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OCTRA - A Great Club
I've wanted to sit down and write this since the North Wind Challenge in Buckingham. Unfortunately, I very rarely get a chance to sit down, so this is a little late coming, but I wanted everyone to know and share in my pride in being an OCTRA member.
At the North Wind ride, which was a 2 day 80, it was very hot, (31 or 32) the ride was a good ride, a tough ride, and a well organized ride. I witnessed something that I think is probably a first, at least it was the first time I have encountered it. There were about 12 riders riding the second day, and all the pit crews worked really hard, leap-frogging to pit crew ALL the riders. What a fantastic feeling to see all the pit crews, working for ALL of the horses, regardless of whether they had their own crew or not, and some did not. Everyone worked like a team, even though their horses were competing against each other.
I felt like "isn't THIS the way it should be?" Horses don't know they are being ridden by someone that doesn't have a crew, they only know that they are hot, hungry and thirsty, and maybe even tired, and how great it is to see these people who are pampering them, helping them to do their job, and to finish with no problems. It was really a good day.
What great people belong to OCTRA, what great horses! Ours is really a unique club. One we can all be very proud to be a member of. It certainly makes one feel warm and fuzzy to know how much OCTRA members care about horses. All horses, not just their own.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard in that heat, and let's hope this great attitude catches on.
So PROUD to be an OCTRA member.
Lynda Townsend
