NEW AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 2023!!!

  1. EXHIBITORS’ MEETING - 11:30AM Friday in the Picnic Area near the Blue Ribbon Pavilion. Meet committee members, volunteers, and staff. Question and Answer time.
  2. NEW CLASS – AMATEUR FOUR HORSE DRIVING CLASS. This class is open to all HITCH AND OPEN AMATEUR EXHIBITORS. Drivers of Hitches and Open entries, start looking for your amateur driver and start practicing. We have not had an amateur class at EXPO for many years and it is time to bring it back. One of the goals of the Big Sky Draft Horse Expo is to encourage the tradition of driving and hopefully interest more people in this fun and historical activity. The driver must be one who has never shown a six-horse hitch in competition and never won a four-. horse competition at any show. The driver competing in the Four Horse Amateur class cannot enter any other four and six-horse competitions at this show. This class requires everyone entered to pay an entry fee. Five places will be paid out. See Class Description on Page 11 in the PREMIUM BOOK
  3. YOUTH CART CLASSES: This year there will be a Classic Series Youth Cart Class and an Open Youth Cart Class. To be eligible to enter either class, the driver must be 6 through 18 years old as of Jan. 1, 2023. The Classic Series Cart Class is a draft horse-only class, meaning the Youth must drive one of
    these draft breeds, Belgian, Percheron, Shire, Spotted Draft or Clydesdale, and must be registered with the Classic Series. They will compete for NASHHCS scholarship points. The Open Youth Cart Class is open to all youth and they may drive any breed horse or mule. Class info on Pages 7 & 10 of the Premium Book
  4. CULTIVATING IS BEING REPLACED WITH DRIVING WITH PRECISION AND
    CONTROLLED SPEED. This class is new this year and is all Open Class competitors are eligible to enter. If you are competing in the MASTER TEAMSTER CLASSIC, this is one of the four required classes. There is a defined course each teamster must complete while not breaking from an Extended/Working trot. Breaking to a walk or a lope will add penalty points. It will be timed and scored. Challenging but fun. Class information is on Pages 10 & 11 of the Premium Book.
  5. GAMBLERS CHOICE CART: RULE CLARIFICATION - This class is for a SINGLE horse/mule driven with a two-wheel cart. See class description for NEW RULES. Pages 8 & 9 of the Premium Book.
  6. FEED TEAM RACE – NEW RULES: Each team of horses may compete only once. Each contestant may drive once and swamp once. See Class Description Page 8 of the Premium Book
  7. HITCH CLASS REQUIREMENTS: See Page 7 of the Premium Book.
  8. CLASSIC SERIES - The 2023 Expo will be a THREE-point NASHHCS Show. There will be two open 6 Horse Hitch Classes and one Gelding 6 Horse Hitch Class. – See Page 4 of the Premium Book.
  9. CANADIAN MAZE I & II – Open Class exhibitors may enter both classes again this year. Canadian Maze 1 is one of the Master Teamster Classes, but is open to all. Page 8 of the Premium Book.
  10. ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE TIMES – Begins Thursday, June 22nd at noon and all Exhibitors must be on the grounds by Friday, June 23rd at 11:00 AM. See Page 5 of the Premium Book.

We have a limited number of stalls and will accept Hitch entries on a first come – first serve basis. If you have questions, you may call or text: 
Sue Shockley 406-581-1405 Betty McCoy 406-539-3359 Wade Thornley 208-589-3974


Big Sky Draft Horse Expo is Montana’s largest draft horse and mule show. Show events and classes are selected with families in mind and include events and classes for all age drivers. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged.

2023 Premium Book / Rules / Classes

Big Sky Draft Horse Expo provides a variety of viewing and Driving Competitions including:

DESIGNATED OPEN CLASSES

  • 4 Horse/Mule Driving
  • 6 Horse/Mule Driving
  • 8 Horse/Mule Driving
  • 8 Horse/Mule Conformation
  • Driving with Precision & Controlled Speed
  • Log Skidding
  • Precision Obstacle Course
  • Feed Team Race
  • Antique/Unique
  • 4 Abreast
  • Gambler's Choice
  • Horse/Mule Street Class
  • Youth Cart
  • Canadian Maze 1 & 2
  • Pleasure Cart

DESIGNATED HITCH CLASSES

  1. Gelding 6 Horse Conformation RAIL CLASS – Friday - REQUIRED
  2. 6 Horse Conformation RAIL CLASS – Saturday - REQUIRED
  3. 6 Horse Conformation RAIL CLASS– Sunday – REQUIRED
  4. Classic Series Cart Rail Class - REQUIRED
  5. 4- Horse Conformation - REQUIRED
  6. Unicorn - REQUIRED
  7. Team Conformation – REQUIRED
  8. Youth Classic Series Cart - OPTIONAL

HITCH CLASS REQUIREMENTS: Each of the exhibitors in the HITCH CLASS entries must drive in ALL of the designated Hitch Classes for a total of seven (7)
classes.

MASTER TEAMSTER CLASSIC

The Master Teamster events may be entered by OPEN CLASS exhibitors only.
There will be a MASTER TEAMSTER SELECTED based on total points earned in
the four required classes. These classes are designed to demonstrate the partnership between team and driver in 3 ways: Precision Driving Obstacle
Course, Driving with Speed, and Driving for Work.

REQUIRED Master Teamster Classes

  1. Log Skidding
  2. Precision Obstacle Course
  3. Driving with Precision & Controlled Speed
  4. Canadian Maze 1

CLASSES CLASSES THAT ARE OPEN TO BOTH OPEN AND HITCH COMPETITORS

  1. Amateur Driver 4 Horse Driving – Optional
  2. Youth Team