PLEASE READ ALL RULES CAREFULLY
AS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES.

4-6-8 UP 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 wheeled vehicle

ANTIQUE/UNIQUE DRIVING CLASS - Class open to donkeys/mules, single or teams. Shown at a walk only.  (example of vehicles: mowers, dump rakes, carriages, water tenders, anything equine drawn)

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 & under may be led by their parent or grandparent on foot,  however will be assessed a 1 minute penalty over those riding by themselves.

BARREL AND STAKE RACE MULE & DONKEY—Two stakes.   Rider races to 1st barrel and picks up stake and races to 2nd barrel, deposits stake and races back to 1st barrel and picks up next stake, then race to the 2nd barrel & deposits that stake. Then race back to finish line. Rider must keep barrels on right or left at all times. Disqualified for hitting animals with property, knocking over barrel, dropping stake, breaking pattern or stake coming out of barrel.  2 minute time limit.

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 & under may have animals led by their parent or grandparent on foot and have help mounting but will be assessed a 1 minute penalty over those riding by themselves.

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, however will be assessed a 1 minute penalty over those riding by themselves.

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 pylons. Mule contestant runs the maze with  a team  and a 4 wheeled wagon.  Donkeys may be single and use a cart - but not a chariot. 

CATTLE EVENTS—Mules can only run once per event. Refer to Rule #5 under General Rules. See Steer Daubing, Team Penning.

CHARIOT RACES—Open to Donkey and Mule teams only. Two different races, one will be the barrel race and the other the Canadian Maze. Must use a rear entry 2 wheeled chariot vehicle. Only driver allowed in chariots. Teams can only run once per class. Timed Event.

CHARIOT RACE, FLAT TRACK. Teams only.  Donkeys and Mules.  To be timed.  Will  race inside arena.  Races will be marked with cones.  Must stay inside cones. One lap around arena. Not a high point class.  One at a time, against clock.

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

EQUITATION —ADULT YOUTH—Open to donkeys & mules.  To be shown at a walk, trot & 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. 

FAST ASS EXPRESS (Mules), SLOW ASS EXPRESS (Donkeys)—Timed event.  3 animals per team.  Relay race passing on a pair of saddlebags like a pony express race.  One team at a time, 3 laps around arena. No time if you ride out of track.  No time if you fail to pass off saddlebags in zone.  No time if you drop saddlebags. All 3 contestants to be in the arena at the same time in a designated area. Can be mounted or you can drive, only driver allowed in carts.  FAST ASS EXPRESS WILL HAVE OBSTACLES. 10 sec. penalty per obstacle if you fail to go over the obstacles.  SLOW ASS EXPRESS WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

FLAPJACK RACE—Open to donkeys & mules. Show committee to supply wood and matches.  Contestant 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.

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 spins. 
 

HALTER CLASSES will be judged 50% on conformation, 20% soundness and way of going 20% fitting and conditioning and 10% appointments. Jacks must wear appropriate head gear of stallion bridle or 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" & under for both Jacks & Jennets). Standard (over 36" & under 48" for both Jacks & Jennets) Large Standard (Jennets—48" to 53" Jacks 48" to 55"), Mammoth (Jennets 54" & over, Jacks 56" & 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.

KEYHOLE RACE—Timed.  Rider racers 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 the pattern. Youth under 8 years old may have animals led by their parent or grandparent on foot., however will be assessed a 1 minute penalty over those riding by themselves.

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

LEAD YOUR DONKEY/MULE TO WATER—YOUTH —Timed.   Contestant leads animal to starting line. At signal races to bucket of water and throws handful of water in the air to signal end of time.  Youth 8 & under may be led by their parent or grandparent on foot, however will be assessed a 1 minute penalty over those riding by themselves.

LEADLINE—Open to donkeys and mules.  Contestants to be 8 years old and under as of January 1, 2013. To be shown at a walk around ring. Leadline handler must hold lead rope and be over 18 years old  . NO RIDING DOUBLE BEHIND YOUR CHILD.  Not eligible for any other class.

