Just two months away is the Colorado Corral Ranch Race at the Evergreen Rodeo Grounds! Anyone is welcome to participate and/or spectate. There are divisions for all ages and levels of riders and horses including Lead-line, Youth 8-10, 12-14 and 15-18; Green as Grass, Green Horse, Amateur, Open and a Jackpot. Email me at heather@mtnhomes4horses.com for a registration form.
What is the Ranch Race you ask? The Ranch Race is a fun course of 10-15 obstacles, similar to a trail course, but with more of a ranch twist including cattle. Fun and safety are of the utmost importance. Time is recorded and used mostly to keep the participants moving, but good horsemanship is rewarded every time. An experienced, professional judge scores each obstacle to determine the placings in each division.
Running concurrently with the Ranch Race for the first time is a Western Dressage Ride-A-Test schooling show. Similar to a traditional Dressage Ride-A Test, participants will be assigned a ride time, ride their test, receive the scored test and have 10-15 minutes of ride time with the judge (USDF certified judge). Essentially a mini-clinic – with ribbons and awards! Just go to the http://www.westerndressageassociation.org/western-dressage-rules-tests/, look through the tests and decide which one you want to be judged on.
While the Ranch Race and Western Dressage Ride-A-Test take place on Sunday September 15th, there will be a clinic on Saturday the 14th for both events taught by two of our gifted local trainers.
Tucker Black – see www.TuckerBlackHorsemanship.com, will be giving the Ranch Race obstacle clinic. This is a perfect chance for any riders to learn and get their horses used to the obstacles that will be in the Ranch Race the next day.
Kelly Hendricks- see www.KellysHorsinAround.com, participated in the Train The Trainers ™ put on by the Western Dressage Association to teach riding instructors the essence of Western Dressage and she will be instructing the Western Dressage Clinic on Saturday.
While some riders will choose to participate in all four events (i.e. Ranch Race Clinic and/or show; Western Dressage Clinic and/or Ride-A-Test), anyone is welcome to participate in how ever many of the parts that they wish to.
To see slide shows of past Ranch Race’s, go to the MtnHomes4Horses YouTube channel. If you are new to Western Dressage, there is also a blog post on the www.MtnHomes4Horses.com website bearing the same name.
The cost is $50 for the Ranch Race and Clinic, $30 for the Western Dressage Clinic and Ride-A Test. Entries open August 15th and close September 9th. Further discounts if you volunteer during the clinic and/or competition. See the Events calendar on the website for information and email me at mtnhomes4horses@gmail.com for a registration form. Always feel free to call me with any questions! 303-638-0994. I look forward to seeing you there for this weekend of fun and festivities! If you are interested in sponsoring awards, cattle, insurance, judging, etc, just let me know! Mark your calendars for the Intermountain Horse Association Poker Ride September 7th, www.IntermountainHorse.com. Heather McWilliams © 2013.
