$5,500 in Cash at Stake in Equine Affaire's Versatile Horse & Rider Competition

Congratulations to Lia Savas and "Yo Quiero Cat" on their win at the 2011 Equine Affaire Versatile Horse & Rider Competition!

2011 Versatile Horse & Rider Competition Champion, Lia Savas, with Yo Quiero Cat

Click here for the 2011 Equine Affaire Versatile Horse & Rider Competition Results

Are You and Your Horse Up to the Challenge?

For more information about the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, please contact:

Allison McClure
Program Assistant
(740) 845-0085 ext. 109
Email

For the fifth year, Equine Affaire will host the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition during the four-day expo in W. Springfield, MA. The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition—known to some as the "VHRC"—will be a timed and judged race through an obstacle course created to test communication between horse and rider as well as each competitor’s horsemanship skills and athletic prowess. As the horse and rider teams race through the course and work through each obstacle they will be judged on several horsemanship criteria as well as overall performance. Contestants will compete for $5500 in cash as well as other prizes, and the competition will be suitable for riders of any discipline and horses of all breeds. The judge and special guest commentator for the 2011 VHRC will be announced later this summer.

The 2011 Versatile Horse & Rider Competition will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, November 10-13, in the coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition. A maximum of 30 horse/rider teams will be pre-selected to participate in the competition. The qualifying runs will be conducted on Thursday and Friday afternoons, November 10 and 11; the top 10 horse and rider teams will advance to the Finals on Sunday morning.

The Competition Pattern

The course will be constructed within the 95’ x 200’ parameters of the Eastern States Exposition coliseum and will feature numerous trail obstacles and riding challenges such as: jumping over obstacles, backing up through a pattern, pole bending or roll backs, various gymkhana games, working gates, riding over or through “spooky objects,” gait/lead changes, etc.

Prizes

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top four contestants; ribbons and other prizes will be awarded to the top ten contestants.

FIRST PLACE:

$2,500.00 cash prize
Champion rosette
Title of “Equine Affaire Versatile Horse & Rider Champion”

SECOND PLACE:

$1,750.00 cash prize
Reserve champion rosette

THIRD PLACE:

$1,000.00 cash prize
Rosette

FOURTH PLACE:

$250.00 cash prize
Rosette

FIFTH THROUGH TENTH PLACES:

Rosette

Objectives and Judging

The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition will be a timed race during which the performance of each horse and rider team will be judged on each obstacle for quality of horsemanship. For each obstacle, the judge will award performance points on a scale of 0-5 based on the horse’s attitude, the rider’s horsemanship, and the team’s overall performance. Horses and riders will be required to complete each obstacle within a given time in order to receive points. If an obstacle is not completed within the given timeframe, the contestant will be flagged and must move on to the next obstacle. Times will be translated into points, and points from each obstacle will be totaled. The horse and rider team with the highest overall point score wins.

How to Apply

The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition will be open to riders age 18 and over and horses of all breeds. All riders and horses will compete against each other; there will be no age or gender divisions.

To be considered to ride in the competition, you must submit a video along with your completed application, signed Versatile Horse & Rider Rules, and entry fee. The entry fee for each horse/rider team is $350.00 (payable to Equine Affaire, Inc.) The video should be approximately five minutes long and must show you and your horse schooling, competing, or working; it will be used to evaluate your horsemanship skills and your horse’s ability. Suggested elements to include on the video: jumping, working gates, walking over a tarp, gymkhana games, trail obstacles, gait/lead changes, etc. All videos must be in standard DVD or VHS format, and they will be returned, if requested. Applications, videos, and a signed copy of the Versatile Horse & Rider Rules must be received by Equine Affaire, Inc. by September 7, 2011. Applications and support materials will be reviewed by the management of Equine Affaire, Inc. which will select the final contestants for the race.

Individual riders may compete with more than one horse, but they must submit a separate application, fee, and video for each horse they wish to enter. Exhibitors already contracted to have their horses on exhibit in the Breed Pavilion or Horse & Farm Exhibits may discount their entry fees by $50.00, but they will not receive complimentary stabling as contestants. Participants will be selected by October 1, 2011, and contestants will be notified by phone. Applicants who are not selected will receive notification by phone or email. Entry fees will be returned to applicants who are not selected. The entry fees of accepted contestants will be nonrefundable.

Stabling & Admission to Equine Affaire

One horse stall will be provided for each horse entered in the competition. The stall will be available for use beginning at noon on Wednesday, November 9th, and must be vacated by midnight on Sunday, November 13th. If you cannot remove your horse(s) from the barn by Sunday night, you must contact the Barn Manager to make special arrangements. Participants are responsible for bringing or purchasing their own feed and bedding. Straw, shavings, hay and feed will be available for purchase on site. Each participant will receive admission to Equine Affaire on Thursday through Sunday as part of his or her entry fee.

Additional Information about Competing in the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition at Equine Affaire

Contestants must check in at the Barn Office in C-Barn at the Eastern States Exposition between noon on Wednesday, November 9th and noon on Thursday, November 10th. Upon checking in, contestants will receive a copy of the obstacle course for the qualifying round and the participant Order of Go. A Contestants' Meeting will be conducted at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 10th.
The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition at Equine Affaire will offer a unique and exciting opportunity to test your horsemanship and compete for cash and other prizes. Please be aware that the competition will be conducted in a large arena where there will be large crowds in attendance. While there will be an arena available for schooling and exercising horses, opportunities to warm up or practice in the coliseum will not be available. If you and/or your horse cannot function well in such an environment, we cannot encourage you to compete.
All horses brought to the Eastern States Exposition must be free of illness and infectious disease.
• Any horse transported to the event must be accompanied by a negative test result for equine infectious anemia (Coggins Test) dated within one year of November 13, 2011.
• Any horse transported to the event from outside the state of Massachusetts must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health papers) issued within 30 days of the date on which the horse arrives at the event.
• Any horse transported to the event from within the state of Massachusetts must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health papers) dated January 1, 2011, or later.
• While not required, it is strongly recommended that all equines be vaccinated for rabies, tetanus, EEE/WEE, and Flu/Rhino within one year of the event.
All horse owners are expected to present all required health papers to the show veterinarian upon check in.
It will be the responsibility of each contestant to monitor the progress of the race in the coliseum and be at the west entrance to the coliseum by the time the contestant that is listed two riders higher on the Order of Go enters the ring.
For their safety, all contestants are encouraged to wear approved riding helmets.