If you ask Heidi what ACTHA has done for her as a rider her answer is simple, “It has made me more independent!
natural obstacles per ACTHA recommendations, good food and an on time schedule. With support from Marvin, Heidi talked Cece and John Daly of Lochill Farm in Hillsborough, NC into letting her host her first and subsequent ACTHA events at their farm. Lochill Farm is surrounded by beautiful trails and hosting ACTHA events at the farm has allowed Cece and John to keep their trails in top condition. With the help of Heidi and Mac who ride the trails almost every day, the pair is rarely seen leaving the barn without their trusty folding saw and ratchet pruners safely tucked in their saddle bags. Added benefits to working on the trails, Heidi and Mac have improved their communication as they maneuver in and out of trees. In fact, they are already out there making their newest trail, the Raven House Trail.
For Heidi the key to hosting a good ride has a number of facets, but she feels strongly that a good ride host starts with one who has experienced an AOC or CTC themselves. Being a competitor gives a ride host added insight, a good feel for what riders are looking for and how things work. For Heidi, she picked the good points from rides she has attended and fixed the things she didn’t like.
"Send out a point rider who doesn't know the trail to check if additional markers are needed, remember: MORE is better." Heidi
Heidi and her horse, Mac during an ACTHA competition
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