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2008 Eastern Mojave Scenic
Results
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In
the late 1700's and early 1800's my family migrated west into what
is now Texas. Sunrise Ranch, near Dripping Springs, was sold in the
late 1950's but our family retained the original name and brands. I
thought it fitting to put the name to use for the western rides and
other ventures that we have planned; besides, it makes a nice
logo.
The XP Rides, named for the Pony Express brand, have
become synonymous with multi-day rides and a certain style. We want
to reserve the XP Ride name for multi-day rides fitting that
reputation and style. My retirement from the full time practice of
veterinary medicine a year ago gave me the opportunity to pursue
some other interests, which include reviving a simpler style of
ride, not unlike the rides that Suzy Ketchum used to offer in the
eastern Sierras, in the early eighties. Other interests include
venturing into forms of distance riding events not associated with
the AERC, such as competitive orienting on horseback, general trail
rides and some events associated with motor vehicles.
The
Nicholson Family has been involved in the sport of distance riding
for a long time. We have actively competed in and managed
Competitive Trail Rides, Endurance Rides and some special events,
such as the cross-country rides on the Pony Express Trail. We enjoy
the company of the riders who participate in distance riding sports
and enjoy looking for new places to ride, camp, and share outdoor
experiences. During my travels around the west, I am always looking
for interesting places to ride, which translates into finding
interesting places to put on a ride. It seems prudent to me to try
out new areas and rides in a manner that will not jeopardize the
reputation of the XP. The rides that we are planning will probably
attract riders who may not be riding and training at the level
required for multi-day events. Therefore we will obviously need to
implement more safeguards for the horses that we do for a
traditional XP event. The objective is to provide rides that will
offer interesting places to ride and train, with a minimum of
amenities, and a more relaxed atmosphere, that will introduce new
riders to our style.
I hope that ride managers, offering rides with more structure
and amenities will continue to prosper and conduct even more rides,
so that everyone will have an opportunity to seek a venue they wish
to play in. Our rides are not for everyone, nor are they meant to
be. They operate under the direction of our family, whose style and
opinions are well known. Distance riding is a many faceted sport,
and the variety of venues shows strength, not a weakness. We welcome
you to give our corner of the sport a try.
Everyone
should understand that these events will stress Endurance Riding as
opposed to Endurance Racing. The eastern Mojave is a big desert and
you can kill yourself and your horse if you lose your grip on
reality. This ride will be run under the same sort of unstructured
management that the XP rides have done for years. If you lack the
ability to take responsibility for yourself and your horse, you
should stay home, or go to some of the other events that offer more
structure and safety nets. | 
