new river pict with title Virginia Highlands Endurance Challenge

Web album of VHHT Pictures

Links to places of interest or just plain information:
New River State Park Information

New River State Park Trail Map

Mt Rogers National Recreation Area

Iron Mtn. Horse Camp

Place: Jubilee Park, Ivanhoe, Va
Date: August 28-29, 2009
Type of Ride: 2 day 30/55 Start time 7 am
Ride Manager: Don Meuten 919-496-7236
Asst. Manager: (THE BOSS): Nicki Meuten
Assistants: Dawn Osborne and Laura Cullins
Trail Masters: Gina Hagis and Nancy Sluys
Mr. Everything: Tom Hagis
Chef d'Cook: Tom Sites
Head Vet: Dr. Otis Schmidt

Treatment Vets: Dr. Lynn Johnson

Photographer: Becky Siler
Ride Entry: Word Doc- -- PDF -- NEG. COGGINS REQD.
Directions: Word Document : - PDF file -
UPDATED 06/26/09

Farrier: TBA

Trail Description
Trail is different from last year, working to make all away vet checks at the same spot.

Marketing/Awards

Slide Show from last years ride

DISCLAIMER: INFORMATION ON THIS SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION: ANYTHING SUBJECT TO CHANGE OVER NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, CHECK OFTEN. 06/26/09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ride Intro: Detailed information:---- PDF or---- Word file

INVITATION to come to the Second Annual VHEC ride!!
If you came last year please return and if you missed it then come this year. We want this to be one of the biggest friendliest rides East of the Mississippi!
It is a “Frills” ride, we will take care of you just get here. It is a great ride to start a junior on, 25 or 50. If you think it is too touch for a junior just ask
Claude Brewer. Claude starts juniors on 100s so ours is a piece of cake. If you want a 100 here, we are working on it. If you are west of the Mississippi
read on = FREE ride entry. Come join us end of August.

Trails are so well marked that not even Lyle got lost.

$5 raffle---- The first ticket is included in your ride entry (You're in whether you want in or not), so feel free to buy more to increase your chances. Tickets sell
for $5 each or 5 for $20. Prize is still up in the air but will be decided by the ride.

Speaking of donations and a heartfelt thanks. Please support the local Volunteer Fire Department of Ivanhoe. They maintain the campgrounds
and riding area at Jubilee Park. Major kudos go to them for the extra cleaning they have done since last years ride. Plan on bringing them an
extra $5 or so to ensure that their efforts in their community can continue at their current level of operations during these economic belt tightening
times.
Not only do they keep the campgrounds clean, they also helped us with maintaining water while we were riding and camping.

Have you read enough. One more thing: This RIDE is not part of the Democratic system so therefore rules are not fair nor will they be voted on.
RIDE MANAGEMENT has the last say.

Information about health certificate requirements for NC: click here

What do I need to bring a horse into Virginia? information link
Virginia's import regulations require that equine entering Virginia have a health certificate and a negative test for equine infectious anemia
conducted within the last 12 months.

RIDE PACKET will include = map, description of trails, crew directions, schedule of events, meal tickets purchased, ride info, that's enough.

BEAR SIGHTINGS are on the rise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only person not seeing any bears is DON MEUTEN. Bears have been seen crossing the New River,
coming down the mtn. trails. We even have pictures to prove that they have been near Don he is just not focusing hard enough on what his horse is saying.

COME ON DOWN, COME ON UP, COME ON OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LIMITED RIDE ENTIRES = 250 and then we SHUT IT DOWN, as of June 15, 2009 we have One!!! We want more entries than Tevis. Our motto is….”We still have room for YOU”. There are campsites even closer to the New River this year. Or if you prefer, you can park next to the tractor pull site or better yet, get close to the “Lawn Mower” race track!! We’ve got it all. You can build fires, float the river, ride your horse in the river, day ride New River Trail, this place is fun. The fire dept has the grounds looking gorgeous, and if you agree please leave a donation in any one of their appreciation drop boxes…THANKS!

COME ON OVER OR DOWN OR UP –
Bob from Canada – if you have not wasted all your visa days on Florida and Malaysia then we expect to see you; if you have wasted all your days then come as an illegal immigrant you will not be alone. And bring that bright ORANGE shirt so the red necks will have a clear target!!