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 touched or moved & crossing boundary lines with any part of animal, teamster or log. Disqualified for breaking pattern. Teamster must follow animal(s) through the pattern, staying on the same side of the pylon as the animal(s).  Not doing this constitutes breaking the pattern. Small log for minis & donkeys, medium log for saddle mules and large logs for draft mules.

MULE LOG PULL. SINGLE— This class is open to mules that are not competing as a team or in a multiple hitch class in the show.  

NOVICE WESTERN PLEASURE & EQUITATION -- Open to mules only.  Judged at a walk, trop & lope.  May be asked to back. This class is for those mules that have NEVER won a ribbon at Montana Mule Days in a western pleasure or equitation class.  You cannot enter in any other western pleasure or equitation class.  You are NOT eligible to be in the Kindergarten western pleasure.  The novice classes can be for that 20 year old mule that you’ve just purchased and you would like to enter in the pleasure class but don’t feel confident in competing against some seasoned contestants.

OBSTACLE CLASS—Timed & Scored.   A course will be set up with a variety of obstacles.  This class shows the ability of the driver to maneuver a team through a required pattern without going outside the boundaries or disturbing the obstacles.  This is a timed event with points awarded for each obstacle to determine the winner.  Single mules/donkeys will be required to have a 2 wheeled vehicle, Teams will be required to have a 4 wheeled vehicle. 
2 1/2 minute time limit.

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. Youth 8 & under may be led by their parent or grandparent on foot, however will be assessed a 1 minute penalty over those riding by themselves.

RIBBON RACE, DONKEY & MULES—Timed.  Pick your own partners. Donkeys with donkeys and mules with mules.  Driving donkeys must be with another driving donkey.  You will be given a length of ribbon.  Riding or driving side by side you must keep a hold of the ribbon while you ride to the opposite end of arena and around barrel. Race back across finish line.  If your ribbon breaks or you drop ribbon you are disqualified.  Rider must remain on animals and drivers must remain in carts.

RIDE AND DRIVE—DONKEYS & MULES. Enter arena in harness to a suitable driving vehicle. Shown at a walk, trot and road gait both ways of the arena.  Reverse shall be on the diagonal, stop and back. Judged 50% on performance, manners and way of going. While in arena contestant will unharness and saddle up with the help of 2 helpers. Saddle & tack may be in wagon/cart 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 and 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. 

SHOWMANSHIP—Adult, Youth and Juniors. Open to donkeys or mules.  The class shall be judged strictly on the exhibitor’s ability to fit and show an animal at halter.

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 stick must be under control when it makes contact with the steers. No throwing daubing sticks.  30 sec. time limit. Breaking of barrier will result in no time.

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

TEAM PENNING—Not a Jackpot!!! Youth/Adult. Each placing mule gets points/ribbon.  If an additional person (who has already made a run) is required to fill out a team, he must also pay but will not collect points.  Riders at the end of arena; cattle at opposite end. All 3 riders MUST cross line before announcer calls out number.  Riders cut out cattle & 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.

TRAIL CLASS MOUNTED — 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 & under may have help mounting, but cannot be lead. . . No riding animal UNDER 4 years 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.  RULE CHANGES:  CANNOT ENTER THE SAME ANIMAL IN YOUTH, JUNIOR AND ADULT TRAIL CLASS.  ONE ANIMAL -- ONE TIME -- ONE SCORE. PICK THE CLASS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE IN.

TRAIL DRIVING CLASS, MINIS ONLY —.You will be doing some of the same obstacles as the mounted trail class, however, you will be driving thru your trail class. Must stay on  trail.   Open to donkeys and mules 48” and under. Animals must be over 2 years old. 

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.

PACKERS SCRAMBLE—Timed.  Limit 10 teams. 2 Divisions  will be competiting at once:  Mens and Womens. A mixed team, competes in men’s division.    Packers meeting, Sunday morning. All packers or representatives must attend. 

Placing to 5 places in each division with $1000 prize money divided proportionally with number of teams in each division. Of this prize money $100 will be awarded to whichever team comes in first overall.   Team consists of  2 packers and 4 head of stock, of which 2 must be mules and must be packed. Each entry receives 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.

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

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% manners and way of going.  20% condition and fit of harness and vehicle, 10% neatness of attire.

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, however will be assessed a 1 minute penalty over those riding by themselves.