doesn’t have a covered arena so they did their obstacles of the afternoon’s AOC in between outbursts of rain showers around the covered pavilion where the judges and assistants could stay out of the rain.
The following morning the rain had subsided but there were more showers on the way. A quick decision to hold the CTC as an AOC was made and they immediately set the obstacle course around the pavilion. Kelly had lost two of her judges to the storm, so she set two obstacles close together and stepped in to take her place as the judge for them. The rider briefing was indeed brief, as they fought their way through the storm. Kelly instructed them to move on to the next obstacle as soon as they completed one. At one point Kelly called to get under cover as lightning approached. They paused for an hour and finished the competition as the storm rolled away.
With six rides scheduled for the remainder of the calendar year Kelly decided to have a “Treasure Chest Series”. She has gathered hand crafted items from some of the local artists to highlight the pot. These include hand carved leather items, a painted saw blade, welded items with horse shoes and embroidered pictures. A local silversmith is also in the process of creating something special for the “Treasure Chest”. Also in that “Treasure Chest” is a western saddle, tack, tools and grooming buckets.
Kelly owes much of the success of her ACTHA events to her daughter Patty, who helps construct obstacles, judges and rides as a safety rider if needed. This talented young horsewoman also trains horses, holds a full time job, has a family and has recently competed in the Extreme Mustang Makeover competitions in Texas and Colorado. Although she hasn’t placed in the top ten, her horses have consistently sold for as much and more as the top ten horses. This goes to show, that people aren’t always looking for a horse that can spin and slide, but for one that is calm and consistent.
the top ten, her horses have consistently sold for as much and more as the top ten horses. This goes to show, that people aren’t always looking for a horse that can spin and slide, but for one that is calm and consistent.
The Wood Guest Ranch, located in southeastern Oklahoma along the Boggy River is a vast 3,000 acre property with a variety of terrain and trails including a challenging uphill and downhill obstacle trail, open meadows, forests, fishing, fishing and paddle boat rentals, a gun range, a skeet range, wagon rides, trail riding on their horses or yours and riding lessons. Amenities are plentiful with RV hookups, open and covered stalls, bathrooms with showers and laundry facilities. There are a number of RV campers available for lodging and a three bedroom, 3,000 square foot cabin suitable for family reunions, weddings, birthday or anniversary celebrations or business retreats. Wood Guest Ranch also boasts a full size arena; rodeo ready with bucking chutes, roping boxes and a return alley, making it the perfect venue to host a rodeo, horse show or a play day.
“You should put on an ACTHA ride here, it’s perfect.”
As the manager of Wood Guest Ranch, Kelly’s goal is to run it financially and consistently into the black and with the number of rides she has scheduled she’s confident that with ACTHA she can obtain that goal. Given the perseverance that Kelly has demonstrated during the rains in Oklahoma we have no doubt she will succeed.
For information on
Wood Guest Ranch please visit www.woodsguestranch.com
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