Stories, Articles, Blogs, etc.
The electronic version of the current issue of Hoof Print, the national NATRC newsletter, is available here, or you can go to the National NATRC site and look under "Documents".
Angie Meroshnekoff has written an article about one of the unexpected joys of marking trail for our rides. Take a look at "A Jewel on the Trail" - it may inspire you to help ribbon a ride the next time the call goes out!
So you want to bring a child on a NATRC ride, but have some questions? Check out this article by Kay Lieberknecht and Angie Meroshnekoff, who have successfully introduced many kids to our sport: "Taking Juniors to NATRC Rides".
Or you want to ease a friend into a NATRC ride - how about going to "NATRC_101"? This was a camp organized by Kay Lieberknecht to introduce riders to "the NATRC Way". The experienced riders brought along new riders, so there were plenty of good examples to follow, then the group went through the process of a NATRC ride, complete with potluck and vetting in on Friday night.
Links to Ride Stories
The Inaugural Cowboy Camp ride in 2011. We noticed a misspelled name in this story ("Carol" should be "Karel" - sorry, Karel!) and a couple of rules misinterpretations, but, in our opinion, it still manages to tell the tale - so no letters to the editor, please.
The Jackson Forest ride in 2011
The CMDTRA ride in 2011
The Arnold Rim ride in 2010
The Jackson Forest ride in 2010
The Harvey Bear at Calero ride in 2010
A Link to the Story of a Ride . . .
The CMDTRA Diablo Springs ride is one of the longest running competitive trail rides in the country - you can read about their first ride in 1941, which ran from Concord to Mt Diablo and back.
Leadline Archives
Leadline is the Region 1 newsletter. Recent issues are available here as pdf files.
- Leadline, Autumn 2006
- Leadline, Winter-Spring 2007
- Leadline, Spring-Summer 2007
- Leadline, Fall 2007
- Leadline, Winter 2008
- Leadline, Spring 2008
- Leadline, Spring 2009
- Leadline, Summer 2009
- Leadline, Fall-Winter 2009
- Leadline, Spring 2010
- Leadline, Summer 2010
- Leadline, Fall-Winter 2010
- Leadline, Spring 2011
- Leadline, Summer 2011
- Leadline, Fall-Winter 2011
NATRC Documents
New Rider Information
This section has a information that might be useful to you as you gear up for a ride: answers to frequently asked questions and answers to infrequently-asked-questions-that-should-be-asked-more-often, first-ride stories, "how-tos", etc.
And if you're ready to join . . . here's a link to a pdf of the NATRC Membership Application. We'll see you on the trail!
- A Day in the Life of a NATRC Ride: an excellent description of what goes on at a NATRC ride from pulling into the camping area to getting the judge's evaluations, written by the human member of the 2011 Region 1 Novice Horse and Rider Team of the Year.
- Frequently Asked Questions A frequently updated list of common questions. If you submit a question via the Contact Us page, it may end up on this list.
- And finally, things to bring to a NATRC ride, an exhaustive list of the things you might need at a NATRC ride.
Links to "First Ride/First Season" Stories
- Sunny Does NATRC: A first time rider and first time mare take to the trail on a ride being put on for the first time. Whoo Hoo!