The rider approaches the barrel containing the lance either straight on, or by circling the barrel, and removes the lance without the horse reacting in any way.  The rider places the lance in a horizontal position at the height of the riders elbow with the tapered end of the lance at the side of the horse's head slightly above eye level, or the lance is carried on the shoulder with the tip of the lance pointing toward the horse's hindquarter. The hand position cannot be changed once the lance is picked up, with the exception of moving the hand up or down the pole. 

Except where noted the Lance will be between 3 and 3.5 meters in length.

Gaits Required:

Young Horse in Hand - Walk, leading the horse from either side according to the course directions.  The lance must be picked up with the empty hand.

Young Horse Test A - Walk, with the lance pickup, knockdown (if used), and lance return in a straight line, not requiring any turns.

Young Horse Test B - Trot.

Lead Line - Walk, lance may be as small as 1 meter.

Walk - Walk, lance may be as small as 1 meter.

·     Walk Trot - Trot, lance may be as small as 2 meters.

·     Novice - Trot. 

·     Preliminary - Canter.   

·     Intermediate - Canter.

·     Advanced -  Canter.

      International - Canter.

Obstacle is judged on:

The Attributes of the correct working horse and rider, as well as the horse's reaction to the movement of the lance and the relaxed manner in which the rider collects the lance. The horse should always move forward at a steady gait and should not react to, or unduly notice, the appearance of the barrel or the removal of the lance. Any slowing down or change of gait by the horse, knocking over the barrel, or touching the horse with the lance will be penalized.  If the rider drops the lance they must dismount, pick up the lance, deposit the lance back in the pick-up barrel, and then remount.  After remounting the rider then picks the lance back up and continues from where the lance drop occurred.