This
was my first time trying the Texas Trail
Challenge and I will most definitely be
back...already reserved the vacation day
in January for the Parrie Haynes ride. What
I liked about the TTC was it was challenging
(both trails and obstacles in this case)
but was relaxed due to the slower pace and
you actually got to visit a bit when going
down the trail...with no worries about "are
we on time or not" which combined with
the weather made it a great ride.
There
were also quite a few junior riders which
was VERY encouraging to see. A couple of
the jr girls (one's name was Whitney) rode
behind me the last 1/2 mile or so and they
asked if I was having fun and I said yes
and they agreed they were too...so I told
them about about NATRC CTR, trying to hook
them a little further. Seems they have very
supportive folks so maybe we'll reel in
some new juniors!
I
got the pleasure of riding much of the day
with Kate Love's friend Ro and her lovely
buckskin QH mare Gypsy. Kate was originally
planning to ride with Ro since it was her
first competitive ride ever (though clearly
NOT her first trail ride) but since Kate got
called to judge she rode with myself and Linda
and Rip most of the day.
There
were 12 judging parts spread over 8 and a
quarter miles, but several were in camp, so
the ride for the most part progressed smoothly.
At the beginning on Sat. am, for those riding
near the back there were a few delays, but
not too bad.
We
started the morning with an in-camp trot by
judged by Kate Love. Kate was checking for
soundness, and willingness of the horse to
trot in hand under saddle. This went quickly
and we were soon on trail. Riders left camp
in groups of 3 or four with some spacing in
between starting groups.
We
got to chatting and her mare is a great trail
horse, but she told me how the mare had been
sold several times as she'd proven not to
be good at roping or barrels and for a while
she did not know what they'd do with her.
Well, I think they found their calling as
Gypsy
was a great trail mare, very careful with
her foot placement and happy to go down the
trail, or up the trail, or up and down (lots
of
hills here folks) and by the end of the ride
I felt quite sure both Ro and Gypsy were hooked.
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Amira
and I rode the Horsemen level and I was not
sure if we were ready for it, but we did much
better than I'd expected. Still blew
the left handed gate...but I think it was
me rushing her...we've really been practicing
it at home Kate I SWEAR...ask Tammy she's
seen me do it! I just gotta practice going
one step at a time and slowing down as I'm
quite sure I was the weak link in that obstacle.
The
other obstacle we did not do was Alanna's
L box. Amira just did not "get it"
about having her feet in the box and then
doing the turn on the fore. As soon as we
were away from the box we did a beautiful
turn on the fore which Alanna complimented...of
course that did not count but I'll be setting
up my own little "box" at the barn
to practice as that was a neat obstacle.
Because
this was such a hilly ride at check out Kate
and Candy did check for back soreness (none
for us as I rarely sat down with all
those hills!) and Candy said there were just
a couple slightly sore backs and she helped
those riders with advice to prevent that in
the
future.
Teresa
had the coolest awards with alot of though
put into them. Instead of ribbons, those who
placed got colored bandana's the color
of the ribbon for that placing with some pretty
rafia tied on it. I use bandanas all the time
when I ride and since they are like socks
(the dryer or something eats them) you can
never have too many! also got a nice fly mask
for placing 3 in our class and while it was
a tad big for Amira...my Gypsy thought it
fit just great! And the completion awards
were these neat cellphone pouches on a
caribeaner...very handy for riding.
Thanks
again to Teresa and her crew for a great ride...can't
wait to do more of these.
Tracey
& Amira
Nov 25, 2008
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