By Monika Paterson
The recent combined Competitive Trail Ride (CTR) and Endurance Ride (ER) event was a great success, with riders attending from all over the province and a couple coming from Washington State.
The Cariboo Plateau behind The Hills Health Ranch, was the location of the 2015 CTR and the 50-mile ER.
The Hills horse camp was the starting point for 54 riders, 27 CTR and 27 ER, including local CTR riders Mike Day and Bev Jansen.
ER co-ordinator Nicola Maughn notes all riders were very courteous and safety for horse and rider was at the forefront at the event.
The CTR is a timed event with a specific rate of speed and specific completion time. The ER is a riding discipline where a certain mileage is completed as quickly and safely as possible.
Both groups ride over various grades of terrain and both disciplines emphasize care and condition for the horse and rider. The motto is: “To finish is to win.”
ER
Elroy Karius from Kelowna and Jolly Holiday (Doc) came in first with a time of 4 hours 46 minutes flat. Second was Langley resident Nick McDonald aboard Teagan in a time of 4 hours 46 minutes two seconds; and third place went to Diane Prinsen of Salmon Arm riding Zimfandel Macho Dude in a time of 5 hours 14 minutes.
The best conditioned horse was Brenda Miskimmin’s horse Paladin.
CTR
Level 1 was 17 miles, and level 2 was a 27.5-mile course.
CTR riders begin with a score of 300 and receive demerits for concerns with their horses’ health and condition – high pulse, sore back, lameness or any dehydration and behaviour issues – at the vet checks.
This year, a perfect score of 300 was given to Madeline Bateman of Cherry Creek on Shainy Spark; second went to Nellie Rourkema of Okanagan Falls with a 295; and third place was a tie between Debbie Powell of Princeton and Mike Day of 100 Mile House for their scores of 293.
The Vet’s Choice award went to 10-year-old Jasmine Gossin of Salmon Arm,
Veterinarians Ross Hawks from Williams Lake checked the CTR horses, and Rob Mulligan of Kamloops checked the ER horses. Both rides receive a baseline vet check the day before the ride, and each time they return to camp during the ride day, the horse’s condition was checked and recorded.
CTR co-ordinator, Joanne Macaluso notes this event would not have been possible without the help of the numerous volunteers.
The organizers thank ride secretary Pat Haywood for all her help, including collecting and organizing all the ride packs and prizes that were all collected and donated by British Columbia and local businesses.
The event was so well received they are looking to do the combined event again next year.
Monika Paterson is the Lac la Hache correspondent.
