Valley City, ND * March 9, 2023

Dear Pony and Horse Exhibitors,           2023 Entry Form NDWS

The North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City, ND welcomes you to join us for our pony and horse events, which will take place during the 86^th Annual NDWS, on Thursday March 9^th, 2023.  Once again, we will be having an Open Pony Pull, Open Draft Horse Pull and Horse Team Events, which will include an obstacle course, barrel pattern race and, time permitting, a log-skidding competition. Following is information on the pulls and team events:

   Open Draft Horse Pull: There will be two different weight divisions in the Open Draft Horse Pull, percentage and load, with a limit of 18 teams. Participants will again be required to choose which division they pull in. Teams must be pulled as they are entered. There will be no changing teams after weigh-in. The pull will be conducted under rules established by the North Dakota Winter Show and the Tower City Community Club, with personnel from the Club in charge of the contest.

The entry fee is $50 per team; fees will be refunded only in the case of illness of the animals.  A certificate to that effect from a licensed veterinarian must be received in the NDWS office prior to March 9^th, 2023.  If the 18-team limit is reached, entry fees will be returned on any additional entries.

Premiums in each division in the Draft Horse Pull will be:

1^st – $450 2^nd – $350 3^rd – $300

4^th – $225 5^th – $100 6^th – $75

Buckle/Teamster Award:  A buckle will be presented in each division, as well as an overall teamster award.

   Open Pony Pull:  There will be one weight division offered (percentage) with a limit of 18 teams. The pull will also be conducted under rules established by the North Dakota Winter Show and the Tower City Community Club, with personnel from the Club in charge of the contest.

The entry fee is $35 per team. As with the draft horses, entry fees will be refunded only in the case of illness of the animals and upon receipt of a certificate to that effect from a licensed veterinarian prior to March 9^th, 2023.  If the 18-team limit is reached, entry fees will be returned on any additional entries.

Premiums in the Pony Pull will be:

1^st – $250 2^nd – $175 3^rd – $150

4^th – $100 5^th – $75

Buckle:  A buckle will also be presented to the first-place showman.

Horse Team Events: The team events will consist of an obstacle course, a barrel race pattern and, time permitting, a log skidding competition. There will be a 3.5-minute time limit with a 3-minute warning. The entry fee is $10 per event and participants must drive a team of horses. Both draft and saddle horse breeds will be allowed to participate. Drivers are limited to driving one team. Please see the enclosed entry form, rules and example obstacle course map. For additional information on these events, contact Dave Richman, at (H) 701-749-2509, or (C) 701-490-2868.  As with the pulls, entry fees will be refunded only in the case of illness of the animals.

Premiums in each event will be:        1^st – $100              2^nd – $75                   3^rd – $50                   4^th – $25

Brand and Heath Information:

BRAND INSPECTION:  No person shall remove horses from this state or within a mile of any boundary of the state for the purpose of removal unless such livestock shall be inspected for marks and brands by an official brand inspector of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and a certificate of inspection shall accompany such livestock to destination. A State Brand Inspector will be available at the North Dakota Winter Show.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE LAW requires a health certificate on all out-of-state horses. A negative Coggins test is also required on out-of-state horses, with the exception of South Dakota.

  Stalling/Bedding: Stalls will be available, at no charge, for all participants during the horse/pony pull show.  Stalling will be open to you Wednesday evening, but please keep in mind there will be a truck pull going on during this time.  If you would like a tack stall, you must add $15 to your total payment.  If you would like to stall your horses’ after the Pulls are over so that you can stay to enjoy the Winter Show, stall rental rates are $25 per stall per night.  Please note on the entry form the number of stalls needed, including those for tack, plus if you wish to purchase a stall for the weekend following. Stall locations will be included in the acceptance letters. Stalls will include a bag of shavings; additional bedding can be purchased ahead of time by marking on your entry forms. We do ask that you clean your stalls before leaving.  Bedding & manure can be raked to the middle of isle. 

Tentative Schedule/Thursday, March 9^th: 

8:00 am – 12:00 pm: Horse Team Events Obstacle Course, Barrel Pattern and, if time permitting, Log Skidding.

8:00 am – 8:45 am: Weigh-In – Ponies will be weighed first and draft horses that are in the pull immediately following. These weights will be the official weight for contest purposes.

9:00 am – 9:30 am:            Driver’s Meeting – all judges and drivers in the pulls are required to be present.                                            The meeting will be held in the livestock lounge, above the wash rack, located at the                                    west end of the barn. Drivers in the horse pull will state at this time which division                                      they will compete in.

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm:             Pony Pull will begin with a parade of teams.

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm:            Draft Horse Pull will begin with a parade of teams.

Please see the enclosed rule information and entry forms. For additional information, you may contact the NDWS office at 1-800-437-0218 or 701-845-1401, or email [email protected]. We look forward to you joining us at the 86th Annual North Dakota Winter Show!

Sincerely,

Brandee Moore,

NDWS Manager