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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 five bending poles 24’ to 30’ apart midway between Lines A & C. (Use the same rules as for the bending race). All the riders start the race behind Line A. Riders 2, 3, & 4 must start the race behind the 6-yard line. Rider 5 or a designated holder should stand, holding four envelopes, 3 yards beyond Line C. Give the feed sack to rider 1.

Game Play:

On the signal to start, rider number one carrying a sack will weave through the bending poles, and across the changeover line, where rider number five will hand him/her a letter. The first rider will place the letter in his/her sack before re-crossing the changeover line, returning by weaving through the bending poles past line A, where he/she will hand the sack to rider num-ber two. The second, third and fourth riders will similarly collect a letter from rider number five. The winning team will be the one who is first over the finish line, mounted and with four letters in the sack. Rider number five must remain beyond the changeover line during the entire game. Rider number five may assist by hold-ing the inside rein of the rider only while rider places letter in sack.

Advanced Division Rules:

Riders number one and two are behind line A. Rider number one, carrying a sack, weaves through the bending poles, then rides across the changeover line where a volunteer hands him/her a letter. The rider places the letter in the sack before recrossing the changeover line, returns by weaving through the bending poles, crosses line A, and hands the sack to rider number two. Rider number two then completes the race in the same manner.

Special rules:

• If the rider misbends a pole, he must return and rebend the pole correctly.

• If the rider knocks over a pole, he must reset the pole and rebend the pole from the point of the error.

• If the rider drops the envelope before crossing back over Line C, either the rider or the holder may pick it up.

• If the rider does not have the envelope in the sack before crossing back over Line C, he must go back across Line C and put the envelope in the sack there.

• If the envelope falls out of the sack after crossing Line C, the rider does not have to return to Line C to correct the problem.  The rider can retrieve the envelope and stuff it in the bag from the spot the envelope fell out.

• If the riders drop the sack during the changeover handoff, then either rider may pick up the sack.

• Riders may pick up a dropped sack or envelope, mounted or umounted.

• 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.

• A rider should get the pony used to the flapping feed sack, practice carrying it, mounting with it, and handing it off next to the pony. Practice this skill first unmounted, then the coach should hold the pony when first attempting this skill mounted.

• All riders should follow the same bending rules as used in the bending race. When starting the race, start with the pole on the rider’s RIGHT shoulder or the LEFT side of the pole. After picking up the envelope, once again, the rider should start with the pole on his right shoulder.

• Riders should stuff the envelope down to the bottom of the sack and should make sure not to knock out other envelopes.

• The first rider should roll the top of the bag down about one third of the way. This makes it easier to carry the sack, to stuff the envelopes in the sack, and to make handoffs.

• All riders should practice making a smooth semi-circle around the holder during the envelope pickup. Steps: The holder hands envelope to the rider, and grabs inside rein of the rider’s pony. While the rider is making a half circle around the holder, the rider is stuffing the envelope into the feed sack. As the rider approaches Line C again, he should have the envelope stuffed in the sack and should be on his way back to the next rider.