I was unable to attend this year’s ECTRA (East Coast Trail Rider’s Association) yearly meeting and banquet this past February, but I was excited to hear reports about who won what award, how the trade show went and who the guest speakers were. Oh, and of course how good the food was!  My buddies are great reporters and told me all the news and posted photos on Face book and the ECTRA website. When one of my friends saw the photos she said “Oh My God, We are All (insert foul language) OLD.  How did that happen?”

The perception of age is a funny thing in people and in horses, too.  When I see my long time riding buddies, most of whom I only see without a helmet once a year at the banquet, they look great to me!  I don’t see the increasing amount of wrinkles or more grey in their hair. We look at those we care about and see often with a very special eye. It’s almost as if we see them as they looked when we first met. It’s the same way I look at my Rianon.

Then I started thinking that all the women that were in this sport when I started almost 20 years ago are still there and going strong, but, yup, we are 20 years older! I see a few new young faces at rides, but not nearly enough to keep our sport alive.

A few weekends ago there was a CTR Clinic at GMHA (Green Mountain Horse Association) with a panel of veteran riders with the hopes of introducing some “newbie’s” to the sport.  A group of us went to show our support for CTR and hopefully be able to answer some questions and engender interest in the sport during the lunch break.  I was really happy to see a lot of new (and younger!) faces among the attendees.

When you get a group of distance riders together our enthusiasm for our sport is contagious.  It’s been a heck of a long winter and we are all openly pining for the trail and the company of our horses and friends.  There were photos of many GMHA rides posted with smiling riders and beautiful scenery.  The newbie’s were catching the fever and asking questions about training, tack, camping, and what to feed. There were a few mother/daughter and mother/son teams there which are great since we’ve hopefully got two generations hooked on the sport.

I’m now on a mission to recruit riders for the most fun sport you can participate in with your equine partner!  You don’t need a fire breathing Arabian to do a CTR. Just a sound and willing horse that you love to spend time wit and who love the trail. Many experience riders are happy to act as mentors and answer any questions you may have and can even work out a training schedule for you. It’s also a great idea to find a riding buddy and do train together for company and support. Visit the ECTRA and AERC website and read their blogs and articles. Email me any time and I’d be happy to offer encouragement and information.  When you see a young rider at your barn looking bored and dizzy going around in circles……..tell them about this crazy sport and see if they get a spark in their eyes.

The photo above is of a Junior rider I’ve had the pleasure of watching grow as a young woman and a rider for the past 5 or so years. She rides with her Father, Jeff Gardener, and they are joy to see trotting down the trail together. (She rides in our Black Country Equinox) The joy on her face in this photo and the enthusiastic look on her horses’ is what this sport is all about.  Contagious isn’t it??

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