TEAM 107 - GLDD - LAWLESS

INDIANA - I have owned horses for 6 years now. I mostly just trail ride, that's what I enjoy the most. I showed halter a couple of times a few years back. But I love the trails!

I'm joining the Michigan Distance Derby's Great Lakes Distance Extension because it will challenge me to ride even more then I ride now. I already always track my rides too. I think it will also be a great opportunity to meet more horse people and learn of new places to ride. Boston and I make a good team, I love my horse. 

I also enjoy riding with my friend Holly and her horse Leena who live in Michigan and are part of the Michigan Distance Derby. This way we will be able to compete & ride together! We plan on hitting a lot of trails this year!

HERE ARE YOUR MDD COMPETITORS

It is a Fabulous & Motley Crew! 

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:

• Clinton County 4-H

Other clubs include:

• Custers Cowboys 

There are also Riders who furnish campgrounds to Riders & their Equines including the Pouncey Ponderosa 

Riders & Drivers from Boarding facilities including: 

• Mosher Meadows 
• Nelsons Ranch
• Hox Acres 
• Rail Acres

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: 

• American Competitive Trail Horse Association
• National Little Britches Rodeo Association of Michigan 

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!  

TEAM 106 - DJ AND MICKEY

Hi, my name is Daryle but I like to go by DJ and I am 11 years old. I rode a horse for the first time when I was 5 years old; and really liked the experience. After that first ride, my mom signed me up for 4-H in our county. That was about five years ago. Now, I have my own horse and his name is Mickey; and we do Western Pleasure, Speed, and Trail in 4-H; and will try ROC-Roping & Obstacle Course this year. One of the disciplines that I hope to do with Mickey is reining; since he is a trained reining horse.

My mom dragged me out on the trails with her one time; and I thought it was pretty cool. We have ridden our horses for hours on the trails. One of the trail rides I really like is when we go to Hungerford in Big Rapids and ride our horses to the Woodville Store for their fried pickles.

I like to ride with other kids my age when mom meets up with her friends and they bring kids with them. We also go camping with our horses and bring my cousins along with us; who now are horse riders too.

I plan to join my mom who is also in the MDD on the trails whenever possible so I can keep a track of my trail miles. We will probably do a lot of riding at Hungerford in Big Rapids and D Bar D in Chase, Michigan.

We also want to accomplish the Shore to Shore ride one year.

TEAM 105 - SILVER HEARTS FARM

40+ years experience. Endurance/Competitive Trail Rider. I joined the Michigan Distance Derby to see how many miles I actually ride within 1 year.

TEAM 104 - BRRIDER AND THE CREW

Riding horses is a new passion for me. It started when my six year old son and I were invited over to a friend's house and we rode their horses. The next year my son started riding in 4-H, using our leader's horse. Three years later, he got his own horse to ride. My first horse was a Clydesdale named Patrick; and we have made big strides together and have learned alot.

Now riding is a family venture and my niece, nephew, son, and I are riding together. We now own five horses. I enjoy trail riding and camping while the kids are participating in 4-H events, equestrian, and hopefully qualify for other shows. In October 2013, I attended a beginner cow clinic with one of my horses and loved it!! I plan to do expose my horses to more events so we can grow together.

I am signing up for the Michigan Distance Derby to begin tracking my miles in the saddle. Each year my time on the trails have increased and I would to track actual miles. My goal also is to complete the Shore to Shore family ride either in 2014 or 2015; and participate in other riding ventures in my surrounding area.

Even though I am a beginner rider and just turned 50 years of age, I am excited to be in the presence of riders of all ages who are willing to support and offer advice to those just starting out.

TEAM 103 - RSS

Riding since 1954, Western riding, Mounted Orienteering, Barrel Racing & some Pleasure shows

I like the idea of tracking the miles I put on my horses and having a reason to ride. My goal is to keep riding my horses and driving my shetland so they don't just stand in the pasture for as long as I can. I am competitive so joining Michigan Distance Derby gives me something to work for.

TEAM 102 - ALDER CREEK RANCH

I've been riding my entire life, in the saddle by the time I was 6 months old. I've trail ridden through out that entire time, along with showing 4-H, open shows, AQHA and APHA in Western and English. I've had my current horse Gus for just over a year, and we are training to do our first MTRA Shore to Shore ride at the end of May.

My role in the horse world is shifting from being in the show pen to helping my children in the rodeo pen and trail riding as a family. As a very competitive person, I've been looking for new and innovative ways to compete without taking time away from what my kids want to do. The Michigan Distance Derby will help me achieve that.