Time First Round (Table II, Sec. 1)—The first round is decided by adding together the faults incurred over the course and any penalties for exceeding the Time Allowed. Mules with clean rounds or equal faults are classified according to their time taken to complete the course.
Time first jump-off
Table II, Sec. 2 (a/b)—The first round and first jump-off, if any, are decided by adding together the faults incurred over the course and any penalties for exceeding the Time Allowed. In the event of an equality of faults after the first round, there will be one jump-off for first place only, in which time will decide in the event of an equality of faults. If a competitor has gone clean in the first round, the competitor will have the option to:
Leave the arena and return for the jump-off after all of the first round of mules has competed, or:
Without leaving the ring, upon an audible signal, commence the designated jump-off course.
Table II, Sec. 2 (c)—Two Phase Competitions – The first phase to consist of 8 to 10 jumping efforts and the second phase (immediate jump-off) of 5 to 7 jumping efforts. Scores are decided by adding together the faults incurred over the course and any penalties for exceeding the Time Allowed, if any. If a competitor has gone clean in the first round, he will, upon crossing the finish line, immediately start the designated jump-off course. Time starts as the mule crosses the finish line for the initial course. If there are no clean rounds and a tie exists for first place, there will be one jump-off, in which time will decide in the event of equality of faults. The use of a Time Allowed is optional in the first round.
Fault and Out – Competition is timed and takes place over single obstacles (no combinations/in-and-outs). The competitors’ round ends with the first fault incurred under Table II. Points are awarded instead of faults, two points will be awarded for each obstacle jumped cleanly, and one point for each obstacle knocked down. The winner is the competitor that scores the greatest number of points. Time will decide on the equality of points.
If the fixed time is reached at the moment when the horse is already taking off, this obstacle counts whether it is knocked down or not. If a fall or disobedience occurs after landing, the horse is scored as though the fault had occurred at the next obstacle. When the penalty of elimination is incurred, the rider is credited with obstacles cleared.
When an obstacle is knocked down or the Time Allowed, if there is one, has been reached, a signal is sounded. The competitor must then jump the next obstacle, and the clock is stopped at the moment the horse’s forefeet touches the ground. No points are scored for obstacles jumped after the signal has been sounded.
When a fault constitutes disobedience or fall, or when the rider is eliminated or does not jump the obstacle at which the clock should have been stopped, the signal is sounded, and the competitor is placed last of those gaining an equal number of points.
Fault and Out classes can be conducted in one of two ways: which must be designated on the course map as either Once Around, in which case the maximum number of obstacles to be jumped is fixed, and the clock is stopped when the competitor crosses the finish line, or; With a Fixed Time Allowed which must not be set at less than 50 seconds, or more than 60 seconds. If the competitor has jumped all the obstacles before the expiration of the Time Allowed, he starts around the course again but is not required to go back through the start markers.