The Flying Colors Mini Events are some of the most important Equestrian Park fundraising activities helping fund general maintenance projects for the Park. In addition, these multi-discipline and multi-level events enable the Missoula Horsemen's Council to make major improvements to the cross-country course and stadium jumps with the ultimate goal of having a nationally recognized USEA event each year.

A Mini Event is an equestrian triathlon combining the disciplines of:

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.

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. Horse rider team must complete course within optimum time to avoid time penalties.

Cross Country: a test of speed, endurance and jumping ability across a course of fixed obstacles; a water complex, a ditch and a mound. The course was professionally designed and built by Steve Buckman of British Columbia. Steve is a USEF ‘R’ and a FEI ‘C’ Course Designer. His work can be seen throughout western Canada and the US.

[Cross-Country Course Elements Click on the level to view a map and slideshow]

Smurf Cross-Country Course has 8 jumps, up to 18" in height, with White numbers on Purple background. Course distance is 1100 meters & optimum time is 5 min 30 sec.

Pre-Novice Cross-Country Course has 15 jumps, up to 2'7", with Black numbers on Yellow background. Course distance is 1600 meters & optimum time is 4 min 56 sec.

Novice Cross-Country Course has 16 jumps (18 efforts), up to 2'11", with Black numbers on White background. Course distance is 1600 meters & optimum time is 4 min.

Training Level Cross-Country Course has 20 jumps (27 efforts), up to 3'3", with White numbers on Black background. Course distance is 2205 meters & optimum time is 4 min 54 sec.

Although we follow United States Eventing Association (USEA) rules and procedures, the events are not
nationally recognized.

For more information or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Drue Kerns 406-240-3667 snowyhorses@hotmail.com