Gymkhana

A Gymkhana is a meeting of horsemen and horsewomen of all ages to engage in informal mounted games. These are particularly suitable for children and inexperienced riders, for boy and girl scout troops, for pony clubs and for summer camps as a means of improving ability, providing variation and increasing interest in their riding. Some of the mounted games usually included in a Gymkhana are:

MUSICAL CHAIRS—Played in the same manner as if the contestants were not mounted. One less chair than the number of riders; at a whistle, gong or cessation of music, they dismount and make for one of the chairs holding on to the reins. The one without a chair drops out and a chair is removed, etc.

EGG AND SPOON RACE—The first rider to finish with the egg in a spoon, carried in one hand, is the winner. The distance traversed may vary—125 yards is a good one. The contest may be conducted at a walk, trot or canter.

WATER RACE—Contestants, with a glass in the hand at the starting point, dismount, fill their glasses w or more full from a pail (usually one for each rider or each two riders), mount and race about 25 yards. The first one to cross the finish line with the glass not less than half full wins. If desired, the contestants may start mounted with their glasses nearly full.

Another variation is to dismount and drink the water remaining in the glass—provided it is at least half full. A further variation is to carry a full glass on a small tray from the start to the finish.

BUN EATING CONTEST—The contestants race from a start to a designated other line, dismount, eat a bun, mount and return to the start. Of course, the first one to return to the starting line wins.

GRETNA GREEN RACE—Men or boys race from a starting line a distance of 50 yards, pick up a woman or girl and return to the starting line with their "brides" in the saddle with them. The first couple in wins.

POLO BALL STROKING CONTEST-Each contestant is given a polo mallet and polo ball painted a different color. (For this reason, if there is a large number, the contest must be conducted in heats.) The object is to hit the ball across a line about 100 to 150 yards away (150 is better). Any contestant may stroke any other contestant's ball out of that contestant's way to spoil his progress. There are, therefore, two objectives—to stroke your own ball over the goal line first and stroke to the side or backwards any nearby other contestant's.

SADDLING AND BRIDLING RACE-The contestants line up on a starting line, bridles and saddles on that line, holding their mount with a halter and halter shank. At a signal, the contestants bridle and saddle their horses, mount carrying their halters, race to the finish line, unsaddle, unbridle and halter their horses. The saddle and bridle must be on the ground in an orderly and appropriate manner. The first to accomplish this is the winner.

REMOVING THE SADDLE-This is a difficult contest, for advanced riders. The contestants race from a starting line to a designated other line, say 100 yards distant, and return to the starting line. While travelling this distance, they must remove the saddle while mounted and return to the starting line riding bareback and carrying the saddle. The first one in wins.

RELAY RACE—The contestants race from a starting line to a designated other line, say 100 yards distant, dismount and turn their mount over to a teammate who mounts and returns to the start. There may be anywhere from two to four or even more relays. The contest may be conducted with mounts saddled or bareback.

BALLOON SCRIMMAGE—Each contestant carries a balloon on a two-foot string—or, alternately, has one tied to his or her back or neck. The object of the contest is to burst the other contestants' balloons while keeping one's own intact. The last contestant to have his or her balloon intact is the winner. Pointed objects to burst the balloons are not permitted.
BAREBACK RACE—Contestants, mounted in saddles, race to a designated line. At this point, each contestant dismounts, removes his saddle, vaults onto his horse's back and races back to the starting line. The first one in is the winner.

GYMKHANA EVENTS FOR TEAMS OF FOUR-TEAM RELAY BENDING RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

Lines of five or six poles will be erected from 24 feet to 30 feet apart. The start and finish will be the same line, marked by flags at one end of the arena.

Number Ones of teams will pass down, and back, bending through the poles. Number Ones will then hand over batons to Number Twos. The "hand-over" must take place behind the starting line.

Number Twos will hand over to Number Threes, and Number Threes to Number Fours.

The winning team will be that team whose Number Four rider passes the finish line first.

Should the baton be dropped by either competitor during the "handover," the next competitor to go must dismount, and pick up the baton. Should a rider drop the baton during the time he is passing down the bending course, the rider will dismount, pick it up, mount and complete the course.

The following faults will incur elimination of the team from this event:

(a) Missing out a bending pole.
(b) Knocking a pole to the ground or breaking it.
(c) If the baton is dropped during the "hand-over," failure of the next rider to dismount and pick it up.
(d) Crossing the starting line before receiving the baton.

