About Us

November 9th & 10th, 2024

EVENT CANCELLED!!

2025 Date TBA

The 7thAnnual All American Horse Challenge

2024 Hosted by

Yucaipa Equestrian Center 13273 California St. Yucaipa, CA 9239

www.yucaipaequestriancenter.com

This exciting horse challenge is unique in that each contestant must complete in 6 different disciplines over the course of 2 days. Our judged events are scheduled on Saturday: Dressage, Ranch Riding, and Trail. Then on Sunday they compete in the timed events: Jumping, Gymkhana, and Cow Horse. The events start at 8:00am on both days right after our open ceremony, at which time we proudly introduce our contestants and promote our event sponsors who make the event a huge success each year. 

There are 8 different divisions offered but each division is only limited to 4 participants. These contestants may only enter a horse in 1 division but may ride more than 1 horse in the event. The events descriptions will list information on what each division is required to complete. This year’s divisions are:

• Pro (18+ years)
• Amateur (12+ years)
• Futurity (Horses under 4 years)
• Mustang (Mustangs only)
• Select (55+ years)
• Wrangler (18-54 years)
• Ranch Hand (12-17 years)
• Green Horn (7-11 years)

The awards ceremony follows the last event on Sunday. Points are given with each placing and then accumulated for the overall results: 1st - 10 points, 2nd - 8 points, 3rd - 6 points, 4th - 5 points. Tie breakers will go to the competitor with the highest score in Dressage. Contestants that have completed the courses in each event without placing may still earn 1 point for participation.Points are totaled and competitors have many chances to win:

· 1st-4th ribbons in each division for each event. 

· 1st place winners receive prizes from our sponsors. 

· Divisions award a Reserve High Point Champions.

· Divisions award the High Point Champions. 

· Highest total score in all Divisions awarded All American High Point Champion.

Dressage

This class will be judged and consist of riding a USDF dressage test to demonstrate the horse’s overall obedience, flexibility, and balance in a walk, trot, and canter. Competition dressage is judged on impulsion and the rider’s effectiveness over a series of transitions and movements. 

This is not a timed class but must be complete in a determined time limit. Off pattern riders will be given 2 chances, with a whistle signal, to ride back on pattern. Having a test caller is allowed but one will NOT be provided. 

Scoring for each movement is awarded a mark out of 10. At the end of the test, all the marks are added together and turned into a percentage where the highest percentage wins.

Trail

This class is judged and will consist of riding through a trail course pattern navigating basic obstacles found in day-to-day trail riding. The trail horse is required to work through or over a series of obstacles that test the technical, and confidence coordination or sensitivity skills of the horse. Technical obstacles allow the horse to demonstrate its athletic skills and concentration ability. A horse that deviates from the posted course or pattern shall not be placed above any horse that completes the course as written.

• Basis of 0 to infinity, with a      score of 70 as an average performance.
• Each obstacle is scored on a      range from a +1½ to -1½
• Points added or subtracted from      the maneuvers: -1½ extremely poor, -1 very poor, -½ poor, 0 average. +½      good, +1 very good, +1½ excellent

Penalty ½:Each tick of a log, pole, cone or obstacle. 

Penalty 1:Hit or step on log, pole, obstacle; Break gait at walk or jog 2 strides or less; both feet on space, split pole on lope over. Skipping over or failing to step in to required space. Incorrect number of strides, both front or hind feet in a single stride slot or space at a walk or jog, 

Penalty 3:Incorrect or break of gait at walk or jog for more than 2 strides; out of lead or break gait at lope; knocking down or severely disturbing an obstacle; stepping outside the confines of, falling or jumping off or out of obstacle with one foot. Missing/Evading pole that is part of a series of obstacles. 

Penalty 5:First and second refusals; balk or attempt to evade an obstacle by shying or backing more than 2 strides away; Letting go of the gate or dropping rope gate; use of hand to instill fear or praise; stepping outside the confides of, falling or jumping off or out of an obstacle with more than one foot. Blatant disobedience; failure to demonstrate lead and/or gait between obstacles as designed. Ground tie-second rein not touching ground; holding saddle with either hand. 

Faults: Faults which occur on the line of travel between obstacles, according to severity; head carriage too high or low.; over flexing or straining neck carriage or nose is carried behind vertical; excessive nosing out; opening mouth excessively. 

DQ: Use of two hands on split reins EXCEPT when permissible to change hands to work an obstacle; performing obstacle other than specified order or no attempt to perform the obstacle; failure to enter, exit or work an obstacle from correct direction including more than ¼ turn; failure to follow the correct line of travel between obstacles or work obstacles in any manner other than how it is described by the course; riding outside designated boundary markers; third refusal on course, failure to close and latch gate. Dropping rope before attempting to rope steer or Dropping an object required to be carried on course. 

