Ghost Riders to the Rescue Competitive Trail Ride

 

(Note: For all of my regular blog reader friends, this post may seem a bit tedious and very lengthy with many photos posted. I apologize. I was going to just post a slideshow, but then I realized it might be difficult for any of the competitive trail riders who visit here, to copy and paste the photos to save and print. So, I decided to just go ahead and post all of the photos that turned out, to make it easiest for all the trail ride participants instead.

I didn’t label all of the photos with my watermark nor crop or edit any of the photos either, so for those Ghost Riders, feel free to just copy and paste any of the photos you’d like, or contact me and I’d be happy to send photos to you via e-mail. I’d just request that if you plan to use any of my photos professionally or to advertise your business or make money, that you ask permission from me first and always give me credit. Thanks.)

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The ride was held at the prestigious Cedar Hill Farm of Estancia, New Mexico. This property was once a professional  horse facility and is well-appointed with several top quality barns, pipe-rail pens, runs, arena, several houses, and is fully, safely fenced around the entire 440 acres.

I so wish I could afford to buy this facility (yes, it is for sale and has been sitting empty for over 4 years) and allow Walkin’ N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue to move their facility and horses here. Maybe there is a very generous horse-loving philanthropist that might read my blog and find it in their hearts to answer this need and make a huge and amazing difference?  I will hold onto that dream. You never know. Dreams can come true. *smile*

The Stallion Barn and Paddock s

Some of the pipe-rail pens.

 

 

All of the horses were a little concerned about my Zombie Diva get-up until I spoke to them, and then they didn’t mind at all.

Someone brought a little travel buddy along to show support for their equine friend during the ride

Here’s Theresa’s Lipizzaner/Hungarian Warmblood gelding, Zeema.

 

He’s not crazy about me pointing my camera at him all the time, but I can’t help it. He’s just very photogenic.

Horse Trailers in a row

And Powerful Trucks to tow them, too.

I was fascinated with this little trailer. Neat, huh?

More horse trailers, lined up. Go ahead and call me a geek for posting horse trailers.  I just love seeing them on the road. It’s like looking at Christmas presents, for me, imagining the special equine gift inside. I know…geek. lol!

This Competitive Trail was especially exciting for two reasons. 1)The proceeds go to help care for the horses kept at Walkin' N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue, and 2)It was the first ever,  American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) sanctioned event in New Mexico!

Getting warmed up for the ride.

Inside the arena. One of the Walkin N Circles Ranch horses, Caesar, and Cheri, a Safety Rider Volunteer, sharing a special moment. (One of my favorite photos from all day, which is why I added my watermark)

And we are all very excited that this will be an annual event, and will definitely be leading towards more ACTHA events in New Mexico, as well.

Riders checking in and preparing for the Orientation. (I was on the viewing platform, beside the kitchen enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a breakfast burrito….with green chile. yummy!)

A few more reasons Ghost Riders to the Rescue proved to be such a successful event is that we not only had 31 wonderful and generous ride participants, but some even traveled all the way from out-of-state (Colorado) to attend!

The Trail Ride Orientation, in the arena, upstairs on the viewing platform, beside the kitchen.

And that’s not all! We had several Walkin’ N Circles Ranch horses participating in the Competitive Trail Ride and the weather could not have been better: clear, sunny, warm and with just a light breeze.

Two of our Safety Riders, the Sleepy Hollow Team, preparing to head out. (We had six Safety Riders in teams of two that stayed with the groups on the trail as they traveled between the obstacles.)

The beginning of the Trail.

All our snow had melted the day before and by the afternoon, most folks were just wearing long-sleeve shirts and no jackets or coats. Perfect!

As a Judge or a Judge’s Assistant(me)our mode of transportation to travel in between the obstacle challenges along the seven miles of trail? A Mule.

I was asked to be Obstacle Judge Renee’s, Assistant. We were placed at the first obstacle, The Mailbox. She judged technique and skill while I operated the stopwatch. The rider had to open the mailbox, remove the goodie bag inside that contained candy for the rider and horse cookies. (At each obstacle the riders were given treats for them and their horses, just like trick-or-treating!)

The following photos are from my time spent at the Mailbox Obstacle.

(This is Renee and the Sleepy Hollow Safety Riders)

These two are Buddy Riders, which basically means, they get to ride the entire trail, but don’t have to take on any of the obstacle challenges. It’s less expensive and best of all, it’s the perfect way to get a horse used to competitive trail rides and reveal to the rider what a competitive trail ride is like. Isn’t that Icelandic cute? I just wanted to hug him!

I really liked this mule. I especially liked how well the two of them worked as a team. The rider impressed me that she purposefully wanted to expose her mule to everything, including me, the Zombie Diva. She asked me walk up to her mule, my cape blowing and flapping in the breeze and my face looking ghoulishly spooky, even to riders. Her mule looked concerned until I spoke to it and then it seemed happy to have me scritch it’s nose.

