Pre-Ride Information

 

Welcome to the Shamrock Rides. We hope you have a great ride and we will do everything we can to make sure that happens. Please read the following information before the start of the ride. You are responsible for knowing this information! This information will serve as your pre-ride briefing.

 

BASECAMP: There is water in camp for both horses and people. The water from all spigots EXCEPT the one in the barn is potable and safe for people. There  is a hose in the large tank in the center of the basecamp that will be controlled by a shutoff valve. Please help ride management monitor the tank and turn it on and off as needed to keep the tank full. The water from this hose is also potable and safe for drinking. You may use the hose to fill RVs and LQ’s but please do not tie up the hose at the expense of horse water. There will be ice available for sale at the ride office (big white barn). If cows come into camp-run them out. It is also a good idea to keep hay and grain in your truck or trailer as the cows, deer and elk might find them to be irresistible treats resulting in late night “visitors”. There are porti-potties in camp and there is also a functional outhouse up by the vetting area.  The weather can change dramatically in this part of the country. It can be hot-high 80’s  and  we often get afternoon thunder showers so be prepared. 

 

TRAIL- The trail consists of three loops. It is marked with pie plates, pin flags, ribbon flagging, and fiberglass posts and painted arrows on the ground. There is a combination of pink and orange flagging. (Color means nothing). The 55 milers will do loops 1, 2, & 3. The 30 milers will do loops 2 & 3. On Friday and Sunday, you will follow the loops in a clockwise direction. (The trail will be marked as such) and you will follow the white arrows on the ground. On Saturday, you will ride the loops in counterclockwise direction and follow the orange arrows on the ground. All trail signs will be changed each day before the ride so follow it as it is marked. There is a large map of the ride in the ride office if you want a “visual” of the layout of the trail. I do not do individual maps-THE TRAIL IS VERY WELL-MARKED SO YOU DON’T NEED THEM! (Stevie Wonder could find his way on this trail!)The trail is mostly single track, fence line and two-track jeep trail. There is plenty of water on the trail especially on loops 2 and 3 so take advantage of it.. There is abundant wild life on the ranch. Watch for them. There are rattlesnakes on this ranch also so, look before you step off your horse or go to open a gate.

 

Do to some past problems, “Pleasure riding” during the ride  will not be allowed without the specific consent of the ride manager and will  only  be allowed on parts of the trail that have already been completed by the riders.

 

We will be having a trail/poker ride on Sunday. The cost is $30 and it will begin at 9 am. The proceeds will go to benefit our local animal rescue (PAWS). Lunch is included and $5 of each entry goes towards the  poker game. Trail riders will be identified with the letters A-Z.

 

START TIMES: The 55 miler will start at 6:30am  on Friday and at 7:00 am on Saturday and Sunday. The 30 milers will start at 7:30 am on Friday and 8:00am on Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully the earlier start will help you beat the heat and the occasional afternoon thunderstorms.  I will call roll at 10 minutes before the start and give any last minute instructions. We will start in the open area down by the trees and the old stone house just outside of the vetting area. It will be a semi-controlled start.

 

VET CHECKS:  The head vet for this ride is Max Smylie, DVM and he will be assisted by Glenna Hopper, DVM and Tom Currier, DVM. I will designate one of the vets as treatment vet each day. Drs. Smylie and Currier  are experienced equine vets who are licensed in Wyoming and can provide treatment to horses should the need arise. (Let’s hope it doesn’t but if something isn’t right-the sooner your horse gets veterinary care,  the better the likely outcome.  Remember, you are responsible for  your horses safely and well-being, so seek help immediately! )  We will vet the 55 mile horses on Thursday at around 6:00 pm.  The remaining horses will be vetted in the morning starting at 6:00 am. (If you are riding the 55 and arrive late Thursday and need to vet-in Friday morning, you may present your horse for vet-in with tack. ) ALL 30 mile horses will be vetted in the morning after any remaining 55 milers.  All horses will be vetted in the morning on Saturday and Sunday.  The 55 milers will have two 1 hour holds and the 30 milers will have a 1 hour hold. All vet checks are in base camp. There will be water outside of the P & R area and there will also be sponge tubs (with sponges). Please do not crew your horse inside the P & R area or the vet check area. We will have hay, carrots and apples in the vet check should you have to wait. Pulse criteria will be 60 for all vet checks. (Should weather conditions dictate a change you will be notified at the start) Make sure you see the out timer when you leave the check. Also have your cards out for the P & R takers.  Be sure to move into the P & R area and out of the lane so as not to block the flow of horse traffic.

 

*Should your horse require veterinary treatment of any kind, it is your responsibility to take care of payment before you leave the ride site.  Should your horse require further treatment off site, you are responsible for making arrangement for payment of ride vets.

 

FINISH & BC-For the 55 milers we will set up a finish line outside of camp so that it is safe should there be a race. There will be no ties for awards. All 30 milers will finish at the P & R area and your  time does not stop until your horse recovers to a 60 pulse. Take your card to the In/Out timer when your P/R time has been recorded by the P/R personnel so that they can record your finishing time. Top ten horses in each distance may show for Best Condition. 30 milers who wish to show for BC  need to present your horse for a CRI 10 minutes after you finish. Your Best Condition evaluation will also be done at this time. 55 milers who wish to show for BC must present their horse for a CRI 10 minutes after they finish (make sure your finish time is recorded at the finish line)The   remainder of your BC evaluation will be done one hour after you finish. Dr. Smylie will do the BC evaluation for both distances.  If you do not wish to stand for BC or are not Top Ten, you may show for completion within the hour to any vet. (30 Milers must show for completion within 30 minutes of completion.) Before leaving the vetting area, please weigh in. The In/OUT timer will record your weight for BC. (NOTE: We will not come looking for you, so if you want your horse considered for BC, make sure you weigh in otherwise you will not be considered) If you do not wish to show for BC please tell the timer when you leave the vetting area.

 

NEW RIDERS AND ROOKIES- If you are a first time rider or rookie and you are not sure of something or you need some help, ASK! We want you to have an enjoyable time plus learn about the sport of endurance riding.  Prior to the ride, we can take you through the vet check process or help you with any other aspect of the ride. There will be a few designated “mentors’ wearing a yellow “Ask a Mentor” button. They are here to help you so be sure to ask. We can also set you up with a mentor to ride with if you would like.

 

 

DOGS (& Kids)-Shamrock is a dog friendly ride and well behaved, nice dogs are welcome but please keep them under your control or on a leash. (The same rules also apply to children!) Please do not allow your dog  or child to create a problem, run at large  or makes a nuisance of themselves.  Due to some issues in the past, please do not bring your dogs to the vetting area or to meals. We would also ask that you do not bring young children into the vetting area either as it poses an unnecessary danger.

 

DINNER & AWARDS: We will have dinner around 6:30-7pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Riders receive a meal with their ride entry. Additional dinners are $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 10. Awards will follow dinner.  If you have to leave before  the awards dinner, please see the ride management before you go and pick up your completion award. I will not mail completion awards! If BC has not been completed by the time you leave and you win BC, I will mail your  award or send it with someone who will be seeing you. On Sunday, we will have a “clean-out your cooler/fridge potluck” around 6pm.

 

RANCH ETIQUETTE: This ride is held entirely on a private working cattle ranch and you are a guest of the ranch owners-the Dilts. Leave all gates as you find them. Do not rush through cattle and cause them undue stress. Cleanup you campsite and spread manure and hay. ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING ON THE TRAIL OR IN CAMP.  The only place you may smoke is inside your own personal vehicle.

 

 

 

Have a good ride, take care of your horses and enjoy the trail.