Barton Valley Hunter Pace or Scavenger Hunts
2023 Events:
Practice Paces: September 21 and 27
Hunter Pace (Optional Jumping Course): October 7 & October 8
Halloween Scavenger Hunt: October 28th
At our barn there are two ways to enter a hunter pace:
Ride Along: $280
Ride Along with an Instructor who coaches and guides you through the pacePackage Includes:
- Horse and Tack
- Trailering
- Instructor for Ride Along
- Ground Crew
- Entry Fee
Independent Ride: $410
Ride Independently solo or in groups without an Instructor
- Horse and Tack
- Trailering
- Liability Fee
- Ground Crew
- Entry Fee
- Limited Leasing Membership for 4 Rides on assigned horse for event
Prior to the event we can often gain permission for our students to attend a lesson on the pace course. These Practice Paces are usually midweek in the late afternoon (4:00pm/4:30pm - Sunset) and cost $150 + entry fee to course.
What is a Hunter Pace?
"A trail ride with crap in the way." - Daniel Salisbury
Hunter paces are low-key competitive riding events that originate from foxhunting. Teams of 2-4 ride together through a marked course that typically covers 4-12 miles. Trail terrain ranges from open country fields, wooded trails, water crossings, road crossings, up hills and down hills with optional jumps spread throughout. In a hunter pace a trail is marked for horse and rider to follow.
On the day of the competition, early in the morning, the hosts of the event send an experienced horse and rider to ride the trail as fast as it is safely possible to do so. This morning ride is called "the dead body run", and it establishes two things:
1. that the trail is clear and safe for the competitors
2. The "pace time"
The pace time is the ideal time to safely but quickly ride the set trail. When the competitors arrive they send out teams of three or four to ride the trail. Checkpoints set along the ride ensure that the riders are staying on course and are not overworking their horses. Each group of riders is timed. Riders are penalized for either riding too fast and beating the pace time, or too slow and taking longer than the pace time. The group to come closest to the pace time wins the competition, whether over or under the "pace" time.
Preparatory Agreement for Hunter Paces
- Must Participate in 3 Weekly Lessons within a month of the event, 2 of which on your assigned horse.
- Must Ride one of the Designated "Spare Horses" in order to make sure you have an alternate horse in case your horse comes up lame prior to event.
- If you plan to jump at the hunter pace you MUST take lessons Jumping on Trail within the 3 months prior to the event in addition to your arena jumping lessons on your mount.
What is a Scavenger Hunt?
The scavenger hunt will take place on wooded trails used for the hunter pace.
A list sheet will be provided at the beginning of the marked trail that will list objects to look for. Now hunt carefully, the tricky ones are worth more points! When you find these hidden objects throughout the ride, simply "Capture" them with a picture. (so please bring your phone or camera).
At the end of your ride we will look through your pictures and tally up your points. Prizes will be given to the top 6 scavenger teams or rider!!
****Riders and Horses that come in Costume will automatically begin their Hunt with 10 POINTS!****(per team or rider)
Event Agreement
At the competitive event, the rider will be responsible for the following:
1. The veterinary safety and security of their mount at all times while on the premises of the event grounds. This includes: monitoring metabolic status through heart rate, breath rate, hydration tenting or gum tests, fecal and urine monitoring, and ingestion behaviors; keep horses cool in warm conditions through sponging and walking out and warm in cool conditions with coolers, blankets and rain sheets; identifying back and muscle soreness and treating with stretching, massage and liniment; preventing and identifying potential as well as resulting saddle sores and wounds; and monitoring horse for lameness and soundness issues of any type.
2. The care, control and supervision of their mount at all times. This includes ensuring: the horse has access to water, is fed the appropriate feed at appropriate times, is given prescribed electrolytes as needed at appropriate times; ensuring that the overnight enclosures are safe and electric fencing is used properly and functioning.
3. Any cost relating to veterinary care of the horse at the event. On site veterinary care costs include but are not limited to: farrier expenses, IV fluids, colic treatment, wound care and stitching, extensive lameness evaluations, electrolyte treatments.
