Question: Hello, New to the EXCA. I have had questions on mounting your horse. Exactly where can the hands be placed. Mounting from the left of the horse....left hand on horn and right hand on cantle? or left hand on opposite pommel and right hand on cantle? Really look forward to this answer.

Tami

Answer: Tami- A judge should be looking for a balanced mount without pulling the horse or saddle. It would be proper for the left hand to grab the mane, or horn as long as the saddle isn't pulling on the horses withers. Right hand could be on opposite side of horn if left hand is in mane or it could also grasp back of cantle. Once again looking for rider to protect the horse with a balanced mount ( not pulling horse sideways or pulling saddle on withers- a soft slide into the seat ) Hope this helps. 

Question: I just competed my frist here this week end and totally enjoy myself, question is, my time was faster, so was it the entering the obstacle, leaving the obstacle, am I allow to ask my points????

Answer:  The obstacles are all scored individually 1-10 ( approach, obstacle, departure ), also there is an overall horsemanship score, and the time is weighted for score from fastest to slowest. Yes after the event you can ask about your score and talk to the judge on how to improve your runs. Look for a clinic in your area and we look forward to seeing you at the races.

Question: I notice the rule book states there is 20-30 seconds to complete each obstacle.  My question is how is it determined which obstacle gets 20 seconds and which one gets 30 (or somewhere in the middle)?

Answer: The EXCA allows 30 seconds to complete an obstacle. If the 30 second mark is reached but the horse is making forward progress a judge will allow the rider to continue and complete the obstacle. Some obstacles at the judges discretion will be given a little more time ( example: cattle sorting, roping when gate work is involved, etc ) if needed to complete in a safe and efficient manner. A judge can also whistle a ride off an obstacle if there is no forward motion and continued refusal or balking. Hope this clears up any questions and I look forward to seeing you compete soon. 

Question: How far out from the fence should a competitor be when performing rollbacks. I guess AQHA or one of the reining organizations require the horse to be 12 feet off the fence at a minimum or something.

Answer: Roll backs and doubling are performed close to the fence but with just enough room for the horse to work without interference. There is no rule in any organization I know of about 12 ft minimum.

Question: Is there a limit on how many horses a judge can judge in a single day?

Answer: No

Question: At the last event the judges decided that if a rider uses one hand with a snaffle they should be marked lower than a rider using 2 hands with a snaffle bit. I contend that 1 hand on a snaffle is more advanced than 2 hands although still less advanced that one hand with a leverage bit. Of course, this is in the event all else is equal. And how much would you lower a score if a rider with a leverage bit goes to 2 hands just for that obstacle?

Answer: A rider in a snaffle can ride one or two handed. One handed is not penalized if on a loose rein with proper handling. This would be more advanced. All things being equal in the bit should be one handed loose, if a rider drops to two hands for a correction on the horse then back to one hand you will have to judge this accordingly. Two handed in the bit for the entire ride has less exposure for a mistake. Remember you will be looking for a soft loose rein with the rider using the proper cues, not pulling or hanging on a horse. Two handed loose would score higher than one handed hanging on a horse pulling the horse around and not showing proper horsemanship. Use your best professional judgment on how each piece of equipment is meant to be handled (snaffle, traditional hackamore, in the bit, two rein, romel, mecate ) and the proper way of handling each individual breed.

Question: The time was factored into points by a computer program provided to the sponsoring club. How is the time of a run factored into points? Is there a conversion scale that I can share with the competitors?

Answer: The time factor works off of fastest time to slowest time, it can add up to 15% of score on down accordingly to times of competitors in the class. If a rider takes over 8 minutes no points are granted.

Question: On the issue of the training bits that include a noseband as part of the bit not being allowed. The justification for not allowing these is that they are similar in pressure to the mechanical hackamore? Or that they have nosebands? Or?

Answer: No gimmick bits, if it works in principle like a mechanical hackamore, or a gag bit, or traps or restricts the mouth etc it is illegal. no cavesons, bosalitos, drop nosebands, or combination headstall/cavesons.

Question: I wanted to clarify for my own use, are we allowed to use a twisted wire snaffle? Just want to know what is legal or not. Thanks!

Answer: Yes a twisted wire snaffle is legal. Try to stay away from a thin witch. Keep your hands soft and remember no cavosons of any sort.
 

