Track and Trail

There are different recognised Track and Trail class, the Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain (IHSGB) has it's own take on the class and, the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations (FEIF) has other versions.

You can find more information about these with the buttons below, these will open in a separate window and take you to the corresponding website.

The Scottish Open for The Icelandic Horse has it's own version of Track and Trail consisting of two parts:

Part One -  Track: Show one lap of the oval track in a gait of the riders choice.

Part Two - Trail: A range of obstacles will be set out that horse and rider will need to navigate.

Participants may choose to do the obstacles in whichever gait is best for them and their horse. If you do not wish to attempt an obstacle let the judge know.

In cases where the rider feels they can navigate an obstacle but the horse thinks otherwise (three refusals or backward steps), the mark will be zero for the obstacle.

If you make an error (going the wrong way etc) on the course you will be eliminated.

Obstacles: The following elements could be included

  • Mount and/or dismount horse
  • Open gate from horseback, go through and shut it
  • Poles on the ground, the horse must step over them
  • Water (Hopefully a Blue Tarpaulin) must be ridden over
  • Bridge (Blocks,Tarpaulin, or other horse safe bridge like equipment) must be ridden over
  • Circle or Square of cones/pods/rope, let the horse wait in the circle/square. Immobility with no rein contact.
  • Move a flag, or other object between two points
  • Barrels/cones/posts, ride in slalom in tölt or trot
  • Leading of the horse
  • Walk with loose reins 
  • Canter – on one rein, no sharp bends
  • Gate with ribbons/rope must be ridden through/ridden under
  • Step backwards – out of a lane of poles 
  • Labyrinth of poles lying on the ground – must be ridden through in walk
  • Drag something along (e.g. toy animal)
  • Riding through a narrow gap (Pole Corridor)
  • Ball transport 
  • Super slalom around poles laid in a shape
  • Slalom around barrels/cones/poles without touching reins

Other obstacles may be include, with due regard to safety of horse and rider.