First, Thank you all for your interest and continued support of community events throughout our region.
Coordinator Contact Info: 
Louis Upton – K5STX
Hill Country REACT
e-mail: trlrider@gvec.net
cell: 830-305-2889
The when, where and how about what we are needing:
Date: October 2, 2010
Where: Rio Bonito Ranch – Junction, TX – actually approximately halfway between Junction and Kerrville right off I-10
Times: Event Briefing: 0830 hrs – Event Start 1000 hrs Event Completion: 1430 – 1500 hrs
What: American Competitive Trail Horse Association – a national organizational format with numerous events around the country in every state. The event sets up 6 obstacles, natural and man made, in a 6 to 7 mile course in which the horse and rider are judged on their ability to handle the obstacle. The event is capped at 100 participants, and most events easily reach this cap.
This event is a not for profit event, of which all proceeds are donated to Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation Organizations in the state of Texas. All donations stay in the state!
Our task: Providing we have enough operators, we will have an operator at each of the 6 obstacles, event control/headquarters, and possibly one of more mounted operator bringing up drag (turtle, the rear). We are there to assist the judges with tracking of the participants and their progress through the course and to relay critical or emergency information relating to either the horse or the rider. Our task is Safety first and foremost. If we are asked to handle another task within our abilities, and the chosen operator is willing, then we will handle that also.
Other:
– I have been advised that lunch on Saturday will be provided to our volunteers. Other meals will be available at a reasonable cost, and healthy portions.
– Rio Bonito T-shirts and ACTHA Bucks (coupons to ACTHA sponsoring vendors, most of which are equine oriented, but their may be others).
– Overnight camping on the ranch is free to all volunteers.
– Our Radio Volunteers with horses are allowed to bring them – of course negative coggins is required! There will be a guided ride Sunday by the ranch manager.
– Sorry, being a not for profit event, we are not able to secure fuel money ( but then again, when do we! 🙂 )
– Alan Lee, the guide for Rio Bonito Ranch, and a frequent television figure on “Hunting with the Judge,” will be filming riders and obstacles during the CTC.
Stations:
Three are easily accessible by car/truck (#’s 1, 2 and 6). Not sure how rough access to the other stations are! The ranch guide, Alan Lee, will be dropping off and picking up some of the judges to the harder-to-reach obstacles in his Suburban. He could do the same for your team members.
– Note: I will not ask anyone to take their vehicles anywhere they do not want to.
– This means we will need a couple of operators with portable equipment to handle 3, 4, or 5. A 5 watt HT with portable antenna may do the trick.
Comms:
– Alpha – Simplex 147.52
– Bravo – Junction/Midway Repeater – 146.840 (or is it 146.740) – need clarification of location!
– If you have a set of the FRS/GMRS radios – bring them, they have proven to be quite useful during events such as this, should the obstacle and the ham operator be separated for some reason. During the April ACTHA event in Bandera, we use FRS, 2m, and Commercial to get an injured rider out of a tough spot.
– Packet: I do not intend to set up a formal packet net for this event, but, if you have the capability and would like to practice with it, I will bring my equipment. Packet will again play a big role in the Bandera 100k in January.
Weather: If heavy rain is expected, rain date will be set at a later date. Otherwise come prepared for some light rain and bring your slicker! Also, this is Texas Hill Country at its best, be prepared for a possible cold snap.
Directions:
DIRECTIONS TO OUR RIDE:
Out of San Antonio take Hwy 10 West. Take the Hwy 290 East exit. After exiting, turn left and go u and over Hwy 10. Take the access road on South West side of Hwy 10. (Hwy 10 will now be on your right) Go 4 miles – on left side of the road, look for sign on the gate that reads “Rio Bonito Ranch.” After going through the gate follow the road keeping to the right. You will pass the road to the Broken Arrow Ranch, keep right at that fork. At the next fork, turn left and drive up into the campgrounds. Sins will be posted. Please leave all gates as you find them. Note: The Rio Bonito Ranch Road is very wide and unobstructed, so any size rig can make it into the campgrounds without any problem. However, the road is rough in places, so allow 1/2 hour to slowly navigate the 4 miles into the campground.
From the north: Take I-10 East to the Old Segovia Rd. Exit. Stay on the access road for 2 miles. You will see the Rio Bonito Ranch sign on the gate.
Links of interest:
Event Specific: http://tinyurl.com/3a2o7ww – detailed information on the event, directions to the ranch, etc.
ACTHA : http://www.actha.us/ – information on the national organization.
Any Questions you can contact me by e-mail or phone, just about anytime.
Other Upcoming Events:
October 30th and 31st, Cactus Rose 100 mile Ultra-marathon – Hill Country State Natural Area
January 8th and 9th, 2011 – Bandera 100k – Hill Country State Natural Area
March 12th, 2011 – AERC Heart of the Hills Endurance Ride – Hill Country State Natural Area
Contact me for information or to volunteer to assist with these events.
Again, Thank You for your support!!
Louis – K5STX
