Participants get the chance to improve their riding skills by competing in the friendly and fun atmosphere of NATRC. They may also get the opportunity to ride where only once a year private land owners open up their trails to share with their NATRC friends.

Competitive trail riding's emphasis is on teaching riders how to improve their horsemanship skills. Riders are judged on their horsemanship as it applies to trail riding. Trail courtesy and safety are key elements, as is the ability to care for a horse during and after a long day on the trail.

There are three levels of competition, beginning with those just learning the sport up to the expert competitor. The horsemanship judges are themselves successful competitors.

A competitive trail ride is in part an equine athletic event. All horse receive a soundness exam before being allowed to start the ride usually on the Friday of the weekend of the ride. They are monitored throughout the ride for any metabolic or soundness changes. Competitive trail riding is not about pedigrees and fancy tack- rather, it addresses the question of covering long distances safely and comfortably with good manners on the part of horse and rider. It's also about having fun on wonderful trails with a willing equine partner and learning more about helping that partner to keep going down the trail. Learning how to camp safely with your equine partner is also a big part of the experience.

Getting started is easy. You don't have to be a member of NATRC to go on a ride. There are three divisions available to riders. The Novice Division is for new riders and/or horses new to competitive trail riding. The Competitive Pleasure Division is for riders who are more experienced than novice riders, but who prefer the distance and pace of novice. Novice and CP riders ride approximately 40 miles on a 2-day ride. The first day they will travel 20-25 miles at a 3.5-5 miler per hour pace. The second day is usually a shorter distance. Open riders on a 2-day ride will cover 50-60 miles at a quicker pace of 4-6 miler per hour. Riders are given a measured time to complete their ride. Riders that finish too fast or too slow receive penalty points.

Both horses and riders receive score cards at the end of the ride rating their performances by the veterinary and horsemanship judges. Reviewing the score cards to see what the judges were observing helps riders learn to improve their riding and horsemanship skills for the next ride. Awards and ribbons are given for the horses and the riders in all of the divisions. Sweepstake awards are given to the highest horse or horse and rider team with the highest number of points in each division. Breed awards are often given for the highest point breed in a division.

Judges are very approachable. They are very willing to explain how they scored the horses and riders and what a rider can do to work toward obtaining a perfect score card of 100 with plenty of plus marks on the card.

The competition can be fun, but many riders just enjoy the camaraderie of riding with their friends, enjoying new trails, and racking up mileage awards with their favorite trail horse.

The North American Trail Ride Conference sanctions rides in it six regions ranging from Hawaii to Maine and from Canada to Mexico. For more information, stay tuned to Horsecity.com for upcoming articles or check us out at "www.natrc.org". Come Ride with Us!