MUSICAL HATS—A team competition, all riders competing together.

A number of hats on posts will be placed in the center of the arena, the number being less by one or two than the number of riders competing. Posts will be erected in a circle around the hats.

The riders will follow around on the outside of the circle. When the band stops or a whistle is blown, the riders will gallop to the center, dismount and put on the hats, remaining dismounted.

One or two hats will be removed each time until only one rider is left in.

Points will be awarded for individual placings as follows: The rider or riders eliminated in the first round score, 1 point each. Those eliminated in the second round, 2 points, and so on. The last rider left in will score one point more than the rider eliminated in the last round.

Points of all four members of each team will be totalled and the winning team will be the one with the greatest number of points.

ANTI-LITTER CAMPAIGN—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 8 teams.

Litter in the form of tins, boxes, or plastic-ware will be scattered in the center of the arena.

A container for each team will be placed at equal distances from the center.

The first pair from each team will start at their respective containers, the second pair remaining outside the arena. Each rider will be armed with a stick or bamboo cane from 3 to 4 feet in length.

On the word "Go" the riders will gallop to the center, pick up a piece of litter on the end of the stick and return to dump it in the container. They will continue to collect litter in this way until it is all collected (or until a whistle is blown after a set period of 1 to Vk minutes).

The first pairs will withdraw and the amount of litter they have dumped into their container will be counted. The litter will then be rescattered into the center of the arena if necessary.

The second pairs will then go to their respective containers ready to start.

On the word "Go" the second pairs will collect litter in the same way until it is all collected (or until the whistle is blown after a set period of 1 to 12 minutes).

The litter collected by the second pairs will be counted and the team whose two pairs have collected the greatest amount of litter will be the winner.

The riders must remain mounted and must not touch the litter by hand when picking it up, carrying it on the stick and dumping it.
Should any litter fall off the stick or fail to drop into the container when dumped in, the rider may either pick it up again on his stick or leave it where it is and go on to collect another piece.

No litter may be dumped after the whistle is blown.

If a container is knocked over, a rider must dismount, replace the container and put all the litter back into it by hand. He may continue to do this after the whistle has blown and all will be counted. LED PONY RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

Four poles or wooden horses will be erected as for a bending race, at about 24 to 30 feet apart. Flags will be placed to mark the start or finish at each end of the arena.

Number Ones will form up mounted, leading Number Twos' mounts, Number Threes will form up behind the Number Ones dismounted and holding Number Fours' mounts. Number Twos and Number Fours will form up at the far end of the arena, Number Two holding Number Three's mount.

On the word "Go" Number One will ride down the course, through the bending poles, leading Number Two's mount. On reaching Number Two, he will hand over Number Two's mount to him. Number Two will then mount and pass down the line of posts, taking Number Three's mount with him.

Number One will hand over his mount to Number Four after Number Two has started. Number Two, on reaching Number Three, will hand him his mount, and Number Three will then pass down the line of posts, handing over Number Four's mount to Number Four. Number Four will pass down the course, leading Number One's mount. The winning team will be that whose Number Four rider crosses the finish line first leading Number One's pony.

Mounting must be done behind the flags marking the start and finish at either end of the course.

Should a rider and led mount fail to pass the correct side of a post, or knock one down, or break one, their team will be eliminated. Only the rider handing over a pony may help the next rider.

SHIRT RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.
Starting and finishing lines will be marked by flags at both ends of the arena. A center line will also be marked halfway between the start and finish lines.

Number Ones and Threes will be mounted at one end of the arena, and Number Twos and Fours at the other end. Number Ones will each carry a shirt.

On the word "Go" Number Ones will gallop forward, dismount and get into their shirts, mount again before crossing the center line, gallop on to the end of the arena, dismount, remove their shirts and hand them to their Number Twos.

Number Twos, Threes and Fours will complete the course in the same way up and down the arena successively.

Removing the shirt and handing it over must be done behind the finishing line.

The winning team will be the one whose Number Four crosses the finishing line first in his shirt, mounted.

POTATO PICKING SCRAMBLE-A team competition with up to 6 teams taking part together.

A sack of potatoes is emptied and spread out in small piles in the center of the arena. A basket, or bucket, for each team will be placed at equal distances from the center.

