Anybody going to CTR in Fair Hill this September?

[matryoshka]

I just found out that I can take one of the horses I'm fostering for Equihab in the Fair Hill CTR. She's a purebred Arabian, and I think she'd be great for CTR. This is a chance to find out if I'm right.

I'm wondering if anybody else from COTH will be there. I'd love to meet some other COTHers!

[marta]

i'm not going but good luck.
is she barefoot?
my girlfriend is going with her little chestnut arab mare (her name is denise). this will be her first overnight with the horse, although since they have stalls it's not a 'real' overnight.

i'm planning our first 50 at the end of the month in Rhode Island.

[matryoshka]

Good luck on your ride! Wow, 50. Butch and I haven't even completed a 25 yet!!

Yes, Cressie is barefoot. She was rock-crunching until I trimmed her toes short to get rid of persistent seedy toe she's had for years. The seedy toe is now clearing up, but she's no longer rock crunching. I think that'll take a couple of months. So, it's Easyboots. I've never heard her hit her fronts, so I'm thinking the plain old Easyboots will stay on just fine. She wears size 0! I'm used to Butch's size 3's. Quite a switch.

I hope your friend enjoys the ride. I think it will be lower key than an endurance ride. At least this time, I don't expect to get run away with. :lol: Cressie is too smart for those kind of shenanigans. :D

[marta]

well good luck!

[chicamuxen1]

well good luck!
Yes, I'm riding in the 3-day 80 with Mighty Mouse. One of my knees has been acting up so I'm going to be running on Aleve after the first day. It will be a long weekend for me!

chicamuxen

[matryoshka]

Maybe I'll finally get a chance to meet you, then. I hope your knee hangs in there and doesn't cause too much pain!

[chicamuxen1]

I'll be riding Mighty Mouse, my name is Bonnie Snodgrass, have a 3-horse slant Dream Coach which will probably be parked at the far end of the stables.

Drugs is good, I'll make it thru the ride if my horse does! Let me know your name so I can watch for you.

chicamuxen

[matryoshka]

I sent you a PM. I drive a grey Ford Sporttrack and pull a white Brenderup. I'll be on a 14hh chestnut Arab mare named Cressy. I hear the ride is full, so I hope I got my entry in on time! If not, I'll be there to volunteer.

[Bank of Dad]

Slightly off topic, does Fair Hill let you camp overnight, and not use one of their stalls, just tie horse to trailer or put up electric fence? Not for CTR, just in general.

[beth heffelfinger]

I'll be there. This is my first competitive trail ride. I'm planning to do the 30 mile ride.

[matryoshka]

Beth, you know me, even if you don't know my username on this board. ;) Cressy did great on her training ride yesterday. She's a fun little mare and I can't wait to see how she handles competition day!

Pam

[beth heffelfinger]

I remember Cressy. I can't wait for the weekend.
Does anyone know what time we can get in the stalls ?
Also does anyone know what time we will staret on Sat.? (the 30 mile ride)

[matryoshka]

Hey Beth,

The entry-form pdf has the check-in times. I think you can arrive around 1 or 2:00. I'm going to try to get there early so I can get Cressy settled in and be back home to get my kids off the bus. Then I'll have to run back for the vetting in. Unless my parents are willing to get them off the bus for me. ;) It's good to be so near family!

I really like Cressy. She's not fast, but she's got a good heart. She's only been out on the trail by herself twice now, and so far, she's handled it well. She actually walks and trots faster when alone. Still, her gaits are much slower than my OTTB. I think it may have something to do with her only being 14hh and him being 16hh and an ex racehorse. Cressy's definitely got endurance, though, and is still fresh no matter how far we go.

Sometime we'll have to get Butch and your mare together. I'm going to be conditioning him for a fall ride, so maybe I can pick you up and we can ride together some. All our other riding buddies go slower than he does. It'll be nice to find a partner who goes his pace and can wear his butt out! :D

[beth heffelfinger]

I will try to vet at 2 so I can spend time with my son then when he is at the High School football game I will go back and walk Kayla. Se HATES STALLS. I hope she is Ok in the stall.
We should get out on the trail this fall I would love it. I feel so bad I do not have a trailer..
I am sure Cress will be So excited and have a great time out there.
I will see ya Friday..

