RFID TAGS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL CATTLE ENTERING THE EXHIBITION GROUNDS.  
YOU WILL ONLY BE PROCESSED AS ENTERED WHEN FULL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED

Oxen Rules 2023

1. All ox teams are invited to enter the Western Nova Scotia Exhibition.

2. ENTRIES CLOSE ON JULY 21, 2023, AT 4:00 PM. Entries will be accepted are on a first come, first serve basis. Registration fees are due upon registering. Stalls will be allotted on a first come first serve basis. In the event extra stalls are needed the committee will do its best to accommodate, however, space is limited in the barn.

3. Anyone owning or pulling oxen on the Exhibition grounds must be a current member of the Maritime Ox Pulling Association. This membership will serve as your proof of financial responsibility for the amount of $1,000,000.00 and must be indicated on your registration form. 

4. RFID ear tags MUST be in place on all animals when entering grounds. The ear tag numbers must be entered on the Exhibitor's Entry form.

5. Random drug testing will apply to all teams.

6. Weigh-in will be Tuesday, Aug 1st and Wednesday, Aug 2nd, times to be determined.  

7. All teams will be watered before weigh-in.  

8. All animals must be walked on scales.

9. Check weights are allowed

10. All cattle weighing 1799 and under will be classified steers and will be pulling in the steer class and steer sections.

11. All Oxen must weigh 1800 lbs to pull in the Memorial and World’s Champion Ox Pulls.

12. Teams will be divided into classes as evenly as possible according to weight.

13. All teamsters will draw for placing prior to haul.

14. Any Ladies or Juniors competing in the regular hauls may not enter the special Ladies or Junior Pulls.

15. All hauls will be on a pound for pound basis (percentage) except for the sweepstakes haul which will be heaviest load.

16. Any team qualifying for the Memorial or the World's Champion Pull must be pulled by the teamster that qualified the team.

17. Any teamster deemed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to compete.

18. Wooden/rope rails will be placed 9’ apart. If a front foot of an ox goes over these lines during competition the team will be eliminated.

19. A team must be in the hauling position to be disqualified for stepping over the lines. Hauling position means HOOKED TO DRAG.

20. Each team will be allowed 12 minutes to complete their haul (not including breakage).

21. Starting loads will be weight of team. Additional loading will be a minimum of 200 lbs to a maximum of 1000 lbs, as the teamster calls for.

22. All teams will pull in the same direction.

23. A successful haul will be 36”. Three attempts will be given to move the drag a total of 36”. The haul will finish when the front of the drag passes the finish line.

24. Teamsters may have an assistant to hook onto the drag. The assistant may stay in the ring until after the second start is made, and then the assistant must leave the ring. In case of breakage, assistant may enter the ring while repairs are made. NO HELP FOR ADJUSTMENTS.

25. In the case of breakage, a maximum of 15 minutes will be given for repairs. The teamster will be allowed to break the drag sideways which will not be counted as an attempt.

26. The lash of the whip MUST be kept in hand. No cruelty will be tolerated at anytime or anywhere on Exhibition Grounds. Profane language or actions will not be tolerated.

RULE # 26 WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED, CRUELTY NOT ONLY IN THE RING, BUT IN THE BARNS OR GROUNDS COULD RESULT IN TEAM AND TEAMSTER BEING BARRED FROM COMPETITION AS WELL AS ANY FUTURE COMPETITIONS AT THE WESTERN NS EXHIBITION.

1. The Section Pulls and the Memorial Pull will be 3 feet, 1 start with 3 attempts.

2. The Class Pulls and the World’s Champion pull will be 3 feet, 3 starts (jig pull)

3. The Steer Section Pull will be 3 feet, 1 start, 3 attempts.

4. The Steer Class Pull will be 3 feet, 3 starts (jig pull).

5. The Champion Steer Pull will be 3 feet, 1 start, 3 attempts.

6. The top two percentages in each Section, one to four, will qualify for the Memorial Haul. Only one team per teamster will be allowed in the Memorial Haul.

7. For the World Championship Haul, an average of each team’s percentage for the section and regular class haul will be taken. The top ten teams will be selected. Only one team per teamster.

8. Highest Average Percentage of the Week trophy will be an average of the regular hauls, section hauls, and the Memorial Haul.

9. Best Broke Pair of Steers 24 months and Under, Shown by a male or female 15 years of age or under. Steers must be owned by someone in same family as teamster.

10. For the Sweepstakes Haul, teams are invited to attend exclusively for that haul, and need not be at the exhibition for the entire week. A fee of $25.00 will be charged to teams entering only this event who have not purchased a weekly stall rental. Teams need to be weighed in by NOON on the day of the haul. This will be a heaviest load haul; the load must be hauled 6’ in a total of 3 attempts. Teams must weigh a minimum of 3000 lbs.

11. The Oxen Committee and the Judge will have the authority to interrupt the rules. For the good of the hauls the Committee has full authority.