06-26-2010

The Virginia Horse Center
Lexington, VA

Ride Name: THE VIRGINIA STATE COMPETITIVE TRAIL CHALLENGE to benefit HOOFBEATS Therapeutic Riding Center

Ride Date: June 26, 2010

Affiliate Contact information:

Name: Tenney Mudge - Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 540-464-5032

Come have FUN , COMPETE and CELEBRATE your horse at the Virginia State Competitive Trail Challenge to benefit Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center held at the world renowned Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. (www.horsecenter.org)

The 600 acre Virginia Horse Center boasts breaktaking views, wooded and open trails, cross country expanses, and river frontage all at a world class facility for you and your horse.

The trail will be 6 miles with 6 trail challenges. Most horses due best if shod since there is some rock along the way but nothing extreme. Take adavantage of this opportunity to ride and compete at this premier equestrian facility and have a lot of fun doing it!

The Virginia State CTC is a fundraiser for Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center (www.hoof-beats.com) Hoofbeats provides thousands of hours of equine therapy to children and adults who are struggling with physical, mental, learning and emotional issues.

Hoofbeats hosts and participates in the Special Olympics Equestrian Games of Virginia.

After lunch and will waiting for the Awards Ceremony enjoy LIVE Old Time Blue Grass Music (The Crooked Road) and complimentary dance lessons all within spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn how to do the Virginia Reel while you swap stories from a day on the trail.

Also learn about Orienteering on Horseback with a special seminar from Olin Bare.

There will be educational information available about Leave No Trace principles for when you take to the trail with your horse. The Leave No Trace stewardship program is designed to expand your understanding of how to enjoy the environment while protecting the natural areas and the beauty that we all cherish and have as little impact as possible.

Excellent overnight stabling facilities are available for your horse`s comfort and safety. Camping hook-ups are available at the Virginia Horse Center and ample lodging is available close by.

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

Virginia State Competitive Trail Challenge - Lexington VA - 6-26-2010

Howdy Folks,

The Gang at Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center are throwin` a get together you don`t want to miss! Yes sir, they`re fixin` to bring the American Competitive Trail Horse Association to the Virginia Horse Center – So if you and your horse are ready for a little challenge on the trail sign up for the fun!

It`s gonna be a day of ridin`, visitin`, eatin` and winnin` prizes. You`ll be so busy havin` a great time you`re likely to forget what great causes you`re ridin` for! In addition to the horse charities that ACTHA donates to, this event is a fund raiser for Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center – a tremendous organization founded in 1993 with a mission to provide training in horsemanship and therapeutic riding for people with disabilities. Since then they have provided thousands of hours of equine therapy to children and adults! Check them out at www.hoof-beats.com .

Roll in Saturday morning. Coffee and breakfast vittles will be served up at 8AM. Ride briefing at 9AM. Ride out at 10:00. The trail the Hoofbeats Gang scouted for this most spectacular event will take you through the glorious mountains, along the ridge with breathtaking views of the Maury River. And yea, there are six obstacles, you know, to test your horse communicatin` skills. When you ride back into camp, tend your horse, then hustle to the Pavilion on the hill for some more vittles. I`m not talkin` about just any ordinary cowboy grub, by golly. The lunch for this affair is comin` from the famous Mrs. Rowes Restaurant! Hot Dang!

There`s more folks! After lunch there will be a seminar of Orienteering on Horseback. With a compass and everything! I`ve been lost a few times so I can vouch for how great an idea this demonstration is!

It ain`t over yet folks! From 2:00 - 4:00 at the Pavilion ther will be some good old fashioned boot stompin`! Most folks around these parts are familiar with the Old Time Music Jam Gathering here at VHC – Well by golly The Hoofbeats Gang got `em comin` to this shindig to fire up some music and teach y`all to do the Virginia Reel! Yep kick up your heels and celebrate your great ride and new friends.

There ya go. I reckon the Hoofbeats crew has gone all out to show everybody a high time, so call your friends and family, load your rig and make tracks for the Virginia Horse Center and have a blast while you`re helpin` a few great causes!

For all the finer details call Tenney Mudge at 540-464-5032. Email c[email protected] – To register for this ride and learn all about the American Competitive Trail Horse Association go to www.actha.us .

Gitty Up!

Dutch Henry

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

Agenda:

Check-in Sat morning - before 8:30

Breakfast: 8:00am

Rider`s briefing: 9:00am

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

Trail will take about 2 - 2 ½ hours, 6 miles plus

Lunch following the ride

Awards following lunch

Photographer:

A professional photographer will be at the ride to take everyone`s pictures on the trail. You can purchase pictures with details to be provided.

• Entries limited to first 100.
• Great prizes for 1st - 6th place Open/Pleasure/Junior divisions. 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 and Lunch - great meals for a great cause - $12.00 includes both

Electrical Hook Up: $30 per day

Stalls: $25 per horse/night - bedding is available for purchase

Fun Contests:

Best Turned Out Male and Female Rider

Best Turned Out Horse

DIRECTIONS TO OUR RIDE:

The Virginia Horse Center is located at 487 Maury River Road, on the northwest side of Lexington, Virginia.

From the North: I-81 South to Exit 191. Proceed on I-64 West 1/2 mile to Exit 55. Turn right on Route 11 North, and immediately left on Route 39 West. The Virginia Horse Center is one mile ahead on the left.

From the South: I-81 North to Exit 191. Proceed on I-64 West 1/2 mile to Exit 55. Turn right on Route 11 North, and immediately left on Route 39 West. The Virginia Horse Center is one mile ahead on the left.

From the East: I-64 West to I-81 South. I-81 South to Exit 191. Proceed on I-64 West 1/2 mile to Exit 55. Turn right on Route 11 North, and immediately left on Route 39 West. The Virginia Horse Center is one mile ahead on the left.

From the West: I-64 East to Exit 55. Turn left on Route 11 North, and proceed 1/4 mile to stoplight. Turn left on Route 39 West. The Virginia Horse Center is one mile ahead on the left.

Registration for this ride will close June 24, 2010 (2 days before the ride date).

If heavy rain expected, rain date will be June 27, 2010, otherwise come prepared for some light rain and bring your slicker!