Fall Hunter Pace Update

We're hoping that the weather cooperates for the Hunter Pace on Sun but we'll be running rain or shine.  So if the weather doesn't look great, put on your rain gear and imagine that you're hunting in Ireland ;)  They're saying scattered showers and hopefully it will miss up.  Keep in mind our footing holds up pretty well even with rain.

Be sure to scroll down for rules and reminders, course map and schedule for those who pre-entererd. 

For those who have not been to the farm before here's a link for directions.  Please keep in mind that the farm map was for our recent horse trials not for the Hunter Pace.  Day parking will be in the front field please park facing the fence as it makes for more room.  Those who have stalls will park down by the stabling barns but keep in mind that the track of the course does go through that stabling area on the east side.  

For those who will be entering on Sun please note the times that entries close and approximate start times.  Entry fees are $25 / rider and everyone must sign a release form.  For those who pre-entered please let the secretary know that you have been assigned a number already.  The secretary will be on the front porch of the house.  

Divisions	Post Entries Close	Approx. Start Time
Jumping	11:00	12:00
Hilltoppers (Ideal on the flat)	12:00	1:00
Trail Riders (leisurely pace)	1:00	1:30

  

Below is a brief description of a Hunter Pace and  list of Rules and Reminders that you may want to review before coming on Sun.

What is a Hunter Pace?

The simple answer, a hunter pace is a nice long enjoyable trail ride with family or friends. Now if you want to know how the elusive “idea time” is calculated, well that’s a little more detailed.  It goes back to its fox hunting roots where riders had to hack to the hunt.  They had to figure out how to get to the hunt on time with a horse that was sufficiently warmed up, but not too tired to hunt.  Since the hunts generally started fairly early in the morning daylight was definitely something that riders had to consider as well.  We would usually leave as soon as you could safely see where we were going & head out at a brisk trot & with a few canters thrown in where the conditions were good.  Obviously if there was a fairly steep down hill or bad footing we would walk.  If we planned things right we would be at the “meet” with time to spare & horses ready to hunt.

Hunter paces developed as a friendly competition where riders would go out on a marked course 4 – 5 miles long & ride @ a pace as if hacking to the “meet” and the one closest to the “ideal” time won.  The ideal time is usually determined by having someone ride the course at a good “hunter pace” as described above & that becomes the “ideal time’.   However, the pace can vary from pace to pace depending on who is riding the course & on what type of horse.  I ride the course on two different types of horses and average the time.  For those of you who have been coming here over the years know that I ride my courses exactly as explained above.  The jumping division is a somewhat faster pace because they end up doing more cantering than the flat divisions.  Over the years we have found that many people really don’t care about being competitive and enjoy a more leisurely pace.  We have always given the “turtle” award for the slowest team on the course.  However, it seemed that the “turtle” award was being contested by many entrants so we have added a new “trail riders” division.  This is a more leisurely pace of mostly walking & trotting.

I hope this answers some of your questions. 

Rules & Reminders

Rules:

• Jumping teams must jump or attempt to jump all the fences
• Riders may by pass a fence only after 3 attempts or circles
• The jumps mark the course as well as fence ribbon, arrows and mowed paths. Flat teams should pass closely to the jumps
• All team members must finish the course to be considered for the final placing
• The last team member to cross the finish line is the team’s time. If you are the last member of your team please tell the timer that you are the last rider and your team number
• Riders must wear boots with heels & hard hats

Reminders:

• The warm up is in the dressage rings
• You can get to the warm up by going past the announcers tower & between 2 tall telephone poles & directly down the hill. The pond will be on your left.
• Please use caution when going to and from the warm up; you will be crossing the course at fences # 17, 22, 36, and 37
• Please be prepared to start at your scheduled time
• When passing teams, please do so no faster than a trot & only where is can be done safely

• Only jump flagged obstacles No schooling of fences.  Once you have jumped a fence please continue on the course
• Non jumping teams may jump any of the flagged obstacles
• Two minutes have been added to the ‘ideal time’ for the Cider Break which between fences 15 & 16 which is about half way.  It will be self serve & there will be a mounting block available.
• At the completion  of your rider please put your number in the laundry basket near the canoe jump
• Please stay to the edge of the fields

Have a Great Ride!

