Los Alamos County Spring Gymkhana Series Returns, Registration Now Open
Five Wednesday events at Brewer Arena start April 15, offering barrel racing and more for $10 a day, but only if enough riders register first.
Registration is open for the 2026 Spring Gymkhana series at Brewer Arena, five Wednesday competitions putting riders through barrel racing, pole bending, and flag races for as little as $10 a day, with the first event on April 15.
The Los Alamos County Recreation Division posted the announcement on April 1, opening enrollment for a five-date calendar running on alternating Wednesdays: April 15, April 29, May 13, May 27, and June 3. That final date is new to the schedule this year, adding one session beyond what previous seasons included. The program is open to riders of all experience levels, from families introducing children to competitive riding to experienced competitors looking for a spring series close to home.
In much of the western United States, a gymkhana is defined as games on horseback, a format built around speed and agility rather than the formal judging of traditional horse shows. The Los Alamos series offers a full slate of timed disciplines: barrel racing, keyhole race, flag race, pole bending, and on- or off-horse roping.
The cost structure is designed to stay accessible. Participants pay $10 per day or $40 for the full five-event series, with family pricing available for households entering multiple riders. The Recreation Division's rules and registration form covers required equipment, safety standards, and arena conduct policies, including mandatory release-of-liability paperwork. Stallions are not permitted to enter.
The Recreation Division is urging early sign-up, and the stakes are practical: events must hit a minimum participation threshold to proceed. An under-enrolled Wednesday session can be canceled outright, leaving riders without competition and organizers without the headcount needed to arrange staffing and safety coverage. Submitting registration early is how the community keeps each date on the calendar intact.
Beyond individual competition, the series puts Brewer Arena's infrastructure to use during a stretch of spring Wednesdays that might otherwise sit idle, while connecting local youth to outdoor sport and giving equestrian supply and service vendors a recurring gathering on the county calendar. The full series runs through June 3.
To register or ask questions, contact the Recreation Division at lacrec@losalamosnm.gov or (505) 662-8170.
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