NATRC and 4-H

This information is from our newsletter. This part (below) is pertinent to any 4-H member who may be interested in Competitive Trail. Of course, you do not need to be a 4-H member to take part in NATRC whether volunteering or riding, but must be minimum age of 10. We have several young members in our region who very much enjoy the sport. We also have mentors who will ride along with any new member. No one will be left to navigate Competitive Trail on their own.

The Greenland open space clinic is very informative for anyone who may want to check out the sport. We will be having several rides this summer right here in our area so if anyone is interested in checking it out, the best way would be to volunteer at a ride at P&R's. These are mandatory pulse and respiration checks for the horses along the days course. Lunch is provided and people are friendly. It's a great way to check out how competitors have their camps set up, watch the riders come in from the days ride, get their horses fed, cleaned up and ready for veterinary inspection. You do not need to be a member to participate.

If anyone would like more information or have Karen Laden give a presentation about 4-H and NATRC we can get it arranged.

Here is a link to our regions website. It is full of information and has all rides listed. http://www.natrc3.org/

If anyone reading this would like to give it a try, but feel that talking with a member and competitor would help with questions you may have that are not adressed on the website I would be happy to help. This sport is all about the horse and your horsemanship. People are very helpful and friendly and always willing to support new members.


REGION 3 AND 4-H JOIN HANDS

4-H and NATRC Region 3 – which both stress education, safety and fun -- have joined hands in Colorado to get youth and their families out on the competitive trail.

Colorado 4-H offers competitive trail riding as part of its regular equine project. This year, the 4-H Horse Advisory Committee in El Paso County, which oversees the equine project in that county, agreed to recognize NATRC Region 3 ‘B’ rides in Colorado as approved 4-H CTRs and award achievement points to those El Paso County 4-Hers who compete.

Because 4-H CTR is a statewide project, ALL 4-Hers enrolled in the equine project are encouraged to participate in NATRC ‘B’ Rides. Achievement points depend upon the 4-H rules of each 4-Hers specific county. According to Colorado 4-H CTR rules, a competition must be between 15 and 25 miles long; there are no two-day rides. A 4-Her also must be rated at least level 1 in their riding skills (able to properly groom, tack and untack their horse, mount, and ride safely at a walk, trot and canter) and pass a written exam. The other 4-H rules are compatible to NATRC rules.

To include 4-H CTR as part of their equine project, 4-Hers in Colorado must maintain a conditioning record (see http://equineextension.colostate.edu/co ... iew/220/69 ) and turn it in with their project record book at the end of the year. They also must show the conditioning record to ride management at a ride’s check in.

To help get 4-H CTR off the ground in El Paso County, the 4-H project leaders contacted Laurie DiNatale in the national office, Region 3 President Betty Wolgram, horsemanship judge Susie Witter, and ride manager Susan Peters. Each has played an invaluable role of support and as well as providing information about the sport to 4-Hers and their families. For example, Susie Witter and Susan Peters gave presentations to more than 20 4-Hers and their family members at an unmounted 4-H CTR clinic. Laurie DiNatale at the national office provided a variety of informative NATRC handouts.

Thanks to Susan Peters, 4-H competitive trail riders will have the opportunity to volunteer/ride at the Greenland Open Space Clinic. They also will have an opportunity to actually compete, thanks to her ‘B’ rides at the Patriots’ Ride and Tarryall River Romp.

A BIG thanks also goes to Betty Wolgram and the Region 3 BOD! At its last meeting, the BOD agreed to offer a $30 discount per ride for NATRC member junior riders for up to three rides during the 2011 ride season. Region 3 will reimburse ride management the $30 discount. For its part, the 4-H CTR project leaders in El Paso County are sponsoring a 4-H combined high point horse and rider award for each Region 3 ride in Colorado. Any junior rider who also is a 4-H member is eligible. If a ride has at least one 4-H member signed up to compete (that information is now available on the entry form, thanks to Region 3), just email Karen Laden at so she can get the award to the ride manager before the ride.

If you have any questions about the 4-H CTR program, please email Karen Laden at

Thanks, again, Region 3, for all your support of 4-H CTR!

Submitted By Karen Laden, NATRC member and 4-H CTR project leader