Ride-A-Thon

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 28th, 2009 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 18th annual Ride-A-Thon!   

The pre-registration deadline is Friday, June 12th.  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 names entered in a draw for gift basket valued at $50.00 & will be eligible to purchase the Ride-A-Thon t-shirt for $15.00 ($20.00 on the day of the ride).   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.

To participate, download the Registration Form and Pledge Sheet .

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 28th 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 2008 an Unprecedented Success!

NOTRA’s 17th Annual Ride-A-Thon on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 at Coldstream Ranch was a resounding success attracting 93 horses & riders and raising $8,366.97 in pledges! That total, combined with funds brought in by the event sponsors reached the astounding amount of $10,262.34! These funds will got a long was in helping us to continue to provide ‘recreational horseback riding therapy’ for children and adults in the North Okanagan who have physical and or mental challenges.

The adult who raised the most pledges this year was Ben Crozier of Armstrong with an amazing amount of $1,003.00! 
Ben won the prize package of:

Fintry High Farm Adventure ATV Tour for Two (2)
One (1) Night at the Vernon Lodge
plus $25 gift certificate to the BX Creek Bar & Grill
A Duck’s Unlimited print (Gregory’s Fine Jewellery)
An American Ranch Pillow & Throw (The Paddock)
4 Pottery cups (Northfire Pottery)

The runner up was NOTRA Instructor Greta Oakes, who, after finding out she could attend the Ride-A-Thon only days before the ride, raised $545.00. Greta won:

One (1) Night for Two in a Deluxe Room at the Prestige Inn Vernon Wool Western Saddle Pad (Country West)

The youth who raised the most pledges was Kerri Marshall bringing in $354.50. 
Kerri won:
A designer grooming tote full of grooming products (The Paddock)
A gift certificate for a Big D Blanket (Endymion Farms)

The runner up youth was Keenan Hornby bringing in $335.00. Keenan won a
Breyer Model Horse Gift set

The prize for the Top Poker Hand was a trailer saddle rack donated by CM Manufacturing and the Prize for the 2nd highest poker hand was a gift certificate for a custom made belt (value $90) donated by Ray Gale.

NOTRA’s Board, staff and riders would like to extend their deepest thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make Ride-A-Thon 2008 such a fabulous event!

Ride-A-Thon 2008’s Generous Sponsors:

Keith & Chelsea Balcaen of Coldstream Ranch