Chore Horse Competition

Come out on June 20-21 to see some incredible horsemanship as local teamsters show off their chore horse teams.

Schedule

Schedule yet to come.

Extras

• Concession on site
• Overnight camping and pens available for competitors
• Buckles and Cash Prizes

Admission

Admission rates to be determined.

Registration

Registration details yet to come.

Notes

Please note that there will be no dogs permitted on the Pioneer Acres grounds for the duration of this event.

Competition Anatomy

Before the automobile, people relied on horses for much of the heavy work that needed to be done. Some horses were bred for speed, but here we are more interested in draft horses, which are bred for heavy work such as plowing and hauling large loads. These tasks are known as chores, which is where the name of the competition comes from.

Of course, the horses didn't just magically do all this work on their own. They were under the control of a skilled teamster, directing their team of horses to accomplish a particular task. The Chore Horse Competition is a way that modern teamsters can demonstrate the skills that were once vital on our farms and in our communites.

The competition course is set up in a riding arena. The course will have various challenges that each teamster and their team of horses must perform within a time limit. The difficulty of the challenges can be adjusted depending on the level of competition. Challenges could include:

• Pulling a very heavy weight on skids a specified distance
• Hitching to a wagon
• Having the horses stand still while freight or straw bales are loaded on the wagon
• Navigating through a series of cones or obstacles
• Delivering mail to rural mailbox
• Backing the team and wagon up to a loading dock
• Jackknifing the team left and right while the wagon remains stationary at the loading dock

If you have never seen one of these competitions before, you're in for a treat. Come on out and spend the day.