| SIDE WALKERS - THEIR POSITION AND LEGAL HOLDS |
Side walkers accompany the athlete to be available should they have a problem such as seizure or lose their balance. If
the athlete has to have a hand holding onto them, it will be one of the legal holds identified in the pictures below. The hold
will be in place when the rider enters the arena and will not be taken off until the rider has left. The hold is to be on the
rider, not on the saddle. Holds other than those identified in the pictures will incur penalties for the rider. When assigning
side walkers consider their height in relation to the horse and where the rider will be sitting. Can the side walker apply the
hold? Also consider the size of the side walker and the athlete since the purpose is to support the athlete under extreme
circumstances.
the athlete has to have a hand holding onto them, it will be one of the legal holds identified in the pictures below. The hold
will be in place when the rider enters the arena and will not be taken off until the rider has left. The hold is to be on the
rider, not on the saddle. Holds other than those identified in the pictures will incur penalties for the rider. When assigning
side walkers consider their height in relation to the horse and where the rider will be sitting. Can the side walker apply the
hold? Also consider the size of the side walker and the athlete since the purpose is to support the athlete under extreme
circumstances.
The side walker is holding the rider's heel with
one hand. This is a legal hold.
one hand. This is a legal hold.
This side walker is applying the hold across the
rider's thigh. This is a legal hold.
rider's thigh. This is a legal hold.
| HEEL HOLD |
| THIS HOLD NOT LEGAL hand is on the back of the saddle |
| BELT HOLD only with designated support belt |
| THIGH HOLD |
We did not have the belt available when we took photos. The side walker's hand is placed where it would go if the belt were
on the rider. Notice that in all these examples, there is no hand on horse or saddle and it is placed specifically on the rider.
Anything else will incur penalties for the rider.
on the rider. Notice that in all these examples, there is no hand on horse or saddle and it is placed specifically on the rider.
Anything else will incur penalties for the rider.
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| THE SIDE WALKER DOES NOT MAKE THE HORSE GO OR GO FASTER. |