I would just like to say how much I enjoyed the
Blackwater Boogie. We went as a large group of "newbies". I can't
tell you how many people came by just to say hello and welcome us.
Christina, Alice and Chris were helpful in guiding us to the right places for
check in and vet in's. I ride at Coldwater often and saw the work that so
many put into setting up this ride. Christina and Kameron were a constant
sight on the trails marking and planning. Christina, the RM, did a great job of
negotiating with park officers and with the locale field trial clubs in order to
pull this ride off.
At the pre ride meeting the instructions were
wonderful. The only part that concerned me was the response that the crowd
had upon hearing that a field trial would be going on during the ride. The
moans and sighs showed a prejudice against the field trial groups.
Horseman and women that field trial have allot in common with the endurance
riders. Their horses do 25 miles and often further for several days in a
row during the season. They value the gaited horses they ride and condition them
for the season. They combine their love of riding with dogs, trained and valued
as much as the horses they ride. Here in the south many of the venues that
endurance races are held on are field trial grounds. Field trial groups,
campaign to maintain many state and national forest open to horses. We
need to join forces since we have a common love of the outdoors and horses.
Multi use in our publicly owned forests is the only way we can achieve the goal
of keeping the trails we have and acquiring more. Next time you see someone
using the forest in a different but common way, by hiking, biking, or riding
adjust your attitude and welcome them all. I understand that some horses react
to a hiker with a tall backpack or a bike coming up on them but the world is
getting smaller and we may have to share the trails to keep them open. Sensory
training may have to become a part of every horses training. My horse will go
down a road with a combine chruning next to her, but a standard poodle with
a big hair-do at the ride sent her into outer space and I ended up on my butt in
the dirt. You just never know. I will get off my soap box now and repeat what a
great time I had at the Blackwater Boogie. Thanks to everyone that helped me and
gave a newbie the chance to try something
exciting.