Irvine and bob - No pink cowboy hats in these mountains.
Rojacks – bring 8 horses and the BIG RIG – lots of room and a new turn in so you won’t get stuck under the train trestle, 2 days of riding, piece of cake, BINGO
Connie and Mike – come on up or over, you have so many safe houses I don’t know which one you will be coming from and bring your motorcycle mike, great windy curvy roads, be sure to drive over Mt Rogers – gorgeous and riders do not go there, all yours.

Thomas and Karen – bring your girl, tie her to the trailer and ride ALL day – I’ll watch her, most of time; she old enough to solo?  Just don’t leave her loose wandering around camp or she may get put in the dog jail.

CROCKETT DUMAS – get your sorry butt east!! Have you ever been east? Can you even say Carolina, Virginia? Bring those Crocket horses with primitive scent glands, bring that mustache and those sissy boots east. You hear me? You and your horses need a few more miles, you can’t have but 25,000 horse miles by now! See if your horses can handle Va heights, up to 3800 ft , you been that high Crockett? ..and heat..up to 90 degrees, you been that hot? You have? Well then lets wet ‘em down with a little eastern humidity, you ever play football in heat and humidity? I can guarantee we will NOT have any of that 20% humidity but your horses are used to a little water in the air! If you are worried go find that vet of yours, Jamie, tell him to come too, he can vet or ride or both and he can ride for free, courtesy of Les Douglas DVM. I hope you folks come, if not I will tell Claude not to call you “chicken” at the ride meeting. I expect you to give out some FREE Dumas snake oil.

WEST of the Mississippi – FREE ride entries – you get here and you ride for free, even you Crockett. Diesel fuel is expensive enough, EXXON and the Arabs are rich enough, just make it here, turn off the engines and save money, how many FREE rides you folks been to out there in hotty totty California Arnold country?  Just show us your horse’s Coggins with an address west of the Mississippi and your driver’s license.

You will be camping at Jubilee Park in Ivanhoe Va right ON the New River and the New River Trail. The new river trail state park is the longest linear state park in Va, 57 miles, maybe the longest state park in the world. The trail is ideal for bike riding, hiking and ok for flat landers horse back riding. There also is camping, dude ranch, canoeing and fishing. The new river trail is Virginia’s Millenium Legacy trail – connecting communities and providing links between people, land, history and culture. You will have to drive or ride hard to see it all, 39 miles parallels one of the oldest rivers in the world and one of the few that runs south to north; 12 miles follows Chestnut creek, 1.5 miles fronts Claytor Lake and the remainder courses through cliffs, rhododendron and rolling pastures. There is the odd Cougar sighting, or the odd person sights a cougar, or a drunk person sights a cougar, my mother-in-law saw one, I am not sure where she is classified in the above list but the FS denies they exist, Cougars that is, mother-in-laws definitely exist and I doubt mine will read this, so don’t tell her. If you photograph one (Cougar, not the _____, darn it) you get a life times free ride entry! For more information contact www.doc.virginia.gov  or 276-699-6778 or NRTSP, 176 Orphange Dr, Foster Falls, Va 24360.

LAND FOR SALE -  if you like this area see Tom Hagis or Don Meuten, we have lots, raw land and to see the land used cars and used horses for hire or sale. Tom and Gina have a gorgeous development adjacent to the VHHT system, Chestnut knob, Snow Bird and all the great trails. Discounts offered on signed contracts at the ride – BIG discounts!

Anyone that spots a bear on the ride and tells DON gets a free ride entry. Must have witnessess.

Anyone that has 4 or more family members entered gets one free ride entry.

If your riding a horse sired by Forever Farms Stetson--- Free ride entry

New in 2009 is a CAVALRY division to be offered on day 2 in the 50 only. Angie Fura has organized this and offered to talk to those riders participating. There will be a designated area for Cavalry riders in the VC and at the finish line (plastic fence posts, ribbons to mark off an area and a pie plate marked "Cav"), Cav only horse water in the designated Cav VC area,  people water (Angie will donate two cases of water) and         hay and grass. There may be prizes, there is no paper work to complete but give Don or Nicki your name and number if you are riding Cavalry and we will announce the results. Cavalry is a little like the old Leper colonies, if you are not riding Cavalry you should not drink their horse or people water or go into their VC area. Cavalry riders must receive no assistance from anyone else = solo!

 NEW in 2009.       We are not sure but there may also be a COMMANDO division. If there is, Dr Otis Schmidt will judge qualifications and Dr Duane Barnett will evaluate BC. Prizes will be appropriate and awarded discreetly.