06-19-2010

Ponessa Ranch
Miles City, MT

Ride Date: 6/19/10

Affiliate Contact information:

Name: Walt Marolf

Email: [email protected]

Phone no.:406-234-6572

World Renowned Trail Ride Critic Dutch Henry`s Ride Proclamation for-

Sage Riders CTC- Ponessa Ranch- Miles City, MT 6-19 & 6-20-2010

Howdy Folks,

Walt Marolf and the Sage Rider Gang are invitin` everybody to a weekend of family fun at the Ponessa Ranch. Yes sir, they`re fixin` to throw a shindig that`ll be the talk of the town for about a hundred years! They`ve got ridin`, campin`, eatin`, vistin`, braggin`, music, and demonstrations scheduled for every minute all weekend long! They`re bringin` the American Competitive Trail Horse Association to the High Plains.

And Walt and the gang`s got a wagon load of unbelievable Awards and Prizes – from cash winnin`s – to halters, bridles, cantle bags, sacks of feed, rope bags, just to list a few – But hold on, they`re havin` a Grand Prize Drawin` Saturday, and everybody signed up is eligible to win a pair of CUSTOM MADE CHAPS or CHINKS valued at $350, from Johnny Stites Custom Saddles! But Sunday has a Drawin` for all registered riders too, and that prize is a MONTANA SILVERSMITH GOLD BUCKLE with ACTHA and Sage Riders engraving! I Reckon you all better hurry up and register!

Set up camp Friday evening and gather around the campfire for some relaxin` and vistin`. Ross Ponessa will be on hand, and maybe if you ask nice he`ll pick a little and lead everybody in a song or two. He`s got an entire show scheduled for Saturday night at the Steak Fry, but you early arrivers can enjoy a preview.

The first CTC is Saturday, but not until Cowboy Cook, Bill Jenson puts out his world famous breakfast feed, he`ll have a pile of eggs, pancakes, sausage and fixin`s ready at 8AM. Ride briefing at 9AM. Ride out at 10:00. Make note, both ride days are the same time. The trails Walt has mapped out for both days are easy enough for any rider to enjoy, but have plenty of fun riding too, like rough breaks, wash outs, a hill climb or two, and some wide open grasslands. The Ponessa Ranch is a workin` cattle ranch so you`ll see plenty of momma cows and calves. You`ll most likely see a few antelope, and maybe even a small herd of buffalo.

When you ride back into camp, tend your horse or mule, grab you eatin` irons and hustle to Bill`s cook fire for more groceries. Restock your calories while the Judges hand out all those great Awards and Prizes. After the Awards settle in for a fine demonstration by Merlin Anderson a recognized expert on lameness and corrective hoof care. As the sun starts to fall outa the sky, ol` Bill Jenson`s gonna serve up a first rate steak fry and Russ Ponessa will put on a boot stompin`, partner twirlin` show. Hot Dang!

Now you can head home Saturday night, or stay on and do it all again Sunday, and since this entire shindig is a fund raiser for Sage Riders` charity, `East Main Animal Clinic Rescue`, well ol` Walt would like to ask ya to stay.

For more particulars call Walt Marolf 406-853-0487 email the ol` critter at [email protected]

Gitty Up!

Dutch Henry

The Sage Riders are proud to sponsor a Competitive Trail Challenge on 19 and 20 June, 2010, at the Ponessa Ranch, approximately 22 miles north of Miles City, Montana, on the Jordan Highway.

This is now a two day series of trail Challenges. There will be two seperate Challenges, twice the riding and more than double the fun. The second day, 20 June, 2010, is posted and we hope you can sign up for both days. If you can`t make both days be sure to come for one of our days, it will be a Competetive Trail Challenge you will remember.

Free overnight primitive camping is available at the ranch without hookups, or camping is available at the Miles City fairgrounds with some electrical hooks ups. The fairgrounds charges $10.00 per horse and stalls are available. To reserve camp sites at the fairgrounds, call Chet at 406-951-4582. The Ponessa Ranch is approximately 20 miles from the Miles City Fairgrounds and those who camp there will have to trailer horses to the ranch.

The Ponessa Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the high plains of Montana. The rugged scenery and natural terrain provide a challenge to horse and rider in some of the best cattle and horse country available. Shoes are recommended as you will ride a variety of ground. Driving from the fairgrounds to the ranch is simple and should take less than 30 minutes. More information and some adjustments will be posted as we develop this CTC. Hope you will be there. The ranch owners have requested that we not encourage the presence of dogs as there will be many baby calves and mother cows where we will be. If you do bring a dog you must make sure it is on a leash and under your control at all times and we will not have a dog contest.

