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 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 purposers 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—Classified 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” 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 strickly 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. *Mules or Donkeys must be ridden unless animal is 48” or under, this includes youth & junior divisions.  Youth 8 years old and younger may have help mounting but cannot be lead. Donkeys or Mules 48” and under at maturity (must be2 years old or older) may be lead as a pack animal with handler on foot and with saddle and pack.  No riding animal 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 & 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 animals.

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, rider will be asked to do a pattern and there will be a few simple obstacles to go over or 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 ring on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraint.

MULES/DONKEY KINDERGARTEN WESTERN PLEASURE—For animals 4 years old 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.

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 races to the 2nd barrel and deposits that flag pole.  Then race back to finish line.  Rider must keep barrels on the right or 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.

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. See Barrel Race and Canadian Maze Rules for additional rules.

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.

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.

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 gait both ways around the ring. 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 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% 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. 

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 the sticks.  30 second time limit.

BREAK AWAY ROPING—Youth/Adult. Rope to be tied to saddlehorn 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.  1 minute time limit.  Optional 2nd loop, no rebuilds, pack 2 loops.

TEAM ROPING—Not a jackpot—Each placing mule gets points/ribbons. Start behind barrier.  Header on left, healer on right 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.

LEADLINE—Open to donkeys and mules.  Contestants to be 8 years old and under as of January 1, 2010. To be shown at a walk around 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/ribbons.  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 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 c art. Shown 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 ahold of animal at all times, remount and race back to finish line.  Youth 8 and under may have animals led by their parents or grandparent on foot and have help mounting.

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 cart. 

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.

GAMBLERS RUN—Timed and Scored. A course will be set up with a variety of obstacles. Drivers must complete all obstacles in order.  Rules, obstacle course and point value will be distributed at the time of registration. Teams must use a 4 wheeled wagon.  Singles may use 2 wheeled carts. 2 ½ minute time limit. (Think of this as a trail class for driving).

YOUTH LEAD YOUR DONKEY/MULE TO WATER—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 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.  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 4 places in each division with $1500 prize money divided proportionally with number of teams in each division.  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. 

FLAPJACK RACE—Open to donkeys and 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.

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 or running over pylons. Mule contestants 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.

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.

BARREL RACE—To be mounted or driven with suitable 2 wheeled 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.  

4-6-8 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.

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

POLE BENDING— Timed. To be mounted or driven with suitable 2 wheeled 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.

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 the pattern.  Youth under 8 years old may have animals led by their parent or grandparent on foot.