The Sasquatch is out there hiding and it's waiting for a competitive trail rider to find it!
Local competitive and endurance riding team, John and Karen Eigler, are hosting their third annual BCCTRA competitive trail ride this Sunday, Oct. 2 and invite local equine enthusiasts to come out and try this fun and challenging sport.
This Sasquatch Scurry CTR will take place out of their Dove Creek farm during the weekend of Oct. 1-2. The trails are great; the competitors are super; and the potluck and prizes at the end are fantastic, the Eiglers say. More information about the ride can be found on the BCCTRA website www.bcctra.ca, local tack/feed stores, or by contacting John and Karen Eigler at 250-338-6874 or e-mail jkeigler@telus.net. "Perhaps it will be you who will find the secretive Sasquatch out on the trail!" Karen Eigler said.
Competitive trail riding is an equine competition that is a timed ride, with a set pace for you and your horse using marked local riding trails. It is not a race. The mission of the BCCTRA (B.C. Competitive Trail Riders Association) is to promote the sport of competitive trail riding by providing education, training and competition for all levels of equestrians.
The safety of horse and rider is the No. 1 priority of BCCTRA. Horses are monitored by qualified vets at the beginning, during and following the ride. Pulse, respiration, dehydration and other information is taken during the event, and the results are used to determine the winners in each level.
There are three levels of competition, and each has a specific time to complete their ride, with a 10-minute window on each side of the rider's optimum time. All riders start with 300 points, and points are gradually taken off throughout the ride at each of their vet checks.
Although, it may sound complicated at first, many beginners find CTRs an easy and fun sport to try. The BCCTRA website is a good place to learn more about the fastest growing equine sport in Canada.