Pole bending
Encyclopedia
Pole bending is timed event that features a horse
and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. This event is usually seen in high school
rodeos and 4-H
events as well as American Quarter Horse Association
, local National Barrel Horse Association shows, Paint
and Appaloosa
sanctioned shows as well as at many gymkhana
or O-Mok-See events.
Setting up the pole bending pattern is crucial to the success of this event. The pole bending pattern is to be run around six poles. Each pole is to be 21 feet (6.4 meters) apart, and the first pole is to be 21 feet (6.4 meters) from the starting line. Poles shall be set on top of the ground, six feet (1.8 meters) in height, with no base more than 14 inches (35 cm) in diameter. These are the measurements implemented and endorsed by the National High School Rodeo Association. The purpose of a universal pattern is to be able to track and compare times everywhere poles are run.
Good horsemanship is the foundation for success in pole bending and barrel racing. The horse and rider team must work as one in order to excel. Various methods are implemented in pole bending from the “slalom” approach to the “side pass” approach. Depending on the horse/ rider combination, the rider needs to experiment to see what method works best for their application.
Each contestant will begin from a running start, and time shall begin and end as the horse’s nose crosses the line. A clearly visible starting line must be provided. An electric timer or at least two watches shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric timer or the average time of the watches used by official timers to be the official time.
A horse may start either to the right or to the left of the first pole and then run the remainder of the pattern accordingly.
Knocking over a pole shall carry a five-second penalty. Failure to follow the course shall cause disqualification. A contestant may touch a pole with his or her hand in pole bending.
Poles shall be shall be set on top of the ground, 6 feet in height, and mounted in bases with a 14 inch diameter. Poles shall be PVC pipe, and bases shall be rubber or plastic. For added safety, PVC caps are recommended. Preferred color for poles is natural white, but red, white, and blue rings shall be allowed. Solid rubber bases are preferred, but hollow plastic bases shall be allowed only if filled completely to emulate a solid base.
When riding a horse through the poles, the rider must first look to where they want to go. It is essential that the rider sits in the saddle and uses lower body and legs to navigate their horse through the poles. Forward motion must be maintained in order to keep all of the poles standing. The use of the horse’s hindquarters helps the horse zigzag through the poles in a smooth weave.
Anytime all of the poles are left standing is considered a good run, however; some of the fastest pole bending runs recorded have been those run at the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR). The fastest time recorded in the pole bending event at the NHSRF was in 2009 when Emily Miller from Ingalls, Kansas recorded a 19.579 run.
The Nez Perce Stake Race is a type of pole bending race which is also a match race
: two horses race on identical courses laid out side-by-side, with the loser eliminated and the winner moving up the brackets to race the other winners. It is not a timed event. It is one of five game classes approved for horse club shows by the Appaloosa Horse Club
(ApHC). The ApHC rules indicate that racing competition is traditional to the Nez Perce Native American people.
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. This event is usually seen in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
rodeos and 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
events as well as American Quarter Horse Association
American Quarter Horse Association
The American Quarter Horse Association , based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive events and maintains the official registry...
, local National Barrel Horse Association shows, Paint
American Paint Horse
The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern of white and dark coat colors. Developed from a base of spotted horses with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines, the American Paint Horse...
and Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
sanctioned shows as well as at many gymkhana
Gymkhana (equestrian)
Gymkhana is a term used in the United Kingdom, east coast of the United States, and other English-speaking nations to describe an equestrian event consisting of speed pattern racing and timed games for riders on horses...
or O-Mok-See events.
Setting up the pole bending pattern is crucial to the success of this event. The pole bending pattern is to be run around six poles. Each pole is to be 21 feet (6.4 meters) apart, and the first pole is to be 21 feet (6.4 meters) from the starting line. Poles shall be set on top of the ground, six feet (1.8 meters) in height, with no base more than 14 inches (35 cm) in diameter. These are the measurements implemented and endorsed by the National High School Rodeo Association. The purpose of a universal pattern is to be able to track and compare times everywhere poles are run.
Good horsemanship is the foundation for success in pole bending and barrel racing. The horse and rider team must work as one in order to excel. Various methods are implemented in pole bending from the “slalom” approach to the “side pass” approach. Depending on the horse/ rider combination, the rider needs to experiment to see what method works best for their application.
Each contestant will begin from a running start, and time shall begin and end as the horse’s nose crosses the line. A clearly visible starting line must be provided. An electric timer or at least two watches shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric timer or the average time of the watches used by official timers to be the official time.
A horse may start either to the right or to the left of the first pole and then run the remainder of the pattern accordingly.
Knocking over a pole shall carry a five-second penalty. Failure to follow the course shall cause disqualification. A contestant may touch a pole with his or her hand in pole bending.
Poles shall be shall be set on top of the ground, 6 feet in height, and mounted in bases with a 14 inch diameter. Poles shall be PVC pipe, and bases shall be rubber or plastic. For added safety, PVC caps are recommended. Preferred color for poles is natural white, but red, white, and blue rings shall be allowed. Solid rubber bases are preferred, but hollow plastic bases shall be allowed only if filled completely to emulate a solid base.
When riding a horse through the poles, the rider must first look to where they want to go. It is essential that the rider sits in the saddle and uses lower body and legs to navigate their horse through the poles. Forward motion must be maintained in order to keep all of the poles standing. The use of the horse’s hindquarters helps the horse zigzag through the poles in a smooth weave.
Anytime all of the poles are left standing is considered a good run, however; some of the fastest pole bending runs recorded have been those run at the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR). The fastest time recorded in the pole bending event at the NHSRF was in 2009 when Emily Miller from Ingalls, Kansas recorded a 19.579 run.
Nez Perce Stake Race
Match race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
: two horses race on identical courses laid out side-by-side, with the loser eliminated and the winner moving up the brackets to race the other winners. It is not a timed event. It is one of five game classes approved for horse club shows by the Appaloosa Horse Club
Appaloosa Horse Club
The Appaloosa Horse Club, located in Moscow, Idaho is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Appaloosa breed. The state of Idaho adopted the Appaloosa as its state horse in 1975. More than 630,000 Appaloosas have been registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club since its founding in 1938...
(ApHC). The ApHC rules indicate that racing competition is traditional to the Nez Perce Native American people.
External links
- World Pole Bending Association Endorsement for pole bending events throughout the world. Home of the pole bending world finals.
- Runninghorses.net - Your Guide to All Things Fast - Barrel Racing & Speedhorse Online Community
- Pole Bending : Information, Photos, & Pattern From The Ultimate Horse Site
- Pole Bending Event Information From Pro Rodeo Online
- National High School Rodeo Association (2009). Retrieved from http://www.nhsra.com/index.php/2009-nhsfr-results/258-current-overall-standings
- National Pole Bending Association (2009). Retrieved from http://www.polebending.org.
- Smith, Ken. (2009, July 15). Ken and Pat Smith, Sunrise West Quarter Horses, LLC. Retrieved from http://www.sunrisewest.com/help.html