Most families don’t stress a specific dress code; wear what works for you! While preferred trends in the horseshow ring come and go, any clean, safe, comfortable gear that fits you and your horse is fair game for our sport. Watch a group of riders time out at any NATRC ride, and you’ll most likely see anything from dressage saddles to roping saddles; yoga pants to jeans; cowboy boots to trail running sneakers. It may take a few long rides of your own to patent your signature style of gear, but whatever safely works for you and fits the horse will likely be perfect for NATRC.
History plays a part in a family, and NATRC is no different. Established in 1961, it is one of the oldest trail riding organizations in the country, with well-established membership, bylaws, and rides set up across the country. Many, many riders have been competing for decades and still return for the atmosphere and the learning environment.
A family celebrates its members for a myriad of accomplishments. You certainly don’t have to be the fastest horse and rider team to win a ribbon; in fact, you probably don’t want to be! Horsemanship is judged separately from the vet card, so both horse and rider can maintain high points somewhat independently of each other. Time is a factor, but only in that riders must keep pace to complete the ride in an achievable time window—there is no incentive to blast through a ride at high-speed, and no penalty for using your maximum allotted time. Ride your own ride and set your own goals for finishing. Competitors can expect scorecards at the completion of the ride to be detailed and useful for training for the next competition.
Expect a ride with NATRC to be a challenge, but also expect strong support along the way from your trail riding family. Our sport welcomes all kinds with a willingness to learn and a desire to lift up your fellow riders. We can guarantee you’ll leave knowing something new and having met a friend worth knowing.
Because rides are held in all kinds of mixed terrain, smart riders trot their horses when the footing is good and the going is easy in order to make up for slower progress on hills and through forests and rocky footing.
The first folks a new competitor will likely meet at an NATRC ride is the ride secretary and helpers.
Lots of hugs!
Scorecards are finalized after the veterinarian has checked the horses for the final time, and the awards ceremony held. Hugs abound in the NATRC family!
Following an afternoon of horses being checked in, the “family” members gather around for a briefing on the maps handed out showing trails, mileages, times and general information on the next day’s ride.
For more information about upcoming rides or membership visit NATRC online: www.natrc.org