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

Game Setup:

Place four cartons on the ground 3 yards behind Line C with the open ends facing the outside of the arena. Place the laundry basket on Line B. All riders start the race behind Line A. Riders 2, 3, & 4 must start the race behind the 6-yard line. Give the wooden dowel to rider 1.

Game Play:

Rider number one will ride to the far end, pick up a carton on his/her dowel and return to dump it into the basket. He/she will then continue back to the start and hand the dowel to rider numbertwo. Riders two, three and four will similarly cross the changeover line, pick up a piece of litter and put it into the basket in succession. The winning team will be the one whose rider number four crosses the finish line, mounted and carrying his dowel.

REMEMBER - All four feet of all four ponies must cross the changeover line regardless of where the litter is located. The riders must remain mounted and must not hold the litter by the hand when picking it up, carrying it on the dowel, or when dumping it. If the carton is smashed and can’t be picked up, a rider may dismount to repair it, but must remount to pick it up on his or her dowel. Cartons may be weighted with sand if it is windy. Should the basket be knocked over, the rider concerned must set it up again, and replace all the litters in the basket, including his own and proceed.

Correction rules:

• If the rider drops the wooden dowel, he may pick it up mounted or unmounted.

• If the carton is stepped on and gets squished before it can be picked up, the rider may dismount and fix the container before remounting and continuing.

• If the litter is on the inside of Line C, the rider must first cross Line C and then come back into the field of play to pick up the litter.

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 handing off the wooden dowel in an upright (vertical) position. Don’t poke at the outgoing rider. See handoff tips.

• Riders should hold the dowel about 1/3 of the way down the dowel (2/3 of the dowel above the hand and 1/3 below the hand). This will give the rider better leverage for picking up the litter. DO NOT HOLD THE DOWEL AT THE VERY END.

• Some ponies freak out the first time they hear or see the litter hanging from the dowel. Riders should first hold and rattle the litter on the dowel near the pony while unmounted. Next, the rider should have the coach hold the pony while the rider gets the pony used to the litter while mounted.

• Riders should have the coach hold the pony when first practicing picking up the litter. Then the rider does not have to worry about holding the pony and picking up the litter.

• Riders should practice a scooping motion when picking up the litter.

• Advanced riders should practice picking up the litter in one continuous motion; cross Line C, turn towards the litter, scoop of the litter, and move off towards the laundry basket.