Thirty Mile Stage StopEndurance Ride InformationAHA, AERC, and MRER SanctionedDirectionsSee Google Maps for Directions Please click on 'View Larger Map' for a more detailed view or I-90 East or West: Take exit 447, South Billings Blvd. From the West: Turn right, cross the Yellowstone River. About 1/2 mile beyond, turn left onto Old Blue Creek Road just before the Exxon Gas Station (Blue Basket). Stay on Old Blue Creek Road for about 1 1/2 miles. Turn into the Billings Motor Cycle Hill Climbs Club gate, a volunteer will direct you. If no one is available, you need to use the walkie-talkie and/or call the cell phone listed. From the East: turn left, back across the interstate, cross the Yellowstone River. About 1/2 mile beyond, turn left onto Old Blue Creek Road just before the Exxon Gas Station (Blue Basket). Stay on Old Blue Creek Road for about 1 1/2 miles. Turn into the Billings Motor Cycle Hill Climbs Club gate, a volunteer will direct you. If no one is available, you need to use the walkie-talkie and/or call the cell phone listed. No problems for those big rigs. FeesRide Entries:Additional Fees (if necessary)Buy, Sell, TradeBring your new or used tack for our Tack Sale. Spend money or make money. MealsThe Saturday night dinner is included in the entry fee for riders. Extra meal tickets are available for $10.00 each. Camp and Ride Rules 1. This ride is sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), Arabian Horse Association (AHA), and Mountain Region Endurance Riders (MRER). Management guidelines follow the current AERC Rules and Regulations, which have been adopted by the Board of Directors of the AERC and are binding on all AERC sanctioned rides. 2. Ages of horses being ridden in the 50 mile rides must be five years or older as of ride date. Horses being ridden in the 30 mile ride must be four years or older by ride date. (AERC Rule 3). 3. A JUNIOR DIVISION rider is one " who is under the age of 16 as of December 1st of the year of the competition". All juniors MUST wear helmets and MUST ride with an adult sponsor. All Juniors MUST enter and leave all vet checks at the same time of their sponsor. They MUST ride with their sponsor at all times, and MUST finish within one minute (before or after) of their sponsor. 4. Helmets are not required but are enthusiastically recommended. A brain is a horrible thing to waste. 5. All riders must be present and checked in at the starting line PRIOR to the start of the ride (AERC Rule 6). 6. Horses must wear acceptable footwear, ie., shoes or EZ Boot type footwear. 7. Holding periods will start after the horse reached a pulse rate determined at the pre-ride meeting. Hold times will be dependent upon the weather and announced at the pre-ride meeting. 8. Riding time is the time used by the competitors to complete the course, excluding all hold times, and is the time used for AERC ride results . There is no minimum time limit for completion, however, Total competition time (including hold times) will be according to the following: 7.25 hours for 30 miles and 12 hours for 50 miles. 9. A rider can be disqualified for poor horsemanship (over-riding your horse) and/or sportsmanship as determined by the ride veterinarian and ride management (ride management will not overrule a vet decision on a veterinarian matter). All animals must be sound per the veterinarian or may be disqualified. 10. Stimulants and/or pain killer drugs of any kind are prohibited, either in the horse's system or carried by the rider while on the trail. All horses may be subject to drug testing (AERC Rule 13). 11. The same horse/rider combination must pass all check points. Any horse/rider departing from the official trail must return to the point of departure before continuing. Be sure to call your entry number out to any person manning a check point and make sure that they call it back to you so that there will be no question as to whether you passed that point or not. 12. Pre-ride vet check will start at approximately 4:00p.m. and will go until dusk. 13. Ride management and veterinarian decisions are final. 14. Horses must pass all vet checks during and within one hour of crossing the finish line for the 50 mile and one half hour from the time of pulse down for the 30 mile for completion. 15. If your horse is treated by the veterinarian you will receive a bill . There will be no arguing with the vet or you may be disqualified from the ride. 16. If you are a member of AERC, be sure to have your current membership card with you or you will be assessed the $15.00 non-member fee. 17. PLEASE leave your camp area as clean or cleaner than when you arrived...that means rake up your manure and spread it out over a large area. Pick up unused hay and take it home with you if possible or spread it out. We want to be able to continue using these recreation areas in the future, and if you don't pick it up we have to!! 18. Dogs shall be on a leash at all times. 19. Camp within designated areas only. There will be ample horse water, but plan to bring your own people water. 20. Porta-Johns will be provided. There are no hookups or dump facilities, and septic dumping is not allowed. 21. FINALLY and most important, HAVE A SAFE AND FUN RIDE!!!! See you at the finish line :-) Trails The trails are mostly deer and cow trails, some two tracks and only a few fire roads. Ride terrain is varied: you will ride through timber, mountain meadows, some narrow elk trails, and rolling sagebrush hills. There will also be some rocky sections. You will not need to pad your horses for this ride. There is plenty of water on the trail. Terrain: Riding among hills, sand stone cliffs, valleys, and coulees. This trail is tough and challanging, and has been described as technical in some places, and will have to be ridden smartly. You, the rider, cannot be just a passenger on your horse. Geological points of interest: Pictographs State Park and Sacrifice Cliffs nearby ClimateAverage daytime highs are in the lower-70’s, and nights in the mid-40’s. The most recent maximum high on this date was 88° in 1983 and the low was 33 in 2004. Snow and rain is not unusual as 0.4" of snow fell in 1975 and 0.08" of rain fell last year. As always, be prepared for anything. This year, we are predicting a pleasant mixture of sun and clouds, no rain or snow, comfortable temperatures, an enjoyable atmosphere prevailing, and no danger of fire. Veterinary Staff and SanctioningVet check locations will be posted when determined. Our Veterinary Staff Include: Ray Randall, DVM - Bridger, Montana Irena Weise, DVM - Graybull, Wyoming Sue Knighting, DVM - Bridger, Montana Mark Francis, DVM - Hardin, Montana This ride is sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), The Arabian Horse Association (AHA), and the Mountain Region Endurance Riders (MRER).
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