One way to create your own tale from the trail is with a competitive trail ride. These rides provide an opportunity to ride in new venues throughout the state, to socialize with horse-owning friends and make new ones, and most importantly to improve your horsemanship and communication with your equine partner.
Rides generally range from 6 to 20 miles, depending on the sponsoring organization, and include trail obstacles that you and your horse are judged on. Obstacles can include things like opening/closing a mailbox, side passing, crossing water, negotiating a jump, dragging something, and backing.
In New Mexico, two organizations host competitive trail rides: American Competitive Trail Horse Association and North American Trail Ride Conference. ACTHA has rides scheduled in Fort Stanton in June and at Hopewell Lake in the Carson National Forest in July. NATRC has a ride scheduled in Farmington in September.
Both the current pet mayor of Corrales Elektra and former pet mayor Aspen have achieved high honors from the ACTHA. Aspen won the Pleasure class for New Mexico in 2013 and Elektra won the Open class, bringing state honors to the Horse Capital of New Mexico.
The Corrales Horse and Mule People offer a number of ways to create tales from the trail. Upcoming events include the CHAMP Recreation Ride on June 1 starting from the Top Form Arena at 9 a.m.; the Celebration of the Horse, an all-day educational horse fair at the Top Form Arena during the Corrales Harvest Festival on Sept. 28; and our annual Christmas de Caballos parade through Corrales on Nov. 17. Don’t forget the monthly member meetings the fourth Wednesday of each month; interested equine enthusiasts are always welcome. Check the web site at www.champnm.com.
Aspen, the previous Pet Mayor of Corrales, and current mayor Elektra have both won national awards from the American Competitive Trail Horse Association. Photo by Linda Sherrill.