience
This test occurs between obstacles 5 and 6 at Starter
and First levels.
Lead
– run at least 40m (about 150feet) (A-B-C) very
fast turn walk back C-B very slow, stop at B stand for10
secs, walk very fast to C
At
both levels the lead rope must be loose without any
pulling on behalf of the horse or handler. Any position
of the handler is acceptable from just in front of the
horse to no further back than the horses shoulder. The
aim is to maintain this leading position.
Higher
marks are obtained if the leading position is maintained,
marks deducted if the position of the handler changes
throughout the exercise.
For
more information on the competition please visit:
http://www.horseagilitygb.com/the-competition.html
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