[matryoshka]

Kids sure get in the way of our horse fun! :lol::lol:

[matryoshka]

Cressie and I finished on time and got a completion award. I wasn't sure we could do 30 miles, but Cressie did it and vetted great. Phew! What a great little mare. She went bitless and was a fine ride.

Next time I'm hoping to complete a ride on Butch. He can't do CTR because of the Easyboot Epics, so it'll be endurance for him. I think he'll tire me out more, since he's very bouncy and likes to go fast. It's still a question of whether he'll have the stamina for 25 miles.

One horse with us pulled three shoes during the ride--two on the first loop, and one more after the farrier put them back on. He got disqualified for soreness. Bummer. Cool horse, though. We were very fortunate to go out with compatible horses and riders. It sure makes it more fun that way!

Congratulations to all who competed, whether they completed the ride or not. It was much faster paced than I had expected.

[Leapin Lizards]

That figures... LOL I moved from Rising Sun about five months ago. Never even made it to watch the International.

[Horses28]

My friend was there today. She rode drag on her arab gelding. she said it was a nice ride. I hope to start CTR's Next year.

[chicamuxen1]

Matryoska,
sorry we didn't actually talk to each other, except for saying Hi! I was busy with riding all three days and visiting with old friends and refilling water tubs. I rode with one group on Friday and another group of friends on Sat who were doing the 30 only. Then I went out with the point rider on Sun and we had a very nice 20 mile ride with just the two of us. Our horses were well suited and we rode the same so it was fun. We really had to move out though as we only had 2:45-3:00 hours to do the 20 with no middle hold.

My horse Mighty Mouse seems to do well at CTRs. He was Grand Champion of the 3-day 80! That's his third Grand Championship. I know I'm bragging but he deserves the praise. we got so many nice awards although I'm sure he's not impressed as nothing was edible. He did go home and chase the youngster Wynne around and around the pasture. What a character!

don't forget to check theviewfromhugh.com for photos of the ride.

chicamuxen

[beth heffelfinger]

Way to go Grand champ.... That is impressive.. I was amazed at the prizes they went Way out ..
This was my first ride and we (my boss and I) had a great time. He got a 90 for his first ride ever I think that is great.
We were surprised how fast we needed to go. But the course was so nice. We live 3 miles from fair hill and know what a blessing it is..

[matryoshka]

Congrats Bonnie!! I kinda knew where your stall was, but I was so busy myself that I didn't have time to go over and say hello. It was a lot of fun. I was lucky enough to be just a couple of stalls down from Beth, and I made friends with a couple stalled next to Cressie. We have plans to go riding another time. Her mare looked just as fresh at the end as she did at the start, and her P/R was 42/16 at the finish! The rest of our group had to canter to her mare's trot.

We had an odd little thing with the Easyboots. I put Easyboots on both fronts of Cressie. Somehow, one ended up on a back foot between mile 10 and mile 13. I've got a pic of Cressie going over the mill bridge with one on a back foot and one on a front foot. My friend May was doing the hospitality stop, and she asked why I put one on front and one on back. I had to get off and see for myself.

That was bizzarre! :lol:

[M.K.Smith]

Congrats to everyone!

Fair Hill is so pretty in the fall!

Pam... it's looking like I'm going to be bringing Remi to the scavenger hunt in October... very excited about it!!!! :cool:

[chicamuxen1]

Thanks Beth. I'm jealous, I'd love to live next to a place like Fair Hill. I'm pretty lucky though as I live next to a state forest.

Yes, they had marvelous awards. Just a thought for all of you who are competing. Donate an award or $25 towards one. Many of these rides either break even or are in the red financially every year, so please help our hard working ride managers. We're the beneficiaries you know!

