In the creation of the Grass Roots Extreme Cowboy, the mission is to "Grow the sport of Extreme Cowboy Racing from the roots up” aiming to promote the sport to the current riding community as well as in underserved areas of Ontario. Maintaining the cost effectiveness of running events to help with growth. As an affiliate of the Extreme Cowboy Association, Grass Roots Extreme Cowboy events shall be governed by the rules of EXCA.
Extreme Cowboy racing is based on obstacles you may encounter on a ranch. Bridges, gates, water crossings and rope work may be required. See https://www.extremecowboyassociation.com/rulebook.htm for a list of EXCA approved obstacles.
See www.extremecowboyassociation.com and under the EXCA store you will find memberships. If you are buying an individual EXCA membership, be sure to purchase the INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP as the fee is discounted. GREC requires riders to have an EXCA membership in order to be eligible for EXCA point collection throughout the season for any EXCA sanctioned class. As an EXCA member you will receive a handy hard copy rulebook as well as monthly emailed newsletters to keep you up to date.
No. But you will still be required to create a free user account to enter GREC events. It’s strongly encouraged that riders become members of our parent organization the Extreme Cowboy Association. GREC requires riders to have an EXCA membership in order to be eligible for EXCA point collection throughout the season for any EXCA sanctioned class. As an EXCA member you will receive a handy hard copy rulebook as well as monthly emailed newsletters to keep you up to date.
There is no membership, but you must register to compete in an event. Create a user account using the "Sign Up" button. Your account profile will speed up the registration process for all events that you enter.
Additional riders in the same household can be added to your account. This option should only be done for riders not able to create their own account and register.
After logging in, click on the menu ellipses (near top right) and select the menu option Additional Riders.
then, Select Add Rider
then, Enter Details
The additional rider is now selectable on the Entry form.
Your insurance policy is required to be current before attending events.
After logging in, click on the menu ellipses (near top right) and select the menu option 'Upload New Insurance Policy'.
then, Click the Browse button, select your scanned insurance policy, then click Submit
Your insurance policy has been updated!
The 2025 divisions are:
Please visit the EXCA online rulebookfor a full description of eligibility for the following divisions: Young Guns, Youth, Novice, Intermediate, Non Pro, Green Horse, Ride Smart, Pro, and Open.
A valid proof of personal liability for equine events must be uploaded on your account profile. Only valid insurance policies stating equestrian activities are covered by the policy holder will be accepted. Ie. Ontario Equestrian membership. Entry forms must be complete and all fees paid as directed. Review and follow EXCA rules. Entry forms must be completed and all fees paid as directed. You are following the EXCA rules.
There is a cap of 60 entries for each event unless otherwise advertised. Once the cap is reached, a wait list will be created from the timestamps of the entries.
Traditional western or Australian tack and attire (see EXCA rulebook ) for all divisions, except where permitted otherwise. GREC permits all divisions with 10 or less judged obstacles/elements to compete in a saddle without a horn. Tack and attire shall match. This includes Lead Line, In-Hand, Giddy Up Walk-Jog, Young Guns, Novice and Green Horse.
GREC permits all divisions with 10 or less judged obstacles/elements to compete in a saddle without a horn. Tack and attire shall match. This includes Lead Line, In-Hand, Giddy Up Walk-Jog, Young Guns, Novice and Green Horse.
GREC will only collect point fees directly for EXCA. GREC will no longer be collecting point fees for any affiliate EXCA club. Affiliates are welcome to continue to calculate and collect their point fees from their members from our sanctioned EXCA events. Results are submitted / posted within 7 days or less.
GREC events will be sanctioned and pointed with the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA). If you are an EXCA member in good standing, your division points will automatically be sent by GREC to the EXCA office for recording within 5 business days following the event. Rider eligibility for Worlds is determined through qualified points from EXCA rated events. See the EXCA website for details.
Yes. Ribbons will be awarded for each race event division up to 5th place. Additional prizes are at the discretion of the event host. The Open division pays out all Open entry fees to 5th place, minus EXCA and any admin fees. Eligibility for GREC awards a High Point Buckle to each of the divisions. Points for each Year End division award will be accumulated from the top 4 events of each horse/rider combination. You must compete at a minimum of 3 races. All races will be counted as single points for Year End calculations. GREC (unsanctioned EXCA) divisions include: Lead Line, In-Hand, Giddy-Up Walk-Jog and Green Horse. An EXCA membership is NOT required for any of these divisions to be eligible for year end high point buckles. Sanctioned EXCA divisions include: Young Guns, Youth, Novice, Intermediate, Non-Pro, Ride Smart, Pro and Open. These divisions will require a current EXCA membership to be eligible for a GREC year end high point buckle. Riders without an EXCA membership are still eligible to compete, and place at all events.
Participants ages 3-10 (As of January 1st) are eligible. Lead Line entries may ride up into Young Guns only if eligible. The rider must be turned out in proper show attire including a helmet. Tack and attire shall match discipline.
Open to all levels of handlers and equines. The equine may only be eligible for the Green Horse division. Horse may be of any age or breed. There should be 8-10 obstacles for the course. No EXCA membership is required to be eligible for a year end high point buckle.
GREC allows Green Horses (under saddle) to cross enter into the In-Hand division for more exposure. These are the only divisions that GREC Green Horses/In-Hand Horses may enter. Green Horse will always be run after the In-Hand division. No EXCA membership is required to be eligible for a year end high point buckle. See the EXCA rulebook at https://www.extremecowboyassociation.com/rulebook.htm for further qualifications for Green Horse.
Riders 12 years of age or over. Any rider who is not comfortable to lope a course. The course should include 10 judged elements. Judges will be encouraged to penalize riders for any loping. Riders may ride up in other divisions if qualified. No EXCA membership is required to be eligible for a year end high point buckle.
New EXCA division for 2024!Open Division 12 Years & Over - The Open Division is created for Youth, Novice, Intermediate, Non-Pro, Ride Smart and Pro riders. The Open Division shall always be the last to compete in an EXCA event. The GREC Open Division will be considered a Jackpot race.
Open Division Payout structureAll fees will be paid out as prize money, less EXCA point fees per entry, as well as any administration fees if only entered in the Open Division.
We acknowledge that the level of competition within Ontario EXCA affiliate clubs differs from the Riders in the US. For riders who have won a GREC high-point buckle and plan to submit points to EXCA for World standings, we offer the ability to compete below their current Ontario level Hors Concours. Hors concours allows riders to compete in the class for the purpose of collecting EXCA points, but they are not eligible to place in the class, receive ribbons, or collect points for the GREC high-point year end buckle or awards for that division. Novice: Riders who have won a buckle in the Novice division or higher (Intermediate, Non-Pro, or Pro before 2024 changes were instituted) are no longer eligible to compete at the Novice division. For the purpose of collecting EXCA points, they may enter the Novice division hors concours. Intermediate: Riders who have won a buckle in Intermediate division or higher (Non-Pro, or Pro before 2024 changes were instituted) are no longer eligible to compete at the Intermediate division. For the purpose of collecting EXCA points, they may enter the Intermediate division hors concours.
Yes. See Ontario Racing for criteria and an application form.
Yes. GREC has been approved for the TIP program. Contact us for further information to see if your horse qualifies.
The GREC Carrot Fund will be used for supporting riders in emergencies, going to EXCA Worlds or special purchases such as timers.
