Pole bending
Rodeo event with six poles
title: "Pole bending" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["western-style-riding", "rodeo-affiliated-events", "mounted-games"] description: "Rodeo event with six poles" topic_path: "general/western-style-riding" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_bending" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Rodeo event with six poles ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox sport"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Pole bending |
| image | File:Pole bending Wyoming 13.jpg |
| caption | Pole bending |
| region | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| mgender | Generally female, some males, particularly at youth levels |
| type | {{Flatlist |
| equipment | Horse, horse tack |
| venue | Indoor or outdoor riding arena |
| :: |
| name = Pole bending | image = File:Pole bending Wyoming 13.jpg | alt = | imagesize = | caption = Pole bending | union = | nickname = | first = | firstlabel = | region = United States, Canada, Mexico | registered = | clubs = | contact = | team = | mgender = Generally female, some males, particularly at youth levels | type = {{Flatlist|
- Rodeo
- Gymkhana/O-Mok-See | equipment = Horse, horse tack | venue = Indoor or outdoor riding arena | olympic = | paralympic = | obsolete =
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/pole_bending_course.png" caption="course layout"] ::
Pole bending is a rodeo timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. This event is usually seen in youth and high school rodeos, 4-H events, American Quarter Horse Association, Paint and Appaloosa sanctioned shows, as well as in many gymkhana or O-Mok-See events.
Nez Perce Stake Race
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Nez_Perce_Stake_Race_course.png" caption="Nez Perce Stake Race course"] ::
The Nez Perce Stake Race is a type of pole bending race which is also a match race: two horses race on identical courses laid out side-by-side, with the loser eliminated and the winner moving up the brackets to race the other winners. It is not a timed event. However, it is unclear if this particular competition is derived from any traditional competition.
References
References
- It is one of five game classes approved for horse club shows by the [[Appaloosa Horse Club]] (ApHC). The ApHC rules state that racing competition is traditional to the [[Nez Perce tribe|Nez Perce]] Native American people.[http://www.appaloosa.com/registration/handbook.htm ApHC rulebook, rule 730, and "History", p. 11]
- [http://www.appaloosa.com/pdfs/2011_ShowAprovalForm.pdf Application for Appaloosa Horse Club Show Approval] Appaloosa Horse Club 2011. Accessed September 2011.
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