Obstacle Trail Challenge
Saturday, April 25, 2026
To be held at the Orangevale Park Horse Arena
The address for the horse arena is: 7301 Filbert Avenue in Orangevale. When traveling north or south on Sierra College Blvd/Hazel Avenue, turn onto Oak Avenue (go east). At the stop light, turn right onto Filbert Avenue. Just past the Green Oaks School will be a driveway on the right hand side. Turn right. This driveway will take you to the Orangevale Park Horse Arena (you will not be able to see the arena when you are on Filbert). This is a beautiful park surrounded by trees and green lawn. All trucks and horse trailers will be parking on the lawn. The arena is approximately 300′ x 200′ and is sand with great footing. There is also a smaller fenced warm-up arena.
This will be a TWO-DAY EVENT! Come back on Sunday – April 26th – for the TACK SWAP (booths/vendors, silent auction, raffle drawing, Cow Chip Bingo, guest speakers/demos, special arena performance, and food vendors . . . FREE Admission, FREE Parking, FREE Goodie Bags)
The OBSTACLE TRAIL CHALLENGE event will be held on Saturday, April 25th, unless it rains or there will be bad weather. The rain date, if needed, is Saturday, May 2nd.
There will be eight trail obstacles: 4 in the arena and 4 on the trail in the wooded trail area.
The Obstacle Trail Challenge will test the ability of each horse and rider to maneuver through a series of trail obstacles. Each obstacle will have its own judge who will individually score each horse and rider. At the conclusion of the event, all of the scores will be tabulated and prizes will be awarded to the highest placings per each age division (including the Leadline Riders) and also the In-Hand competitors.
Six age divisions (rider’s age as of 1/1/26): * 9 years and under, * 10 to 13 years, * 14 to 17 years, * 18 to 59 years, * 60 years and over, and * Leadline Riders 7 years and under.
In-Hand division: Open to any age exhibitor and any age horse/pony (can be saddled or unsaddled). The horse/pony will be led through the obstacles without a rider and will be judged. If a horse is being entered in both the age division and the in-hand division, the horse must be ridden first in the age division prior to being led through the obstacles of the in-hand division.
NOTE: Leadline riders (7 years and under) must have lead ropes attached to halters that are either over or under the bridle and the horse or pony will be led through the trail course.
This will be a FUN event and a great opportunity to try your horse on trail obstacles. Prizes for each age division and also the In-Hand division! Judges’ shout-out awards!
After the Age Division and In-Hand Competition is finished, we will have a JACKPOT OBSTACLE CHALLENGE in the arena. Open to all age riders but the horse/pony must be ridden and the rider not assisted.
Win $ $ MONEY $ $.
There is a pre-entry deadline of Thursday, April 23rd, and signing up and paying is easy.
To enter this event, print off the entry form and mail the completed entry form with payment . . . OR . . . go to the “PAY ON LINE” tab and click on the “OBSTACLE TRAIL CHALLENGE” box to enter and pay on-line.
If you miss the deadline or just want to show up that day to enter, we will be accepting entries starting at 7:30 a.m. (there will be an additional $10.00 post entry late fee per rider).
Everyone is encouraged to enter BOTH your age division competition and the JACKPOT OBSTACLE CHALLENGE. If we do not have at least 10 riders for the Jackpot, it will not be held. $20.00 from every JACKPOT OBSTACLE CHALLENGE entry fee will go into the JACKPOT. WIN $ $ MONEY $ $ !!!
Event Start Time:
Check-in starts at 7:30 a.m. Pre-registered competitors will check-in and those who are not pre-registered will sign-up at this time.
There will be a riders’ meeting at 8:30 a.m. for anyone who wants to participate.
And at 9:30 a.m. the Age Division Competition and also the In-Hand Competition starts. Small groups of riders will start and enter the arena every 20 minutes, then exit the arena to complete the “on-the-trail” obstacles. (At check-in, riders will sign up for a time slot and have the option of selecting their own group – can be mixed with all ages of riders and in-hand competitors: families, friends, etc.)
After the Age Division and In-Hand Competition is done, a lunch break will be held – lunch will be available to purchase – and then the Age Division and In-Hand Competition awards will be presented as well as the judges’ shout-out awards.
After the lunch break and the awards presentation, the JACKPOT OBSTACLE CHALLENGE will start and after the last competitor has finished, the cash $$ JACKPOT $$ prizes will be awarded!
Below is the flyer with more information. Also the entry form with the liability of release form if you want to print it off, fill it out, and mail to SFHA with your check. And the Obstacle Trail Challenge event rules and guide.
Obstacle Trail Challenge – One Page Flyer – 2026
Obstacle Trail Challenge 2026 – Flyer + Entry Form
Obstacle Trail Challenge – EVENT RULES AND GUIDELINES