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

Skills Needed: Vaulting, dunking, & handoffs
Equipment Required:
One 5-gallon water bucket
Five potatoes
One Hula Hoop

Game Setup:

Place four potatoes inside the hula-hoop located three yards behind Line C. Often the hula-hoop is not used but a circle is created using spray paint for visibility. Place a bucket 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 fifth potato to Rider 1.

Game Play:

On the signal to start, rider number one, carrying a potato, will ride to his team’s bucket and drop the potato into it. The rider then continues to the far end to pick up a potato. The rider must dismount to pick up a potato and may dismount at any time after he has successfully dropped the potato into the bucket, but the rider and all four feet of the pony must cross Line C (either mounted or dismounted) before returning for the handover regardless of where the potato was picked up. Riders two, three and four will complete the course in the same manner in succession, with rider number four dropping the fifth potato in the bucket on his way back (double dunking). If the potatoes are knocked out of the hula hoop, they need not be placed back in.

Rider number one and two are behind line A. Rider number one, carrying a potato, rides to the bucket on line B and drops the sock into it. He/she then continues across the changeover line, dismounts, picks up a potato, remounts, and crosses the start line to hand off the potato to rider number two. Rider number two completes the race in the same manner, dropping his/her potato into the bucket on the way back (double dunking).

• If the rider misses the bucket, the rider may pick up the potato while mounted or unmounted and place it in the bucket.

• If the rider knocks over the bucket, the rider may correct the equipment mounted or unmounted.

• If the potatoes are knocked out of the hula-hoop or painted circle, the rider does not have to replace the potatoes before continuing. If one of the potatoes crosses over Line C, the rider does not have to replace it in the circle. He may pick it up where it has landed as long as he has completely crossed Line C.

• 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 remember when dunking the potato that it is not as bouncy as a ball but more bouncy than a sock. So the rider still has to be careful when dunking the potato. See dunking tips.

• Riders should use the 3-finger handoff. See handoff tips.

• Advanced riders should use the corner vault after picking up the potato. See vaulting tips.

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