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Contact usSome of you may wonder how ACTHA came to be. Well, I was a successful competitor in the Hunter/jumper world. I received my early training in NCY at the “hands” and “hoofs” of retired NYC mounted patrol horses and officers. When we moved to Colorado, I purchased a wonderful but high strung ready to run Arabian. I spent many days riding in ever decreasing concentric circles to keep from ending up in the next county. I was just married and we could not afford both a horse and a saddle so I rode “Wart” bareback, which did not help with the control issue. It seemed like endurance riding might be the ticket, since I was still up for competition. But I eventually ended up competing in NATRC. My love of trail riding was an outcome of living in Colorado surrounded by so much land and natural beauty. In my later years, I was over the show ring stuff, but still loved to trail ride. However, distance riding was just not where it was at for me, so I conjured up the ACTHA format of 6 miles with 6 obstacles and 6 judges. Six is my lucky number. My dear friend Karen Van Getson was my trail riding buddy and she agreed to help me with the ACTHA idea. I am not a computer type person. I have said “if I can’t reason with it, or fondle it, I want nothing to do with it! However, Karen (my Mr. Spock) was a computer type, and so we started out together putting on rides. Karen has both beauty and brains (I have neither) but somehow we made up a pretty good team. When Karen’s son Luke was struck by a car in the summer of 2009, it looked like ACTHA’s future was doomed, as I could never have done this by myself. However, my hero husband came to the rescue of these damsels in distress. Yes, he came riding in on his hansom white charger Angelo, and saved the day! He took up the reins of ACTHA
and took over Karen’s duties plus some, until she could return to work. Today, Karen is back to work, and Luke is on the road to recovery. ACTHA is growing, as is our company family, and our many friends in the trail riding world. Our personal horses are all rescues, as are our dogs. I guess this is where the idea of helping horses in need came from, but more about this is the future. I think it is so wonderful to give a real purpose to our rides. Just think, some horse is not going hungry tonight because ACTHA exists. RIDE ON! Carrie
Dec
13
12 comments
Betsi Bixby says:
December 13, 2010 at 3:55 pm (UTC -6)
What fun to read your blog! Since I love ACTHA, it was great gearing more of the personal side about you brilliant founders. Thanks for taking action on your dream. Look forward to your future posts.
carol says:
December 13, 2010 at 7:47 pm (UTC -6)
Glad you kept ACTHA going. Glad to hear Karen’s son is recovering.
leanna frame says:
December 13, 2010 at 8:39 pm (UTC -6)
Dear Carrie,
Great story, keep them coming. I am new to ACTHA, but have done one ride already in Oct. and plan to do more. I have also encouraged 3 others to join and am working on getting my daughter involved. I have a great story about the ride I went to in October in Lemon Cove, Ca. if you are interested in hearing it let me know.
Sincerely,
Leanna Frame
P.S. I don’t agree with your statement about your lack of beauty and brains… you obviously possess both.
Carol Webber says:
December 14, 2010 at 1:16 am (UTC -6)
Thank you for persisting until you had ACTHA up and running. It is a great organization. I worked with Gail Black to put on a ride here in St. George in October and then I competed in the ACTHA ride in Big Water, UT in November. I have met some of the best and coolest friends from many places from ACTHA and want you to know how much I plan to attend ACTHA rides this coming year. Thanks again and have a great new 2011!!!
Debbie says:
December 14, 2010 at 5:42 am (UTC -6)
Great story! I can’t tell you how many women are so excited and thankful for ACTHA!!!
Allot of us still have the need to compete, have fun, and meet new people with the same passion. Horses!!!
We get to mingle with old, young, and in between. I rode in a ride a few weeks ago in Missouri and had the best time with a 15 year old girl on an amazing Appallosa.
Thanks so much for your all of the effort.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
Katharine says:
December 14, 2010 at 8:09 am (UTC -6)
Thank you for sharing this story, I was wondering who was behind it all and you gave it a face and a story. Thanks so much and I’m looking forward to reading more.
Pauline Burnes says:
December 14, 2010 at 6:23 pm (UTC -6)
Very interesting start! In my younger years I trained an off the track 3 year old thoroughbred for eventing. What a journey! I have also managed a large corral at National Center West in Wyoming and used to be a Clinic Instructor with the Camp Horsemanship Association. I am now an older Landscape Architect, and had to put my 30 year old thoroughbred down in October. I was not going to get another horse, but on a whim called a gentleman that my family knew, who started the City of Rochester Mounted Patrol. He had a 5 year old Tennessee Walker/Kentucky Mountain Horse hybrid that is now in my barn. I have back problems, so the gaited horse is very comfortable for me, as I no longer train youngsters.
I work full time in NY State and would like to get back to trail riding. This is a perfect horse for that.
Jo-Anne Young, Director of Houghton College Equestrian Center told me of you.
Pauline
jan lewis says:
December 14, 2010 at 7:20 pm (UTC -6)
This was so much fun reading! Look how long I’ve known you and didn’t know half of what was in the blog.(” Karen has both beauty and brains (I have neither)” Well, I consider you prettier and brainier than myself, my friend, so what’s that make me?? I am so proud of you and Tom-what you have built to help these wonderful animals-just amazing!
Diane Rall says:
December 15, 2010 at 8:06 am (UTC -6)
Thank you for interesting details about ACTHA. Like you, I am older and my horses are rescues. Our first ride at Simpson Creek, SC was so good for all.
The best part is the “herd” format. And of course I am delighted as a Parelli Savvy Club member to see the partnership of Parelli-ACTHA!
Fondly,
Diane
Linda Johnson-Conne says:
December 15, 2010 at 6:50 pm (UTC -6)
Thank you and your husband so much for sticking to your idea. My riding partner and I love trail riding and joined this summer and it was the most fun summer I have ever had riding!!! Next year we are looking forward to going out of Colorado and seeing other areas with our horses.
carrie says:
December 21, 2010 at 2:56 pm (UTC -6)
Hi Linda, I started serious trail riding in the Blackforest outside of Colorado Springs. Like in 1968, before all the houses and fences. I lived on Hwy 183 or is it 83 across from the Shamrock Ranch. I rode out one late afternoon to the corner of 183? and the road that goes to Monument , I stayed too long, got caught in a Thunderstrom, and started for home in the dark. I got really lost! The old saying is true, if you let loose the reins he will take you home. My horse went right home. However, he was Arabian and we went home faster than I thought possible. We now split our time between Texas and Colorado. Tally Ho, Carrie
carrie says:
December 22, 2010 at 4:30 pm (UTC -6)
We will be moving the Facebook Group over to a fan page this next week and will post the link. I will also drop you an email with the link. Thank you so much for asking and Happy Holidays.