Awards and Prizes: In addition to the ACTHA Bucks, Ribbons and Jackpot Dollars $100.00 added money will be included, there will be feed buckets, halters, cantle bags and, fly masks, bags of horse feed, sweat shirts, caps, a rope bag and

many more horse related prizes and awards. All paid participants will be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing, a pair of custom made chaps or chinks valued at $350.00. The Grand Prize winner must contact the saddle maker, J.L. Stites Custom Saddles, and provide measurements, color choices and style preference. Additional prizes and awards will be listed as they become available.

Following the completion of the CTC, there will be a Natural Balance Horseshoeing Clinic presented by Merlin Anderson, director of Cowtown Horseshoeing School located in Miles City, Montana. Merlin is also a recognized expert on correcting lameness in horses and will answer any questions you might have regarding preventing and/or treating lameness. Merlin will also discuss the trend toward leaving horses barefoot.

PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER ONLINE TO PARTICIPATE. If you need assistance in signing up, please call the affiliate listed above.

Agenda:

Check-in Friday evening or Sat morning before 8:30

Breakfast: 8:00am

Rider`s briefing: 9:00am

Ride out: 10:00am - 11:00am

Trail will take about 3-5 hours, 6-10 miles

Lunch following the ride

Awards following lunch

Breakfast menu: ALL MEALS WILL BE SERVED AT THE RANCH with the exception of the Saturday Night Steak Fry. The Steak Fry will be held at the Sage Rider Club facilities near the Fairgrounds in Miles City. We are trying to arrange entertainment for the Steak Fry evening so plan on being there and having a good time with the Sage Riders and all CTC participants. Cost for the steak fry with all the trimmings is $15.00, prices for the other meals are being worked out and they will be reasonable.

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Lunch menu: _Bar-B-Qued

hamburgers and polishdogs with baked beans, chips, all the trimmings and drinks..

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Photographer:

___________There will be a Photographer at the ride to take everyone`s pictures on trail. You can purchase pictures if desired. _________________________________________________.

• Entries limited to first 125.
• Great prizes for 1st - 6th place Open/Pleasure/Junior divisions. Voluntary $20 jackpot for open division at check-in. Payout will be _________________________________________________
• Open, pleasure, junior, and buddy divisions. See the FAQ page for questions regarding the divisions.

Fees payable online:

• CTC entry fee - $58 pleasure/$58 open/$43 junior/$40 Adult buddy/$35 junior buddy
• New membership fee - $25 individual; $40 family of 2; $75 family of 4; additional horse - $10 ea.; additional rider - $10 ea.

Fees collected at check-in: meals, electrical hook ups and stall fees

Breakfast - $6.00

Lunch - $ 7.00

Steak Fry - $15.00

Additional contests will be:

Some surprise awards

Best dressed male/female

Best groomed horse

Best cowboy hat

Best Try

DIRECTIONS TO OUR RIDE:

Directions into Miles City for camping at the Fairgrounds:

From INTERSTATE 94 take EXIT 135 toward Miles City. Continune approximately 1 mile then turn RIGHT on Garryowen (visual clue is a large Hereford Bull Statue). Follow Garryowen to the rear trailer entrance of the fairgrounds, turn left into the fairgrounds.

On arrival call Chet at 406-951-4582, he will direct you to the camping area. If Chet is not available, call one of the rescue riders listed below.

Leaving the fairgrounds to drive to the Ponessa Ranch. Exit the rear of the fairgrounds using the same gate you came in. Turn LEFT and contine straight until you come to 7th Street. Turn LEFT onto 7th Street. Continue going straight, cross the Yellowstone River bridge and continue on to mile marker 22.

Directions into Miles City and going on to the Ponessa Ranch:

From INTERSTATE 94 take EXIT 135 toward Miles City. Continue across the Tongue River bridge headed into town (WATCH THE SPEED LIMIT COMING INTO TOWN). Go about 3/4 mile, turn RIGHT on 5th Street (follow the TRUCK ROUTE SIGNS). Go one block and turn LEFT onto Bridge Street. At the four way stop, turn LEFT onto 7th Street (Stockman Bank will be on your right). Continue straight on 7th Street, cross the Yellowstone River bridge. Go straight on highway to mile marker 22 and turn left into the Ponessa Ranch, the road will be marked, just follow the dirt road to the corrals where camping will be availble.

FEELING LOST?

Call: Walt at 406-853-0487

Cathy at 406-853-1981

Theresa at 406-951-3125

We will ride to the rescue.

Registration for this ride will close ____06/17/2010_________(2 days before the ride date).

If heavy rain expected, rain date will be ________________, otherwise come prepared for some light rain and bring your slicker!