Greetings
from Ricochet Ridge Ranch
in Mendocino, California!

After just enough fall rains to get the grass and wild flowers started, we're enjoying mild sunshiney days to help them grow... with the added advantage of trails dry enough for miles of trots and canters through the redwoods. Footing on the beach always remains perfect, but is different every hour of the day according to the tides. Harvey and I have an even greater appreciation for the seals and seal lions along the Mendocino coast after our National Geographic journey to the Galapagos Islands in December.

Last April, Rascal and I were surprised and thrilled to be featured on the cover of The Trail Rider magazine. Fantastic photography and a nearly embarrassingly glowing story by Shawn Hamilton described her visit with us along with other guests. Shawn really loved riding Poncho, and mentioned him twice in the article. Here's the article at our website. Shawn has another article about Ricochet about soon to be published in Horse Sport magazine.

Photo by Shawn Hamilton

We were also honored to grace the cover of the 2013 Official Visitor Guide for Mendocino County and to be the centerpiece photo for the month of May in their stunningly beautiful calendar. Call them (866.466.3636) to ask that their free 80 page Visitor's Guide, describing other activities, B&B's, restaurants, art galleries and shoppes in Mendocino County be mailed to you. Rascal and I are joined in this photo by Angela Lamarr on Poncho and Cyd Ross on Victory. Their calendar is also available for purchase.

EQUUS, another one of the premier equestrian magazines, also gave us a favorable mention in 2012.

Last September, four experienced riders who were novices to endurance riding successfully completed our Chamberlain Creek Endurance Seminar, joining Treve and me on the sanctioned Limited Distance American Endurance Ride Conference event. Jassilmeer, Gamay, Victory and Indiana Jones have done it all before, and took excellent care of their riders. Earlier in the year, Vida Stoltzfus had ridden Treve with her daughter Taylor on Forrest Tancer's amazing mare Tara to complete the Cooley Ranch Limited Distance ride.

On August 24th and 25th, various RRR critters will join a hundred other horses for the famous Mendocino Magic Endurance Ride. The Ride & Tie Association Championships will take place concurrently based at Harvey's and my Simcha Ranch! We already have three teams signed up on RRR horses for the Ride & Tie. What a fantastic event! Two people share one horse, so they are always either riding, or running cross country while the horse is tied waiting for the partner to catch up. You've got to see it to believe it: www.rideandtie.org .

I've completed four of the five R&T Championships I've attempted, and Harvey has two under his belt. One of my partners was 72 years old when we completed, and I've seen parents with 7 year old children have a blast with this sport. Cyd Ross is already teamed up for her first attempt. Try it!

Mendocino Magic is a 2-day boogie, with Limited Distance and 50 Mile Endurance events on both Saturday and Sunday, a potluck with wine tasting Friday night, and fantastic catered awards banquets at the end of each day's competitions. Four returning "friends of RRR" (including Madeleine James, from London, England, on her seventh return!) and six new friends will be attending our sold-out weeklong Redwood Coast Riding Vacation and Endurance Seminar from Aug 19-25, which culminates in participation as a rider on RRR horses in the weekend festivities. Others are leasing horses for the Ride & Tie. Forrest Tancer and Cynthia Ariosta are again producing these wonderful events. We're lucky that Cynthia is taking the time off from her wildly successful new restaurant "Saucy", in Ukiah.

Red Molly, the nationally renowned three woman singing group rode with us recently while on their West Coast Tour ~~~ great fun! None of them had ever ridden previously, although they sure dress the part. Red Molly has been playing to sold out crowds; their three part harmonies send tingles down my spine. Check 'em out!

In the coming two years, The Trail Rider magazine will be running articles in which Cynthia McFarland interviews me as the "expert" on 12 different subjects relating to trail riding and horse conditioning. If any of you who have ridden with us (or not yet) have any suggestions or pointers you think would be interesting or important to be included in this series, please email me!

Ed, Ursula and Robin McCreigt on Cowboy, Nitecap and Indiana Jones

I've ridden in Kenya's Masai Mara with Gordie Church six times since Harvey and I met there in 1990. Gordie phoned me recently while on a tour of the USA visiting guests from previous riding safaris. Although unfortunately I won't be returning there this year, if any of you are interested, shoot me an email or phone call, and I'll set you up.

