Trail News
COMPETITIVE TRAIL NEWS IN THE SOUTHWEST POLE CANYON TRAILS LEAD TO OLD WEST
Competitive trail riders hark back to the
days of old when they embark upon the well- marked paths of Pole Canyon Ranch in Quitaque, Texas on April 9-10. The North American Trail Ride Conference returns for its fifth event in seven years, working with ranch owners Phil and Lynnette Barefield. “We love to share the beauty of this part of
the country with trail riders from all over the United States,” said Barefield. “The ranch is es- pecially attractive to distance organizations like NATRC because we have miles and miles of beautiful trails on 6000 acres to offer their com- petitors.” This year Dr. Kate Jacob will be the veteri- nary judge and Priscilla Lindsey will be the
break at Pole Canyon
Kate Love & Rafa take a
Horsemanship judge, both traveling to the pan- handle from Kansas for the Pole Canyon CTR. NATRC competitions are not races, but have
a minimum and maximum time window to com- plete 15-30 miles per day, depending on the divi- sion entered. There are also three to five judged natural observations on the trail each day, such as water crossings, gates or riding up and down the steep canyon hills. “NATRC is a great way to explore private
ranches like Pole Canyon, but also learn while en- joying time with your horse on the trail,” said Ride Manager Jean Green from Lawton, OK. “Come join us and see what you might be missing.” More information on this ride and other 2016
NATRC rides throughout the Southwest can be found on
www.natrc.org. w
The Pinto Horse Association celebrates 60 years
Murphy & Tuffy Toltec enjoy Pole Canyon
Suzanne
COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDER by Laurie
Oehlerking FITNESS FOR THE Most riders are careful to ensure their mount is
physically conditioned for their type of competitive trail riding, but what about the rider? Shouldn’t the rider also be fit? Obviously, the answer is yes. Rider fitness is imperative to ensure the necessary core strength to keep you light and balanced in the sad- dle, and it also helps your horse. When you’re out on the trail and encounter steep inclines or a deep-water crossing, the ability to
position yourself to best help your horse is critical. If you let your horse do all the work, he or she will mostly likely be sore at the end of a long ride. In addition to core strength, upper- and lower-
body strength play an important role in helping your horse stay sound. Think about mounting and dis- mounting. It’s better for your horse if you can do both easily, without “hanging” on your way up or down. Your horse’s withers and back will thank you. If helping your horse isn’t, reason enough to get
fit, let’s talk safety. Most any rider can stay in the sad- dle when all is well, but what about those fateful mo- ments when everything goes awry? Your fitness level can determine whether you manage the commotion or not. Even with an unplanned, equine-assisted dis- mount, a fit rider is less likely to be injured, and when injured often recovers faster. w
The Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc. is excited to announce its
60th anniversary. The PtHA started from a grassroots movement to selectively breed
horses for good color and conformation. Several horsemen in the 1930s formed the Pinto Horse Society with the purpose of breeding superior col- ored horses. The registry they created shifted to the PtHA, which was formed in 1956 by Kay Heikens, Helen Hammond and other Pinto supporters. The association formed in New Jersey and relocated to several other
locations including: Connecticut, California and Texas. In 2004, PtHA moved to its present location in Bethany, OK. Much has changed since 1956. Today, with more than 30 charters
throughout the United States, Canada and Sweden, PtHA members have local opportunities to get together and participate in local activities such as youth clubs, showing, and recreational riding to promote and encourage oth- ers to be involved with PtHA. With the development of PtHA, the Pinto World Championship Show
32 SouthWest Horse Trader March 2016
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Optical Harmonics
Optical Harmonics
Optical Harmonics
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