Trails course

[Whitewolf821]

All right, everyone. I believe I have decided what our trails course is going to look like for this year. So, this is the list of things that I need people to absolutely commit to bringing. Without these things, we will not have a successful trails course. Even just bringing one thing will help immensely. I need to know what I'm still going to need to supply after I have exhausted volunteers.

1) Ground poles - I'm guessing at least ten of these. Even if someone has landscaping border logs that are being unused, that would work for what I need it for. Venue should have these

2) Weave poles - At least six. If they have flags on top or some way to connect a flag to the top, even better. Venue should have these

3) Plywood - One sheet will be fine, and it should be in good shape afterwards, albeit somewhat dirty

4) Tarp - I'm hoping for an old raggedy one that someone doesn't mind if it gets shredded Leahlady

5) Trillium's goats - Enough said. Trillium, will you be able to bring panels for them again, or do we need to find some from someone more local?

6) Water box - Don't need one that's very deep, but it does need to hold water. If it's painted black or brown, that would probably work even better.

7) Mounting block

8) One log - preferably about 4-6 inches in diameter and roughly 6 feet long. Bark covering it is fine, and actually preferred honeydofarm

9) Barrels - need two of these that I can think of at the moment Venue should have these

10) Mailbox - On a pole about six feet in the air, with something at the bottom of the pole (like a tire) that will allow it to stand in place without being buried

I will be forever grateful to anyone who can provide these items for the trails course. Post here what you can bring. If you have some variation of what I've listed above, let me know and I'll let you know if it will work. If you commit to bringing something, please make sure it actually gets to the show. Let's make it a great course this year!

[leahlady]

Bridle trails has: ground poles, weave poles, and barrels. I will go double check for you in the next few weeks. I also have a big old gross tarp in the barn we can use.

[Whitewolf821]

Thank you for offering to check, Leah! If they have anything else on the list, I'd appreciate it if you could check on those too. Everything else is pretty easy to find except the mailbox...kinda hoping they might have one of those too!

[lizstabbertphoto]

I'm sure I can wrangle a piece of plywood. My dad is a contractor and his garage is always full of extra material. I'll check for a log too. The only trick would be making sure it fits in my van with my display/tent/etc etc. If any of the Kitsap folks that are going to the show are taking a truck and it could hitch a ride that might work best. ;D

[Whitewolf821]

Thanks, Liz! Let me know if your dad for sure has that stuff available. The plywood will be the "bridge." I'm sure there would be someone that had a truck that could haul a log! ;D

[honeydofarm]

We may be able to get a log. We lost several trees last year and may have something to suit. I will go out and asess the log situation this evening when my husband gets home and get back to you.

Wendy

[Whitewolf821]

Sounds good, honeydo! Is there anyone who has a mounting block that's closer? I don't want to have to bring one over the mountains.

[leahlady]

Sooo... apparently there is a trail course being BUILT on the other side of Bridle Trails. There is a piece of property that was donated a few years back, and they are putting a course there. There is also a nice roundpen. It is about a 20 minute ride from the show arena.

Could the trails class be on the course?? Maybe?? It would save a lot of set up for sure. I could mark off the trails for riders beforehand to show the way over there. Part of the course could be riding on the trail to the class maybe??

Here is what they have so far:
In this first phase we will have a gate, bridge, mailbox and ground obstacles including a box, zig-zag and cross for backing, turning, sidepass, etc.

I will go look at it and see what it is really like...but... what do you think, Whitewolf?

[Whitewolf821]

Ultimately, this is up to Bonnie and Allison since they're in charge of the whole show, but here is my concern with this. You said that it's about a twenty minute ride from the show arena. The trails course was typically done by people when they had a few minutes between other classes. This option puts them needing at least an hour gap to come over, run the course, and then go back to the show area. Second concern is this....we have rented the show grounds. Have we rented the trails course? My gut tells me no since we didn't know about it before this. Lastly, this isolates me from everyone else. If I should need some help (rider gets thrown, etc) everyone is at least twenty minutes out from help.

That's my two cents. I'm just the judge, and if our show divas shall choose for us to use that course, then I will judge that course. I am by no means against using this course, but I do have concerns about it.

Bonnie? Allison?

[jaybird]

I think I agree with Whitewolf...if it is too far away from where the rest of the show is being held, then it probably won't work. And no, we didn't rent it because we didn't know about it.

I don't think it would hurt to go look at it, Leah, if you have time, but we might just want to do the trails as planned.

[honeydofarm]

Whitewolf,

I inventoried my "downed" timber and I have a couple of alders that are more line 71/2" in diameter. Is that too big? If so, I can beat back nature some more and scrounge around for something smaller.

[Whitewolf821]

I think 7 1/2" would be just fine, honeydo. Is there any way to add to that "honey do" list and make sure all the branches are off of it? I just need a log for stepping over, and I think for safety's sake it would be better to have something with no pokies sticking off the sides of it

[honeydofarm]

No problem. No pokies, check. Is the 7am start time ok for it to be there?

Wendy

[Whitewolf821]

The 7 am time sounds good. I'm still trying to figure out if I'm heading over Friday evening or leaving here super early Saturday morning and making it one really long day. Either way, I will be there Saturday morning

[honeydofarm]

Ok, the log is cut, limbed and ready to go. We don't need it back, so feel free to raffle it off when the show is over...