20/ JUNE 2010 THE RIDER
President: Teresa Finnerty, (905) 880-1745, email:
teresa.finnerty@
gmail.com Vice-President: Nancy Beacon, (519) 924-2347, email:
rabbitrun1@me.com Secretary: Nancy Zukewich, (613) 728-9628, email:
nancy.zukewich@rogers.com Membership Secretary: Misha Green, 41 Briarwood Rd., Unionville, ON L3R 2W7 (905) 475-9466, email:
mishagreen@rogers.com
Treasurer: Kelly Corbyn, (705) 424-1600, email:
octratreasurer@yahoo.com
GREAT OPPORTUNITY – DON’T MISS IT 2010 Board of Directors
Endurance Chair: Nancy Beacon, (519) 924-2347, email:
rabbitrun1@me.com Competitive Trail Chair: Lynda Townsend, (450) 764-3589, email:
ken.townsend@
csur.ca
Ride & Tie Chair: Mike Downing, phone: (705) 428-5622, email:
downingmichael.downing@
yahoo.ca
website
www.octra.on.ca
JUNE 30 through JULY 4, the Cana- dian National Championships for Long Distance Riding will be hosted at New Lowell, Ontario close to picturesque Creemore. What an opportunity to see all three disciplines in this sport held at the same place. You are invited to come and participate in any of the shorter events run in conjunction with the championships by contacting the Ride Secretary shown on the ride schedule, or simply come out and watch.
In today’s economic times no other discipline offers such a “bang for your buck”. A very reasonable entry fee gives you: several veterinary inspections for your horse; well marked scenic trails to follow through varied countryside includ- ing water troughs placed at intervals for your horse; and at the end of the day enjoy a nice meal provided plus awards, before heading home.
First introduced into Canada in the early ‘60s, this sport is open to every type of horse from the more sturdily built to the sleeker Arabs, together with breeds such as quarter horse, Morgan, Saddle- bred, Thoroughbred, Warmbloods, paints, ponies and even Clyde-crosses. All types of saddle and equipment may be used,
focusing on comfort and efficiency for horse and rider with only helmets and boots with a heel for the rider being mandatory. Horses must be a minimum of four years of age but can frequently be found competing successfully into their twenties while their riders can range in age from the very young to the very “mature”.
All rides require horses to pass vet- erinary check points before, during, and at the end of each competition making it probably the safest most humane horse sport available. Because distance riders actually spend more time on their horses than the more traditional one hours exer- cise, and share many hours together on trail a rather unique bond is forged mak- ing horse and rider both close partners and friends.
Three basic disciplines in long dis- tance riding are Ride and Tie (a team of two riders/runners and one horse) with all competitors starting at once and winning being based on the combined speed of the two runners who alternate riding the horse; Endurance – all horses and their riders start at once and winning is based on overall speed plus of course passing the veterinary checks; plus Competitive
Trail – where riders start at intervals and winning is based on completing a set distance within a set time plus achieving the best veterinary score. Additional, shorter Mileage and Set Speed rides are also offered which provide comfort- able distances for train- ing and development. Choose a level of competition that suits you – whether it is a relaxing shorter ride, a slightly more challeng- ing middle distance, or the longer Endurance rides with perhaps the excitement of training for international compe- tition – the choice is yours. Events can be as short as 10 miles, or as long as 100 miles, with everything in between to suit a variety of indi- viduals and their horses. One great benefit found in all the three disciplines is the won- derful sense of cama- raderie and friendship
timer. Many competi- tors choose to volun- teer in one of these capacities for at least one ride each season as their contribution to the sport. It is also a great way to gain experience “from the ground up” before embarking as a rider. For whatever reason, volunteers seem to return year after year to enjoy the friendship and fun of this sport.
Specta- Teresa Falls. Photo by Wendy Webb
generated among competitors. Possi- bly due to the fact that results are only based on how well you have prepared your horse prior to the event and how wisely you ride the trail – in essence you are competing against yourself and working to
achieve your own personal best. Opportunities also exist for non-riders who may volunteer to assist the organizers. For example, learning how to record for one of the judges, how to take the horse’s pulse and respiration or how to become a
tors are welcome – at the Championships, look for the Promotion Booth at the ride site. You can stay at base camp and watch the competitors as they leave and later return for veterinary inspec- tion. Or, go out ‘on trail’ to visit a check- point and watch as competitors arrive, are vetted, have their com- pulsory rest period and continue on trail. Check out the Ride
Schedule to see which event interests you.
COME RIDE WITH US - OR COME TO WATCH
www.octra.on.ca
OCTRA Ride Dates DATE RIDE NAME
19th Jun Summer Solstice Moonlit 20th Jun Summer Solstice
TYPE Mileage
DISTANCES 12 Miles
Competitive Trail 20 Mile Novice Mileage
30th Jun 2010 Canadian Championship Opening Ceremonies 1st Jul 2010 Canadian Championship FEI
2nd Jul 2010 Canadian Championship Ride 'n' Tie 4th Jul 1st Aug Seouls Corners 22-Aug Flesherton 5th Sep Stormont
2nd Oct Oktoberfest 3rd Oct Oktoberfest
Endurance
100, 75 & 50 Miles 10 & 20 Miles
Competitive Trail 2 Day 80 Miles (day 2) Set Speed Ride 40 Mile Open Closing Ceremonies
Competitive Trail 30 Mile Open Competitive Trail 25 Mile Novice Mileage
15 Miles
Competitive Trail 32 Mile Open Competitive Trail 25 Mile Novice Mileage
Endurance Mileage
Ride 'n' Tie Mileage
Endurance Mileage
15 Miles 50 Miles
13 & 27 Miles 6 & 12 Miles 12 & 25 Miles 50 Miles
12 & 25 Miles Ride Secretary-Sue Downing, 2011, 6/7 Sd Rd., Sunnidale, New Lowell
3rd Jul 2010 Canadian Championship Competitive Trail 2 Day 80 Miles (day 1) ON. L0M 1N0 (705) 428-5622 Mileage Ride and Set Speed Ride 40 Mile Open
email Michael
Downing@sympatico.ca Elaine Steele, 3964 Bell Line Rd. Mountain
Grove, ON. K0H 2E0 (613) 335-2529 email
lostcreekfarm@sympatico.ca Nancy Beacon (519) 924 2347 email
rabbitrun1@me.com
Sue Wallis, 15947 Northfield, Lunenburg, ON K0C 1R0 (613) 346-2617
dessia@amberleaequestrian.com Cathy Mezenberg 6922 7th Line, RR2 Belwood, ON. N0B 1J0 (519) 787-1416 email
jcmezenberg@execulink.com
CONTACT
Sue Downing, 2011, 6/7 Sd Rd, Sunnidale, New Lowell. ON L0M 1N0 (705) 324-5622
25, 37 & 50 Mile Open Ride Secretary -Donna Moore, 17 Edgewood Drive, 12 Mile
Lindsay, ON. K9V 4W2
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