MTRC uses a detailed scoring sheet to assess each horse & rider at the competitive rides. Click HERE to see a sample scoring sheet in Adobe PDF format. You must have Acrobat Reader to see the form, if you don’t have Acrobat, click HERE to download the latest version.Below is an explanation of scoring and definitions that are used in the scoring process, and are located on the back of the scoring sheet. . Email Kelli if you have any questions.
Grades of Lameness
Grade 1 Difficult to observe; not consistently apparent.
Grade 2 Difficult to observe at walk or trotting straight. Consistently apparent circling.
Grade 3 Consistently observable at a trot
Grade 4 Obviously lame; marked nodding
Grade 5 Lame at a walk. Minimal weight bearing. Inability to move.
Manners 0-15 point demerits
In hand presentation including the horses reaction to vetting personnel and P & R crews. Horses will be docked for the following:
a) Threating officials – i.e.. biting at or kicking at – automatic 5 point demerits each occurrence.
b) Excess fidgeting – severity of fidgeting left to the discretion of the judges. Judges should be aware that horses will fidget and stomp around if they are bothered by insects. They will also kick and /or bite at themselves to be ride of these bugs. These motions should not be misconstrued as threatening to the officials.
Fatigue/Attitude 0-10 point demerits
a) Pulse and respiration – elevated pulse rate and respiration levels are an indication of fatigue in horses. If horses do not recover to 72/40 after 10 minutes they should be watched for further signs of fatigue. Factors such as panting on hot days may appear to be fatigue but some horses use panting as a means to cool their body down. It should also be noted that stallions will sometimes have elevated respiration due to sniffing the air.
b) Horses way of going – Dragging of feet, falling, staggering or stumbling, interfering, loss of collection, dropping feet, choppy jarring gait, reluctance to move, extreme stiffness in loins and croup muscles, dragging hind feet and knuckling over.
Bad attitude in horses is exhibited by refusal to do the handlers bidding upon request. An example of bad attitude is a horse that refuses to trot out at the pre ride and final vet check. Sometimes refusal to move out can be attributed to fatigue ( see previous), but often it is just the horses attitude.
Misc. demerits 0 – 5 point demerits
As per M.T.R.C. trail rides rules as follows:
4 (d) Pads and leg wraps are permitted, however, horses will be penalized 2.5 points for each hoof/leg.
5 (e) One (1) point per minute for a stop of more than 5 minutes at the 2 mile marker
6 (e) For the safety of all concerned – horses that are known to their owners/riders to be habitual kickers MUST wear a red/orange ribbon tied in the tail. Riders who refuse to obey this rule will be penalized 5 points demerit.
9 (a) Horses & riders leaving the immediate area of the vet check will be penalized 5 points.
9 (g) Riders/horses must be wearing the number assigned and provided them in plain view at all times while competing until after the final judging, or they will be penalized a 5 point demerit.