Just Four More Days……

 

Until Apache and I ride in the New Mexico Mounted Search and Rescue (NMMSAR) American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) Competitive Trail Challenge (CTC) at Founders Ranch, Home of The Single-Action Shooting Society (SASS).

Whew! That was a mouthful! I think I need to take a breath before I can continue.  lol!

(Photo taken from last June’s CTC)

It’s been a year since Apache and I rode and competed in an ACTHA CTC and I’m really looking forward to participating again, and I think Apache will be happy to get back out on the trails while partnering together with me, to successfully complete the obstacle challenges.

I’ve been doing some preparations to get ready for this ride, like practicing ground work and obstacles, grooming, trimming Apache’s bridle path, having the farrier out for a trim, and gathering up supplies, Coggins report, and cleaning Apache’s tack.

(Here’s a photo I took during this year’s April CTC, of my friend Roni on her mare)

We’ll be “trailer-pooling” with my friend Roni and she’ll pick us up, with her mare, Halle Cat, early A.M. on Saturday so we can get the horses settled in, enjoy some Cowboy Breakfast, attend the Rider’s Briefing, and get the horses prepared, and tacked up and ready for the CTC.

(These two fun gals, M and K, both volunteers at Walkin N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue with me, are signed up to ride on Saturday, too. I’m looking forward to riding with them again. Photo taken from the June CTC last year.)

I’m also a little nervous because this ACTHA CTC is the biggest ride I’ve ever ridden in and also the largest ACTHA CTC I’ve ever judged or photographed. There are close to 70 riders/horses already registered to ride on 7 miles of trail with 7 obstacles. That’s 10 riders for every mile of trail!

I think the large number of riders is due to several reasons: 1)It’s a local ride for most of us riders, 2)It’s being hosted by the NMMSAR as a fundraiser, which is a terrific volunteer organization that involves horses, 3)It’s being held at the famous Founders Ranch, Home of the SASS, which includes Mounted Shooting, and 4)This ride is an ACTHA Pony Express Ride, which gives one lucky CTC rider the chance to win a $500 Shopping Spree!

(Photo taken during last April’s CTC)

This is the NMMSAR’s first ever ACTHA ride they’ve hosted, and I don’t envy them all the preparation, time and work that will go into this large ride, but I’m sure they’re up to the challenge and most of them have ridden in (like Theresa and Zeema) or volunteered as Safety Riders (like her husband, Joe) in other ACTHA CTC’s, so they are very familiar with how CTC’s are supposed to be.

(I took this photo of Matt riding his Clydesdale, Prince, right after Apache and I completed our last Obstacle in an April ACTHA CTC last year. If Matt is riding this Saturday, I really should ask someone to take a photo of Apache and I standing beside them. lol!)

And another couple of fun aspects of this ride are the Dinner and Dancing on Saturday night inside the legendary Copper Queen Hotel, and the Jessica G. Obstacle Clinics on Sunday (Yes, the same Jessica G. that I am taking lessons with). Should be loads of fun! But what to wear?!