2016 marks our fourth year participating in The Great Distance Derby and our third year running it. Team Grace includes a 10 year old Fjord Quarter Cross named Idunn Grace (pronounced E dun) and rider Heather Grace. Occasionally our Australian Shepard, Wilson, joins us on trail too.
We are grateful for every day we are alive and especially for those days we get to spend in saddle or cart. Over the past three years we have tracked over 2500 Miles and countless Smiles together across more than 5 States.
2012 was our first year together as this is my first horse so we tracked our progress together through FaceBook and hours on our calendar. 2013 was our first Distance Derby (DD) year riding 1067.75 Miles, placing in the Top Ten of riders throughout the US and we were hooked!
We had such a great time participating in the DD we were invited to share that experience with our friends and neighbors! At the request of the DD, I founded the Michigan Distance Derby (MDD) and later the Great Lakes (GLDD) in 2014. Over 113 Equestrians joined in just a few short weeks and collectively they tracked over 25,000 miles in just one year. As we closed our 2014 year the DD founders struggled to find a volunteer to continue and requested I continue their efforts. When no other volunteer stepped up to the task and the founders firm in their finality about running it in any way, I agreed with the understanding that I would expand the Distance Derby to equestrians everywhere and continue with the commitment to not only tracking miles but building a Positive Horse Community where Sportsmanship & Horsemanship are paramount. The Great Distance Derby was off and running! Or walking with an occasional trot and lope!
Now regardless of where you live you can track each small step toward milestones with The Great Distance Derby!
Our 2015 Team Roster included riders and drivers from nearly every discipline, 26 States and 2 Countries. Collectively, Teams tracked over 40,000 miles across the United States and Canada. We added monthly themes to encourage fun, continuing education and cross discipline training. We supported other equestrian organizations by encouraging participation and financial support.
In 2015 we also concretized the foundational tone of the Distance Derby, focusing on Positivity & ensuring a Bully Free Zone for equestrians of ALL AGES and ABILITIES. Teams who were unwilling to follow our few rules based in mutual respect and playing according to the Spirit of the Game were removed or not invited back (less than 4%). While this commitment to Positive Play and Bully Free Zones was apparently new or too restrictive for some Teams, it was clearly necessary at a time when Cyber Bullying through FaceBook and stating opinion as fact is far too common a practice. A small group of these disgruntled equestrians, then copied the Derby format without permission. Further underscoring, a continued inability to respect even copyrighted work of others expressly included in the Rules they agreed to when joining the Distance Derby.
As the New Year opened, 2016, the vast majority of our active Teams returned continuing to build on this rare opportunity to play positively, co-creating one place in the horse community where encouragement and congratulations are the norm rather than debate and criticism. Our 2016 Team Roster also includes more riders and drivers than ever before and more States than ever before.
Our Teams personal goals range from 50 miles, 100 miles, 500 miles and 1,000 miles for the year. Some are starting new equines, others are getting back in the saddle for the first time since illness or surgery. Some Teams are looking to try a new discipline, others improving on their current one. Some are competitive endurance riders or pleasure drivers. Most are looking to strengthen their bond with their horse(s) or mule(s), all are looking to improve their horsemanship. And while it is always exciting to have bragging rights, or mark your milestones, we are Family Friendly Community that is aimed at Horsemanship and Sportsmanship and the Smiles in the Miles!
In regards to our own journey, we are looking forward to continuing to explore Michigan, our home state. We have been through most of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from West to East Michigan riding or driving over 39 different trail systems. In 2016 we hope to visit a few of the trails we haven’t yet in the Lower Peninsula and sample a bit of the Upper Peninsula in addition to visiting our Teams in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina. We aim to see the Glorious Great United States and maybe even parts of neighboring Canada by horseback and meet our Great Distance Derby Teams in person over the coming years. We are also working to learn more foundational dressage, improving our driving, and one day be strong enough to event! Along the way we will continue cross training through all the sports available by horseback so long as it strengthens the bond between horse and human!
WELCOME 2016 Distance Derby Teams and look forward to offering this opportunity for POSITIVE Equestrians Everywhere for generations to come! Wishing all fellow riders a safe, mutually respectful & joyful 2016 with your equine partners!
