Spanish Mustang at RNR Trail Challenge

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By Jennifer Klitzke

Where did RNR Ranch hide the bugs? Seriously, my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) and I thoroughly enjoyed a bug-free, exquisite summer day riding the pristine trails at RNR Ranch on August 3, 2013 for the Trail Challenge. It was a terrific turnout with nearly 100 horse and rider teams in three divisions: Open, Pleasure, and Junior.  Both Pleasure and Junior divisions navigated the obstacles with the same level of difficulty while the Open group had a higher level of difficulty to claim a cash prize.

Indy and I came alone and left with a few new friends. In our group of four was a handsome buckskin Quarter horse/Appaloosa, a beautiful off the track Thoroughbred mare whose sire took second at the Kentucky Derby a few years back, and a super cute gaited Rocky Mountain saddle horse who miraculously survived a freeway trailer accident.

Indy was in his element on the trail and fearless and agile to tackle the eight obstacles along our two hour ride through rolling hills and dense forest with songbird serenade. Each obstacle was judged on how well the rider navigated the horse, how well the horse accomplished the task, and within a set amount of time. Among the obstacles were a dismounting/remounting exercise, riding through camo streamers, pivoting a flying saucer, stepping through a circular grid of cavalettis, navigating a campsite, loping a figure eight with lead changes in the center, and two other obstacles that have slipped my grandma brain.

I am so proud of Indy! Among the 30 horses in the Pleasure class, Indy received the second highest score of “99” to the winning score of “103” taken by an Icelandic.

A huge “thank you” to RNR Ranch and Tack for hosting the Trail Challenge and for all of the judges and volunteers who gave up riding for themselves on a perfect summer day for us riders.

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 Video: Pivoting the flying saucer