National Rally 2010



The first CPC National Rally in ten years was held this past summer in British Colombia. It was hosted at an amazing facility by the BCLM region.

     


I had the oppurtunity to travel there to represent Nova Scotia along with Julia Locke, Erin McDermott, and Susan Foote as our chaperone. We also had Trevor Clarke from the hosting region join us, and we couldn't have asked for a better groom!

Everyone camped out on site at the Maple Ridge Equestrian Center for the duration of the event; which was a lot of fun despite some rainy weather during our last few days there.

After all the horses arrived on our first day at MREC, we were matched up with them and got a chance to try them out on the flat and over jumps under the supervision of a coach and some of the horse's owners and riders.

On the first competition day we had trot up and rode our dressage tests in the morning, followed by stadium that afternoon in the beautiful grass jumping ring. Cross-country was ridden on the second day of the competetition, after riders had gotten more used to their borrowed mounts.

That evening the competition wrapped up with an awards banquet and some very entertaining team skits. The final day we enjoyed a trip to Ganville Island public market and a harbour cruise on board the MV Royal Vancouver before heading back to Maple Ridge to pack up and say our goodbyes.

Overall, the trip was an great experience thanks to the organizers, and hopefully National Rally will continue annually!

Rachel Foote