Question: I have a question on competing with a snaffle type bit and a shank type bit. Do you as a judge prefer a rider using one hand vs. two hands? I ask because using a snaffle type bit, you should use two hands and a shank type bit, one hand. I wonder when it comes to judging a particular horse/rider, Do riders that ride with shank type bits and ride one handed get a better score than a rider that rides with a snaffle type bit and a two hands? Also, is there a Division in which you prefer not to see snaffle bits (regardless of the horses age) or is it irrelevant?   Thanks Laura

Answer:  Laura- All riders should be judged on the proper handling of the equipment being used. It's okay to two hand a snaffle and a rider should be one handed once they are advanced into anything with a shank. All should be performed on a soft rein without the rider hanging on the horse for balance. If a rider is one handed in the bridle ( shanked bit ) and correct they should should score higher than a two handed rider in the bridle ( shanked bit ), That being said a rider that is one handed in the bridle and hanging on his horses mouth and using the bit for leverage or trying to maintain control by using more bit will not score as high as a rider that is two handed on a soft rein showing control and a willing horse. A rider in the snaffle can ride two handed or one handed and not receive a deduction for going to two hands. A hackamore like wise will be scored on the correct use and handling of this equipment. It is important that judges understand the difference in equipment and proper handling of equipment as it pertains to the showing of the different breeds of horses and mules. It makes no difference to me if an aged horse is shown in the snaffle as in some disciplines of riding the horses are shown in non shanked bits their entire career. I hope this answers some of your questions. Keep in mind that a judge is looking at alot more than if a rider it one handed or two handed.
 

Question: How is the final score for a run computed?  The EXCA website explains the points awarded for each obstacle, but I could not find the equation for combining the obstacle scores with your overall time into a final score.

Answer: The average score per obstacle is 5.5. If a person rides the entire course with an average score including horsemanship, the time bonus points will be approximately 15% of the total score. This means that faster one completes the course, the greater the time bonus will be as a percent of total score; and vice versa. If anyone takes longer than 8 minutes to complete the course they receive no time bonus points at all (hence time will account for 0% of total score). Bottom line: go as fast as you can without throwing horsemanship out the window. Horsemanship will always be primary and speed secondary with approximately an 85%/15% ratio for the average rider. The purpose of the change is to award those that ride well with speed.

Question:

1. During the free ride, what position would the judge's like to see? (horse & rider)
2. I don't understand how you qualify for the cowboy up stampede- I haven't done the competitions yet because no trailer... but hopefully ones coming soon.

Answer: Megan- The free ride is an opportunity for the rider to show of their horse, flying lead changes, roll backs, transitions, speed with rate etc. The Cowboy Up Stampede is an invitational event.

Hope this answers your questions and we look forward to seeing you compete.

Question:

1) Wondered if there was any prize money or payback, it sure helps if you can pay for the gas.
2) Are we limited to compete in one area or district only? 
3) Do you have to qualify for Reg competitions? 
Thanks for the help, Deb

Answer: Deb  It is up to the promoter if there is prize money or percentage of entry for payback.
You can compete in any area or region.
The regional championships will offer all 6 divisions and are open to any EXCA member.
Hope this answers some of your questions and we look forward to seeing you compete. 

Question: I am a new member, as of last weekend at the Kingston, TN, Challenge. I was talking to the judge there and we both wondered if the Indian Hakcamore would be permitted to use in competition. Mine is all nylon, nothing mechanical about it. I'm attaching some pictures of them. If so, should split or loop reins be used with it? Please let me know what you think. Thank you for your time, Michelle

 
Answer: Michelle- This is not a legal set up. The mechanical does not have to have metal. This is a leverage hackamore.
 

Question: I am thinking about joining your association, but was wondering if I could ride in my Civil War era McClellan saddle. In the rule book all it states is that it has to be traditional Western or Australian. I know it is allowed in CMSA (they even have a Cavalry Class). Just curious. Thanks.

Answer: Charlie- Competing in a McClellan saddle would not be a major concern although you would be at a disadvantage in any obstacle requiring roping and dallying. No exceptions would be made due to the fact of a saddle not having horn and you would lose points in this area.The decision would be yours. Look forward to watching you compete.
 

Question: I have a 2 year old colt that has a long back. He is put together fairly nice overall but that is he element that gets him in second when he's at the top with another competitor. Are the any tricks to setting up the horse to help the back appear shorter. And are there any exercises I can focus on to build on the shoulder/haunches to assist in this appearance.

Answer: Toni- An EXCA judge is not judging on confirmation. All scoring is on the approach, obstacle, and departure of each obstacle with a separate horsemanship score that is being judged during the complete ride. With your horse only being two his conformation will develop with time but should not be a factor in his scores at a sanctioned EXCA race.
 

