Love This Horse Endurance Ride
Saturday, May 3 & Sunday, May 4, 2025
​Ridgecrest, Ca

Any Questions? Contact us via this email link.

Click to download Ride Entry form:

Ride Entry Form
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Sign up for our ride using JOTFORM:  Sign up Link

Ride Description
​
The ride is AERC sanctioned includes two distances, 25 miles and 50 miles. It also includes a non-sanctioned 6-mile or 11-mile introductory ride for those who would like to experience what it is like to attend a ride. 

Camp will open at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025 and close at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025. 

Pre-Ride Vet Check will be held between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2nd. For riders arriving in the morning of Saturday, May 3rd (15/25 milers only), please make arrangements in advance with ride management. 

Pre-Ride Meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2nd. 

Saturday & Sunday Trails: The trail consists of multiple loops that begin and end at ride camp. All vet checks will be held at camp.

• The intro ride will consist of one loop (6-miles or 11-miles)
• The ​LD ride will consist of two loops, with a 30-minute hold between loops.
• The 50-mile ride will consist of three loops, with one 45-minute hold & one 30-minute hold between loops. 

The trail will be well marked with plenty of ribbons, chalk and glow bars after dark. Additionally, printed maps and Ride with GPS will be available for all loops. Horse water, alfalfa, sponging water will be available every approx. five miles on the respective loops.
​We have a radio team that will keep track of riders and horses throughout the trail loops and will call in rider numbers to base camp.

Saturday & Sunday Starting Times: The ride will start at 6:00 a.m. for the 50-mile ride, at 6:30 a.m. for the 25-mile ride and 9:00 a.m. for the introductory ride.
First Light is at 5:30 a.m. for our ride dates. 

Historical Weather Data:
For our ride date, the historical weather data for the past five years shows an average high between 82.4°F and 86°F.
Over the past ten years, the weather data showed average highs of 85°F and 86°F.

Interestingly, these temperature ranges are quite similar to other 2024 rides in California and Nevada:

• Cache Creek, CA on May 4, 2024, had a high of 81°F.
• The Kristina Chesterman Memorial Ride on May 18, 2024, reached 86°F.
• NASTR 30-50-75 at Washoe Lake on June 8, 2024, saw a high of 92°F.
• The Feliz Cumpleaños Ride on June 29-30, 2024, had highs of 86°F and 91°F with humidity.

• The Cuneo Creek Ride on September 8, 2024, reached 93°F.

Rules: All AERC rules will apply. Any abuse by rider or their crew to ride staff will result in disqualification of the rider (please see below for trail etiquette expectations).
For cancellations prior to the ride, before April 30th and for horses not passing the pre-ride veterinary exam, a $50.00 ride management fee will be withheld. No shows receive no refund. Checks will not be cashed until after the ride. 

Awards: There will be First Place Awards & Fun Top-Ten Awards for the 25 and 50- mile rides and Completion Award T-shirts for all who complete the ride (including the Intro Rides). Additionally, the 25 and 50- mile rides will have an AERC Best Condition Award, plus High Vet Score, Mid-Pack, and Turtle Awards.
We will also award a Junior & Anyone under 18 Best Condition Award spanning over both ride days. 
The awards for all rides will be at completion, in the evening. Awards will not be mailed out and must be picked up at the ride.

Ride Fees:

• Any Junior rider or Young rider under 18 years of age rides for FREE
• $100 Intro Riders (this includes a complimentary AERC Rider membership)
• $150 25 & 50 Mile Ride ($270 for both days) - Early Bird Registration (before April 15) $135 25 & 50 Mile Ride ($250 for both days)

Breakfast: Coffee and muffins will be provided to ride crews & volunteers on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Lunches will be served at ride camp during vet check/holds for the riders and ride volunteers, consisting of ham, turkey, cheese sandwiches, chips, candy and water. 

Dinner: 
Friday evening, ride management will provide the main course meal, riders please bring potluck dish for ride meeting.
Saturday evening, we will have a food truck or caterer providing dinner (riders pay for their meal, we are working out the details currently) for ride meeting. 

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Basic Ride Rules & Trail Etiquette:

• All riders must wear a helmet while competing.
• If you find yourself behind a horse that is traveling slower than you are, politely ask for the trail. Do not "blast by the horse" in front of you and do not tailgate while you are waiting to get by. Announce yourself and ask permission to pass. Be specific on letting the rider know if you are passing to the left or right, so the rider in front knows which way to go.
• A Junior is a rider under the age of 16 as of December 1st of the year of competition. All Junior riders must be accompanied by a Senior rider sponsor, 18 years of age or older at all times and must finish within one minute of that sponsor. The sponsor must agree to remain with the Junior throughout the ride. If the sponsor is eliminated during the ride, the Junior may continue with another willing sponsor upon notification to ride officials. All Juniors are required to wear helmets.
• Abusive behavior or harassment of ride personnel, veterinarians, riders, crews, or volunteers will not be tolerated.
• Abuse of the horse and use of stimulants and/or pain killers and/or the use of injections of any kind are prohibited.
• Riders / horse owners are responsible for the horse’s welfare and are financially responsible if emergency veterinary treatment is necessary.
• Ride Veterinarians' opinions will be final on all matters concerning the horse.
• Failure to follow these ride rules may be grounds for disqualification.​

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Camp Site

​The base camp is located just southwest of Ridgecrest, CA 93555, with plenty of camping space, on BLM land. The camp is located at approx. 2,500 feet and although the weather is generally nice at the beginning of May, you should be prepared for cold nights. It can also be windy. Dogs are welcomed at camp but must be leashed at all times. 

Base Camp opens at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025. There are grocery stores, fast food, restaurants, etc. nearby. Potable water and Porta Potties will be provided. 

All hay, manure must be cleared out by the riders and removed, also trash must be picked up and your camp site left clean. BLM rules require that certified only weed free hay can be used. Thank you!  

Directions: GPS Location is 35.554795, -117.793248

From the Inland Empire:

• North on I-15 to Highway 395.
• Continue North on Highway 395 approximately 90 miles to the Ridgecrest turnoff (China Lake Blvd) do not turn right!
• Turn left at Brown Road and drive approximately 2 miles, then take a left on Wicknich Road. The road has lots of broken asphalt, so drive slowly. Camp is located 1.1 miles on the right. 

From Los Angeles:

• North on I-5 to Highway 14 heading towards Palmdale and Lancaster.
• Follow CA-14 N to CA-178/W Inyokern Rd. Take the CA-178 E/Inyokern exit from CA-14
• Follow CA-178/W Inyokern Rd and Brown Rd to EP26/Wiknich Rd. The road has lots of broken asphalt, so drive slowly. Camp is located 1.1 miles on the right. 
  

From Points North:

• Head south on US-395 S/Eastern Sierra Scenic Bywy/S Main St toward Short St
• Use the left 2 lanes to take the US-395 S ramp to San Bernardino
  
• Continue onto US-395 S and Take exit 99 to merge onto Brown Rd
  
• Turn right onto EP26/Wiknich Rd. The road has lots of broken asphalt, so drive slowly. Camp is located 1.1 miles on the right. ​
  

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Love This Horse Equine Rescue is an avid supporter of endurance riding.  
​Read our article From Rescue to Ribbons: Erna Valdivia Makes Tevis Cup History with 'Lovie'.

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