Since Barn Hunt Nationals was canceled our incredible leader, Robin Nuttall, is allowing the local clubs to run their own Hurdles challenge!

What is Hurdles you ask?

Hurdle Over 2020 is a just-for-fun competition and a Club Fundraiser aimed at lifting spirits in the Barn Hunt community in the face of a difficult year. Dogs at any level can compete. All competitions must be held by a Barn Hunt Club. Scores do not count toward any Barn Hunt title. In Hurdle Over 2020, the dog must jump over a series of five 4" tall hurdles or jumps to reach 3 tubes openly secured on the ground in front of a hay bale “stop.” One tube will be empty, one will have litter and one will have a live rat. The racing lane will be a 4-foot high fenced area that is 4-5 feet wide by 80 feet long. The fencing will butt up against the ends of the hurdles/jumps. Hurdles/jumps are placed evenly along the length of the track at 20' 30' 40', 50' and 60'. Course time is 1 minute. The numbers 1, 2, and 3 will be prominently affixed to the hay bale stop just above each respective tube, left to right from the handler’s viewpoint. There will be two rounds, and the combined score of both rounds will count toward the Club and National awards and placements. All times are recorded to the 100th of a second.

Want to Play? Here are the rules below…

All COVID rules must be followed at this event.

• All dogs entering must have a Barn Hunt registration number. Competitors must ensure their address and email is up to date in the Barn Hunt Register as national awards will be mailed.

• Competitors may enter multiple dogs and can run multiple times if the Club allows, but only one set of two runs is considered for Awards. − If the Club is allowing practice runs, the competitor must declare in advance if the run is a practice run or an Official run. If a practice run, no scribe sheet is used. The run may be timed, but no score is given and the run does not count toward the Club or National competition. Once the handler has declared the run an Official run, their scribe sheet is pulled. That run and the next run the Handler makes with that dog are their two official alloted runs. There are no practice runs allowed between the two Official runs, and teams may not continue to try for a faster time.

• Dogs may run without a collar or may wear a flat buckle or snap collar. No chain, martingale, choke, or prong collars allowed.

• Two people are required for each dog – a handler and holding partner. The holding partner will restrain the dog behind the start line inside the fenced area/lane. The handler will be stationed behind the start line outside the fenced area and can run on either side. − All dogs must be capable of being held by another person for release.

• The judge will give a hand signal and/or call GO (or electronic timers signal GO), after which the holding partner releases the dog without bowling.

• Handlers may not cross the start line until the judge/timer says GO and the dog has been released. Handlers cannot lead out.

• Time starts when any part of the dog crosses the start line, and stops when the handler calls the rat and the judge stops the time.

• Handlers may run down the line with the dog to the end or send the dog ahead. Holding partners must stay behind the start line.

• Handlers cannot call a rat tube number until the dog has crossed all 5 hurdles. Dogs who do not cross all 5 hurdles do not receive a qualifying score.

• Knocking over a hurdle/jump does not incur a penalty.

• Leaving the course (dog jumps out of the lane) will result in an NQ score. Hurdle Over 2020 Awards: Hurdle Over 2020 is a nationwide competition. Local clubs will offer ribbons and/or prizes for the top 4 dogs in each height plus first, second and third place overall. However, offerings may be modest; this event is a Club fundraiser. Nationally, ribbons will be given for first through fourth place overall in each height. First, second, and third place overall will also receive a ribbon and award. In the case of a tie at the National level, duplicate ribbons/awards for that level will be given. Nationwide awards will be announced via a livestream event at a date to be determined in December.