By the way, some RRR retired horses are looking for pasture homes, including the magnificent Zanzibar, who is now nearly blind but gets along marvelously in a large pasture with other horses and trees.

Alex from South Africa riding Zanzibar, showing trails used on both RRR trail rides and the Mendo Magic

Carolyn Morgan, Noel Daniels, Angela LaMarr, James Rogers, Vida and Taylor Stoltzfus, Gina Mingori, Rebecca Baily, and Masha and Skyler Hinkle, who are now married with a baby boy named Leo, will all be guiding rides this season along with new-to-us but experienced rider, Meghan Morkeski. We also expect to welcome two young women from Europe on a work-study program through which we have had the joy of meeting many folks with whom we remain close friends over the decades. As a matter of fact, Rebecca, Cyd and Masha first came to us that way, along with Alex, Sam, Raymond, Helene, Camilla, Sky, Miro, Ivana, Leoni, Monique, Geneviève and many others from across the globe! We're united by our love for horses~~~

Vida and Chardonnay preparing for a wedding Barat (Indian marriage ceremony) in Albion.

RIDE WITH US

If you haven't ridden with us a Ricochet Ridge Ranch, or have dreamed of returning, 2013 is filled with wonderful opportunities and ways to do so. Our full-tilt boogie, the Redwood Coast Riding Vacations, are all inclusive, catered with truly wonderful meals. They include lodging at unique Bed & Breakfast Inns and Hotels, riding every day, fine dining with a glass of choice California wines accompanying dinner each evening, live entertainment on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, hot tub spas and massage available just down the road, a party on Friday night, snacks, beverages and lots of camaraderie. They begin on a Monday at 2:00PM and end after breakfast on Sunday morning. The complete itinerary, with dates, description of accommodations, and other information is found on our website.

In year 2013, the price for the six night vacation remains $2295.00 per person, double or triple occupancy, all inclusive. Although our regularly scheduled week-long vacations are during the six summer months, we are happy to arrange custom treks of any duration or full Redwood Coast Riding Vacations at any time during the year. Returning RCRV clients are welcome to $100.00 off!

Rascal overlooking the Inn at Newport Ranch

For those of you who want the full experience of the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation's riding itinerary, but would rather explore other options for meals, wine and entertainment, we offer the "Ride & Save Redwood Coast Riding Vacation". The exact same riding as on regular RCRV, but you'll arrange your own morning & evening meals, lunch one day, wine and entertainment.

On all of our riding vacations, those who are interested can and do learn about the sport of endurance. Friday's ride can include a "mock endurance ride", where we teach you more about sport horse conditioning and veterinary skills. You'll learn to check your horse's cardiac and respiratory recovery rates, capillary refill, skin response, muscle tone and gut sounds, just as is done at a "vet check" on a competitive trail ride, 3 day event, or endurance ride. During the week, we also discuss how to navigate different terrains, demonstrate other endurance related skills, and highlight many of the different riding strategies used by successful riders in the sport.

We can produce custom, magical riding vacations of any duration, from one or two days up to two weeks, with accommodations ranging upwards from $99.00 - 499.00 per night, with or without breakfast, including if you like the Mendo Wine Tour, and suggestions for ocean or river kayaking, golf, hiking trails, free wine tastings and many other local secrets. Of course, if you are going to be in the area already, but don't have time for a full riding vacation, we also offer Daily Trailrides to the Beach and to the Redwood Forests.

RIDE FOR FREE!

And if none of the above entice you... RIDE FOR FREE! Bring 10 friends, and the 11th rides for free on ANY of our private or group trailrides. RIDE FOR 1/2 PRICE! Bring 5 friends and the 6th person rides for 1/2 price on any private trail ride. Ask around at your stables... surely lots of your riding buddies have always wanted to ride in Mendocino and are just waiting for you to get the ball rolling!

And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, where we post fun horse facts, fabulous photos, and share stories of the RRR family - of which you are an important part!

Y'all come!

Happy trails, Lari

other newsletters