Question: My husband and I are both new members of EXCA. We live in Benson AZ. from NOV.-March every year. During the months from April-Oct we are in Yosemite CA. where we work. My question is, do we need to travel back to the southwest region for the regionals or could we try and qualify here in CA. Which would be the South-Pacific region. Thanks Lynne

Answer: Lynne- Yes you can qualify and compete in any region that you are willing to travel too.
Look forward to seeing at the races.

Question: I have begun using a bosal on my young horse. Is a bosal, with a throatlatch or fiador acceptable or does this make the apparatus a
hackamore?

Answer: This is a perfectly legal and traditional set up. A fiador attached to the hanger or a throat latch is acceptable.
 

Question: Is the head gear, known as the "stop and turn" legal to use in the extreme race? Thanks, Kay

Answer: Kay- No, This is another form of a mechanical hackamore.
 

Question: I am a level 1 judge and am trying to follow the rules and keep everyone happy. The question I have is about the wonder bit. If the rains are attached to the large ring like a snaffle, would that make it a legal bit.
Thanks for your help
Gene-

Answer: The wonder bit falls under the category of a gag bit, as such it is not legal under EXCA rules. There are a lot of gimmick bits sold under different names that are modified gag bits and also leverage bits that also fall under the category of mechanical hackamores. There is a great wealth of information on the web that covers such equipment ( Wonder Bits, Mikmar Bits, etc). As a judge you will run into competitors that don't know the difference and you will need to inform and educate them. This can be addressed in the walk through and allows the competitor the time to change into appropriate equipment and not risk disqualification.
 

Question: On the free ride portion of an event, is it supposed to be a pre-set course, a run from point A to point B, or should it be the rider's choice, a chance to show their skills in a run from point A to point B?

Answer: Pat The free ride will have a start and finish, point A to point B. This is your opportunity to show your horse using speed while maintaining control. Remember you can show your horse off but you cannot showoff (showboating) this is a great time to show the performance moves in your horse. Ride fast and ride for the high points!
 

Question: From a compeitor's and sponsor's point of view, will you please explain how to confirm a competitor is a trainer? Myself, I was told by a contestant she rides ??? horses nightly to pay for college, would this not be a trainer? Previously I was informed that if I do not know this contestant then it is up to the contestants integrity to be honest.

Answer:  If a rider receives any form of compensation for riding, training, teaching etc. then by the rules of the EXCA they are a pro! It is not up to the contestants integrity to be honest, in every region between the contestants, judges, promoters, and NAB advisors this is not hard to confirm. If a rider is found to be riding in a lower division they will be notified and placed in the appropriate division. The points accumulated will not follow into the higher division as this could affect a regional championship. There is a form on the EXCA website under Club Services for a novice to petition to stay in the novice division and each case will be looked at individually to see if they meet the criteria of a novice. This division was developed for new riders with less experience to be able to compete with riders of similar experience, a rider using a new or green horse is not a reason to ride in the novice. The EXCA rates the riders not the horse.  

Question: I have a question regarding judging. Although I don't see them specifically mentioned in the rules, I would consider crops of any type to not be allowed. To me this is not showing a willing horse if the rider needs to use a crop on them. The same would go for hitting the horse with a mecate or rein, right? I can't find it expressly in writing but to me, striking a horse in any form would not be allowed. How much would you score down for this? Would it be just part of being "heavy-handed"?
Thank you.

Answer: Marlee- You are correct in your statement. As a judge I mark down substantially if a rider over/unders a horse, or strikes a horse with the macate, reins, or popper on a romel. This not only falls under the horsemanship score but also on the particular obstacle. If it happens a second time on a course I would look strongly at a DISQUALIFICATION. I do no allow riders to ride with a crop when they are on the course! In the rule book it states every horse will be treated with dignity and respect. Any action or treatment deemed to be cruel, abusive, or inhumane will result in immediate disqualification from the sanctioned EXCA event. All disqualifications will be reported to the event host, the event host will report to the EXCA office within 3 business days and the board of directors will review the case and decide if any additional disciplinary action is deemed necessary, also all event hosts fill out a judges critique sheet and if a judge allows questionable behavior or conduct to occur then that judge will be held responsible. This check and balance system between contestant, judge, promoter, and NAB advisors if present should stop any questionable behavior. These standards are what separates the EXCA as a professional organization versus many non sanctioned races.