Welcome to the first ride for the 2016-2017 season of the Western Carolina Hunter Pace Series, held to benefit the SE Children’s Home Riding Therapy Program, at Scotsgrove Farm in Inman on Sept. 10. The weather was hot enough to be mid-summer but the day was beautiful. Riders reported that the trails were great and it was a treat to ride them backwards from what the trail was in May.

Orange and orange striped markers were well placed along the trails and there were a few actual signs that alerted riders which direction to head. There were no water crossings so riders didn’t have to worry about their mounts wanting to go for a swim. There were some very nice views of the mountains. Everyone who has ridden at this venue always like the wide winding path in the kudzu field, Hanging Tree, Rainy Day Trail, the Little Orchard pasture and Andrew’s Hill to wind pass the home pond, and home woods.

It takes a village to put on an event as this. Big thanks go to Leslie and Bob Scott for the use of their land and facilities. Leslie put in lots of hard work planning and maintaining the trails. The Davis clan put in some long hot hours early the morning of this event. Neighbor Nick Zatorsky performed several hot hours with his tractor and chain saw. There had been some storm damage that needed to be cleared.

The trail was marked by Christine Free and several others. Once again registration was held under the shade trees. Cecilia, Ed, and Gail took the entries and checked the Coggins. This keeps everyone legal.

Parking was organized by Randy, Nick and Scott. They kept the big rigs to the larger pasture and the smaller rigs went to the pasture across from the riding arena. Beth and Judy Straitiff once again catered the meal for riders. A luncheon of chicken salad on croissants, veggie and fruit trays, and cookies was served. Heather, Jackie, and Anne ran the halfway point. Offered up were icy cold water and a three-minute rest.

There was definitely some “excitement” near the half-way point around noon. The ladies working the half-way point were surprised when two riderless horses came galloping right by them. The horses shot out of the Pine Nursery on to Grand Canyon Road. Luckily, the mounts got confused and stopped. Leslie Scott caught them, turned them over to the checkpoint ladies and went out to hunt horseless riders.

Just over the knoll from the half-way point were two riders on the ground. Jan Smith, the Hunter Pace Series Coordinator and Missy Bright, the Series Rep were obviously injured. Leslie called her friends with the Holly Springs Fire Department and within minutes there were four rescue trucks and eight first responders, firemen, and EMTs on the scene. Shortly after that, Spartanburg County EMS arrived.

Ultimately, Jan and Missy were transported on back boards and cervical collars to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. They were released later and went home. Hopefully they will be able to ride at the Tryon Hounds Hunter Pace in October. Wish them well.

The trail was approximately eight miles from starting in the arena to finishing in the arena. The turnout was wonderful with all riders pretty happy with the trails. There were a total of 44 teams with 85 riders.

Now let’s get to those results:

In the Field Hunter Division there were 16 teams. The Optimum time was one hour, 29 minutes, 30 seconds.

First place in the field Hunter division was awarded to Dana Cain from Asheville and Erin and Reine Pagliano from Swannanoa with a time of one hour, 32 minutes, 30 seconds. Coming in second place for the red ribbon was Aileen Wawrzuszek from Mount Carmel with a time of one hour, 33 minutes, 47 seconds. Coming in third place with a time of one hour, 36 minutes, 24 seconds was the duo of Dana Croft from Anderson and Diane Hicks from Pendleton.

Close behind in fourth was Rebecca Tolson with a time of one hour, 36 minutes, 31 seconds.  The fifth place pink ribbon went to the duo of Holly Bacola from Chesnee and Barbara Mobley from Gaffney with a time of one hour, 36 minutes, 58 seconds. Bringing in the sixth place green ribbon was the team of Sylvia Brown Riddle from Raeford and Kelly Hart from Elberton with a time of one hour, 37 minutes, 12 seconds.

Other Field Hunters enjoying the day were Karen Brockway, Jamie Fritsch, Christina Goen, Kelly Hart, Alana Kaible, Barbara Ketcham, Nancy Mason, Gena Meredith, Emily Mitchell, Stephanie O’Neill, Angela Reichardt, Caleigh Reichardt, Brian Reischman, Lindsay Slas, Katharine Stancliff, Rachel Turner, Jillian Woodridge, and Sanders Wyatt.

There was a total of 28 teams and 57 riders in the Trail Rider Division. The Calculated Optimum Time was two hours, 21 minutes, 15 seconds.

Sarah Lawing from Forest City and Katlyn Lowder from Bostic claimed the first place blue with a time of two hours, 20 minutes, 34 seconds. They were less than one minute off the Calculated Optimum Time! Coming in close behind was the trio of Alexis Botchie from Chesnee, Katheryn Eilders from Moore, and Arden Pierce from Spartanburg with a time of two hours, 20 minutes, 21 seconds. They were also less than one minute from the Calculated Time. The duo of Karen Merrill and Teresa Snyder from York came in third place with a time of two hours, 24 minutes, 16 seconds.

Fourth place was awarded to Kate Walkanen with a time of two hours, 17 minutes, 58 seconds. Fifth place went to Susan Haslam from Asheville, Sharon Maxwell from Canton, and Connie Moore from Waynesville with a time of two hours, 17 minutes 56 minutes. The sixth place green was awarded to Valerie Quinn from Campobello and Bobby Turner from Spartanburg with a time of two hours, 17 minutes, six seconds.

An honorable mention goes to Kristen Brown from Boiling Springs and Jennifer R. Smith from Landrum with a time of two hours, 25 minutes, 54 seconds. They were less than 30 seconds from getting the green.

Other trail riders out enjoying the day were Bryan Baire, Ann Bridges, Missy Bright, Stephanie Brown, Darleen Bullock, Zoe Carlin, Missy Covington, Heather Cross, Benay Daniel, Jill Davis, Della Driver, Chris Ferrell, Lynn Fitch, Kimberly Hannu, Dawn Harrison, Nikki Hynes, Cindy James, Lin Martin, Hannah and Sarah McClintock, Connie McConnell, Soline McGee, Susan, Melvin, Marianne Moore, Allison Nelly, Carol Neely, DeAnna Norton, Rachel O’Brien, Gail Patton, Monique Raveoloct, Kayce Shelton, Jan Smith, Yasmin Straitiff, Debbie Thrasher, Katie Tighe, Sherry Webb, Emma Whitaker, Carrie Wilsey, Maxine Winesett, Sherry Wyatt, Kris Yon, and AK Zimmerman.

Up next for the 2016-2017 Hunter Pace Series was the Biltmore Equestrian Center Hunter Pace & Trail Ride on Sept. 25, and on deck is the Tryon Hounds Fall Hunter Pace on Oct. 7. Please remember safety first. If you are having trouble or see someone in trouble, slow down, check the speed, and lend a hand.

Visit wchpace.org for upcoming events, changes, classifieds.

– article submitted by Missy Bright