The race has started and you have made it over the hilland down to the water. Now is the critical time when riders get thrown from the horse. When they crash into the Okanogan River the jolt often dislodges the rider. You still might be in the lead but you have to have a horse and rider to win. The best technique is to have the reins in one hadn and hang on to the back of the saddle with the other. Now the horse had to swim and if he is too far upstream he gets caught in a deep hole but if he's too far downstream he has to fight the current to cross.