I think the little tests along the way make it seem like even more fun! Do you know they are coming? or are they surprises? I don't know if I've ever mounted from the wrong side!
Sometimes the judges hide in the woods and watch you say go up the trail that has a log over it. But generally you don't know when your going to come to one, and you never know what they're going to ask you to do. You just have to have a horse that backs, sidepasses, stops and stands, etc...in any situation.
When Belle lost points it was always because I get nervous in front of judes. I always would rush the obstcle. But then sometimes they were times. Like to sidepass to a tree branch and tie a ribbon in it they might give you so many seconds. One time we were stopped and told to trot till the jugde gave us further insturctions. Well we trotted down the trail and all of a sudden the judge said stop your horse. He was judging "emergency stops".
So the obstacles can be anything.
NATRC us a national Association and if you compete in the Open division 60 miles, at least 5mph, you can win national awards and go to a national convention. I went to a regional convention once. I got 4th place regional horse and 5th place regional rider in the novice division that year.
Becky
Becky
Mounting from the wrong side is a bitch:)
We had to do it at one ride, like I said I get nervous. Well I was trying and the horse stepped away from me a few times. I was really concentrated. The judges secretary finally coughed and said, your using the wrong foot:) I was so embarassed. But would have been more so if I had succeeded the way I was doing it. I'd have been sitting backwards.
I finally passed on that one.
Practice it all the time now. You should try it, it's really hard.
Becky