We have riders & drivers from nearly every discipline! From Endurance Riders to Barrel Racers, Mounted Shooters, Dressage & Show folks, Trail Riders - Western & English, Eventors, 4-H, Saddle Seat, Hunters, Jumpers, Ropers, Team Penners, Sorters & Reiners, Competitive Mounted Orienteers, Harness Racers, Lots of Natural Horsemanship folks, some who do Judged Trail Rides, Rodeo, Mounted Police, or those who have conducted professional Driving Tours on Mackinaw Island, Trainers & Recreational Riders & Drivers.
Our Equine partners include Mules to Minis, Drafts & Warmbloods and of course Arabs and all sorts crosses & gaited & nongaited friends!
Many competitors have already ridden the Shore-To-Shore, sometimes multiple times & others are making that their goal for the year. Folks who are super competitive & others looking to spend more time in the saddle or the cart with family & friends. Many wanting to use the MDD as a catalyst to build a better partnership with their equine best friend! Others recovering from life threatening illnesses or returning to the saddle after years away. Competitors wanting to push themselves & their horses to reach 50 or 1000 Miles for the year. Some who have been riding since they were kids, others getting into horses later in life. A couple of green riders & horses we welcome!
We have 14 Competitors who are 20 years or younger & 12 who are turning 60 this year or older! Our youngest competitor is 11 years old & eldest is 74!
14 of our MDD Competitors will be earning their miles Riding & Driving. 1 will be focused solely on driving & the remaining 91 will strictly in the saddle.
Our MDD Community includes members from dozens of Trail Associations including:
- Michigan Trail Riders Association
- Great Lakes Distance Riders Association
- Michigan Ranch Horse Association
- Sleepy Hollow Trail Riders Association
- Central Michigan Horseman's Association
- Hungerford Trail Riders Association
- Waterloo Horseman's Association
- Kensington Trail Riders Association
- Pontiac Lake Horseman's Association
- Highland Trail Riders Association and many more.
As well as 4-H Groups:
Other clubs include:
There are also Riders who furnish campgrounds to Riders & their Equines including the Pouncey Ponderosa
Riders & Drivers from Boarding facilities including:
We have a Equine Dentist, Kater Equine Dental Service
Equine Photographer, Grace Photography
Mobile Tack Store, DailyUp.Com "The Horse Store That Comes To Your Door"
Equine Realestate Specialist, West Michigan Horse Properties
Horse & Human Trainers as well.
Nationally, we have members from:
Breed specific members of:
- Arabian Horse Association
- Michigan Paint Horse Club
- Walking Horse Association of Michigan
- American Quarter Horse Association
- Foundation Quarter Horse Association
- Michigan Fox Trotters Association
More to come...
It is going to be an extraordinary year!
There are lots of folks to be inspired by & learn from in this Derby! So while many of you are snowbound at the moment, take some time to read about your fellow Michiganders & consider how you are going to make this year - The Year of The Horse!
*The Michigan Distance Derby (MDD) is closed for any further entries for 2014, but our Great Lake Extension (GLDD) will be Welcoming another handful of Competitors over the next couple of days!
No comments:
Post a Comment