Slideshow: Horse Games at the San Juan County Fair

Idaho Figure-8 – two poles set 100 feet apart, the first 20 feet from the start-finish line; the second, 120 feet from the same line. The rider crosses the start line, rides down the side of the course to pole B, turns pole B, rides to pole A, turns pole A in the opposite direction, rides back to pole B, turns pole B in the opposite direction of A, and rides across the finish line, completing a figure-8 pattern.

Pole Bending – Six poles set in a straight line, each spaced 21 feet apart with the start-finish line 21 feet in front of the first pole. The rider crosses the start line, travels to pole number 6, bends back through the poles, turns, bends through the poles to number 6, turns, and travels across the finish line.

Texas Barrels – Three barrels placed in a triangular formation. The rider crosses the starting line, circles the number 1 barrel to the right, crosses to the number 2 barrel, circles it to the left, rides to the number 3 barrel, circles it to the left, and travels across the finish line. The rider may alternatively cross the starting line to the number 2 barrel, circle it to the left, cross the number 1 barrel, circle it to the right, run to the number 3 barrel, circle it to the right, and proceed across the finish line.

Keyhole – The rider crosses the starting line, travels 100 feet into a 20 –foot diameter circle marked with a white line, turns the horse, and returns across the starting line. All four of the horse’s feet must stay within the circle.

Two-Barrel Flag Race – The rider crosses the start line, rides to/past container A (side optional), and takes the flag from container A; then, while riding around container B, the rider places the container A flag into container B and picks up the container B flag then goes into container A as the rider passes; the rider finishes by crossing the start-finish line.

International Flags – The rider crosses the start-finish line, goes down and around the barrel in either direction, picks up the flag, and carries the flag back across the start-finish line.

Photos by Matt Pranger