Annual Poker Ride deemed successful
<p>Organizer of the Poker Ride, Cindy Ray, marks the trail with green flags a day prior to the ride. Ray said the event was very successful with nearly double the attendees of last year.</p>
PLAINS – Forty-four riders took to a trail mapped out on Jones Ranch for the Wild Horse Plains chapter of the Back Country Horsemen’s 3rd annual Poker Ride.
Organizer for the event, Cindy Ray, said the turnout was about twice as many as last year.
“It was wonderful. The weather was perfect. Nobody got hurt, everyone said it was just right and they loved the view,” said Ray.
The rides began on Saturday at 10 a.m. with multiple groups heading out on horseback for a fun ride. The last riders were out by 11:30 a.m.
In previous years the ride was held at the fairgrounds and this year the Jones Ranch, which is owned by Jim and Barb Shallenberger, was selected. The ranch is a historic local ranch and former movie location.
During the ride, five poker table locations were set up where each rider drew a card for their poker hand. The winner of the poker hand was Terry Collins who won a bronze statue.
John Errecart took second and Calvin Pomrenke took third place. Thirty-five other raffle prizes were given away including folding tent chairs, western picture frames and several horse statutes.
Most of the items were donated to the club although Ray said she often picks up some of the prizes throughout the year.
The ride was 6.5 miles long and provided breathtaking views of Baldy Mountain and Pat’s Knob. As the riders went along the trail, they followed green ribbons, which marked the way they needed to go.
On Friday, a group of six riders marked the trail, carefully picking out the spots where the flags would be most visible. As they completed the trail ride, they made sure there was no blockage to the trail they created, granting easy access to all those who enjoyed the poker ride. The riders included Ray, Lisa Read, Rena Johnson, Kelly Johnson, Steve Bell and Tanner Ovitt.
Read helped mark and map the trails on Friday and explained the trail ride often hosts some beginners. Partly because of this, the horseback riders are sent off in smaller groups.
“We try not to have people run in too big of herds. It’s too much dust, too much risk and people get jammed up,” said Read.
The ride is the main fundraiser for the local Back Country Horseman chapter. The group works with the Forest Service and other public agencies to help keep trails functional for hikers and horsemen, helping to clear local trails so others can enjoy them.
Currently, the group is working to restore the historic Big Hole Lookout. The chapter received a $45,000 grant in conjunction with the Forest Service to help rebuild and rejuvenate the lookout.
“It’s falling apart so we got a grant to get us some material and we’re hauling supplies for these people who come in and restore buildings,” said Ray. Ray explained a helicopter will drop off the needed logs while the Back Country Horsemen will pack in the windows and other supplies.
According to Read, the group is currently doing trail work, refurbishing the lookout itself including the building, grading the roads and will also be doing some weed control.
“We’re going to have the bulk of it done the end of the summer,” said Read, explaining historic preservation experts will be assisting with the project, helping to keep the lookout as original as possible.