DESCRIPTION OF CLASSES

HALTER CLASSES will be judged 50% on conformation, 20% on soundness and way of going, 20% fitting and conditioning and 10% on appointments.  Jacks must wear appropriate head gear of stallion bridle of chain halter and can have 2 handlers.  Colts must be halter broke.  Mares or jennets may accompany colts into the arena.

MULES--Mule halter classes will be Saddle type or those best suited for riding purposes and Draft type which are bigger, draftier mules.  Pack mules can be entered into either category, but no mule may be entered as both types.

DONKEYS--Classification will be:  Miniature (36" and under for both Jacks and Jennets).  Standard (over 36" and under 48" for both Jacks and Jennets).  Large Standard (Jennets-48: to 53", Jacks 48" to 55" ).  Mammoth (jennets 54" and over, Jacks 56" and over).  Young mammoth stock that has not met the proper height requirements may be shown in Mammoth classes providing owner/handler has proof of registration.

ADULT/JUNIOR/YOUTH SHOWMANSHIP--Open to donkeys or mules.  the class shall be judged strictly on the exhibitor's ability to fit and show an animal at halter. 

MOUNTED TRAIL CLASS--No practice runs prior to judging will be allowed.  Mule or Donkey must be ridden unless animal is 48" or under, this includes youth and junior divisions.  Youth 8 years and under may have help mounting but cannot be lead.   Donkeys or Mules 48" and under at maturity may be led as a pack animal with handler on foot and with saddle and packs.  No animals under 4 years old will be allowed.  Animals to be tested for manners over and through obstacles.  Three refusals and you must move on to the next obstacle.  Disqualified for breaking pattern.  Judged 90% on manners and performance over obstacles, 10% on conformation and appointments.  Event will be timed.  Contestants must exit arena when 4 minute time is called. 

ADULT/YOUTH EQUITATION--Open to donkeys and mules.  To be shown at a walk, trot and lope both ways around the ring.  May be asked to back.  Judged on the riders seat, use of aids and overall control and manageability of their animal.

GAITED MULE WESTERN PLEASURE--Mules to exhibit two gaits, western wear required, easy going style, one hand, consistent gait.

GAITED ENGLISH PLEASURE--English attire required.  Two gaits to be exhibited, plus a canter.  This class will show the mule's ability to maintain a gait and how well he can perform in his gait.

GAITED MULEMANSHIP--English or Western attire, ride will be asked to do a pattern and there will be a few simple obstacles to go over and around.  This class will show the mule's training and versatility.  Pattern will be posted Friday morning.

WESTERN AND ENGLISH PLEASURE--Open to all ages.  To be shown at a walk, trot and lope both ways around the arena on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraint.

MULE/DONKEY KINDERGARTEN WESTERN PLEASURE--For animals 4 years and under.  Snaffle bits and training aids allowed.  To be shown at a walk and trot only.  CANNOT CROSS ENTER IN ANY OTHER PLEASURE OR EQUITATION CLASSES.

MULE & DONKEY FLAG RACE--TWO flag poles.  Rider races to 1st barrel and picks up flag pole and races to 2nd barrel, deposits flag pole and races back to 1st barrel and picks up next flag pole, then race to the 2nd barrel and deposits that flag pole. Then race back to finish line.  Rider must keep barrels on right of left at all times.  Disqualified for hitting animals with property, knocking over barrel, dropping flag pole, breaking pattern or flag pole coming out of barrel.

SCURRY RACE CHALLENGE--Event to be run each day.  All 3 days time added together for Scurry Challenge Champion.  Race starts at starting line, (crossing it starts time) proceed down course jumping 3 jumps 18" tall and then around a barrel at turning line and back across all 3 jumps again to finish line to stop time.  Each day a different option will be at the turning line.  5 second penalty for any jumps knocked down, barrel tip over, or any options.  Must complete course to compete in next days round.

KEYHOLE RACE--Timed.  Rider races into the keyhole pattern, does a rollback and races back over the starting line.  Disqualified for stepping on or over the line and/or breaking pattern.  Youth under 8 years old may have animals led by a person on foot. 

LOG PULL--Timed Event. Log Pulls are designed so that beginners can easily compete.  Drivers in the youth classes may be accompanied by an adult.  Driver must work his animal(s) through a series of obstacles while pulling a 16' log.  Penalized 20 seconds for each cone toughed or moved and crossing boundary lines by either animal, teamster or log.  Disqualified for breaking pattern.  Teamster must follow animal(s) through the pattern, staying on the side of the pylon as the animal(s).  Not doing this constitutes breaking the pattern.

