Mesquite Trail Ride Rules

September 21, 2024  - Info for 2024 Riders - 

Mesquite Riders, we are less than a week away from the 2024 MTR. We have been busy, and things are looking good. The pre-rides are done (thanks Aaron Halle) I think you are going to really enjoy the rides this year. They are a great mix of open prairie grasslands and some trails leading to slight elevation gains resulting in beautiful views across the valley. The cattle tanks are full, and the grass is 20-24 inches tall.

We finished off with 68 registered riders of which about 15 are first year riders. As in past years, Jackpot Veterinary Center Dr. Lindsey Smogor DVM will be attending in case there is an equine emergency that needs to be attended to. We appreciate her commitment to this ride and the great group of folks that Jackpot brings every year, they have become an integral part of the Equine costume contest. If you have not already done so, please refer to the previous email and send Donna Berger your equine costume information, she has some great prizes for the winners of that contest. While no one is assigned the official position we will have a few farriers on the ride if you end up needing assistance in that area, please contact one of us. Speaking of that, some of the areas we will be riding in are rocky so we would recommend shoes or boots unless your horse is accustomed to that type of terrain.

A few reminders that we hope will help this year’s event be a great one.

·        Please read the MTR ride rules on the web site in particular that we do not allow dogs in camp or on this ride.

·        While we have attempted to eliminate the ant beds around the main tent, there are numerous ant beds throughout the camp area so we would recommend that you bring some sort of ant killer for your camp area. Also bug spray (for you and your horse) is recommended with things drying out the last week or so, the bugs are not bad, but you never know what might hatch out and become a nuisance.

·        As mentioned above the grass is very tall so you may want to bring a Weed eater/ String trimmer to clear the area immediately around your camper or tent area. Additionally, while there are some mowed paths to the camp areas, we would recommend a flashlight for the times you are walking back and forth from the main tent to your camp after dark.

·        Please remember that while we provide breakfast and dinner you are responsible for your lunch each day. You should bring water and whatever other liquid refreshment you might enjoy and if you feel so inclined you are welcome to bring something to the MTR Bar to share with your fellow riders. We are about 12 miles from the nearest store so you may consider bringing an extra cooler with ice to last for the four days

·        There also seems to be a movement to wear overalls on Saturday evening, so if you would like to be part of the “overall group” remember to pack those and be part of the “in crowd”

·        If you are a returning rider, BRING YOUR NAME BADGE WITH YOU. Brenda works very hard to make sure everyone has a name badge and if you do not have one it creates extra work for her.

Directions to the camp site are very simple from AZ State Route 82 and Upper Elgin Road you go south 3.2 miles, and we will be on the left (East) side. You will be able to see the big tent as you are coming down Upper Elgin Road. We will open the gate to the camp at 10 am on Thursday morning. There are a limited number of pipe corrals available. We would ask that if you are coming with friends, please try to find horses that can be penned together. Some of the larger areas can be divided using portable panels while still providing good security by being inside the overall corral space. These pens are available on a first come basis so if you have a containment system that works for you and your horse, please bring that in case the corrals are full. There are only a few trees that would offer an anchor point for a picket line. We will provide horse water delivery once a day for those of you that have horses at your camp. Those that have your horses in a corral there are hoses available and you will be responsible for ensuring that your horse has water, we recommend you bring a water tub for your horse.  Some of the corral areas have a heavy weed growth so if you are concerned about that please plan on keeping your horse at your camp or bring a tool to clear the weeds.

The weather is forecast to be about perfect with highs 85-90 and lows around 60 with no precipitation. Past experience has been that the evenings can feel a little cool, so we recommend bringing a light jacket for those times.

We are looking forward to a great ride, if you have any questions, please feel free to call (or email if it is before next Tuesday.)

Safe travels,

Richard

520-405-1194 

PS. Brenda told me that she had a check list to send out but she is at a social event tonight so there may be a follow up email in the next couple of days.