As competitors navigate through The Pony Express Race course, they will encounter a number of elements that are man-made obstacles or challenges which must be completed before continuing.
Deputies monitor these elements to ensure competitors successfully complete the challenge on the first and only attempt.
If a competitor fails on an element, the Deputy will assess a penalty which may be completed to allow the competitor to continue.
The assessed penalty involves unsaddling and resaddling the competitor’s horse five times. To complete the assessed penalty, competitors must remove the saddle completely and have their horse circle the tack to demonstrate that it is completely off. Competitors must then resaddle and mount their horse, walking in a small circle to demonstrate that the tack is properly back in place. Competitors must complete this exercise five times before they will be released to continue by the Deputy.