PLEASURE DRIVING--To be shown with any suitable wheeled vehicle.  Shown at a walk, trot and road gait both ways around the ring.  Reverse shall be on the diagonal.  Judged 70% on manners and way of going.  20% on condition and fit of harness and vehicle, 10% on neatness of attire.

CATTLE EVENTS--Mules can only run once per event.  Refer to Rule #5 under General Rules.

RIDE AND DRIVE--Open to donkeys and mules.  Enter arena in harness to a suitable driving vehicle.  Shown at a walk, trot and road gate both ways around the ring.  Reverse shall be on the diagonal, stop and back.  Judged 50% on performance, manners & way of going.  While in arena contestant will unharness and saddle up with the help of 2 helpers.  Saddle & tack may be in wagon or brought in by helpers.  Do not tie to wagon/cart or fence.  Helpers will remove wagon/cart from arena.  Under saddle you must walk, trot lope both ways of the arena, stop and back.  Judged 50% on performance, manners & way of going.  Same contestant must drive and ride.  For safety reasons one handler must be at animals head when unhitching from wagon/cart.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification. 

STEER DAUBING--Start behind barrier.  Rider can be directly behind steer but cannot daub steer until ENTIRE steer has crossed barrier (chalk line).  Dauber allowed 1 swing only. Can mark anywhere on the animal.  Daubing stock must be under control when it makes contact with the steers.  No throwing daubing stock.  30 sec. time limit. 

BREAKAWAY ROPING--Youth/Adult.  Rope to be tied to saddle horn with string.  After roping calf, stop mule.  Calf must break string.  Rope must pass over head to be a legal catch.  Start from behind barrier.  One minute time limit.  Optional 2nd loop, not rebuilds, pack 2 loops.

TEAM ROPING--Not a jackpot!--Each placing mule gets points/ ribbons.  Start behind barrier.  Header on left, heeler on right side of steer.  Three legal catches: (1) horns, (2) ½ head, (3) around neck.  When heeler's rope is tight and header is facing steer, time will stop.  1 foot heel catch--add 5 seconds to time.  2 minute time limit.  Optional 3 loops. 

6 and 8 UP FREE STYLE DRIVING--Enter arena 1 at a time.  3 minute time limit.  Judged on originality and content. 

LEADLINE--Open to donkeys and mules.  Contestants to be 8 years old and under as of January 1, 2008.  To be shown at a walk around the ring.  Leadline handler must hold lead rope and be over 18 years old. 

TEAM PENNING--Not a jackpot!!  Youth/Adult.  Each placing mule gets points/ribbon.  If an additional person (who has already made a run) is needed to fill out a team, he must also pay but will not collect points.  Riders at the end of the arena; cattle at opposite end.  All 3 riders MUST cross line before announcer calls out a number.  Riders cut out cattle and pen them.  If more than 5 head cross the line on pen side, team is disqualified.  No hitting or touching of cattle.  Cannot work cattle unless mounted on mule or donkey.  3 minute time limit for mules--5 minute time limit for donkeys.  Donkeys can pen any 3 cows. 

TANDEM DRIVING--Must use 2 wheeled cart.  Show at a walk, trot and road gait both ways of ring.  Reverse shall be on the diagonal.

YOUTH BARREL CRAWL THROUGH--Timed event.  Mounted on animals,  race to end of arena, dismount, crawl through a barrel, keeping a hold of animal at all times.  Remount and race back to finish.  Youth 8 and under may have animals led by their parent or grandparent on foot and have help mounting.

TRAILER BACKING CONTEST:  Limit of 15 couples.  Timed.  Pickup and 2 horse trailer provided.  Bring your own mule or donkey or borrow one.  Driver will be blindfolded.  Partner gives directions from outside of pickup.  Driver pulls loaded trailer into course, backs thru pylons.  Partner unloads mule or donkey, leads animal around barrel and reloads.  Drive thru finish line.  Prize money  $200 1st place, $100 2nd place. 

OLD CLOTHES RACE--Contestants will be timed and run 2 at a time.  Mounted at the starting line they will ride down to the opposite end to a bag containing old clothes.  Dismount and while maintaining control of your animal put on all clothes in the bag.  Clothes to be put on appropriately.  If items of clothing are lost on the way back, the rider must stop, pick it up and put it on again. 

