1.  The Jug

Photo by Ney Messi

This obstacle consists of a table of an appropriate height (lower for Lead Line and sm/med ponies and higher for the horses) with a jug.   The jug is empty for the lower levels, and filled with water for the Preliminary, Intermediate, Advanced, and International levels. The rider and horse approach the table, halt, and the rider picks up the jug, raises it above his or her head, and then replaces the jug on the table before moving off at the appropriate gait.  At the higher levels when there is water in the jug, the rider may pour the water out on the ground or over the horse to demonstrate the horse's indifference and trust of the rider.  This obstacle is not used in the speed phase.

Gait Required:  

Horse should stand immobile while the rider lifts and returns jug.

Yound Horse In Hand - Walk to halt.  Leading horse from either side according to course directions.  Jug must be picked up with empty hand.

Young Horse Test A - Walk to halt.

Young Horse Test B - Walk to halt.

Walk - Walk to halt.

Walk Trot - Trot to halt, through walk.

Novice - Trot to halt.

Premliminary - Canter or trot to halt. Jug may be filled with water.

Intermediate - Canter to halt, may be through walk or trot.  Jug may be filled with water.

Advanced - Canter to halt.  Jug may be filled with water.

International - Canter to halt.  Jug may be filled with water.

Obstacle is judged on: 

The attributes of the correct working horse and rider appropriate for the level.   When competing at the levels where the Jug is filled with water, the rider may choose to pour the water out onto the ground or over the horse to increase the level of difficulty of the obstacle and thereby receive more points. However, if the rider chooses to pour out the water and the horse moves or shows non-acceptance of the pouring water a more severe penalty will be earned then if the rider had not poured out the water.  

Penalties:  Bumping table, dropping the jug, accidentally spilling the water, the horse reacting negatively to pouring water.