Hitch Please! AAHC Horse Trailer Rodeo
Put your trailer skills to the ultimate test at the inaugural “Hitch, Please!” Horse Trailer Rodeo, hosted by AAHC! This fun, low-key event is all about safety, education, and seeing who has the smoothest moves behind the wheel.
Event Details
- Date: June 27th
- Finals (AKA Belt buckle earning rounds): starts at 4pm
- Location: Heritage Park Arena
- Purpose: Education and fundraising
- Host: AAHC
Join the Fun as a Spectator!
The event is a great low-key community event, featuring food from a food truck, and drinks from Jenny from The Pour Pony. Spectator activities include a used tack swap and corn hole. The day starts with a course demonstration by world-renowned expert Dr. Rebecca Husted, and spectators are welcome to pull up a lawn chair and watch participants test their backing skills.
Join the Fun as a Volunteer!
We’re looking for a few extra hands to help make this year’s rodeo run smoothly. It’s a great way to hang out with the community and get a front-row seat to all the action. We need help with simple tasks like keeping score, resetting cones on the course, or helping folks find a spot in the parking area.
As a small thank you for your time, all volunteers will get a complimentary lunch on us. It’s our way of saying thanks for helping with the rodeo.
Come join the team and help us make the rodeo a success! Email Ryan@athenshorse.com to sign up as a volunteer.
The Competition: Test Your Trailering Prowess & Win Cool Prizes – Like Belt Buckles!
Participants will bring their own horse trailers and complete three phases of challenges, with no live horses. The winner will be the driver with the lowest overall points/score.
- Unhitch and Hitch (Timed): Speed and precision are key for correctly unhitching and hitching the trailer. This includes removing and connecting all attachments, safety chains, brake/lights wiring, and chocks. You are permitted to use one assistant for backing, hitching, and connecting.
- Cone Course (Timed & Scored): Navigate a course involving weaving through cones forward and backward, completing a full right turn, and a full left turn. Points will be added to your score for cones that are touched (1/4 value), moved (1/2 value), or crushed/knocked over (full value). Off-course violations add 5 seconds to your time.
- Dynamic Obstacle (Judged): Get your trailer to approximately 10 mph and stop as quickly and smoothly as possible after an object is thrown in front of the trailer. This is a judged portion, with penalty points added for trailer sliding, jack-knifing, loss of control, or tire lockup. Stopping distance will also be measured.
Why You Should Participate
This is more than just a competition; it’s a chance to hone your safety skills and enjoy a fun community event!
- Expert Judges: Your performance will be evaluated by top local experts, including world-renowned trailer safety expert Dr. Rebecca Husted and Stacey McCoy, owner of Allison Creek Trailer Service shop.
- Great Prizes: Compete for top prizes, including coveted belt buckles. Fun awards are also planned, such as “Judges choice,” “Most cones squashed,” and “Fastest and slowest backer-upper”.
- Divisions for Every Trailer: Enter the competition across three divisions: Bumperpull/Tagalong, ShortGoose (16 feet or less), and LongGoose (17 feet or more). You are limited to two attempts – so you can borrow your friends trailer and make an attempt.
- Focus on Safety: The event emphasizes improving trailer skills and safety. All participants will first undergo a trailer safety inspection. The day begins with a demonstration where Rebecca walks the course.
- Fun Atmosphere: We are planning a used tack swap, corn hole, and a food truck. Jenny from The Pour Pony will also be there serving drinks.
Save the date and keep practicing backing up! No sign-ups will be taken on the day of the event, with a cutoff date of the Tuesday prior, June 23rd.