• Novice is designed specifically for you: the rider and horse new to competitive trail riding. It doesn’t matter if you have only been riding for a few years or riding your whole life, this is where you learn the ropes of the sport. You and your horse are a team. You travel at a moderate pace, generally about four miles per hour, and cover a maximum of 40 miles over two days. The obstacles encountered are natural to the trail and easily negotiable.
   
• CP riders are experienced CTR folks who are starting new horses or just prefer a less stressful ride. They go the same distance and pace as Novice but encounter more challenging obstacles.
   
• Open goes up to 60 miles in two days and generally averages a quicker pace better than 5 mph.

The veterinary and horsemanship judges are there to help and evaluate you and your team mate from the preliminary baseline examination (called check-in) usually the day before the ride until the final exam (called check-out) at rides’ end. They are also out on trail.

The vet judge observes and checks your horse for stress, lameness, manners and response to you. Part of the stress evaluation includes periodic pulse and respiration (P&R) stops where volunteers take your horses P&R after a ten minute rest period.

The horsemanship judge looks for you to be riding light and how you take care of your horse during and after a day on the trail.
You will find your fellow competitors very courteous, safe and willing to answer your questions.

All competitors are given a window of time in which to complete the measured distance. Timing information, trail maps, water locations, P&R locations, description of the trail and mileage checkpoints are all covered at a ride briefing the evening before the next day’s ride. Many rides have a meeting with the horsemanship judge after the briefing for new folks who have questions or want to hear tips from the judge.

Unique to NATRC is that competitors receive both horse score cards and rider scorecards at the end of the ride rating their performance by the veterinary and horsemanship judges. It’s like having a two-day veterinary exam and a riding lesson for one low price. Best of all, you can see where you need to improve to better you and your horse for the next ride!

NATRC rides are NOT races. Our rides emphasize the skill of pacing your horse to maximize his longevity as a distance horse. We proudly boast that we have horses with over 20,000 miles in competition.

To learn even more, pick up the “NATRC Rider’s Manual” which is a complete guide to competitive trail riding. It was written by an esteemed committee of NATRC judges and competitors.

If you answer YES to any of the questions below, then you are ready to try competitive trail riding with us!

• Are you intrigued by the challenge of long distance riding but don’t want to race?
   
• Are you ready to learn in an educational environment through qualified evaluation of horse and rider?
   
• Are you ready to experience the challenge, satisfaction and sheer fun of competing in a sport that tests your horse's stamina and trail skills?
   
• Are you curious about your horse’s athletic ability over varied terrain, distance and speed? How about your athletic ability?
   
• Are you ready to test the depth of your horsemanship skills in a back country adventure?
   
• Are you ready to find out how you and your horse really work as a team in a safe, fun environment?

So ask and you'll get all the help and guidance you can possibly stand--and then some.