Mop Pony Race Guidelines
Mop Pony Races are scheduled for: 10:30 – 10:50 a.m., 11:30 – 11:50 a.m., 12:30 – 12:50 p.m., 1:30 – 1:50 p.m., 2:30 – 2:50 p.m., 3:30 - 3:50 p.m., and 4:30 – 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday the last mop pony race will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Anyone using the microphone uses a loud, clear, expressive, exciting, and friendly voice….no soft-spoken, boring speakers!
About 10 minutes before the next mop pony race, the announcer should make an announcement on the portable PA system in the Veggie Race/Mop Pony canopy reminding everyone of the upcoming race time. Prior to the race each participant should pick a pony from the "corral" and give it a name. Write down the participant's first name, age, hometown and pony's name on paper provided. Show each participant a copy of the barrel pattern. To run the race you need an announcer, a timer and a time keeper.
Before the race begins demonstrate the pattern using one of the ponies.
You will need three people to run the race. An announcer will introduce each race’s participants "Our first rider is...on her/his pony..., on deck is... and...(pony's name) and in the hole are....and ...(pony). Continue through the list as the first rider finishes, the next up would be the person that was on deck, the person in the hole becomes the one on deck and the next person on the sign-up sheet becomes the person in the hole. As each person is running keep a commentary running such as; look at the beautiful turn around the first barrel, wow! they are flying home, look at her control, etc...make a big deal out of each participant's race. The timer's job is to start the stopwatch as the participant crosses the starting line and stop the time when the finish line is crossed. Then, tell the time to the time keeper. The Time keeper records the time on the sign-up sheet by each participant's name. When all participants have run, the time keeper determines the fastest run.
When all the participants have run the pattern and the winner is determined the announcer will announce the winner's name, pony's name and the rider's age and hometown and award that participant with a squishy cow and a sticker. The announcer should then announce each of the other participant's names and information and let them pick a sticker. Have each rider put their pony back in the "corral" after they have chosen a sticker.
Then the announcer should thank kids for participating reminds everyone of the next race time (both veggie and mop pony times).
Keep a close and careful eye on the portable PA system and microphone at all times!