As we close the 2014 Distance Derby & begin 2015...
I want to WELCOME each & every one of you!
I want to WELCOME each & every one of you!
Whether you plan to track 100 miles or 1000 I hope this Derby provides you some encouragement, an extra hour in the saddle that may have slip by or maybe a new friend. Whatever you gain I hope you build from it!
Some people may wonder why we don't do lots of prizes or why we operate in based on the Golden Rule of Kindness with No Bullying or Discrimination of any kind. My answer to that is simple...In The Great Distance Derby the reward here is the JOURNEY, WITH YOU & YOUR HORSE(S), in some cases shared with friends.
There are lots of places that you can compete for buckles or saddles, where competition is the goal. There are lots of places where you can critique & criticize & that is cool. But there are fewer places that promote time in the saddle for just that sake & even fewer places that make their operating norm one of comradery & encouragement.
This community is what me/you/WE make it.
We have folks from Alaska to Florida playing as well as folks from our predecessor DD. Comment on each other's Team Pages once I get them up lol. Encourage friendly competition. Reach out to our youth riders. Continue to share the art of driving. Lift one another up!
It is a privilege to be among so many strong & kindhearted equestrians. I know of no other place/group where such diversity among horse(s) & human(s) connects as we do. We have nearly every breed of horse, every disciple, riders & drivers as wise as 70 & as energetic as 8 years old! We will all come here with different ideas & different lifestyles sharing just a few commonalities (a passion for saddle/cart time & a commitment to our few Rules)...may you learn as much from eachother as miles you accumulate!
I have had the unique been a pleasure in playing virtually with the DD for three years now. As the first Michigander to place in the Top 10 & make the Millennium club I was honored to be asked to start a Derby for Michiganders & equestrians across the Great Lakes States. To then be asked to continue the DD for 2015 was also an honor one that made clear to me the need to expand this opportunity to equestrians everywhere! So this is the FIRST year we have a platform like this, providing State & Country Derbies with opportunities to compete individually, by state, regionally & more.
While you are part of a larger Distance Derby tradition you are also part of the FIRST year we have such a wide & organized expansion!
Thank you to all our volunteers, including the DD founders Tammy Martin Vasa & Diane Beckham & all our positive participants over the years. Without the commitment of competitors to make this a DRAMA FREE community we would not continue. This multi-faceted Derby is incredibly time consuming so we need Teams commitment to helping to make this as FUN to run as it is FUN to play!
Feel free to to look through this Derby blog & links to previous ones to get an idea of how the Distance Derby works. We have over 80% of active Michigan Distance Derby/Great Lakes Distance Derby Teams returning to play this year & some Distance Derby folks from other states as well. Thanks as always for your patience & positivity!
Wishing you all a Happy New Year filled with Miles & Smiles!
Sincerely,
Team Grace
The Great Distance Derby Founder
