Flying Colors Mini Events & Derby
2024 Dates: Click below to find entry information for each show!
May 25th – Flying Colors Derby
June 22nd – Flying Colors Mini-Event #1
September 21st – Flying Colors Mini-Event #2 and Debbie Spence Clinic
ABOUT THE FLYING COLORS MINI EVENT & OPEN DRESSAGE SHOW
The Flying Colors Mini-Events are some of the longest running events and most important Park fundraising activities. These multi-discipline and multi-level events enable the Missoula Horse Council to make major improvements to the cross-country course and stadium jumps.
Three Phases of an Event
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Dressage: a harmonious development of the physique and ability making the horse supple, flexible, confident and attentive while understanding the partnership requirements of the rider. The rider's Dressage score determines their initial placing.
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Cross Country: a test of speed, endurance and jumping ability across a course of fixed obstacles; including a water complex, ditches, banks, and other terrain. The Big Sky Horse Park course was professionally designed and built by Steve Buckman of British Columbia. Steve is a USEF ‘R’ and a FEI ‘C’ Course Designer. Several course designers including Bert Wood, Ali Allen-Shinn, and Zane Webb have contributed to the XC course to rebuild, refresh and update our courses to ensure their safety and rideability over the last several years. Any penalty points accumulated during the Cross-Country phase are added to the rider's Dressage score.
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Stadium Jumping: the combination of a horse and rider’s ability to complete a course designed to prove suppleness, obedience, and jumping ability within an arena setting having short distances between fences and tight turns. The horse and rider team must complete course within optimum time to avoid time penalties. Any penalty points accumulated during the last phase are added to the rider's cumulative score after Dressage and Cross-Country phases, with the lowest score placing highest.
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The Flying Colors Mini-Events also offer Open Dressage providing an option for riders to ride judged tests of any kind from Eventing, USDF Dressage, Western Dressage, or Working Equitation tests in a show setting alongside Mini-Event competitors.
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Rules and Safety
Riders using the course must wear an ASTM approved helmet and have at least one other rider or ground person present with a cell phone. Protective vests are highly recommended when riding the cross-country course and mandatory at all Park sponsored cross-country events.
The course will be closed to non-event riders and other users during and immediately prior to cross-country events, which are all listed on the Park calendar.
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Although we follow United States Eventing Association (USEA) rules and procedures, the events are not nationally recognized.
ABOUT THE FLYING COLORS DERBY
The Flying Colors Derby is similar to a Mini-Event with two phases consisting of Dressage and a Jumping test, giving riders a chance to try all elements of a usual Mini-Event in a condensed format!
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Two Phases of an Event
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Dressage: a harmonious development of the physique and ability making the horse supple, flexible, confident and attentive while understanding the partnership requirements of the rider.
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Jumping Test: consisting of elements from both Cross-Country and Showjumping combined into one for a fun test of both bravery and precision. The course is located in the Cross-Country field and consists of solid jumps, banks, water, and showjumps in a contained area on the grass
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