Trail course

Trail Course is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a series of obstacles in the fastest time. It combines the horse's athletic ability and the horsemanship skills of a rider in order to safely and successfully maneuver a horse through a series of five obstacles. The rider must remain mounted the entire time. It is similar to Trail competition at horse shows, but with emphasis on speed rather than style.
Modern event.
Today the trail course is mostly a youth rodeo event. The National Little Britches Rodeo has both a senior girl trail course competition and a junior girl trail course competition. The only difference is the jump is removed from the junior girls' event. Some college rodeo programs also compete in the trail course.
Obstacles.
There are five obstacles that must be navigated. The obstacles can be placed in any order, and are usually rearranged between rounds. The obstacles are:
The course covers about 100 yards in total distance.
Rules.
The rider must remain on the horse the entire time. The rider must complete the course in the laid out order and may not skip an obstacle. The rider must carry the 3 X 5 "mail" card with her until she places it in the mailbox.
10 second penalties will be assessed for the following: