Competition Divisions Explained -

·         Young Guns - Minimum age of 7- maximum age of 11.

Any rider between the ages of 7-11 is eligible to compete in the Young Guns Division.  Young Guns riders are allowed to ride “up” into the Youth Division with parental permission.

o    The same Young Gun may ride a maximum of two horses.

o    The course shall contain 8 obstacles plus Overall Horsemanship and time points.

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 & 2.

·         Youth - Minimum age of 12- maximum age of 17

o    A Youth may ride a maximum of 3 horses.

o    The Youth course shall contain 13 obstacles plus overall Horsemanship and time points.

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 – 4.

·         Novice - 18 years & Over.

The Novice Division is designed for beginner riders that are new to the sport of Extreme Cowboy Racing. The purpose of the Novice Division is to provide competition that is fair to all beginner riders.  Novice riders are allowed to ride “up” into higher Divisions of competition.

At the end of the competition year, a decision will be made by the Executive Board as to whether or not to move a competitor out of the Novice Division. The Executive Board will make this statistical determination based on how many times a Novice has won their division and the number of competitors that were in the Novice division at each race. A rider who has been moved out of the Novice Division may petition the Executive Board to remain in the Novice Division.

o    The Novice course shall have 10 obstacles plus overall Horsemanship and time points.

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 - 3.

·         Intermediate - 18 years & over

An Intermediate rider is an individual who is ready to move out of the Novice division but is not yet ready to compete in the Non Pro division. An individual in this division has had some competition experience in other equestrian sports.       

     At the end of the competition year, a decision will be made by the Executive Board as to whether or not to move a competitor out of the Intermediate Division. The Executive Board will make this statistical determination based on how many times an Intermediate has won their division and the number of competitors that were in the Intermediate division at each race. A rider who has been moved out of the Intermediate Division may petition the Executive Board to remain in the Intermediate Division. An Intermediate rider may not ride “down” into a lower division.

o    The Intermediate course shall contain 13 obstacles plus overall Horsemanship and time points.

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 – 4.

·         Non- Pro.

A Non-Pro rider is an individual that has experience as a rider but does not receive any form of compensation for riding or training horses, ponies or mules.  This definition applies to all riders age 18 and over, except a Youth rider with parental permission.  The Non Pro course shall contain 13 obstacles plus overall Horsemanship and time points.

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 – 5.

·          Pro.

An individual is considered a professional rider if he/she is age 18 or over and receives substantial compensation or works full time riding or training horses, ponies or mules.

o    An EXCA Professional may ride an unlimited number of horses in the Pro Division and may also compete in the Futurity Division.

o    In order for a professional to return to a lower level of competition, he/she must not have received substantial compensation or worked full time riding or training horses, ponies or mules for a period of 5 years prior to applying to return to a lower level of competition.

o    The course shall contain 13 obstacles plus overall Horsemanship and time points.

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 – 6.

·         Ride Smart.

The Ride Smart Division is designed for non- professional riders age 55 and over.

o    The course shall have 13 obstacles plus overall Horsemanship and time points.

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 – 5.

Open Division 12 Years & Over - The Open Division is created for Youth, Novice, Intermediate, Non-Pro, Ride Smart and Pro riders. 

.        Green Horse Division.

A Division to develop aged horses new to EXCA & Futurity Horses 

o    Green Horse Division for horses of any age

o    Green horses may be ridden by any rider age 12 or older.

o    The Green Horse Division shall have 10 obstacles plus overall Horsemanship and time points on the spreadsheet.  Points will not be tracked by EXCA. 

o    Obstacles shall be rated 1 - 6.

o    There will NOT be a Green Horse Division at The WORLD Finals 

o    The Green Horse cannot be ridden in any other Sanctioned  Divisions. Once a horse is ridden outside of the green horse division it cannot be ridden in green horse again.

o    Green Horse event scores must be recorded on a separate spreadsheet as their results do not get sent to the EXCA office and their points are not tracked.

Members registered as Non-Pro and Ride Smart riders may not ride down to the Novice or Intermediate Division. But members may renew their memberships at the lower division, such as Intermediate.

NON SANCTIONED      

• NOVICE YOUTH  -7to15yrs Designed for Young Guns to be able to have a 2nd run, youth riders that struggle with the higher difficulty and new riders to the sport.  Riders who have ridden intermediate and higher are not eligible for this class. If win this division 3 times you are no longer eligible for this class.
• ROOKIE - strictly New riders and first timers who also fall in the novice rider category. Novice level course. If win this division 3 times you are no longer eligible for this class.