Saddle up and join us for a day filled with excitement, discovery, and equine spirit!  The Great Safari Hunt on Horseback is the perfect opportunity for family, friends, and neighbors to come together, ride the trails, and make some new memories on horseback all while supporting horse trails in our state.  CA$H PRIZES! 

·         Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025

·         Time: Check in begins 8:30 AM; Instructions @ 9:30 AM; Ride out after 10:00 AM

·         Venue: Branched Oak Horse Camp, Homestead Camping Area, Raymond, NE

·         Registration Fee: $50 per person ($100 per team) includes meal following ride

Supporting Our Horse Trails

The Nebraska Horse Trails Committee relies on event such as this to support our treasury with the developing and improvement of horse trails in our state. 

Rules and FAQ Below

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Rules for The Great Safari Hunt on Horseback

1.      Online Entry is encouraged.  Check-in for riders will be available as early at 8:30 AM.  Check in upon arrival.

2.      Be at the Management Area by 9:30 for verbal instruction & questions. 

3.      Rider will need the following items to participate in the Safari. 

a.       One Official Cell Phone Camera or Digital Camera

                                i.      You are responsible for keeping the battery charged!

b.      Official Scorecard List

                                i.      Teams will accumulate all the finds on ONE Scorecard List for judging

c.       Your own horse (no riding double, ponying another rider)

4.      The object of the game is to find items from Scorecard List and photograph using the Official Camera to accumulate the most points within the timeframe given.  Some items can have a higher point value than others.  See your Scorecard List for details.

5.      Each “team” can consist of one or two riders.  No more than 2 riders can create a team.  Since this is a rider/team competition and strategy will be important, we do not recommend you ride in groups. 

6.      The team must stay together.  No splitting up to divide the tasks. 

7.      Official Camera:  Each team must designate the Official Camera prior to the ride.  All photos must be submitted on the Official Camera at the conclusion of the ride.  We will not accept items from more than one camera. 

a.       Official Camera will take a photo of the timer at Ride Start and same camera will take a photo of the timer at Finish Line.  All photos of items from the Scorecard List must be found on the camera between those two photos. 

b.      Official Camera will photograph all items found on the Scorecard List.  Only those items taken by the Official Camera will be valid submissions. 

c.       You are not allowed to combine photos from two different cameras on to one camera.  Photos can be verified by photo data and Judges have the right to review the photo data for origin. 

8.      Riders may time out with the Ride Timer any time after 10:00 AM (Start).  All riders must time back in with the Ride Timer on or before 2:00 PM (Finish).  You may spend as little or as much time on the trail as you wish, provided you are back by 2:00 PM.  You are responsible for keeping your own time.  The time on the trail will only come into play if you do not arrive back by 2:00 PM or in the case of a tie. See Tie Breaker.

a.       If any rider/team chooses to ride out after 11:00 AM, they acknowledge they will have to be back at finish by 2:00 PM and acknowledge their ride time may be shorter than the 3 hours designated for the ride.  All rules apply.

9.      There are ____ stationary items to look for on the trail.  Those items must be captured by the Official Camera. 

10.  Do not touch, move or remove any item on the Safari.  This will result in disqualification.  Each team should be afforded the same opportunity of finding the item in the same place/condition as other riders. 

11.  There are ____ live encounter items on your list and must be captured by the Official Camera.  Special point value is given for live encounters. 

12.  The Safari is limited to the horse trails shown on the map.  You may ride the trails at your own leisure and your own direction.  Strategy is important so you will want to avoid other riders when photographing your finds!  You can be sneaky!

13.  Do not run or race your horses.  Safety is paramount!  Safe trotting is permitted but riders must not trot up to or pass any other rider at any gait other than a walk.  Always announce your presence and ask for permission when passing another rider.  If any member of the team is acting recklessly or in an unsportsmanlike conduct, your entire team could be eliminated.  Organizers will be on the trail to monitor activity.

14.  If your horse has a history of kicking, please place a red ribbon on its tail. 

15.  After rider/team has finished the ride and checked in with the ride timer, they are not permitted to return to the trail or the game.  The rider or team representative should come to the judges’ table as soon as reasonably possible with the team’s Official Camera and Scorecard List for the judge review.  The judge and team representative will review the Scorecard List, matching it with the Official Camera photos.  You will only receive the designated point for that item if it is shown on the Official Camera and can be clearly identified.  The team & judge must sign off on the results of the review and your approved scorecard will be sent to management for placing.  The judge’s decision is final.

16.  Any rider or team who was on the trail for more than 4 hours will lose one point for each minute they exceeded 4 hours.   No Scorecards Lists will be accepted by riders who crossed the finish after 2:30 PM and rider/team will be disqualified. 

17.  Tie Breaker:  If two or more teams have accumulated the same number of points, the team who did so in the shorter amount of time will be declared the winner.   

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Please review the Rules for The Great Safari Hunt on Horseback for details

1.       How many riders can be on my team?

a.      Teams will consist of one or two riders.  No more.  This is a game of strategy and we must be consistent with the number hunters.

2.      Can I ride with others who aren’t on my team?

a.      We discourage riding as a group since the game is to find as many items for your own team.  Part of the fun is being discreet when an item is found so others may not be as lucky.

3.      What kind of camera do I need?

a.      A cell phone camera or digital camera is needed so you can play back the photos you captured for the judge.  Please familiarize yourself with scrolling through your photos as you will be required to show them to the judge.   

4.      Can my partner and I split up and go different directions?

a.      No.  You are a team.  Remember, all items found must be recorded on the Official Camera which will belong to only one team member.

5.      Do I have to stay out on the trail from 10:00 until 2:00?

a.      No.  We give the riders 4 hours to search the trail for items on the list.  You may choose to return to the finish line at any time prior to 2:00.  Time only comes into play in case of a tie and then the person who found the most items in the least amount of time will be declared the winner. 

6.      What if my camera quits?

a.      It is up to the team to declare the official camera at the start of the hunt.  You are responsible for keeping the battery charged or the camera in operating condition.  If the camera fails, only those photos recorded up to the point of failure will be reviewed.  No photos will be accepted from a second camera.

7.      What if I can’t find a partner to ride with?

a.      You can enter as a “team of one”.  However, if you would like to ride with another person or be on a team of two, please notify staff when you check in.  It is possible someone else is looking for a teammate and we can hook you up the day of the ride (no guarantees). 

8.      Do you furnish horses? 

a.      No.  You must have your own horse to enter this even.  

9.      I don’t own a horse.  Can I walk or ride my bike?

a.      No.  This is an equestrian event for horse trail riders. 

10.  Can my child ride behind me on the saddle or have their horse ponied?

a.      No.  Each person entered in our competition must be seated on their own horse and able to independently ride their own horse. 

11.  Can I register the day of the event?

a.      The cost for this event is $50 and requires pre-registration.  We will accept riders the day of event and the cost “at the door” is $75.  There is no guarantee of a meal if you did not pre-register. 

12.  My friend wants to ride along but not enter?  Is that permitted?

a.      No.  Each person riding in our event must be entered as part of a team. 

13.  My spouse or friend will not be riding.  Can they stay for the meal?

a.      Yes.  Meals are free for all riders.  Non-riders can purchase a meal through the registration portal.  Must be done in advance and not the day of the even.    Cost is $10 per person for non-riders.