One member of each team will start at their respective buckets, the second remains outside the arena.

On the word "Go" the riders in the arena will gallop to the center, dismount, pick up a potato, mount and return to their buckets, drop the potato into the bucket and return for another.

At the conclusion of a minute, a whistle will be blown. On this signal, the first riders of each team will immediately withdraw and the second riders of each team will go to their buckets to get ready to start.

On the word "Go" the second riders of each team will collect potatoes and drop them into their buckets for 1 minute. The whistle will then be blown again, and the second rider will withdraw.

The rider must be mounted when dropping the potato into the bucket, but should he miss the bucket or should the potato bounce out, the rider must dismount, pick up the potato, mount and drop the potato into the bucket. No potato may be dropped into a bucket after the whistle has blown.

Should the bucket be knocked over, a rider must dismount, replace the bucket and put all the potatoes into it again. He may continue to do this after the whistle has blown (but no additional potatoes may be put in) and all will be counted.

If all of the potatoes in the arena have been placed in buckets before the fourth riders have gone, additional potatoes are placed in the arena.

SADDLE RELAY RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

There will be a start and finishing line at each end of the arena.

Lines of four posts as for Bending will be placed about 24 feet apart.

Each team will be allowed one saddle. Stirrups and leathers are optional. Girths must have two buckles.

Number Ones and Threes will wait at one end of the arena. Number Twos and Fours will wait at the opposite end, all dismounted and holding their mounts behind the starting lines. The saddles will be placed on the ground in a line halfway between the start and the finish posts.

On the word "Go" the Number Ones will lead their mounts to the saddles, saddle up, mount and pass to the end of the arena through the bending posts. On reaching the opposite end the Number Ones will dismount and hand the saddle behind the finishing line to the Number Twos who will saddle up and mount. Number Twos will then pass down course to Number Threes where they will change over in the same way. Number Threes will then pass to Number Fours who will finish the course.

The winning team will be the one whose Number Four is the first to pass the finishing line mounted.

The rider handing over may assist the next rider to saddle and mount.

The riders must remain mounted on the course. If a rider falls off after he has started on the course he must remount, but he need not replace the saddle if it has come off. He may carry it instead.

BALLOON RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

The start and finish will be the same line at one end of the arena.

A number of inflated balloons are attached to a pole for each team, at the other end of the arena.

The Number One of each team will gallop to the balloons, collect one from his team's pole, and return to the starting line.

The balloon will then be handed to the Number Two who will gallop carrying it back to the pole of balloons, and collect a second balloon, returning with these two to the Number Three who will collect the third balloon, handing over to the Number Four who will collect the fourth.

The winning team will be that team whose fourth rider is first past the finish line mounted with four balloons.

The "hand-over" must be done behind the starting line.

Should a balloon burst, or float away, the rider must return and collect another.

Should a balloon be dropped during the "hand-over," the rider next to go must dismount, pick up the balloon, remount, and continue. Should a rider during his turn drop a balloon, he must dismount, and pick it up again.

EGG AND SPOON RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

Lines of three posts will be placed as for the Bending Race. On the center post of each line will be fixed a container in which will be placed spare eggs. The starting and finishing line will be marked by flags at one end of the arena.

Teams will line up mounted behind the starting line. Number Ones will each carry a spoon on which is placed an egg.

At the word "Go" the Number Ones will ride up and down the line through the bending posts carrying their eggs on their spoons. The eggs must not be touched by hand.

On arrival at the finishing line, Number Ones will hand their spoons and eggs to their Number Twos, the eggs still untouched by hand. Numbers Twos, Threes and Fours will complete the course in the same way up and down the arena successively.

The winning team will be the one whose Number Four crosses the finishing line first carrying his egg on his spoon.

Should the egg be dropped, the rider must collect another one from the container on his team's center post and resume the course again from the point where he dropped the egg. The egg need not be placed on the spoon until this point is reached. Should a rider drop his spoon and egg, he must dismount, pick them both up, remount, place the egg on the spoon and continue the course.

Should the spoon and/or egg be dropped, during the "hand-over," the rider next to go must take the appropriate action.

THE ALERT—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

Teams are formed up in the center of the arena. Riders dismount and unsaddle their mounts. All four saddles are placed in line behind the mounts, which are held by one member of each team.

