Rocky Mountain Challenge
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Showcasing the equestrian sports of competitive trail riding, endurance and ride n’ tie, the event is expected to attract over 200 competitors and their horses. The Canadian Nationals are hosted every two years. Alberta is keenly looking forward to defending their competitive trail team silver medals from the 2006 Nationals that were hosted in Quebec and hope to oust Ontario from the top spot and bring home the gold.
Sandra Nielsen, the 2006 Alberta team Chef d’ Equipe, spearheads the 2008 Rocky Mountain Challenge, a non-profit organisation formed to host this event. An enthusiastic rider and organiser of local competitive trail rides, Nielsen is excited about hosting these eight prestigious events over a five-day period with courses varying from 25 – 100 miles.
“The RMC is very excited to be hosting AHA, AERC and FEI sanctioned events as well.” Explains Nielsen. “The 100 mile FEI event in particular, will offer international competitors an opportunity to qualify for the World’s in 2010 which will bring in some of the top names in CTR, Endurance and Ride & Tie. Yet the event will still offer amateur riders to try their luck and experience the prestige of such a high calibre event.”
The Rocky Mountain Challenge organising committee is anticipating that the format will encourage families and friends to fill the stalls of their horse trailers and truly take advantage of all the offerings.
The Rocky Mountain Challenge will be held at Red Deer River Ranches located South-West of Sundre, Alberta, 31 July to 4 August 2008. This active cattle ranch established in 1890 boasts towering spruce, aspen and pine trees in the picturesque foothills between Brown and Williams creek. A destination resort, Red Deer River Ranches offers true Canadian wildlife viewing on it and its neighbouring 50,000 acres not to mention the incredible terrain challenge that the trail committee will be putting together.
