8th Annual Functional Horsemanship Arena Challenge

Our annual Arena Challenge, the 8th year in a row, will be held 1 October 2022. I think this event is a little unique in the horse competition world for non-Pro riders as I try to blend different facets of multiple discilplines into an event where Cowboys, Dressage riders, Eventers, Team Ropers, Trail riders and Barrel Racers can compete on an even playing field.


It can be challenging for a working cowboy to have to cross an arena on a leg yield or move their horse on a shoulders in manuever. Likewise difficult when a Dressage competitor has to draw a slicker off the fence and put in on, or, open and close a gate. Some may find a 8 foot turn around box hard to do on their horse with forward momentum, and yet others crossing a long narrow bridge difficult. A canter departure on a given lead will be easy for some, while others may find backing their horse in a circle or a serpentine is something they may need to practice. My objective in this annual event, other than to have a safe event, is to promote horsemanship and the desire to increase one's knowledge and abilities. I use some the same tasks over several years in a row to stress certain performance. One year the rider's were required to dismount, stand in a box and back their horses using just a feel on their reins or get down rope, then drop their reins/lead and walk away to demonstrate their horse ground tying. The next year the same was required and an observer could see who worked on it and who did not. Another task was draping a towel over their horse's head and leading their horse blindfolded, such as taking a horse through the smoke of a fire or out of a burning barn. Each year that goes by we can see more and more riders perform some of these tasks.

Additionally, the focus on horsemanship is paramount. I try to design each competitive division course as safely doable yet challenge the horse and rider. Each course is a combination of basic, intermediate or advanced maneuvers and obstacles as appropriate to the competitive division. Common maneuvers and obstacles that have been used in the past and may be used this year include: turn on the hocks; turn on the forehand; backing straight; backing in a serpentine; backing in an L shape; backing in a circle; trot through serpentine cones, move bending through vertical poles; crossing a bridge; trot around a short cricle using the garrocha pole; go through a cowboy curtain; retrieve ball from bucket and place on cone; open/close a gate; cross a tarp; retrieve and put on a slicker; dismount/remount; ground tying; backing a horse in hand; trailer loading; crossing ground poles; leg yield; shoulders in; transition from slow walk to fast walk; transition from slow trot to faster trot; canter departures on designated lead; simple lead changes; walk to trot transitions; trot departure to a canter transition; side passing straight; side passing in L shape; and side passing with front feet on platform; and blind fold horse and lead on ground to name some of the tasks that a competitor may see.
br> In the Stockhorse division rider’s will be required to throw several loops on roping dummies and perform other roping and ranch horse related tasks. Most rider's in this division can throw head shots and heel trap loops - it's their stock in trade for Cowboys and Team Ropers. But I'll ask them to something different like throwing a loop to their off side and pivot their horse underneath the loop fcing up on the roping dummy. Stockhorse competitors may also have work their horses on a Pro Cutter flag; Drag a heavy log; throw a loop around a barrel and trot around the barrel feeding out their slack and wrapping it around the barrel; and, trailer load their horse.

In the lead up to the Arena Challenge, I'll put on several weekend clinics for registered competitors. These clinics are not practice for the Challenge, but are really problem solving sessions, working on getting horses softer and handier.

We are thankful for the great support in the past from many companies. Noteable supporters for last year's Arena Challenge includes Cashel Company, Covenant Special Projects, and Tractor Supply Company. When the awards ceremony has ended everyone has been fed lunch and collected awards and prizes, I'd like to think that each and every competitor had their fun meter pegged and believes they got thier time and moneys worth.

2021 Functional Horsemanship Arena Challenge Results

This past Saturday, 2 October 2021, we concluded the 7th Annual Functional Horsemanship Arena Challenge here at the Red Bird and the results were Don Carpenter winning the Stockhorse division (photo of Don below and yes he is a big man capable of one man doctoring on Grizzlys); Robin Lackey winning the Open division; Jessica Bailey won the Intermediate division; and Nikol Endres won Novice.

I won't go into all the tasks and obstacles per competitive division, but in the Stockhorse Division rider's had to open and close a gate; track a Pro Cutter flag and perform roll backs, turn then show they could control the front end of the horse by cutting on the flag as if they were blocking a gate. There were four throws on roping dummies - the obligatory head and heel shots as well as off side head loop and facing up on orse back. I also had them build and throws loops while up against the arena fence to see how good their rope management was. The Stockhorse rider's had to throw a loop over a barrel and trot around the barrel feeding out their loop and coiling it around the barrelthe rider's had to trot forty feet dragging the log. Photo below of Lewis Martin tracking the Pro Cutter flag.

Gena Blankenship won the coveted Horsemanship Award. In addition to his plaque, ribbon and trip to the prize table, Don Carpenter received a $250 Starr Western Wear gift card donated by Tom and Valerie Buchino of Covenant Special Projects, and a custom Horseman's knife and sheath from Cow Camp Supply. Robin Lackey in addition to her plaque, ribbon and prize table trip, received a $50 gift card. Gena Blankenship also received a $50 gift card in addition to her Horsemanship statute (photo of Gena below).

Full results are: Stockhorse - Don Carpenter, Gena Blankenship, Erin Weich, LuAnne Santiago, Jesica Bailey, Travis Reed, Lewis Martin and Mark Schleicher. Open - Robin Lackey and LuAnne Santiago. Intermediate - Jessica Bailey, Gena Blankenship, Marianne Bailey, Eric Weich, Joyce Getrost and Kay Lee. Novice - Nikol Endres, Abigail Means, Mark Schleicher, Dan Bailey and Edith Deleski. And lastly, Dan Bailey won the best mustache contest, but only because Miss Bertha from Tularosa did not enter this year.

Special thanks to Tom and Valerie Buchino of Covenant Special Projects for their generosity in supporting the Stockhorse division and Sara Tyree for being the guest judge again this year. And last but not least thanks to the vendors who support this event - Cashel Company, Eclectic Horseman, Animal Health International and Tractor Supply Company.