Schedule for those who pre-entered ~ I tried to accommodate requests as best as possible.

Time	#	Div	Rider 1	Horse 1	Rider 2	Horse 2	Rider 3	Horse 3
12:00	1	Jumping	Holly Shine	Sam	Lisa Suhrie	Reveal The Star
12:03	2	Jumping	Alexandra Flavion	Braggin Rights	Cheyanne Martucci	Bailey's Irish Cream	Ashley Brush	All That Jazz
12:06	3	Jumping	Karen Copus	Gabriel	Meredith Borstorff	Smokes Bandit Farbig
12:09	4	Jumping	Rachael Cooper	Like a Charm	Rachael Kindler	Charlotte	Nicole Zelenak	Gabby RVM
12:12	5	Jumping	Emily Hummel	All American Ladd	Kelly Cooper	Charlie	Kelley Madden	Lavinia-Lena
12:15	6	Jumping	Regina Jakacki	Freddie	Krista Child	Simeon
12:18	7	Jumping	Taylor Walton	Silver Charm	Allison Deem	Sugar
12:21	8	Jumping	Tori Swejk	Juliet	andrea porter	Tommy
12:24	9	Jumping	Rachel Cellini	Curious George	Jennifer Minster	Mr. Behrens
12:27	11	Jumping
12:30	13	Jumping
12:33	14	Jumping
12:36	15	Jumping
12:39	16	Jumping	Jenn Gallagher	Bentley	Alli DaShiell	Westward Go
12:42	17	Jumping	Emily Moore	Lucy	Tess Haynes	Otis
12:45	18	Jumping	Azia Haynes	Shooter	Marissa lucci	Saskia
12:48	19	Trail Riders	Kris Dunlap	Danny	Leesia Dailey	Dante's	Jess livengood	Boo
12:51	20	Jumping	Jordan smyers	Caesar	Kennedy Sorm	Silver
12:54	21	Jumping	Holly Shine	Josh
12:57	22	Flat	Joan Word	Josey	Chrissy Preistley	Dewey
1:00	23	Flat	Heather Krysty	Maggie Mae	Lauren Krysty	Callie
1:03	24	Flat	Chelsea Nau Performance Horses
1:06	25	Flat	Chelsea Nau Performance Horses
1:09	26	Flat	Chelsea Nau Performance Horses
1:12	27	Flat	Chelsea Nau Performance Horses
1:15	28	Flat	Megan Smith	Sky's the Limit	Tiphani Beckett	BB Shy Dancer
1:18	29	Flat	Sarah Campbell		??		??
1:21	30
1:24	31	Flat	Krista Child	Drake	Regina Jakacki	Mare
1:27	33
1:30	34	Trail Riders	Elizabeth Goldberg	Kingsberry	Kara Jones	Ty	Monicca Bucci	Bindi
1:33	35	Trail Riders	Molly Tubbs	Little Romeo	Wendy Campbell	Kings Classic
1:36	36	Trail Riders	Barbara Petersen	Alvin	Yvette Petersen	Rosie Mai	Hilda Cook	Tubby
1:39	37
1:42	38
1:45	39	Flat	Jeri Close	Dolly	Lizzy McClung	Diesel
1:48	40
1:51	41
1:54	42
1:57	43
2:00	44	Flat	Holly Shine	Louie

SGF Horse Trials Prevent Letter

Welcome to the Stone Gate Farm Horse Trials.   Please read the information below and even if you have been coming here for years please read as we have changed a few things...

