About
Hello there! Welcome to the Competitions page for AISPs. Here is where you will be able to access and participate in competitions with your horses, and earn things such as ribbons, prestige, and items. To compete you need an eligible, tamed and trained minimum 5 year old AISP and a rider/driver. To compete, you fill out the form and complete the prompts about your experience in the competition (When writing, please do not go into too much detail about the actions like saying if you cleared a jump, didn't stumble at all, made record time, passed the other horses, won etc). WIP forms will not be considered.
Hello there! Welcome to the Competitions page for AISPs. Here is where you will be able to access and participate in competitions with your horses, and earn things such as ribbons, prestige, and items. To compete you need an eligible, tamed and trained minimum 5 year old AISP and a rider/driver. To compete, you fill out the form and complete the prompts about your experience in the competition (When writing, please do not go into too much detail about the actions like saying if you cleared a jump, didn't stumble at all, made record time, passed the other horses, won etc). WIP forms will not be considered.
Individual Competition Information
Skijoring
Skijoring is a sport in which a person is pulled along on a set of skis by a horse, dog, or vehicle. In this the source of locomotion is the horse. While sometimes a two person sport involving both a river and a skier, for AISPs the skier must direct the horse on their own using a specially made harness. In this competition, the skier/driver must both direct and urge their pony on while navigating various obstacles and ski jumps. The track is usually straight but may almost be horseshoe shaped.
Boat towing
Boat towing is a sport exclusive to the AISP community and consists of harnessing a pair of AISPs to a BT-regulation sized boat [24 feet, wood] and having them pull the boat, with driver and potentially passengers, across a stretch of water generally around 1-1.5 miles long, though in extremely difficult competitions it may be longer. The driver and passengers are required to wear lifejackets, and the AISPs are required to have a neon-yellow, orange, or similar color ribbon secured tightly in their upper mane or forelock. larger boats are on-hand in case a rescue of human or beast is required.
Equine Triathlon
The equine triathlon has two different types, Winter and Summer.
Winter: The winter triathlon consists of you and your horse first skijoring down a straight track to the shore, after which you need to strip your tack and excess clothing down to a full-body drysuit (it is required due to water temperature. Wetsuits may be acceptable in warmer climates), after which you grab your horse's mane and head into the water. Similarly to BT, the swimming section for you and your horse lasts about a mile, generally a bit less, with rescue-boats on standby. Once you are on shore, you don't get time to dry off. Pull on some half chaps or boots, get on your horse, and race bareback over a dirt/grass track of varying shape and length [usually around 8 miles] to hit the finish. Rest, food, drink, a warm shower, warm clothes, checkups, and horse care will all be provided at the finish.
Summer: The same as winter, except skijoring is replaced by a simulated hunt involving a scented bag dragged along by a small drone or ATV rider up ahead. a small team of specially trained dogs provided by the competition managers is released and you and your horse are to chase after this bag. You are judged in performance as seen by bodycams, trail cams, and drone footage. Even in spring and summer, a drysuit is usually required for the swimming section depending on where you are.
Cross Country
CC is a sport involving the completion of a course across natural terrain with various obstacles placed along the way. The courses generally consist of 24-36 obstacles and are around 3 3/4ths to four miles in length. Obstacles are made to have an natural aesthetic and to mimic something you would run across just riding out in the wild. Each obstacle is marked with a red flag on the right and a white flag on the left. A black stripe on the right flag means the obstacle is optional and another route can be taken without point deduction. The obstacles are numbered. CC is always held outdoors, and for AISPs snow does not constitute a cancellation.
Sled Racing
This is a Winter-Exclusive Event
Sled racing is a sport in which you hook either a single AISP or a team of up to 6 to a sled and set off on a set course over 10 or more miles. Like dogsledding, it is divided into "Sprint" (10-100miles), "Mid-Distance" (100-300 miles), and "Long Distance" (300+ miles) racing. Stops are regularly provided every 50-150 miles so you can restock on supplies and deal with any issues that ma have arisen. All competitors receive 3 solar-powered satellite phones to call for help. It is an extremely dangerous sport that can result in terrible injuries for both you and your horses. Pack AISP are permitted to help hold supplies but MUST be marked/noted down as pack horses and cannot be used to fill in the job of a sled horse unless under extreme circumstances, which will eliminate you from the competition.
