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

Rope Race

Skills Needed: Handoffs and pony "getting along" skills

Equipment Required:
  • Four bending poles
  • 3' rope (polypropylene or cotton)

Game Setup:

Place four bending poles 24’ to 30’ apart midway between Lines A and C. Riders 1 & 3 start the race behind Line A and riders 2 & 4 start the race behind Line C. Riders 3 & 4 must start the race behind the 6-yard line. Give the rope to rider 1.

games_rope.gif (2725 bytes)

Game Play:

Rider number one, carrying the rope rides down the line of bending poles passing them on alter-nate sides, crosses the changeover line where the second rider will grasp the other end of the rope. Both riders will then ride back weaving the bending poles, each rider holding one end of the rope, and crossing line A. Rider number one releases his/her end of the rope and rider number three grasps it. Riders two and three weave the bending poles, holding each end of the rope, and cross the changeover line, where rider number two releases his/her end of the rope and rider number four grasps it. Riders three and four ride back, weaving the bending poles, each hold-ing one end of the rope until they cross line A. The winning team will be the one whose riders three and four each holding one end of the rope - have both crossed the finish line first. The rope must be grasped behind lines A or C. No knots are permitted on either end of the rope.

Special Rules:

  • Neither rider can drop the rope until crossing the changeover line.

  • The rider’s must hold the rope and not hands.

  • Both riders must grasp the rope before crossing back over Lines A or C and during the entire time the riders are between lines A and C.

Correction rules:

  • If either rider drops the rope before crossing the line, both riders must go back to where the rope was dropped and continue the race from there.

  • If a pole is knocked over, one rider must reset the pole before continuing the race. The pole must be rebent correctly.

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 practice this race slowly at first and figure out which ponies get along best. Watch out for kickers.

  • The rider that is incoming and continuing the race should circle around the next outgoing rider, passing him the rope as he rides by. Then both riders may start off together.

  • The coach should have the rider’s hands as close as possible on the rope. This way if the ponies separate slightly, the riders have some rope to give.

    •

  • There are two methods for the incoming rider to pick up the outgoing rider.

  • Method 1: Both incoming riders come in on one side of the waiting rider. The rider that is staying should peel off. The rider that is continuing the race circles behind the outgoing rider and hands the rope to the rider. Either side will work.

rope_method1.gif (2889 bytes)

  • Method 2: Both incoming riders come in on one side of the waiting rider. The rider that is staying peels off. The rider that is continuing the race circles next to the outgoing rider and hands him the rope. Either side will work but method two is better because the rider does not have to worry about going behind a pony that might kick.

rope_method2.gif (3125 bytes)

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