•  Letter from the secretary:
  First of all, thank you for entering SGF's fall horse trial. There a quite a few people that are either missing paperwork, signatures or monies due.  All on-line entries must have a signed signature page. Please go to the link below and check your entry status on Start Box Please come prepared to pay, sign or supply any missing items.  Please do not give me cash for a stall deposit as I leave on Sunday for home at the conclusion of the competition.  Therefore, I may not be there, or may not have time to check your stall and refund your cash. Payment of any other monies due by cash is preferred.  Please bring the correct change.  It would be greatly appreciated.  Checks will be accepted if you cannot provide cash. Those with missing  paperwork - please bring a copy if possible of coggins.  Presigned signature pages where they are missing would be helpful, but I have  them on hand if you don't have a copy to sign and bring. Last, but not least, since there are quite a few with missing items, please allow yourself enough time to get through check in and make your ride times. Once again, thank your or your entries and your patience.  I look forward to seeing you and hope you all have a safe, enjoyable and successful competition.
                        Sincerely,                                                                                                                                    Penne Colao 

• Start Times & Stabling Assignments: 
• Start times & stabling assignments will be available Wed. evening Sept 18th on Start Box.  The overall schedule currently was sent in a previous e-mail it has been tweaked slightly and has been changed on the the earlier post. Be sure to check the overall schedule in your program for the breaks when Show Jumping will be available for walking
• Results can be accessed anytime during the competition by going to the above link.  Be sure to send the link to family and friends who won’t be coming with you so they can keep up to date on you results.  If you have smart phone or an i-pad you can check your scores anywhere anytime.  Scores will be posted in the dome and and in the small metal building in the middle near the day parking. 

• Cross Country Maps are available @ My Course Walk. I hope to have show jumping courses availble soon, so be sure to check back.

• Packets: we will have express check in for those who have complete and correct entries.  There will be an alpha list and you can help yourself to your packet.  ALL packets will be up at the house ONLY.  You may want to pull in at the day parking lot to pick up your packets before heading to stabling. For those who don't have complete entries; allow a little.  
• Competitors who DO NOT have complete entries MUST have what they need to make your entry complete  before you will be given a number.
• We will be using paper pinnies.  The plastic pinny holders can be purchased at the tack shop which will be on grounds
• Please note: The drive to stabling is ONE WAY!  DO NOT drive in the neighbor’s corn field!  They are generous enough to allow us to use their drive, please don’t jeopardize that by driving in their field. We are going to try to leave the drive open during dressage (we have done this for a year now and it works quite well if people are considerate) as a convenience to competitors and to keep horses off the cross country course as much as possible.  However we have a few requests:
• if there is a horse doing their test in Ring 2 (closest to the drive) please wait until their test is completed before going down the drive
• it is requested that people get to and from the warm up through the pasture/cross country course especially if you have a dog or child in tow ;)
• those who are in the day parking field are asked to access the warm up are via Schneider Rd. 
• Starter competitors ONLY may access the dressage warm up through the cross country course
• All levels  and divisions will be doing the B Dressage Tests EXCEPT for Starters who will be doing Beginner Novice Test A
• The shuttle service will be running on Sat. We will have pick ups will be at the house, near the ‘dome’  near stabling barn & stadium. A phone number will be posted. 
• Awards:  All divisions will have ribbons through 8^th place and an award for 1^st place.  In addition several pairs of Equiflexsleeves. Be sure to visit Mary Liebold booth on Sat to check out these innovative products. For those who may have to leave before picking up your ribbon there will be envelops available that you can address and leave with $2 for mailing the ribbon to you. There will be additional awards that will be listed in the program
• Stabling:
• The stall number is painted on the cement footer in front of the stall
• Initial bedding of chopped straw will be provided. 
• The lights in the barn run off a generator and will be shut off at 11:00PM on Fri.  You may want to bring a flashlight or head lamp. Stalls 59 - 70 do not have lights
• All stalls have gates.  We have made improvements, but you may still have to lift up a little to make them easier to  handle.
• Stalls must be stripped to have the ‘muck check’ destroyed

Directions and/or maps can be found at here.     The link includes the following:

•  written directions and pics
  
•  Link to Google Map of Stone Gate Farm:  You can find directions to the farm, motels and off site stabling. can be found at above link
• Satellite Map of the farm will help you find your way around the farm which can be accessed at the link above.  Please refer to the map so you know where you are going. For those who have been coming for years may want to check out the map as well as the Show Jumping warm up is in a different location.

I think that's it for now.  Here's hoping for good weather and a great weekend of 'eventing' !

Jackie