All Horses | Gymkhana | Keyhole Race

In our area, we have a keyhole shape marked on the ground with flour or lime. The horse and rider enter the "neck" of the keyhole, turn within the confines of the circle, and exit the keyhole again, without touching or leaving the marked boundaries.

In other regions, the "neck" of the keyhole is marked with poles you must pass through, turn, and pass through again.

Here are three sets of rules for keyhole that were easily found on the web ... be sure you know the rules for the event you are competing in!

The starting line will be 50-100 feet (according to arena size) from the entrance to the keyhole. The entrance will be 4 feet wide and 10 feet long, connected to a circle 20 feet in diameter, forming a keyhole. The contestants will cross the starting line, proceed through the entrance, turn right or left in the circle making a complete 180 degree turn. The contestant will then return through the entrance and cross the finish line. In addition to the disqualifications listed under general rules for game classes, a contestant may also be disqualified if the horse steps on or outside of the chalk line marking the entrance and circle of the course.

KEYHOLE RACE
COURSE: The keyhole pattern shall be outlined and marked with line marker or flour as shown below.
EVENT: Ride into circle of keyhole (all four of equine's feet must be inside circle), turns either left or right, rides out of keyhole and across the finish line.
RULES:
1) Stepping on or outside any of the marked lines of the keyhole or failure of the equine to have all four feet inside the circle before the turn to the finish line will be disqualified.
2) In addition to the timers and the official judge, watchers must be stationed on either side of the keyhole to observe the feet of the equine and to restore lines which may be broken or obliterated. Judges can use a whistle or flag to signal when the course is ready or a rider disqualified.

KEYHOLE: Pattern will be 105 feet from start/finish line. Neck of keyhole will be 6 feet long and 6 feet wide, opening into a 20-foot diameter circle. Poles, cones, or other will be used to mark neck and circle of pattern. The rider crosses the start line, rides into the neck of the circle (all four of the horse's feet must be inside the circle) turns the horse and rides back out of the keyhole to the finish line.
Disqualifications:
Violating general rules.
Stepping on or over keyhole pattern (including neck)
Not entering keyhole through neck.
Not exiting keyhole through neck.
Crossing start/finish line before pattern is complete.

The keyhole race is another competition where the fastest horse is not always the winner. Many times, a "hot" horse refuses to stop inside the marked area or steps out, sometimes they spook at the strange white stuff on the ground, or rider error causes a disqualification.

Check out the show bill for the next local fun show, and try your pleasure or trail horse out for a little keyhole canter! Even walk-trot kids can enter, and some shows even have a separate division for them with no running allowed!

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