For the PA/VA/MD/NY folks, the Lick Ridge challenge in 2 weeks is a great ride and still needs entries. I may make it up there, I sent a deposit but I'm focusing on the Virginia Old Dominion Fort Valley 50. If Mouse completes that then we've done the Old Dominion Triple Crown this year. They are also having a challenging 30 mile LD for those that want to do a rewarding mountain ride.

chicamuxen

[matryoshka]

I really wanted to do the Fort Valley LD, but it is the same day as the scavenger hunt that benefits Equihab. I'm on the BOD, so it is important that I go to the scavenger hunt. :D

I'm sure you and Mouse will do great. Keep us posted!

Cressy is being looked at by an 81 year old lady on Sunday. She wants a small, honest horse to ride. Her daughter pre-screened yesterday, and Cressy took to the daughter very well. As much as I love Cressy and am having a hard time letting her go (especially since she's turned out to be a great little CTR horse), it would be wonderful if she could provide good, safe trail rides for an 81 year old horse woman! I can't be selfish about this...

I'd like to get Butch to a ride this fall, but I've been focusing on conditioning Cressy, so he isn't ready for anything.

I'll think about donating a prize to the ride next year. Thanks for the suggestion!

[matryoshka]

MK, the scavenger hunt should be awesome, based on the talk I've heard from the committee. I'm considering asking if we should have a special group go out for green horses--I could be on a steady Eddy horse that does any obstacle and is experienced at helping horses and riders in trouble. If there is interest, we may form such a group--with committee approval. You are the one who got me thinking about this.

Another option would be for me to take one of our greener rescues to get him seen and used to the trails. So many choices!! We are hoping to get a good turnout from horses that have been adopted through Equihab.

[Horses28]

Could you guys tell me more about the scavenger hunt or where I could find info on it?

Thanks

[M.K.Smith]

I'll PM you... it goes to benefit a rescue... but I don't know where advertising boundaries are...

I'm planning to take Remi... He's my very green 4 year old. Last year I took him out to Fair Hill a few times with my friend on her steady eddie trail horses & we started off ponying him till we knew he'd be fine. Here is in last Friday: http://www.leakycreek.com/modules.php?set_albumName=September-2007&id=Remi_lesson_9_21_07_4947&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
I'm very proud of my big moose! It's cool to finally be riding a horse that I've bred & raised & started!

[M.K.Smith]

MK, the scavenger hunt should be awesome, based on the talk I've heard from the committee. I'm considering asking if we should have a special group go out for green horses--I could be on a steady Eddy horse that does any obstacle and is experienced at helping horses and riders in trouble. If there is interest, we may form such a group--with committee approval. You are the one who got me thinking about this.

Another option would be for me to take one of our greener rescues to get him seen and used to the trails. So many choices!! We are hoping to get a good turnout from horses that have been adopted through Equihab.

I would think if a steady eddie could pair up with a greenie that might be best... too many green horses might feed off of each other...lol...

I am SO excited to take Remi... I got Coggins for Winston, Willow, & Remi with then intent of them showing at DSHBS and Winston is the only one that made it to "A" show after the whole trailer fiasco thing... one of these days I'll have my own but for now... I'm not going to pay an arm & a leg to travel 10 miles and I don't want to bother friends if they aren't showing also. So... the scavenger hunt worked out perfectly... Remi is ready for a little outing and my buddy loves to trail ride, so... I it looks like I didn't waste the money on a Coggins...lol... And... maybe one of these days, I'll have my own truck & trailer... lol...

[Bank of Dad]

I am soooo jealous, Seabiscuit just isn't ready for this yet, maybe next year. I can't wait to get back to Fair Hill.

[Taska]

Could you guys tell me more about the scavenger hunt or where I could find info on it?

Thanks


Hi Horses28, you can learn more about the Scavenger Hunt at Fair Hill on October 27 on this web site:
http://www.equihab.com/thehunt.htm
they have the registration brochure availble for downloading there. It should be a really fun ride for everyone who goes. :)