Empowered Equestrians Challenge Rules

To ensure fairness, safety, and consistency across all challenge entries, please follow these rules carefully when submitting your videos:

1. Unedited Video Required

   • You must record your entire challenge session in one continuous take.

   • Do not cut or splice footage between behaviors or training attempts.

   • You can practice as many times as you like until you get one video with your best attempt at each skill, just submit the final attempt.

2. Positive Reinforcement Only

   • All training must be conducted using positive reinforcement techniques.

   • You may reinforce as frequently as you feel appropriate, using any reinforcer that is effective and appropriate for your horse.

   • You may be marked down if reinforcement is unclear or seems obviously inadequate.

3. No Use of Aversives

   • The intentional use of aversive tools or techniques (e.g., punishment, pressure-release cues, or coercion) is strictly prohibited.

4. Voluntary Participation

   • The horse should appear comfortable, engaged, and willing to participate in the session.

   • Entries where the horse appears shut down, hesitant, or forced will be marked down.

5. Emotional Well-being Counts

   • Your score may be lowered or disqualified if the horse shows visible signs of fear, stress, or frustration during the session.

6. Challenge Criteria Must Be Met

   • You must complete all tasks in each challenge as described.

   • Deviations from the challenge instructions may affect your score.

   • If you need special adjustments (like using different targets for blind horses) please let us know in your message, you won’t be marked down for this.