Tire Race

Tire Race consists of a tiny tot (child 10 and under) riding into the arena to a handler who is standing within a chalked off circle. The child then dismounts, runs to the tire, crawls through the tire, returns to the horse, remounts and exits the arena.

What a fun event you say? Yes, it can be, but it also can be very controversial. The horse has to stay within the circle the entire time the child is off the horse. The horse must face away from the exit while the child gets on. The child may not have assistance getting on the horse. The handler can not encourage the horse to run faster by swatting it on the rump etc.

While it may look fun, imagine if you will a five year old who is disqualified from the race for getting a boost up! Imagine instead his or her parent. Not pretty!

After following the rules carefully in each show, we finally decided to stop competing in the event. Competitors would complain enough so despite the fact that they were initially disqualified, they were awarded a placing despite the boost, or step out, or slap on the rump...

Oh,and there was the one time when N, who entered the adult tire race at the end of the year fun show almost ran me down. Yes, your read that right...Almost RAN ME DOWN! I screamed and ran away when Kelzon came at me full gallop. His former owner told me he would stop if I grabbed him. Yea. 1000 lb animal races at me full speed - I'm going to reach out and grab his reins and stop him. Sounded good in theory!!

Maybe that has a little bit to do with why we don't do Tire Race anymore.

Here's my first attempt at YouTube. My old camera did not record sound. Lucky for you all my new one does! The cape? This was the show S decided to ride as Super Girl. She did all her classes with one of my old scarves on. Video shot by N who was 11 at the time, rider S was 8, handler mom was 40 and Kelzon was 24.