Obstacles May Include:

• Open, pass through, and close gate.
• Ride over at least four (4) logs or poles. May be in a straight line, zigzag, curved, or raised. Spacing between logs or poles: Walkovers: 15-24", Trot-overs: 3'-3' 6", Lope-overs: 6'-7'
• Back through and around at least 3 markers. Back through: L, V, U, straight, or a similar shaped course. Obstacles may be elevated to a maximum of 24". Backing obstacles to be spaced a minimum of 28". When elevated, 30" spacing is required.
• Water (ditch or pond) - No metal or slick bottom boxes.
• Serpentine obstacles at walk or jog. Spacing must be at least 6 feet for a jog.
• Carry a reasonable object that may be carried on a trail ride from one site on the course to another.
• Walk over wooden bridge: must be at least 36" wide and of safe condition and construction.
• Put on/remove a slicker.
• Side pass a pole: may be elevated to 12" maximum.

Ranch Riding

This is a pattern class where the riding style of horse and rider is smooth and efficient as if they were working on a ranch. There is no time limit. This class is to show a working horse's versatility, attitude, and movement. The overall cadence and performance of the gaits should be those described above with emphasis on forward, free-flowing, and ground-covering movement at all gaits. Transitions where designated should be smooth and responsive.

Required maneuvers will be walk, jog, lope both directions and the extended jog and lope in at least one direction as well as stops, turn to change directions, and back. Optional maneuvers may be side pass, turns of 360° or more, change of lead (simple or flying), walk, jog, or lope over a pole(s), or some reasonable combinations for a ranch horse to perform. 

Scoring is on the basis of 0 to 100, with 70 denoting an average performance.

Penalties

One-point penalties:

• Too slow/per gait
• Over-bridled
• Out of frame
• Break of gait at walk or jog for two strides or less
• Split log at lope

Three-point penalties:

• Break of gait at walk or jog for more than 2 strides
• Break of gait at lope
• Wrong lead or out of lead
• Draped reins

Five-point penalties:

• Blatant disobedience (kicking, biting, bucking, rearing, etc.)

Zero Score:

• Illegal equipment: including hoof black, braided or  banded manes, or tail extensions
• Willful abuse
• Major disobedience or schooling

No specific penalties will be incurred for nicks/hits on logs or over/under spins, but deduction may be made in the maneuver score.

Jumping

This class is judged objectively based solely on the horse’s athletic ability over fences. A jumper’s only job is to clear all the fences in the course as quickly as possible without ticking or knocking over any rails.

A horse and rider earn faults for each mistake made. 1 fault equals 4 seconds. Four faults for each rail knocked down. Four faults for every refusal and 1 fault for every second past the time allowed given to complete the course. The horse with the least number of faults and the fastest time wins.

The arena will be set with a short course and consist of 5 jumps: Cross Rail Jump, Oxer Jump, Vertical Jump, Half or Full Barrel Jump, and a Sensory Jump. There will be a 60 ft spread between in-line jumps, and placed 20 feet off the rail. Same pattern used for all divisions. The heights will be determined by the judge and the jumps will be: 

· Open & Amateur (18”-2’3”) 

· Futurity Horse & Mustangs (18”-2’) 

· Green Horse/Ranch Hand/Wrangler/Select (18” max)

Gymkhana

These are the timed gaming events picked for the competition. Each pattern has 5 second penalties for each knocked over barrel or pole or boundary crossing. Passing a barrel or pole off pattern will result in a disqualification. A rider may touch the pole or barrel to keep it from falling. Horse with the fewest penalties and fastest time wins.

Poles 2

6 standing poles 6’ tall, spaced 21’ apart in a straight line, and 21’ from the timer line. May be ran left or right first starting with a straight line, weaving down and back up, with a straight line to the finish timer line. 

Cloverleaf Barrels

3 barrels places in a triangle and ran either right-left-left or left-right-right with the first two closest barrels done in a figure of 8 pattern. 30’ from the timer line and 75’ between the first two barrels, 90’ between the second and third barrel. Time ends after the 3rd barrel is complete and the rider returns back across the finish timer line. 

Keyhole

This pattern is marked 80 feet from arena gate to timing line with white powder (flour or powdered chalk) poured into a "keyhole" shape in the dirt, the center 100 feet from the timer line. The pattern may also be made of cones or poles set up in a similar pattern. The keyhole should be four feet across at the entrance, 10 feet from the entrance of the keyhole to the bulb. And the bulb itself should be 20 feet across. Riders enter the keyhole, complete ½ turn right or left and exit the keyhole without touching the barrier. 

Cow Horse

TBD

*Please note any information above is subject to change and visit our social media for instant updates.