{{Short description|Rodeo event with six poles}} {{more footnotes|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox sport | name = Pole bending | image = File:Pole bending Wyoming 13.jpg | alt = | imagesize = | caption = Pole bending | union = | nickname = | first = | firstlabel = | region = United States, Canada, Mexico | registered = | clubs = | contact = | team = | mgender = Generally female, some males, particularly at youth levels | type = {{Flatlist| * Rodeo * Gymkhana/O-Mok-See }} | equipment = Horse, horse tack | venue = Indoor or outdoor riding arena | olympic = | paralympic = | obsolete = }}
150px|right|course layout '''Pole bending''' is a rodeo timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. This event is usually seen in youth and high school rodeos, 4-H events, American Quarter Horse Association, Paint and Appaloosa sanctioned shows, as well as in many gymkhana or O-Mok-See events.
== Nez Perce Stake Race == thumb|Nez Perce Stake Race course The Nez Perce Stake Race is a type of pole bending race which is also a match race: two horses race on identical courses laid out side-by-side, with the loser eliminated and the winner moving up the brackets to race the other winners. It is not a timed event.<ref name=ApHC730/> It is one of five game classes approved for horse club shows by the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC).<ref name=aphc/> The ApHC rules state that racing competition is traditional to the Nez Perce Native American people.<ref name=ApHC730>[http://www.appaloosa.com/registration/handbook.htm ApHC rulebook, rule 730, and "History", p. 11]</ref> However, it is unclear if this particular competition is derived from any traditional competition.
== References == <references> <ref name=aphc>[http://www.appaloosa.com/pdfs/2011_ShowAprovalForm.pdf Application for Appaloosa Horse Club Show Approval] Appaloosa Horse Club 2011. Accessed September 2011.</ref> </references>
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060509001345/http://prorodeoonline.net/pole-bending.php Pole Bending Event Information ] From Pro Rodeo Online * National Pole Bending Association (2009). Retrieved from http://www.polebending.org. * Smith, Ken. (2009, July 15). Ken and Pat Smith, Sunrise West Quarter Horses, LLC. Retrieved from http://www.sunrisewest.com/help.html *[https://www.nlbra.com/ National Little Britches Rodeo Association] *[https://www.nhsra.com/junior-high-events/ National High School Rodeo Association]
{{Equestrian Sports}} {{Rodeo}}
Category:Western-style riding Category:Rodeo-affiliated events Category:Mounted games