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United States Pony Clubs
4041 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8462
Phone:  (859) 254-7669
Fax:  (859) 233-4652

Game Setup:

Place one wastebasket upside down 3 yards behind Line C. Place the other wastebasket upside down at Line B. Put four flags placed in the basket at Line B. The flags should be placed at front, back, left, right positions in the wastebasket. All riders start the race behind Line A. Give the fifth flag to rider 1.

Game Play:

On the signal to start rider number one will ride to the other end of the arena and place the flag he/she is carrying in the holder there.   He/she will ride back, picking a flag out of his team's holder on Line B and hand this flag to rider number two behind the start line.  Riders two, three, and four will complete the course in the same manner, up and down the arena in succession so that at the end, the team will have placed four flags in the holder at the far end of the arena and rider number four finishes over the start line mounted and carrying the fifth flag.   Should any rider take more than one flag from the holder, he/she must replace the surplus, also a flag not in possession of the rider, i.e., those that have fallen out of the container, must be picked up and returned to the container. Holders knocked over must be reset, either mounted or dismounted, by hand or by flag.  If a flag should come off the cane, the stick may be used to complete the race.  On windy days rubber bands can be used to keep the flags furled and prevent them from blowing over.

Correction rules:

• If the rider takes more than one flag, he must replace all but one flag.

• If a rider knocks over the wastebasket holding the flags, he must mounted or unmounted, by hand or with the flag, replace the equipment. (Flags picked up and wastebasket righted.)

• If a flag comes off the dowel, the rider may complete the race with the dowel only.

Special Tips:

• Remember the holding area line (6-yard line) is six yards from Line A and Line C.  During the playing of the games only the next rider out may be in front of this line.  All others must be behind it in the holding area.  If there are more than one outgoing rider in front of the 6-yard line, the team will be eliminated for that game.

• Riders should hold the flag vertical (upright) when handing off. No stabbing of other riders please. See handoff tips.

• Advanced riders should pick up the flag in a windmill action. This allows the rider to pick up the flag at speed without knocking over the wastebasket. See pickup tips.

• Riders should hold the flag near the flag end and "point it" into the wastebasket when making the drop. See putdown skills.

• If necessary, when the fourth rider is riding past the flag container at Line B on his way to Line C, he should gently tap the remaining flag to the right side of the container. This action will make it easier for the rider to pick up the flag on the way back. The rider is less likely to run into the container or knock the container over if the flag is on the correct side. Other riders might find this technique useful also when their flag is not in a good position.