On March 5, 2005, the California State
Horsemen's Endurance Program, sponsored an endurance clinic in Northern
California at the Hale Arena in Cottonwood, Ca. This was the first of three
they will put on this year , North, Central and South and each will be
different. We are trying to encourage membership in CSHA and the
endurance program and also encourage and educate new riders into the
sport of endurance. The program works with AERC official ride results, so
no extra paperwork for the rider.
This one was a tremendous success with 67 paid participants and all enjoyed
themselves. We had five speakers and seven vendors. All the speakers and
the hosts, Clarissa and Barbara Hale donated of their time and facility.
The vendors were set up and open by 8am along with coffee and muffins by
CSHA. After a brief introduction at 9:10am we started our
speakers with Julie Suhr on the diversity of riders and yet the common bond we
all have of love of trails, horses and endurance. There is a place for
riders from all walks of life, all ages and all sizes. During lunch she sold
and signed her book.
Dr. Rob
Lydon , a local private mobile practice vet, who has vetted and ridden
endurance rides for 5 years discussed the conditioning of the horse. He
went over the mental attitude, musculature, skeletal and cardiovascular parts ,
the difference in time each takes to condition for the first endurance
ride. The longer we take the longer the horse will last as a sound
competitor. We took a short break and Dr. Lydon gathered
everyone outside in the beautiful sunny weather and demonstrated a vet
check, CRI and BC exam. He discussed all the parameters and what they
mean and why they are important. Everyone should practice at home before
going to a ride.
We took a one hour break for tri-tip lunch, cooked and served by CSHA
committee chair Richard Theodore his wife Mary and granddaughter
Rylee Theodore. We also had time for everyone to shop and
visit.
We
started after lunch with endurance rider and trainer Eric Hought of Hought Tack
, McKinleyville. Demonstrating on a half-Arabian three year old, he
pointed out the importance and usefulness of the one-rein stop, bending,
disengaging the hind quarters and controlling each foot before we enter our
first ride. We must be patient and consistent. On our LD training
ride, we must set our mindset that if we don't get the gait we want or the
answer we want on a loose rein right away , one-rein stop and start over, we
have 24 more miles to get it right, No Hurry.
Then we
moved on to endurance rider , and certified saddle fitter Tammy Nute of Cool
Tack from Georgetown speaking on saddle fit and a demonstration. She also
went over quality, price and comfort of several saddles she has and discussed
different pads, their care and use. This was a hot topic with lots of
questions as every rider has at some time had a saddle fit problem.
Endurance rider and ranch manager/owner Clarissa Hale ended the seminar
with a discussion on the unwritten rules of trail etiquette. She
covered everything from sign-up to ride meeting to gates, bridges, water, dogs,
vet checks, other trail users, safety, and thanking the vets, volunteers and
ride manager. We must remember we are out to enjoy our horse, trails and
friends. A smile and kind, enthusiastic words to all we meet on the
trail word leave good impressions(or footprints?) for the horse industry.
We will be at the AERC Convention in
Sparks, NV and will be presenting the awards to the 2004 CSHA State Endurance
Program winners Saturday,11:00 AM on the Trade Show Floor in the Pavilion.
