Judges
for the event were Candy Bradford, Sr. judge,
assisted by Alanna Sommer and Kate Love.
They had some really challenging obstacles
set-up. Nothing really tricky or in the
"gotcha" catagory, but required
a great deal of teamwork between horse and
rider to "git 'er done".
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.
Alanna
judged the first on-trail obstacle which
was a series of small branches spaced to
either walk or trot through followed by
a steep step-up onto a bank. Depending on
the class in which you were riding, riders
were required to walk through and step up
the bank, walk through stop and settle,
maintain control and then step up onto the
bank or trot through, stop, settle, maintain
control before stepping up the bank. This
is trickier than it sounds.
Candy
had the next obstacle which was walking
into a group of trees to touch a ribbon,
then either backing all the way out, backing
3 steps or backing out and backing an arc
into a box on the right side of the back
out area.
Kate
greeted us next with what to me was a bit
of a confusing exercise, which was walking
a marked figure 8 through a Mesquite/cactus
patch. Riders in my division were required
to stop and tie a ribbon onto a tree branch
at the end of the figure 8. What made it
confusing was trying to see the figure 8
in the patch with ribbons in what looked
to be a random pattern. Kate patiently explained
it to me, and I finally saw the figure 8
and was able to walk through without incident.
If
I remember correctly, next was a steep downhill
observed by Alanna, who was supposed to
be hidden, but had to call out to us so
we didn't go the wrong way on trail. Her
cover was blown, but rider's went the right
way!!
Next
Candy required us to walk through a blind
"curtain" of cedar trees then
cross a pond. Tenderfoot only had to put
horse's front feet in water, with Maverick
being asked to get in with all fours, but
the Horseman division had to go through
the pond.
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Next
on trail was a gate opening. Tenderfoot were
asked to close the gate, Mavericks had to
open, maintain control and close, while Horseman
got to demonstrate their "left-handed"
gate opening skills. This is a tricky manuever,
but it truly demonstrates teamwork between
horse and rider.
The
final on-trail obstacle seemed simple, but
turned out to be really HARD!! Alanna judged
this which consisted of a small box constructed
of 4X4's. Depending on which division you
were riding, your horse was required to stop
with front feet in box, stop with front feet
in box and sidepass out, or stop with front
feet in box and make a 180 degree turn on
the forehand keeping the front feet in the
box. For some reason, hardly any of the horses
wanted to put their front feet in that box
and leave them there. Hollywood who has a
lot of experience with trail obstacles watched
the Maverick rider in front of him sidepass
out of the box, so he was quite sure he knew
what was coming up. As soon as he stopped,
front feet in box, I felt him shifting to
sidepass. Before he could move a foot, I was
able to use the universal horse signal, ACHHHH,
to keep his feet still until he understood
that he was to do an about on the fore, NOT
the sidepass he had watched the other horse
do. He did a nice about on the fore, stopping
in place. When Alanna said Hollywood you're
done, he could not wait any longer and demonstrated
his ability to sidepass out of that box which
he was sure was going to be required. Afterall,
the horse in front of him got to do it!!!
In
camp we were told to bring our horses back
for a final back-soundness check and were
told to come in halter carrying our bridles.
Each rider had to bridle his horse for the
judge after the back check.
Lunch
was waiting when we got in off trail. GREAT
MEAL!!! Turkey,dressing and gravy with a good
salad and a really good sweet potato cassarole.
After
lunch, the judges gathered to go over the
obstacles and explain what each was looking
for giving tips on how to solve some of the
problems they saw. Awards followed shortly.
Perfect
day of riding, good company, good food,,,,DOESN"T
GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS.
Thanks
to Teresa Musgrave for being the "hostess
with the mostess", the great panel of
judges and the extra volunteers who helped
put on this very relaxed, laid-back, fun riding
adventure.
Watch
the website for final
placings. This was the last of a 4 ride
series, so overall
series winners received awards as well.
Linda
Courts
Nov 25, 2008
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