  

 

 

I so enjoyed meeting this gal, Cindy. She has gone through two knee surgeries, one one each knee, for her ACL and will have to go through another one soon for torn meniscus. In fact she was riding wearing a knee brace. I was impressed!

All of my photos, of the costumed riders, taken during this obstacle challenge, I posted yesterday for the Sunday Stills Challenge and can be seen by clicking HERE.

 

I felt very fortunate to be placed at the first trail obstacle, because after all the riders had gone through I could hop on a mule and hang out at the last two (sixth and seventh) trail obstacles, which happened to be the Log Traverse and the Water Crossing, to watch and take photos. I felt pretty sure that the riders would appreciate having these photos of themselves and their horses to remember their experiences.

Those riders/horses in the Open Class had to traverse the logs then side-pass along the last log.

This talented gal and her gorgeous horse ended up being the First Place winners of the Open Class!

I then moved on to the seventh obstacle, the Water Crossing to hang out with this Zombie Judge, Cory.

 

We Zombies must stick together, ya know.

 

And his Judge’s Assistant, Kathleen, was full of lots of devilish fun..

As we waited for the groups of rider to arrive, we watched them as they rode in and out of the trees around the course.

 

One of the first group’s riders going through last through the water challenge. The horse was so cute after going through, whinnying as if to say, “I did it!”

And here’s that adorable Icelandic Buddy Rider horse again, waiting for the Open and Pleasure Class riders to complete the obstacle. *smooch*

And the first group has completed the ride and heads off for the arena and the final test.

The second group arrives and is briefed on the obstacle rules.

 

The Pleasure Class riders only have to enter the water at the gradual incline side, while the Open Class riders must tackle a steeper incline and maneuver over logs to enter the water. Piece of cake for some.

And for others…….it was a little more challenging.

But the mule and rider persevered and made it through.

 

The Sleep Hollow Safety Riders arrived with the third group.

 

And then all the horses enjoyed a drink of water.

And then two riders arrived with their horses. Horses that were previously Walkin’ N Circles Rescues! Love those happy endings!

The Ol’ Waterin’ Hole was quite a busy place.

Then the next group of riders arrived.

 

 

Yay Cindy! (If you recall, Cindy is the gal who was riding so soon after her second ACL knee surgery)

“Yikes! Just too scary”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I really tried.” (Don’t you just love that pouty face?)

Happy to have completed the Competitive Trail Ride!

This young lady (Christine?) on the Palomino trained her gelding since he was a young colt. She’s taken him just about everywhere and won quite a few ribbons and done well in competitions. He is just a three year old and he did really well during the trail ride in the Pleasure Class. He didn’t make it coming through the water obstacle, so they took him back through with his herd-mates with no trouble at all.

  

Here she is again in the middle, along with Cindy and Dianne (?). They drove all the way down from Pagosa Springs, Colorado for the ride! 

And here come the costumed rider’s group!

 

So fun!

 

The bride’s heart was only for her beloved as she waited beside the water. Alas, the poor groom.

Hold your horses, beautiful Bride! Here comes your colorful love!

 

Theresa takes her Lippazan/Hungarian Warmblood, Zeema everywhere and he enjoys new things, so this water obstacle was no trouble for him at all. And he looks gorgeous doing it, too.

Can an Arabian horse ever look unattractive? I don’t think there is anything they can’t do. And do well, too.

 

And this big handsome fellow was a PMU foal. He sure is a looker! And the rider, too. But don’t get any ideas, ‘cause he belongs to Theresa! hehe!

 

 

Aghhhhh! It’s Man Tracker!

   

 

Smiling, happy folks after they completed the Ghost Riders to the Rescue Competitive Trail Ride! Congratulations to all the riders and their horses!

 

 

 

 

“Yay! More treats for me and my horse!”

 

A little socializing at the ol’ watering hole.

 

You can drag a horse to water, but you can’t always make him stop drinking……….

 

Loping back to the arena………………

Because it’s time for the……..

 

There was money awarded, ribbons gift certificates and prizes, too. Lots of beautiful and creative costumes worn by horse and rider and everyone seemed to have a terrific time. 

Jumping for Joy!

  

The following photos comprise all of the Group Photo Shots I took as the riders moved through the trail course.

 

The First Group

The Second Group

The Third Group (The rider and horse on the right is dressed up as Scooby Doo and Shaggy)

The Fourth Group

The Fifth Group

The 6th Group

 

Thanks to everyone that participated, especially all the volunteers and everyone that helped to plan and organize this event and make it such a success!

Time to go home. All aboard!

Everything went off without a hitch………………(get it?)

The End!