Rough Terrain Endurance
Rough terrain endurance is a sport which has three types- Limited [20-25 miles], Regular [45-50 miles], and Extended [75+ miles]. These competitions are often held in winter, and/or over extremely hilly, wooded, rocky and/or otherwise difficult terrain. All riders are given satellite phones to call for rescue if an accident happens and there are vets on hand to both vet your horse before competition and in case of injury. Any rescue helicopter is equipped to take not just you, but your pony to safety.
Skijoring is a sport in which a person is pulled along on a set of skis by a horse, dog, or vehicle. In this the source of locomotion is the horse. While sometimes a two person sport involving both a river and a skier, for AISPs the skier must direct the horse on their own using a specially made harness. In this competition, the skier/driver must both direct and urge their pony on while navigating various obstacles and ski jumps. The track is usually straight but may almost be horseshoe shaped.
Boat towing
Boat towing is a sport exclusive to the AISP community and consists of harnessing a pair of AISPs to a BT-regulation sized boat [24 feet, wood] and having them pull the boat, with driver and potentially passengers, across a stretch of water generally around 1-1.5 miles long, though in extremely difficult competitions it may be longer. The driver and passengers are required to wear lifejackets, and the AISPs are required to have a neon-yellow, orange, or similar color ribbon secured tightly in their upper mane or forelock. larger boats are on-hand in case a rescue of human or beast is required.
Equine Triathlon
The equine triathlon has two different types, Winter and Summer.
Winter: The winter triathlon consists of you and your horse first skijoring down a straight track to the shore, after which you need to strip your tack and excess clothing down to a full-body drysuit (it is required due to water temperature. Wetsuits may be acceptable in warmer climates), after which you grab your horse's mane and head into the water. Similarly to BT, the swimming section for you and your horse lasts about a mile, generally a bit less, with rescue-boats on standby. Once you are on shore, you don't get time to dry off. Pull on some half chaps or boots, get on your horse, and race bareback over a dirt/grass track of varying shape and length [usually around 8 miles] to hit the finish. Rest, food, drink, a warm shower, warm clothes, checkups, and horse care will all be provided at the finish.
Summer: The same as winter, except skijoring is replaced by a simulated hunt involving a scented bag dragged along by a small drone or ATV rider up ahead. a small team of specially trained dogs provided by the competition managers is released and you and your horse are to chase after this bag. You are judged in performance as seen by bodycams, trail cams, and drone footage. Even in spring and summer, a drysuit is usually required for the swimming section depending on where you are.
Cross Country
CC is a sport involving the completion of a course across natural terrain with various obstacles placed along the way. The courses generally consist of 24-36 obstacles and are around 3 3/4ths to four miles in length. Obstacles are made to have an natural aesthetic and to mimic something you would run across just riding out in the wild. Each obstacle is marked with a red flag on the right and a white flag on the left. A black stripe on the right flag means the obstacle is optional and another route can be taken without point deduction. The obstacles are numbered. CC is always held outdoors, and for AISPs snow does not constitute a cancellation.
Sled Racing
This is a Winter-Exclusive Event
Sled racing is a sport in which you hook either a single AISP or a team of up to 6 to a sled and set off on a set course over 10 or more miles. Like dogsledding, it is divided into "Sprint" (10-100miles), "Mid-Distance" (100-300 miles), and "Long Distance" (300+ miles) racing. Stops are regularly provided every 50-150 miles so you can restock on supplies and deal with any issues that ma have arisen. All competitors receive 3 solar-powered satellite phones to call for help. It is an extremely dangerous sport that can result in terrible injuries for both you and your horses. Pack AISP are permitted to help hold supplies but MUST be marked/noted down as pack horses and cannot be used to fill in the job of a sled horse unless under extreme circumstances, which will eliminate you from the competition.
Rough Terrain Endurance
Rough terrain endurance is a sport which has three types- Limited [20-25 miles], Regular [45-50 miles], and Extended [75+ miles]. These competitions are often held in winter, and/or over extremely hilly, wooded, rocky and/or otherwise difficult terrain. All riders are given satellite phones to call for rescue if an accident happens and there are vets on hand to both vet your horse before competition and in case of injury. Any rescue helicopter is equipped to take not just you, but your pony to safety.
