| NEECA Fun Day Saturday, June 14th Rain Date: Sunday, June 15th |
| * Starts at 9 AM * Participants will need to sign an entry form/waiver before entering any classes * Proof of Negative Coggins required * All riders under the age of 18 must wear helmets * Food will be available for purchase on-site: hamburgers/hot dogs/soda, etc. * Please bring water for your horses, none currently available at the park * Entry fee per class is a can of cat/dog food that will be donated to the Athol Animal Shelter, or $1.00 that will be donated to the Shelter. * Please bring a smile, this day is about having FUN!! Following is a list of scheduled activities for the day, with a brief description of each class. Please note that cantering will NOT be required in any of the classes listed below. MORNING 1. In-Hand Exhibition- This class is about learning the proper way to show a horse in-hand. Anyone is welcome to join in this class, but we will have a number of volunteers who will purposely demonstrate proper, and improper, technique. Who knows what we're going to see?!? It will be fun, light-hearted, and informative. 2. Eqg & Spoon Class- How could we not do this one? Riders will have to follow simple directions riding their horse while balancing an egg on a spoon in one of their hands. Once your egg drops off the spoon, consider yourself "fried" (sorry, couldn't help it.) 3. English Exhibition- Similar idea as the In-Hand class. Everyone is welcome to ride in this class, but there will be a couple of "ringers" in the class that will purposely be doing things incorrectly so that our "judge" can discuss the right and wrong way to do things. A great way for all of us to learn in a low-key, fun way. 4. Water Pistol "Shoot Em' Up"- Like the old cowboy movies? Think you could shoot a target while sitting on a moving horse? Here's your chance to try! Entrants in this class will have to use a water pistol to shoot at plastic eggs balancing on a platform while riding by on their horse without stopping. 5. Western Exhibition- Same as the English Exhibition class except riders will be riding western, we'll still have our "ringers" though! 6. Breeds Class- We'd love to have as many different, wonderful breeds of horses represented here as possible. Come show off your horse, and let us know about the wonderful traits associated with his/her breed. Entrants will show their horse in-hand, and we ask that they bring an index card with information about their horse's breed that can be read aloud while their horse is being presented. We'd like to know ahead of time how many horses will be in this class, and what breeds we have represented, so please call Caroline at 978-249-2813 to register your horse if you're planning to participate in this class. NOON - LUNCH BREAK ~ Joe Delano from Leverett will host a reining demonstration during the lunch break ~ 1:00 PM Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate grand opening of the NEECA Arena AFTERNOON 7. Costume Class- How creative can you be? Dress yourself and your horse up in a costume and participate in this class. Fun to do, lots of fun to watch! 8. Gaited Horse Exhibition- This will be a great opportunity to learn what this style of riding involves, and what judges are looking for when pinning a gaited horse class. See what's correct, and what not to do, in this unique riding discipline. 9. Pairs Class- Do you have a friend who has a horse that looks just like yours? Or maybe they don't look alike, but they act alike? Get together and try your luck in the pairs class. Riders will be asked to perform a series of basic riding movements (walk/trot/stand/back up), trying to keep "in sync" with their partner as much as possible. 10. Water/Barrel Race- We're doing the barrel race w/ a twist. Riders will carry a cup of water through the course, it's not how fast you go, but how much water you make it back with! Great way to test your skill! 11. Simon Says- Or "Wendy Says" in this case. Try your hand at a game of Simon Says on horseback. Follow simple directions, as long as Wendy says, if you do something she doesn't say, you're out. 12. Versatility Challenge- How good is your horse dealing w/ obstacles and challenges? Find out in this class. We will have 10 stations set up in the ring. 8 horses can participate at a time, they will be shown in-hand, not ridden. When the whistle blows you will have a set amount of time to get your horse to perform the task at the station you are currently at. When the whistle blows again, you must move on to the next station whether you've completed the task or not. Some of the obstacles/challenges will include: -walking over a tarp -touching and/or allowing you to place a BIG ball on his back -walking through "spinning" flowers and opening an umbrella -backing up through an "L" -allowing you to put a tarp over his back -passing b/w 2 barrels -walking under an arch w/ streamers hanging down from it |