FREE STYLE REINING--You will have one minute to perform a reining pattern of your choice.  Your choice of change of leads, sliding stops, roll backs and/or spins.

GAMBLERS CHOICE--Timed and judged.  A course will be set up with a variety of obstacles.  Drivers must drive a predetermined number of obstacles of their choice in a set time.  Drivers "gamble" on which obstacles they feel can make them the most points.  Rules, obstacle course and point values will be distributed at the time of registration.  Must have 2 obstacles between favorites.  Teams must use a 4 wheel wagon.  Singles may use a 2 wheeled wagon.  2 minute time limit.  If already committed to obstacles, points will be counted.

YOUTH LEAD YOUR DONKEY/MULE TO WATER--Timed:  Contestant leads animal through course objects, race to bucket of water at end of course and throws dipper of water in the air to signal end of time.

 YOUTH BALLOON BUST--Mounted with blown up balloon, race to end of arena, dismount, sit on balloon to break, remount and race to finish.  Youth 8 and under may be led by their parent or grandparent on foot. 

PACKERS SCRAMBLE--Timed.  Placing to 5 places with $1500 prize money.  Buckles to 1st place winners.  Team consists of 2 packers and 4 head of stock, of which 2 must be mules and must be packed.  Each entry received 50 lbs of pellets to take home.  Packers must supply axe, bucket, shovel, 4 or 5 mante tarps, ropes, normal saddle gear and boots.  (NO TENNIS SHOES).  SCRAMBLE:  All animals are loose in the arena.  Both packers crawl into sleeping bags (mante tarps).  At signal, you must get up, catch and saddle riding animals and pack mules with various items.  STOCK WILL NOT BE TIED TO THE FENCE.  HOBBLES ARE OPTIONAL.    Teams will then run an obstacle course to finish line.  One packer must lead the 2 mules pigtailed together.  Other packer must be mounted as an outrider.  Fastest time wins.  Packs have to be on mules and all items accounted for.  Three divisions will be competition at the same time:  Ladies, Novice and Experienced.  Packers meeting Sunday morning.  All Packers or representative must attend. 

FLAPJACK RACE--Open to donkeys & mules.  Show committee to supply wood and matches. Contestants to supply everything necessary to make a flapjack.  No paper, charcoal lighter, starter fluid or other flammable materials allowed.  Flapjack batter may be made up ahead of time.  All contestants line up beside their animals and at whistle, lead pack animal to opposite fence.  At fence you must unpack your animal, build a fire and cook an edible flapjack at least 4" in diameter, all the while keeping your animal within 15' of your fire.  Animals cannot be tied to the fence.

CANADIAN MAZE--Open to donkeys and mules. The maze is run over a pattern that looks like a cross (+).  The end of each of the four legs of the cross is both an entrance and an exit to the maze.  Object of the race is to enter and exit all 4 openings in the fastest time possible.  If the contestant enters or exits any of the openings more than once, he is disqualified.  There is a 10 second penalty for stepping/running over phylons.  Mule contestant runs the maze with a team and a 4 wheeled wagon.  Donkeys may be single and use a cart. 

UNICORN HITCH--Judged on manner of going, skill of driver and conformation of mules/donkeys.  The lead mule/donkey must stay ahead of the team but must not have to pull the whole load. 

BARREL RACE--To be mounted or driven with suitable 2 wheel cart.  Knocking over a barrel constitutes a 5 second penalty.  Brushing a barrel is permissible, but touching a barrel with a hand is not permitted.  Disqualified for breaking pattern.  Youth under 8 years old may have animals led by their parent or grandparent on foot. 

4-UP DONKEY AND MULE DRIVING COMPETITION CLASSES--Each driver will be given a course to follow and will be judged 100% upon performance and driving ability.  To be shown with a suitable 4 wheeled vehicle.

COSTUME CLASS--Open to donkeys and mules.  Riding, driving or in-hand presentation.  To be shown at a walk.  Judged on originality. 

POLE BENDING--To be mounted or driven with suitable 2 wheel cart.  Run length of arena, serpentine through poles, turn and serpentine back through poles, race to finish.  5 second penalty for each pole knocked over.  Disqualified for breaking pattern.  Youth under 8 years old may have animals led by their  parent or grandparent on foot.