When: Saturday, May 3, 2007, Registration starts 6:30 AM for 5k Where: Stockyards Station Back Forty area Why: Benefits the All Star Equestrian Foundation What: Run For The Riders 5k Run for the Riders 1 mile fun run/walk Run For The Riders Ride N' Tie Prizes: First Place Male/Female and Masters Male/Female in the 5k will win free trips on American Airlines anywhere in the U.S. That's 4 free trips on American for our top competitors in the 5k! Run for The Riders 5k and 1 mile Fun Run and Run for the Riders Ride N' Tie are races
that were conceived to raise funds for
All Star Equestrian Foundation, Inc. which is an organization that
provides mental, physical and emotional fitness through therapeutic
horseback riding. Here’s how a Ride N' Tie is doneTwo Humans and One Horse – the fastest team wins over the marked 10 mile course. The race starts on Exchange Avenue. Horses with riders line up in front of the runners and start. A minute later, runners start. As the trail narrows, care and consideration is needed. It is best if runners keep to the right, so horses and riders can pass on the left. Teams may stay together but it is faster if the rider gets ahead and ties the horse to a suitable tree, post or safe object. It is best if the horse is wearing a halter under the bridle with a good long cotton lead attached. The rules are simple - Horses must be 5 years of age or older to compete. Each horse has a vet check at the beginning of the race. Only one person can use the horse at a time, so no riding double and no tailing. There are 4 exchange points on the course. Each rider/runner goes 2 miles to an exchange point. Horses will be tied at each exchange point and await the runner to arrive. This continues until both rider and runner on a team cross the finish line together. Each contestant must alternate between the ride and run phase. Typically, the fastest competitor on a team would run the first leg, since that would enable that runner to complete more stages than the other competitor. Ride N' Tie History In pioneer times, if two people found themselves with one horse, one person would walk while the other rode ahead on the horse. After a few miles the rider would tie the horse to a tree and continue on foot. The person who began walking would catch up to the horse, mount it, and ride past the second person. Again the horse would be tied, and the relay begun again. This gave each person chance to rest as they rode and some time for the horse to rest as it stood waiting for the next rider. Obviously, it was faster than just two people walking while leading a horse. The same process happens in our Run for the Riders Ride N' Tie Race. Our ancestors may have been content to walk but today’s participants love the thrill of a race.
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