Go for the Silver Winter Wonderland CTC

I’m on the fence and looking for a bit of input from you guys. There is an ACTHA trail ride on the 22nd of this month and I’m debating on going. I’ve never been to one before but they look like a lot of fun. DH of course thinks it is a horrible idea since I haven’t ridden Lucy since Nov. Hey, I’ve ridden her once since then!

It looks like the cost of the ride would be approx. $93, not including food or fuel ($35 for membership and $58 for ride fees). I know they money goes to a good cause and that they have over $1200 worth of prizes at every ride but that does sound a bit expensive. On the other hand – I tend to follow through with things when my money is on the table so to speak.

The ride is 6 miles long with 6 judged obstacles and 6 different judges. Here is the list of possible obstacles (you don’t find out which ones until the day of the ride) and my comments in red on how I think Lu would do.

Slicker (Raincoat) – I think Lucy would be fine w/thisHat Pick up – Not sure if I can do it but I don’t think Lucy would be bothered.
Water Obstacle – Might take some coaxing
Mount – No problem
Dismount – No problem
Drag – I’m not sure how she’d do on this. For some reason, I don’t think she’d care
Back- No problem
Uphill – No problem, I do this when she anticipates going down a hill
Downhill – Never tried it but I think she’d do ok
Stop – awww, her favorite thing to do!
Canter (Lope) – shouldn’t be an issue except for picking up the correct lead. Somehow I doubt they ask for this in 7”+ of snow.
Mailbox – since she tries to rub my leg off on ours, I don’t think this would be an issue
Vine Simulator (Ropes dangling down) – she was ok w/the ones at the CA clinic & they were pretty scary.
L-Back – I think if we communicated well she would do fine.
The Jump – she can, I can’t!
Noise Control – I have no idea
Bank (Up an Embankment) – she’d do fine.
Bank (Down an Embankment) – she’d do fine.
Trot Transitions – We’d have to stop her from stopping on the downward transition.
Turn on Haunches, Forehand, and 360's - since this is done in a box, I’m not sure. She does the hq well but not so well on the fq.
Barrel Board Pin Wheel – this looks difficult!
Side Pass – I’ve never tried to sidepass her so I have no clue.
Tarp – I don’t think she’d mind. I think I’ve taken her over them before.
Trot Weave – no problem.

You can see videos of all of the obstacles and more detailed descriptions of how to complete them here.

Well those were my initial thoughts until I looked at some of the ACTHA photos on FB! The drag used a fake person, the vine simulator was cups, stinger, etc., they had a fake deer on the one side of the bridge, a mirror in front of the dismount, etc. These are things most people wouldn’t think to train their horse for. It almost intrigues me more!

And DH is right. I haven’t ridden Lu much but I don’t think she’d do anything out of character. You ride out in a group, not by yourself. You just do the obstacles by yourself.

I also think it would be a great place to meet new people. So far there are only 10 people signed up so it is a very small group.

Any thoughts?