Anyone with a four-horse draft horse hitch can participate, regardless of location (Canada or US). However, all qualifying shows (where you earn points) are held in Ontario.

Important: You must be a member of the Ontario Four to compete in the qualifying classes. Fairs will have a list of members and will check to see if you’re in good standing. If you still enter the class and are not a paid member, the respective fair will automatically deduct your membership fee from your total prize payout. The points from that class will not count towards the standings.

All Ontario Four Horse Hitch Series participating exhibitors must pay a $100 entry fee for the 2025/2026 season. If you only have a team of draft horses, you can hitch with another team ($50 entry per team). The due date for memberships is July 1, 2026.

A late membership fee of $200 will apply if paying after July 2, 2026. 

Membership fees can be paid by email money transfer (EMT) to Ontariofourhorsehitch@gmail.com or by mail to:

Ontario Four Horse Hitch Series
c/o Peter Maher
2630, 9/10 Sideroad
RR#1 New Lowell, ON L0M 1N0

The 2025/2026 qualifying season runs from October 11, 2025 to September 20, 2026

The 2025/2026 Ontario Four Finals will be hosted in partnership with the Carp Fair on Friday, September 25, 2026.

Points are accumulated by competing in qualifying shows and are determined by your placing.

The 10 members accumulating the highest points during the 2025/2026 qualifying season are eligible to be invited to compete in the Ontario Four Finals (championship).

If any top teams decline the invitation, it is at the discretion of the Ontario Four committee whether to invite the next highest-scoring members.

In the event of a tie for 10th place, the hitch that participated in the most number of classes will be invited. This is to support our goal of increasing participation at fairs.

The Ontario Four Committee will extend the invitation up to twelfth place. If there is a tie for twelfth, the hitch who competed in the most shows will be invited, as the Ontario Four mandate is not only to enhance the member experience but to also encourage participation at fairs across the province.

The Ontario Four will track and post results online through their website and social media channels.

Payouts at fairs:

• One (1) or two (2) hitches per class: a minimum of $500 to each hitch ($1,000 in total).
• Three (3) or more hitches per class: a minimum of $1,750 must be paid.

When you enter both the Ontario Four and qualifying classes, your personal information will be collected to ensure secure payouts for the winners.

Payout at Ontario Four Finals:

The total prize money for the Ontario Four Finals will depend on how many members join, how many shows participate, and how much sponsorship is secured. 

The Ontario Four committee can disqualify any team for poor sportsmanship.

Reinstatement will be at the discretion of the committee members.

• Each fair that is hosting a qualifying Ontario Four class sets the minimum liability insurance amount in their rule book, so be sure to check before you go.