05/22/2026
HOLDING PENS/ALLEY WAY SAFETY!
In my feed on Facebook, there has been significant chatter about the DO'S and DON'TS of alley ways and holding pens. I created this diagram several years ago and posted it for safety reasons at our events. I think maybe it's worth posting again .... please take time to study it!
Make note of the safe zones......Safe Zones is where you MUST be when the race is running..... The RED ZONE is the danger zone when the race is running and you may NOT be in this area unless you are the runner that is up and are making your way to your run.
The RED Zone should be your heads up area...while you can ride around in circles while the tractor is dragging, you absolutely must vacate this area when the race starts running again. THIS IS THE AREA THAT WILL GET YOU DQ'D along with entering or being in the alley at anytime other than for your run!
Additionally, absolutely no one is allowed in the alley way during drags, after your run, etc. The alley way is to be used to run in and run out and that's it! No sitting, standing, dismounting, taking leg wraps off, loosening cinches or whatever other excuse you wanna give to walk up into the alley.....doing so will DQ you at Mile Hi events.
Again, we do not allow you to sit in it during a tractor drag or to walk up in it get off, remove boots, loosen a cinch or whatever. The alley way is used ONLY to run in and run out! Sounds redundant, but it needs repeated....you have no idea the folks that ignore it and attempt this very thing.....it's unsafe.
Again, if you have any questions, comments, or don't understand something, please comment below...I will give you answers!