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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:

The bending poles will be placed 24 to 30 feet apart centered on Line B. For the purposes of this race, Pole #1 will be the pole closest to Line A. The 55-gallon drum will be placed 3 yards behind the changeover line, in line with the bending poles. Four mugs, placed upside down, will be put on the 55-gallon drum; rider number one at the start will carry the fifth mug.

Game Play:

On the signal to start rider number one will go to one of his team’s posts and place his mug, inverted, on the top of any pole other than Pole #1. He will then go on to the drum, pick up another mug and return to hand-off to rider number two, waiting behind line A. Riders two, three and four will each complete the course in the same manner in succession, with Rider #4 placing his last mug, inverted, on Pole #1 on his way back to the finish line. The winning team will be the one whose rider number four is first over the finish line, mounted with a mug placed on each of the team's five posts. Riders ride straight and do not bend through the posts. Any mugs knocked off the drum must always be replaced upside down.

Correction rules:

• If the rider knocks the mugs off the oil drum or knocks the oil drum over, he must right the oil drum and place the mugs upside down on the drum.

• If the rider drops his mug, he may pick it up mounted or unmounted.

• If the rider knocks over a pole, he must right the pole and replace the mug. This can be done mounted or unmounted.

• It does not matter in which order the poles are used, except that the final rider must always place the last mug on the pole closest to Line A.

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.

• The rider should practice stopping at the poles. From habit, the pony might want to bend them and continue on without stopping.

• The rider should practice using his outside leg to get the pony up close to the pole or the oil drum.

• The rider should practice snatching up the mug without stopping and slamming the mug on the pole without stopping.

• The rider should practice making handoffs with the mug and should make sure the handle is turned away from the outgoing rider. See handoff tips.

• Advanced riders should try and cut in front of the pole when setting down the mug.