National PFHA trail ride weekend in SC May 6-7

[echo]

This "PFHA Paso Fino Trail Riders Weekend" event is co-sponsored by Piedmont PFHA and Georgia PFHA, and PFHA Events and Amateur Owner Committees. Trail riding, clinics and much more fun is planned. Sandhills Forest State Park, Cheraw, SC. Contact Milda Minter, ph 336-764-4785 or email mpminter60@aol.com.
Clinics, games, group trail rides, and a cookout are planned. This is the first event of it's kind for PFHA, and sounds like ALOT of fun! Milda has asked me to get some input on what topics should be discussed in the clinics. Please post your ideas here and I'll send the ideas to Milda. Also, if anyone is interested in helping sponsor the event (prizes, help with food, etc), the sponsor would have a place to set up a table with information at no charge. Ideas anyone? Milda also asked for input on what happens at other "group trailrides", since she's never been on an overnight organized ride. Hope to see you there!

[SandyMM]

Milda also asked for input on what happens at other "group trailrides", since she's never been on an overnight organized ride.
heh-heh-heh... Depends on whether we're drawing from experiences with the rowdy or civilized overnighters... ! :cooldude :yay :rearing :hello :shocked :shock: :rofl

I'd say one thing to consider first is what is allowed per park rules -
dogs/no dogs, music after X o'clock?, alcohol...

[GregM]

This "PFHA Paso Fino Trail Riders Weekend" Milda has asked me to get some input on what topics should be discussed in the clinics. Please post your ideas here and I'll send the ideas to Milda.
1)Saddle fit
2)Hoof care
3)Massage therapy/chiropractic
4)Conditioning
5)De-spooking
6)Endurance rides & tack
"Milda also asked for input on what happens at other "group trailrides", since she's never been on an overnight organized ride."
Poker ride, Kids ride, Guys only/girls only,
"Hope to see you there!"

Love too!

[SandyMM]

How about overnight camping tips from experienced horses campers... maybe a 'before' checklist....

Definitely - if you're planning on this as a first overnight experience... be sure your horse is used to be tied to the trailer, highlined, or contained in a small enclosure/corral panels/portable electric fence...

You can never have too many lead ropes!

Poor Man's Porta-Potty to avoid a hike across the campground in the middle of the night - 5 gallon bucket (with lid!!!!) half filled with kitty litter...

Off road tip - kitty litter is a great/cheap/easy to pack thing to throw under tires for traction to get you out of mudholes that _looked_ solid when you pulled in at 3 a.m.!

[paintedhorizon]

Ah man, it's almost 3 hrs away!

[SandyMM]

Ah man, it's almost 3 hrs away!
Don't you mean it's _only_ 3 hours away! ?! :)

We've been known to drive 8 hours to go to a 6 block long parade!

C'mon! It'll be fun!

[SandyMM]

Lori - if you can get me some more concrete info, I'll be going to several shows in the eastern U.S. between now and then. I can have flyers printed and posters up at my booth...

And for such a momentous _First_ - I'm thinkin' I need to have _s-p-e-c-i-a-l_ t-shirts ready to donate to all the first-time ever PFHA National Trail Ride participants!!!! "What say you?"

[LynnG]

Sandy... if you have it as an event tee-shirt, you'd need all the event sponsors names/logos on the shirt back.

[SandyMM]

Sandy... if you have it as an event tee-shirt, you'd need all the event sponsors names/logos on the shirt back.
Only if the other sponsers include my name on any of their give-aways... ;-)

[paintedhorizon]

Not when Stella is my partner and we have 40 head to feed AM and PMAh man, it's almost 3 hrs away!
Don't you mean it's _only_ 3 hours away! ?! :)

We've been known to drive 8 hours to go to a 6 block long parade!

C'mon! It'll be fun!

[SandyMM]

Not when Stella is my partner and we have 40 head to feed AM and PM

True - true... it does put a crimp in plans!

[LynnG]

This is an event co-sponsored by Georgia and Piedmont PFHA. The ride will count towards the Piedmont Path Finders point program. Does Georgia have a program like this too? Mason-Dixon does? Similar to Pasos For Pleasure, but on a regional level.

[Boyd R]

I am suppose to be Georgias trails coordinator and was not aware that we were co sponsoring this but sounds great to me. At this pointe we do not have this type of program. I hope to put together a Paso ambassador program starting next year. Which would have a high pointe trail horse for the season but would also encompass. Open shows, endurance, parades, mounted shooting, other disciplines etc. anything where a paso is in the public eye.

I would think that it would be great to get Vickie Toporek to do a clinic on Saddle fit, equine therepies, ect. Especially demonstrate how to do a preride exam to see if your horse is hurting before you take it out for a ride.

[echo]

Great ideas! Sandy, thank you, I'll send you more as soon as I have more. Boyd, I have no idea why you were not contacted or who the contact person for Georgia is in this event, I'm sorry. Please contact Milda by email or phone if you would like. I will post whatever I can find out. There will be an ad in the April PFHW, though I don't think there will be many details in the ad. Keep up the great ideas, and we'll see you there!

[echo]

Motorgypsies, where are you? Please share some ideas and experiences. Let's do all we can to make this inaugural event a great sucess!

[LynnG]

I posted a link in the piedmont trail news post of today for the fees, etc. Lori, since it is an official PFHA event..and its a $45 fee for the weekend (includes food), maybe Pfha can include an official t-shirt with that price. The ones the staff at the Natls hotels were are nice comfy looking shirts....light gray. :roll: