RIDE-A-THON 2008

NORTH OKANAGAN THERAPEUTIC RIDING ASSOCIATION17th ANNUAL
POKER RIDE-A-THON

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 when local equestrians young and old and from all disciplines and backgrounds, hit the trails of Coldstream Ranch and Kal Lake Park yet again for NOTRA’s 17th annual Ride-A-Thon!   

The pre-registration deadline is Friday, June 13th.  Riders pay $30.00 per horse / rider combination before this date ... $35.00 if registering the day of the ride.  Riders who pre-register will have their name entered in a draw for a gift “bucket” filling will all sorts of grooming supplies and other goodies, supplied by The Paddock Tack & Togs and valued at $50.00.  Riders who collect $60.00 or more in pledges will have their entry fee waived, and those who collect $100.00 or more will also receive a Ride-A-Thon t-shirt.  We encourage everyone to make the extra effort and collect the pledges as this is what the ride is all about.

On the day of the ride, registration will begin at 9:00am at the Coldstream Ranch Chalet with the “fast riders” heading out on the trails no earlier than 10:00am.  There will again be seven stations throughout the flagged and mapped route for riders to collect their cards for their poker hand.  The ride will take you through the Coldstream Ranch into Kal Lake Park, down to Cosens Bay then back to the Ranch through Bear Valley and past Deep Lake.  At a leisurely pace the ride is about three hours … much faster for you speed demons! 

There are a limited numbers of 10 x 10 pens available to rent for those who pre-register.  The cost for a pen is $10.00 for riders who collect $60.00 or more in pledges, $20.00 for those who don’t.   The panels to make these pens have to be hauled in from our facility at O’Keefe Ranch so only as many pens as are reserved will be set up.  There will not be extra available on the day of the ride.

This is NOTRA’s largest single fundraiser of the year and all of the money raised goes directly toward providing horseback riding lessons for mentally and physically disabled children and adults in the North Okanagan.  Our board works hard to round up really terrific incentive prizes for the riders who collect pledges and the local private and business community are unbelievably generous in providing them.  Plan to gather a group of friends and come out and have fun!  Enjoy a leisurely ride and take in the beautiful scenery on a historic ranch that is no longer open to the public.  Once everyone has returned from the ride, we will be having a barbeque lunch at the chalet with a silent auction of some fabulous gift baskets to bid on while you wait for all the riders to return.  Once everyone is back to the chalet, presentations will be made for the greatest number of pledges brought in by an adult, by a junior and for the two best poker hands.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Coldstream Ranch on June 22nd and thanking you in advance for helping keep NOTRA’s therapeutic riding program alive and well in the North Okanagan!

*Riders should consider having their horses shod for the ride, as it is a rather rocky towards the end of the ride near Deep Lake.  You should also bring lots of mosquito spray for you and your horse for when you travel through the same area!  It is mandatory for junior riders to wear helmets and HCBC membership is recommended.

RIDE-A-THON 2006

NOTRA would like to extend a huge Thank You to everyone who made our 15th Annual Poker Ride-A-Thon such an overwhelming success! Eighty-three riders turned out on June 25th and raised just under $5,000.00 to help NOTRA to continue to provide horseback riding lessons for physically and or mentally challenged children and adults in the North Okanagan.

A Special Thanks To:

Eighty-two riders turned out on the beautifully sunny June 25th to take part in a wonderful ride through Coldstream Ranch and Kal Lake Park and raised just under $5,000.00. These funds will go a long way to help NOTRA to continue to provide horseback riding lessons for physically and or mentally challenged children and adults in the North Okanagan.

For every $50 in pledges brought in, riders had a ballot put in for our Grand Prize draw. Winning the Grand Prize, 2 days & one night at Eagle Rock Guest Ranch, a gorgeous horse lamp donated by The Paddock and a stunning Diamond & Iolyte ring donated by Irene Liddell, was Jade Ralston of Coldstream.

Bringing in the "Most Pledges by an Adult" and winning golf for four at Rivershore Golf & Country Club (donated by Investor's Group), a Wrangler camp chair donated by Cowboy's Choice, a High Sierra sport bag donated by Rick Schaab and a gorgeous art print donated by Rob Glenesk was Ben Crozier of Armstrong.

"Runner Up Adult" and winning two Sun Vally Speedway Cascar Super Series V.I.P. tickets was Madeline Molliet of Coldstream.

The prize for the Top Poker Hand was a gorgeous saddle rack donated by CM Manufacturing and the prize for the 2nd Highest Poker Hand was a horn bag donated by Ray Gale and $50 in Canadian Tire money donated by Canadian Tire Vernon.

Nearly all of the other participants in the ride walked away with fabulous draw prizes donated by generous sponsors in the North Okanagan.

NOTRA would like to thank all of the riders, donors, sponsors and volunteers who made our 15th Annual Ride-A-Thon such a wonderful success. See you all next year!

Rid-A-Thon 2005 Slideshow