Ultimate Trail Challenge at Loch Moy Farm

Posted by Editor

July 12, 2010

Ultimate Equestrian Competitive Trail Competition (ACTHA Ride)
article and photos by Christy Hughes

Christy Hughes and Razzmatazz at the water obstacle

Saturday, June 19 started hot and humid with clear sunny skies and a breeze throughout the day. Thirty-four horse and rider pairs joined Loch Moy Farm at its first ACTHA ride: 20 in the Pleasure Division, 12 in the Open Division, 1 Junior Rider and 1 Buddy Rider. When signing in, each rider received a competitor number along with a goodie bag that included a sweat scraper, hoof pick, treats and sponge (donated by Good Friday Tack). The rider briefing started at 9 a.m. and was followed by the four groups tackling a 6-mile loop that included six obstacles.

Portions of the loop surrounded the Loch Moy (home of The Maryland Horse Trials) cross-country schooling course, cross-country competition course and competition rings . A large portion of the loop was a tree-shaded trail that ran along the Monocacy River. There was even an area of the trail where you could go and play in the river for a few minutes!

DawnWright
Dawn Wright walks Dawn’s Lunar Eclipse over the bridge during the morning competition. She placed seventh in the ACTHA Challenge and then won the Pleasure division in the afternoon.

The six obstacles were as follows:

OBSTACLE #1 (30 seconds) The Bridge
Description – Wooden Bridge on the ground
Open: Walk onto bridge, pause for 3 seconds then proceed off bridge
Pleasure/Jr.: Walk across length of bridge

OBSTACLE #2 (1 minute) The Back
Description – Backing through or around cones
Open: Back a Figure 8 around the cones
Pleasure/Jr.: Back distance between poles

OBSTACLE # 3 (30 seconds) The Ditch
Description – Cross ground level ditch without horse stepping into bottom of ditch
Open: Trot or canter across ditch
Pleasure/Jr.: Walk or trot across smaller ditch

OBSTACLE #4 (30 seconds) The Grape Vines
Description – Nylon webbing hanging between trees
Open: Trot or canter through the hanging vines
Pleasure/Jr.: Walk through the hanging vines

OBSTACLE #5 (30 Seconds) The Bank
Description – Raised bank with drop down or jump up from ground level
Open: Drop down from raised bank, staying between cones
Pleasure/Jr.: Step up onto raised bank, staying between cones

PaulPlume
Paul Plume hangs on as Diesel launches out of the water. The pair won the Open division in the morning and placed fifth in the afternoon.

OBSTACLE #6 (1 minute) The Infinity Pond
Description – Man-made water obstacle
Open: Drop in from bank marked by cones and proceed out other side, may use gait of choice
Pleasure/Jr.: Enter water through area marked by cones, circle cone in center of water and exit out opposite side from entry using gait of choice.

During the lunch break, winners of all divisions were announced with ribbons and prizes given to each winner. Ribbons and ACTHA bucks were awarded through sixth place. Our Junior Rider received a gift bag donated by Stablemates. First Place Winners received a body brush with a brass plate engraved with “Ultimate Equestrian 2010” along with Gift Certificates for Farmers Cooperative Association. There were also various grooming tools awarded through third place, donated by Good Friday Tack.

Junior Division
1^st Alyssa Mele riding Johnny Cash`s Gambler

Open Division
1^st Paul Plume riding Diesel
2^nd Barbara Dixon riding Arapadoodle
3^rd Kristi McKinley riding Shay
4^th Emley Buikstra-Ditamore riding Pasha Nariya
5^th Kimberly Hicks riding Infinities Approvin It
6^th Patty Mele riding Flash’s Champagne Dream (Scout)
7^th Dawn Wright riding Dawns Lunar Eclipse
8^th Angelique Harvey riding Holly
9^th Mark Wurster riding Quigley
10^th Kari Briggs riding Apache`s Uprising
11^th Karen Koback riding Catoctin High Fidelity “Chester”
12^th Michael Dixon riding Badger

ArleneAtkinsWinPleasure
Arlene Atkins aboard Sara on her way to winning the morning’s Pleasure division.

Pleasure Division
1^st Arlene Atkins riding Sara – A Splash of Lace
2^nd Mary McCullough riding Four Socks Riley
3^rd Judy England riding Murango
4^th Susan Brown riding Fabulous Frankie
5^th Vicki Bazan riding Reno
6^th Barbara Conner riding Juliet Snowflake
7^th Christy Hughes riding Razzmatazz
8^th Donna Taylor riding Hobbys Superior Son
9^th Richard Card riding Nino
10^th Pamela Howard riding Rock`s Doing Time
11^th Bill Williams riding Tri N Charge Me
12^th Susan Fogarty riding Skittles Doc
13^th Seamus Fogarty riding Pa`s Little Joe
14^th Brandy Clark riding Dude
15^th Michele Williams riding Sky
16^th Leslie Foster riding Duke
17^th Johnny Conner riding Teddys Tuff Lass
18^th Pamela Slezak riding Willie
19^th Wendy Bohner riding Triggers Gunsmoke
20^th Linda Card riding MeganBuddy Rider – Robert Lilly riding Specks

DavidBeardToddMoone
Outriders David Beard and Todd Moone made sure everyone was safe out on the courses.

Ultimate Equestrian Obstacle Challenge
That same afternoon, Loch Moy offered an Obstacle Challenge consisting of a loop of nine obstacles that were judged and timed. Winners were decided based on overall score per obstacle. Time was used as a tie-breaker when needed. The Pleasure Division went first with four riders followed by the Open Division with eight riders.

The following obstacles were run, with a higher score given for those showing more acceptance/versatility of the horse (i.e.: trotting, cantering with or waving the flag; side passing to move the tennis ball; cantering the log).

1. Sidepass Over an 8’ Timber
2. Cowboy Curtain – Ride thru a torn tarp hanging between trees
3. Natural Log Jump
4. Log Drag – Pull short piece of log about 20’
5. Tennis Ball – Pick up Tennis Ball from 1^st cone and carry to and place on top of 2^nd cone
6. Water – Pleasure runs into water & jumps over a small log that is in the water & Open runs into the water and jumps up a bank to exit the water
7. Flag – Pick up Flag from 1^st cone & carry to and place in 2^nd cone
8. Back through Cones – Pleasure backs straight downhill & Open backs an “L” Shape uphill
9. Trash Chute – Ride thru gate panels lined with paper & plastic bags, balloons, foam noodles, & a horse blanket

Pleasure Division
1st – Dawn Wright riding Dawn’s Lunar Eclipse
2nd – Mary McCullough riding Four Socks Riley
3rd – Karen Koback riding Catoctin High Fidelity
4th – Brandy Clark riding Dude

BarbaraDixon
Barbara Dixon saves time by not dismounting to pick up the blanket. She won the afternoon’s Open division.

Open Division
1st – Barbara Dixon ridin Arapadoodle
2nd – Kim Hicks riding Infinities Approvin It
3rd – Todd Moone riding Marshal Dillion
4th – Mark Wurster riding Quigley
5th – Paul Plume riding Diesel
6th – Kristi McKinley riding Shay

For more photos from the July 19th competitions, click on the following links:
Ultimate Equestrian Facebook page

Photo Gallery of the Obstacles in the ACTHA morning ride

Photo Gallery of the Obstacles in the Obstacle Challenge afternoon ride

Photo Gallery of the Riders in the Obstacle Challenge afternoon ride

Western Competitions

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