MTR Compettve Mounted2019 Orienteering Report By Kim MacMillan Freelance Writer Six teams of horses and riders from three states gathered at the scenic Midwest Trail Ride facility in southern Indiana, for a three- day holiday weekend of fun on horseback and comradery. The riders and their trusty mounts were there to partcipate in the annual Mid- west Trail Ride Compettve Mounted Orien- teering competton organized by Mart and David Caldwell and their daughter Sara.

Barb Bretnacher and Shikar and Beth Jer- A Short Primer on CMO’s man and Chelsea, all from Indiana, pause Dubbed the “fun for the thinking rider” before a ride to model their trail riding by devotees of the sport, compettve mounted gear. For CMOs the horses are all marked orienteering (CMO) is part trail ride, part trea- with numbers using a grease pencil for sure hunt and part road rally. The tools needed ease in keeping track of compettors while are simple: a good equid (horses, mules and on course. Photo by Allen MacMillan, Mac- donkeys are all welcome); comfortable tack for Millan Photography horse/rider and comfortable clothing for the The basic tools used in compettve mount- rider; a compass; a marking pen, and a map ed orienteering: a compass; a map with and set of clues (which is handed to you by the accompanying printed clues, and a pen. ride manager as you start of on the trail). Photo by Allen MacMillan, MacMillan Pho- The map, clues and compass are to help tography you fnd the objectve statons, which are also simply called objectves or markers (paper plates with an individual code writen on each one). The aim is to fnd the objectves, which are hidden in the natural area where the CMO is staged, by following the clues and the map, using the compass to assist in the process. Once each plate is found, the rider(s) copies the code on the plate onto their clue sheet. A single horse and rider pair, or teams from two Rena Bartlet riding Buster and Eric Cogdell to six horses and riders, are tmed on how long riding Cruiser, both from Kentucky, return it takes them to fnd all of the hidden plates Mart Caldwell, DVM, Milton, IN, was the from the hunt for plates during the 2019 and return to the startng point. 2019 Midwest Trail Ride CMO ride man- Midwest Trail Ride CMO in southern Indi- For newcomers to the sport, ride organiz- ager, along with her husband David and ana. Photo by Allen MacMillan, MacMillan ers provide plenty of instructon at the events daughter Sara. She is also the Natonal Photography including a pre-ride meetng and a practce Associaton of Compettve Mounted Ori- objectve staton. New compettors can ofen enteering (NACMO) President and the NA- team with more seasoned CMO riders to help CMO Indiana Director. Photo by Allen Mac- them learn the ropes. The cost for equipment Millan, MacMillan Photography is minimal too. An orienteering compass can be purchased at most sportng goods stores for around $10 to $20. Ride fees are kept low to encourage partcipaton. Ride managers ofer small, but useful, prizes and most CMOs ofer overnight camping with a potluck dinner and campfre as part of the fun. For more informaton about CMOs go to the Natonal Associaton of Compettve Mounted Orienteering (NACMO) web site: Team Quest from Illinois (Summer Stahl www.nacmo.org. You may also contact their and Marco, Angela Stahl and Calypso, Vera Natonal President, Indiana Director, and the David Caldwell (in orange) goes over the Betzelberger and Starr, Amy Betzelberger manager of the Midwest Trail Ride CMO, Mart CMO course at a pre-ride meetng the 2019 and Lexus) return successful from a day at Caldwell at 219-743-3139 or cldwll48@gmail. Midwest Trail Ride CMO held in southern the 2019 Midwest Trail Ride CMO waiving com. Other NACMO state directors are listed Indiana on the edge of the Hoosier Naton- their completed clue sheets and wearing on their web site as well. NACMO ofers year- al Forest. Photo by Allen MacMillan, Mac- smiles.Photo by Allen MacMillan, MacMil- end awards for those who want to compete for Millan Photography