Let's Get Busy with a Ride and Tie!

Hi Friends!

Vol Eileen and I met last night and submitted our application to host a sanctioned Ride and Tie Race!

Our application lists the date as Sept. 4th. That is the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. We have listed the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail (HINT)as our location.

We are so excited about the HINT for our ride! It is absolutely wonderful for beginners...it's essentially, flat. It is a beautiful route through the Iowa countryside mostly utilizing the retired railroad bed. The trail provides a crushed limestone path for runners, bikers, etc. and a nice wide grass strip for equestrian use. They also don't close the trail to horses when it rains.
To qualify as a sanctioned race, we had to outline a minimum of a 20 mile trail. This calculates on the HINT as start in Collins, end in Slater. Nice ride!

Keep going to the Ride and Tie Association website to get educated about Ride and Ties.

Our first official meeting of this planning committee will be held on Jan. 26th in Ames. Please email me at oneheart@netins.net for time and place.

We have a web developer creating a unique site for our Ride and Tie.

Keep in mind....this is the FIRST EVER Ride and Tie to be held in the Midwest, certainly in Iowa. It is something that Eileen and I have known about since the Levi company started them in the early '70s. Who'd-a-thunk that we would have one some day. Eileen is planning on competing, by the way and has started her training.

I started my training also. The first day I actually fell off my treadmill. What's up with that? I don't even really know how, must have caught on something. Anyway, I am still recovering from those massive bruises. HA! Even Lucy cracked up when she heard. I'll be in the bleachers! Think of it this way....I always end up getting hurt when I feel good. Good enough to take on the treadmill, or the lawn, or other typical stuff. The point is...I feel good!

We are working on the promotional aspects of the ride. We have named the race, The One Heart Equestrian Therapy Benefit Ride and Tie. We are bombing through lots of barriers with this ride. Don't you want to be a part of the history of this event?!

• First Iowa Ride and Tie
• First "rural/urban" setting for a Ride and Tie (if the Assoc. accepts the site)
• One of the RARE benefit Ride and Tie races.

One Heart frequently finds itself being a pioneer in many of our efforts. So, what's new? It only makes it more fun and exciting.
From Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not go where the path may lead - Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." We can do that!
Story County Conservation - in charge of HINT - has responded with enthusiasm to our idea. While I am not usually surprised by the support One Heart gets, I am ALWAYS humbled by the way our community responds. It's something.
With '10 riding session rapidly approaching, I am going to need help. Lots of help. Vol Eileen has a "real job" as well. So, many hands make light work. Bonnie (One Heart Board) is involved with the committee and others have come forward, as well. What we need help with is soliciting sponsorships for prizes, meals, water, t-shirts.....you know, all the goodies needed for a really nice ride/run. We need people to help with the logistic along the trail. We need ideas. We need to share the excitement.
Other thoughts on the Ride and Tie: We have shorter routes lined out to meet the needs of a variety of participants. Extension put us in touch with the 4-H group that has GPS as a project.....might be a good way to keep track of everything!
Enjoy the above freezing weather today. And, send me an email to get the details of our next One Heart Equestrian Therapy Benefit Ride and Tie meeting.
Here is a picture of One Heart participants "Trail Riding" at Stagecoach during on '08 session. The One Heart Equestian Therapy Benefit Ride and Tie will raise funds for our entire program.
Looking forward to mud; Kris