Atlantic Canada Trail Riding Association

The next ride of the 2009 season will be the KIM Ds Limited Distance 30-40 miles on August 22, 2009. Go to the Schedule page to see the complete listing.

All I Need to Know in Life I Learned From My Horse
1. When in doubt, run far, far away.
2. You can never have too many treats.
3. Passing gas in public is nothing to be ashamed of.
4. New shoes are an absolute necessity every 6 weeks.
5. Ignore cues. They're just a prompt to do more work.
6. Everyone loves a good, wet, slobbery kiss.
7. Never run when you can jog. Never jog when you can walk. And never walk when you can stand still.
8. Heaven is eating for at least 10 hours a day... then sleeping the rest.
10. Eat plenty of roughage.
11. Great legs and a nice rear will get you anywhere. Big, brown eyes help too.
12. When you want your way, stomp hard on the nearest foot.
13. In times of crisis, take a poop.
14. Act dumb when faced with a task you don't want to do.
15. Follow the herd. That way, you can't be singled out to take the blame.
16. A swift kick in the butt will get anyone's attention.
17. Love those who love you back, especially if they have something good to eat.

2009 ONTARIO PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
A Festival of Distance Competition!
Hosted by the Ontario Competitive Trail Ride Association (OCTRA)
Location: Coates Creek Farm, New Lowell, Ontario
Dates: July 30th - August 2nd, 2009

Thursday, July 30: 100-mile Open Endurance Championship and FEI/CEI 100 Mile Qualifier for World Equestrian Games in 2010, Kentucky; FEI/CEI and FEI/CEIYR 75 Mile Endurance; FEI/CEI and FEI/CEIYR 50-Mile Endurance, and 50-Mile Open Endurance Ride.

Friday, July 31: 20-mile Ride and Tie Championship and 10-mile Open Ride and Tie.

Saturday, August 1st : Competitive 35-mile Ride (Day 1 of the CTR Championship) and a 35- mile OCTRA CTR.

Sunday, August 2nd : 30-mile CTR (Day 2 of the CTR Championship Ride), plus a 30-mile Novice Competitive Ride.

The Competitive trail rides and Ride and Ties are of interest to those wishing to qualify for the 2010 Canadian Championships. Trails will be varied and consist of farmers' fields, paved roads, pine forestry and some hilly sections. All the rides are sanctioned by FEI, AERC, and/or OCTRA.

For more information and full entry details, go to www.OCTRA.ON.CA, or write to Sue Downing, Ride Secretary, 2011 6/7 Sideroad Sunnidale, RR#1, New Lowell, ONT, Canada, L0M 1N0.

Glossary of Horse Terms

Hock: Financial condition of all horse owners.
Stall: What your rig does at rush hour in an unfamiliar city on the way to a big horse show
A Bit: What you have left in your pocket after you've been to your favorite tack shop.
Fence: Decorative structure built to provide your horse with something to chew on.
Horse Auction: What you think of having after your horse bucks you off.
Pinto: Green coat pattern found on freshly washed light colored horses left unattended for 2 minutes.
Well Mannered: Hasn't stepped on, bitten, or kicked anyone for a week.
Rasp: Abrasive metal tool used to remove excess skin from ones knuckles.
Lunging: Popular training method in which a horse exercises their owner by spinning them in circles until dizzy.
Gallop: Customary gait a horse chooses when returning back to the barn.
Nicely Started: Lunges, but not enough health insurance to even think about riding him.
Colic: Gastrointestinal result of eating at horse fair food stands.
Colt: What your mare gives you when you want a filly.
Easy to Load: Only takes 3 hours, 4 men, a 50lb bag of oats, and a tractor with loader.
Easy to Catch: In a 10x10 stall.
Easy Rider: Rides good in a trailer; not to be confused with "ride-able."
Endurance Ride: End result when your horse spooks and runs away with you.
Hives: What you get when receive the vet bill for your 6 horses, 3 dogs, 4 cats, and 1 donkey.
Hobbles: Walking gait of a horse owner after their foot has been stepped on by their horse.
Feed: Expensive substance used to manufacture manure.
Dog House: What you are in when you spend too much money on grooming supplies and pretty halters.
Light Cribber: We can't afford to build anymore fencing or box stalls for this buzz saw on four legs.
Three Gaited Horse: A horse that. 1) trips, 2) stumbles, 3) falls.