The three remaining riders of each team remove their hats, which are mixed up and spread over a fairly wide area. While facing away from the arena, the three riders stand behind the starting line.

A whistle is blown and the alert is sounded. The three riders collect their hats, put them on, and then with the fourth rider saddle the mounts, mount up and complete the course together.

The winning team will be the one first past the finish line.

Hats may be marked on the inside only.

The teams are inspected at the finish and if a girth buckle is undone or a rider is not wearing his own hat, the team is eliminated.

May be contested with or without stirrups.

VEGETABLE RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

The start and finish will be the same line at one end of arena. Lines of two, three or four posts will be erected as for a Bending Race. These posts will each have a container fixed firmly to it at about 4 feet from the ground. In each container will be placed an apple, a carrot, an orange, and a potato. A bucket or basket will be placed 15 feet in front of the starting line opposite each line of posts.
Each Number One will collect an apple and return with it, dropping it into the bucket. The rider will then return and collect a second apple, and so on, until all the apples are collected.

As soon as the last apple is in the bucket and the Number One has crossed the finishing line mounted, Number Two will commence collecting carrots, and the Number Three collecting oranges and the Number Four collecting potatoes.

The winning team will be the one whose fourth rider first crosses the finish line mounted after having collected all his potatoes.

Should an apple, carrot, orange or potato be dropped outside the bucket or bounce out the rider must dismount, pick it up, mount and drop it into the bucket. Should the bucket be knocked over the rider must dismount, replace all the articles in the bucket, mount and continue. Should a rider collect and drop a wrong article into the bucket his team will be eliminated.

SHARPSHOOTERS RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

The start and finish will be at one end of the arena. At the other end will be a row of ten pins on boxes—three for each team.

Number One and Three are mounted bareback behind the start. Number Two and Four stand at the heads of Number One and Three's mounts.

At the word "Go" Number Two and Four will mount on to Number One and Three's mounts and the two pairs will then gallop to the center line. Number Two and Four will dismount before crossing the center line, and run to a line of buckets containing baseballs or tennis balls, about 15 feet in front of the ten pins. Number Two and Four will throw the balls at the ten pins until they are knocked down. They run back to the mounts, remount before crossing the center line and gallop to the finish.

The winning team is the one which has both pairs of riders first over the finish line mounted.

Number One and Three remain mounted but, should a rider fall off, he must remount at the same place and continue the course.

FLAG RACE—A team competition which may be run in heats if there are more than 6 teams.

There will be a start and finish line at each end of the arena. Four flag holders (upturned drain pipes or oil drums) for each team will be put up in the same positions as bending poles. A white flag will be placed in the first holder of each team, green in the second, red in the third and yellow in the fourth. All flags will be on poles 3 to 4 feet long. Numbers One and Three will be at one end of the arena and Numbers Two and Four at the other. Number One will carry a blue

On the word "Go" Number One will gallop to the first holder, place the blue flag in it and remove the white one. He will carry the white flag to the second holder, place the flag in it and remove the green one. He will carry the green flag to the third holder, place the flag in it and remove the red one. He will carry the red flag to the fourth holder, place the flag in it and remove the yellow one. He will carry the yellow flag and hand it on to Number Two.

Number Two will then gallop to the nearest holder (where Number One had left the red flag). Number Two will put the yellow flag into this holder and remove the red flag. He will carry the red flag to the next holder and so change the flags in succession back to their original positions until he hands the blue flag on to Number Three.

Number Three will change over the flags in succession in a similar manner to Number One and he will hand the yellow flag on to Number Four. Number Four will then return all the flags back to their original positions in succession and will carry the blue flag over the finish.

The winning team will be the one whose Number Four is first over the finish line carrying the blue flag.

Should a flag be dropped the rider must dismount and pick it up. At a "hand-over" the next to go must pick it up. The "hand-over" must be done behind the start or finish line.

Should a flag holder be knocked over, the rider must dismount and set it up again.

If flags are placed improperly, this must be corrected by the rider on the course, (i.e. the one who placed them incorrectly.)

MOUNTED WRESTLING—Teams are eight or more on a side, bareback or with a blanket and surcingle. Each side advances from a different end of the field. The idea is to unseat the opponent while remaining mounted oneself. If any part of the body touches the ground, it is considered equivalent to being unseated and contestant must withdraw. The side which has one or more members still up after all the others have been unseated wins.

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