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Pole Bending

  1. Starting lines in pole bending will be subject to ground rules.

  2. A clearly visible starting line shall be provided.

  3. No two girls in the same age group may ride the same horse.

  4. The horse’s nose will be timed as it crosses the starting line.

  5. A pole horse shall not be ridden by more than one contestant in this event at any one rodeo.

  6. There shall be a minimum of 75 feet allowed for stopping, from starting line in poles back to arena fence as arena conditions allow.

  7. The poles and the starting line will be permanently marked for the entire go-round.

  8. During pole bending events, the arena will be dragged at regular intervals, to be determined by the management. Turnouts and releases must be included in the count.

  9. Following pole bending events, the pattern will be dragged or leveled.

  10. A contestant may enter the Arena at the speed of her choice.67

  11. Arena gate must be closed immediately after she enters the arena and kept closed until pattern is completed and her horse is under control.

  12. Contestant may change horses in this event. II. Time Limit: Contestant will be allowed legitimate time from the time she enters arena gate until her time starts by Field Flagger or electric eye.III. Event Rules:

  13. The pole bending pattern is to be run around six poles.

  14. No flags to be used on poles.

  15. Poles to be colored red, white and blue by six-inch strips as these are the colors of the National High School Rodeo Association.

  16. The distance from the starting line to the first pole shall be 21 feet and spacing between poles shall be twenty-one (21) feet apart. Endpole must be twenty (20) feet, at least, from fence.

  17. Poles shall be set on top of the ground, six (6) feet in height, and with no base larger than fourteen (14) or less than twelve (12)inches in diameter.

  18. Poles must be straight in line.

  19. Touching poles is permitted by horse or contestant.

  20. A horse may start either to the right or left of the first pole and then run the remainder of the pattern accordingly.

  21. Diagram of pattern (See pattern diagram in the back of this rulebook).IV. Scoring and Penalties:

  22. Timed event judge will not flag contestant out until time is recorded.

  23. Judge is to flag time, then flag contestant out if run is not legal.

  24. Knocking over a pole is a five (5) second penalty, per pole.

  25. Not following the pole bending pattern will receive a no time. A broken pattern shall be defined as breaking their forward motion to retrace their tracks to finish the pattern and/or passing the plane of the pole on the off side. Example: Should a contestant run by a pole and have to back up or turn around and retrace their tracks, this would be considered a broken pattern. Also, if a pole is knocked down and the contestant does not follow the weave pattern around the original base position of the fallen pole, it is considered a broken pattern.

  26. Contestant will be allowed legitimate time from the time she enters the arena gate until her time starts by Field Flagger or electric eye. Judge will determine legitimate problem for prestart time.

  27. If horse re-crosses starting line at any time before the pattern is completed, pattern will be considered broken and run will receive no time.68

  28. If contestant’s horse breaks timer light, by backing through before starting time, time will be considered started.

  29. A five (5) second penalty will be assessed if the contestant enters the arena without her hat on her head.

  30. When the electric eye fails to work for one or more contestants during a performance, the manual back-up time will be used for those electronically missed. The electric eye-controlled times will remain unaltered.

  31. Assistant helping pole benders will not be allowed to go past the plane of the main arena gate when they are entering the arena or the contestant will receive a no time. Optional at state/province qualifying rodeos only, not state or national finals: When using the alleyway and closing the back gate on alleyway for stopping, assistant can offer assistance to riders up to the main arena gate, at the discretion of the arena director.

  32. The contestant is allowed a running start. If the gate is centrally located, contestant must keep forward motion toward the first barrel/pole. If a side or corner gate is used, a single spin or pivot is acceptable in either direction or by the Arena Director’s approval. Failure to comply will be a no time. Contestant must be mounted when entering the arena.

  33. Contestant must run in the order drawn. Failure to do so may result in a no time at the discretion of the judges and arena director.V. Re-Runs:

  34. No rerun will be given due to faulty or broken equipment furnished by contestant.

  35. The battery digital clock will be the first backup time and digital hand-held watches to be second back up time. When both the digital clocks malfunction and no time was recorded from digital watches, contestant will be given a rerun at a time designated bythe Judges and Arena Director, plus any penalties.

  36. Contestants will carry any penalties with them if they are granted a rerun. If the pole bending is moved, postponed or rerun for safety reasons due to ground conditions, reruns will be penalty free.VI. Optional Rules: Equipment necessary: Twin units of battery power electric eyes with one electric power digital clock and one battery power digital clock and two (2) hand held battery power digital watches in hundredths shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric eye timers, or, if necessary, the average of the watches used by the official timers to be the official time. (Optional at State/Province level).VII. Equipment:

  37. Western type equipment, including saddle, must be used.69

  38. Use of a hackamore or other types of bridles is the optional choice of the contestant.

  39. The judge may prohibit the use of bits or equipment that he may consider severe.

  40. Equipment Necessary: Twin units of battery power electric eyes with one electric power digital clock and one battery power digital clock and two (2) hand held battery power digital watches in hundredths shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric eye timers, or, if necessary, the average of the watches used by the official timers to be the official time. (Optional at State/Province level).

  41. Complete electric timer must be backed up by flagman. One timer will record the times that appear on the electric eye-controlled readout. Two timers will operate the digital watches and record the average time which is shown thereon. These two timers will operate from the flagman’s signals.

  42. Permanent markers should be put in the ground for the electric eyes.

  43. Position on fence for flagman should be well marked. These markers should be checked every performance along with the pole markers and re-staked if pulled out. A record of these measurements shall be kept.

  44. Set timer beforehand in the same height and position and lock the legs.

  45. Barrels are not to be used as stands for the electric eye

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