2016 marks our fourth year participating in The Great Distance Derby and our third year running it. Team Grace includes a 10 year old Fjord Quarter Cross named Idunn Grace (pronounced E dun) and rider Heather Grace. Occasionally our Australian Shepard, Wilson, joins us on trail too.
ReplyDeleteWe are grateful for every day we are alive and especially for those days we get to spend in saddle or cart. Over the past three years we have tracked over 2500 Miles and countless Smiles together across more than 5 States.
2012 was our first year together as this is my first horse so we tracked our progress together through FaceBook and hours on our calendar. 2013 was our first Distance Derby (DD) year riding 1067.75 Miles, placing in the Top Ten of riders throughout the US and we were hooked!
We had such a great time participating in the DD we were invited to share that experience with our friends and neighbors! At the request of the DD, I founded the Michigan Distance Derby (MDD) and later the Great Lakes (GLDD) in 2014. Over 113 Equestrians joined in just a few short weeks and collectively they tracked over 25,000 miles in just one year. As we closed our 2014 year the DD founders struggled to find a volunteer to continue and requested I continue their efforts. When no other volunteer stepped up to the task and the founders firm in their finality about running it in any way, I agreed with the understanding that I would expand the Distance Derby to equestrians everywhere and continue with the commitment to not only tracking miles but building a Positive Horse Community where Sportsmanship & Horsemanship are paramount. The Great Distance Derby was off and running! Or walking with an occasional trot and lope!
Now regardless of where you live you can track each small step toward milestones with The Great Distance Derby!
Our 2015 Team Roster included riders and drivers from nearly every discipline, 26 States and 2 Countries. Collectively, Teams tracked over 40,000 miles across the United States and Canada. We added monthly themes to encourage fun, continuing education and cross discipline training. We supported other equestrian organizations by encouraging participation and financial support.
ReplyDeleteIn 2015 we also concretized the foundational tone of the Distance Derby, focusing on Positivity & ensuring a Bully Free Zone for equestrians of ALL AGES and ABILITIES. Teams who were unwilling to follow our few rules based in mutual respect and playing according to the Spirit of the Game were removed or not invited back (less than 4%). While this commitment to Positive Play and Bully Free Zones was apparently new or too restrictive for some Teams, it was clearly necessary at a time when Cyber Bullying through FaceBook and stating opinion as fact is far too common a practice. A small group of these disgruntled equestrians, then copied the Derby format without permission. Further underscoring, a continued inability to respect even copyrighted work of others expressly included in the Rules they agreed to when joining the Distance Derby.
As the New Year opened, 2016, the vast majority of our active Teams returned continuing to build on this rare opportunity to play positively, co-creating one place in the horse community where encouragement and congratulations are the norm rather than debate and criticism. Our 2016 Team Roster also includes more riders and drivers than ever before and more States than ever before.
Our Teams personal goals range from 50 miles, 100 miles, 500 miles and 1,000 miles for the year. Some are starting new equines, others are getting back in the saddle for the first time since illness or surgery. Some Teams are looking to try a new discipline, others improving on their current one. Some are competitive endurance riders or pleasure drivers. Most are looking to strengthen their bond with their horse(s) or mule(s), all are looking to improve their horsemanship. And while it is always exciting to have bragging rights, or mark your milestones, we are Family Friendly Community that is aimed at Horsemanship and Sportsmanship and the Smiles in the Miles!
In regards to our own journey, we are looking forward to continuing to explore Michigan, our home state. We have been through most of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from West to East Michigan riding or driving over 39 different trail systems. In 2016 we hope to visit a few of the trails we haven’t yet in the Lower Peninsula and sample a bit of the Upper Peninsula in addition to visiting our Teams in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina. We aim to see the Glorious Great United States and maybe even parts of neighboring Canada by horseback and meet our Great Distance Derby Teams in person over the coming years. We are also working to learn more foundational dressage, improving our driving, and one day be strong enough to event! Along the way we will continue cross training through all the sports available by horseback so long as it strengthens the bond between horse and human!
ReplyDeleteWELCOME 2016 Distance Derby Teams and look forward to offering this opportunity for POSITIVE Equestrians Everywhere for generations to come!
Wishing all fellow riders a safe, mutually respectful & joyful 2016 with your equine partners!
Smiles & Miles!