lan Photography points. Page 6 Equine Times September 2019 Results from the 2019 Midwest Trail Ride CMO Friday, July 5 Short Course Ride: First Place, Team Thoroughbred Rodeo (IN-23), Sta- cey Kissel and Remmy and Nick Wagoner and Tigger; Second Place, Team Pink Riders (IL-21), Carol Bertlson and Roy, Julie Irwin and Mag- gie, and Sue Anglen and Karma; Third Place, Team Quest (IL-20), Summer Stahl and Marco, Angela Stahl and Calypso, Vera Betzelberger and Starr, Amy Betzelberger and Lexus; Fourth Place, Team Inchiban (IN-2), Troy VanMeter and Gusty, Laura VanMeter and Image, Flor- ence Mathieu-Conner and Lance; Fifh Place, Team R.R.R. (KY-2), Rena Bartlet and Bust- The Pink Riders Team from Illinois at the er, Eric Cogdell and Cruiser; Sixth Place, Beth 2019 Midwest Trail Ride CMO: Carol Ber- Jerman and Chelsea, Barbara Bretnacher and tlson on Roy; Julie Irwin on Maggi; Sue Shikar. Anglen on Karma, and Florence Mat- Saturday, July 6, Long Course Ride: First Amy Betzelberger on Lexus (lef) and Sum- thieu-Conner on Lance. Photo by Allen Place, Team Thoroughbred Rodeo (IN-23), Sta- mer Stahl riding Calypso investgate a clue MacMillan, MacMillan Photography cey Kissel and Remmy and Nick Wagoner and to the locaton of a hidden paper plate (ob- Tigger; Second Place, Team Pink Riders (IL- jectve marker) while on one of the 2019 21), Carol Bertlson and Roy, Julie Irwin and Midwest Trail Ride CMO rides. Photo by Maggie, and Sue Anglen and Karma, Florence Allen MacMillan, MacMillan Photography Mathieu-Conner and Lance; Third Place, Team Inchiban Tai (IN-2), Troy VanMeter and Gusty, Laura VanMeter and Image, Beth Jerman and Chelsea, Barbara Bretnacher and Shikar; Fourth Place, Team R.R.R. (KY-2), Rena Bart- let and Buster, Eric Cogdell and Cruiser; Fifh Place, Team Quest (IL-20), Summer Stahl and Marco, Angela Stahl and Calypso, Vera Betzel- berger and Starr, Amy Betzelberger and Lexus; Sixth Place, Team Run A Muck (IL-16), Shawn Cathcart and ZuZu, Colleen Cathcart and Wylie. The top team each day at the 2019 Mid- Sunday, July 7, Long Course Ride: First west Trail Ride CMO was Team Thorough- Place, Team Thoroughbred Rodeo (IN-23), bred Rodeo from Indiana, Stacey Kissel Stacey Kissel and Remmy and Nick Wagoner and Remmy and Nick Wagoner and Tigger. and Tigger; Second Place, Team Quest (IL-20), Barb Bretacher on Shikar, Troy VanMeter Photo by Allen MacMillan, MacMillan Pho- Summer Stahl and Marco, Angela Stahl and Ca- on Gusty, Beth Jerman on Chelsea and Lau- tography lypso, Vera Betzelberger and Starr, Amy Betzel- ra VanMeter on Image partcipated in the berger and Lexus; Third Place, Team Inchiban 2019 Midwest Trail Ride CMO. Photo by Al- (IN-2), Troy VanMeter and Gusty, Laura Van- len MacMillan, MacMillan Photography Meter and Image, Beth Jerman and Chelsea, Barbara Bretnacher and Shikar; Fourth Place, Team R.R.R. (KY-2), Rena Bartlet and Buster, Eric Cogdell and Cruiser; Fifh Place, Team Run A Muck (IL-16), Shawn Cathcart and ZuZu, Col- leen Cathcart and Wylie. Sunday, July 7, Short Course Ride: First Place, Team Pink Riders (IL-21), Carol Bertlson and Roy, Julie Irwin and Maggie, and Sue An- glen and Karma, Florence Mathieu-Conner and Lance. On top of the Saturday night CMO dinner, partcipants of the CMO were also invited to partcipate in other holiday weekend actvites ofered by Midwest Trail Ride. These included the “ranch play day” where horses and riders tried their hand at sortng and herding catle, Shawn and Colleen Cathcart and their as well as horse soccer. A live band on Satur- horses ZuZu (pinto) and Wylie enjoy a day day night, complete with dancing and popcorn, on the trails at the 2019 Midwest Trail Ride and cowboy church on Sunday morning, both Amy Betzelberger from Illinois chooses a CMO. Photo by Allen MacMillan, MacMillan held in the Rusty Spur Dining Hall, were also 2019 Midwest Trail Ride CMO prize from Photography ofered to all staying at the campground for the the box on the fnal day. Photo by Allen weekend. MacMillan, MacMillan Photography September 2019 Equine Times Page 7