South West		Montana Chapter
PO BOX 10394, Bozeman, MT 59719	(406) 587-4377	lazybow@montanadsl.net

Frequently Asked Questions I was wondering more about the basics - such as how often do you meet?  We try to have two riding meetings/month during the non-winter season, sometimes 1 or 3 if we had to cancel for some reason. Where do you meet?  Headquarters is at  Lazy Bow Ranch, 8745 Sypes Canyon Road, Bozeman. (Springhill area). We meet at different venues for activities. Members come from Townsend, Livingston, Three Forks, Bozeman, Belgrade, and Gallatin Gateway. We've ridden at Epona Equine in the Belgrade/Amsterdam area, in the Logan/Clarkston area, in Livingston, and we'll eventually have a ride in the Willow Creek or Three Forks area. Directions ---  Epona Equine: Belgrade exit of I90. Coming from the west, turn right (west) onto Amsterdam road. Coming from the east, turn left (south) onto Jackrabbit, and an immediate right at the light onto Amsterdam road. About 2 miles, then right on Royal to end (about 1 mi.). Left on Thorpe, first driveway on the left. Go past garage and congregate behind barn. Lazy Bow Ranch:  From I-90, North 19th exit, turn away from Costco, to stop sign on Springhill Road. Turn right, go past Riverside Golf Course. Just as speed limit increases to 55mph (don't) turn right on Sypes Canyon Road. Go to the end of the road, but DON'T PASS THE DEAD END SIGN. Turn left (North) just before the dead end sign. Then, it's the first driveway (but not the first house) on the right, over a cattle guard. It's a long (1/4 mile), uphill, winding driveway.  8745 Sypes Canyon Road, Bozeman, 587-4377. Email for a map, if needed. (lazybow@montanadsl.net)  Who can come?  Non-riding meets, or riding meets where you choose to observe instead of riding, are open to people over 21 with an interest and a sense of humor. Sometimes there is a charge, sometimes not.  Riding meets are open to OPRC members only (see "Trial Membership", next).  How much does it cost?  Yearly membership is 35$. Of this, 10$ is for national dues, and 25$ is for local dues. Meets have been running 15$ or free, depending on whether or not we have to pay a clinician. My intent is that we NOT have separate fundraising activities (bake sales, raffles, auctions, solicitations). We have been having success with a "Trial Membership," in which the prospective member pays just the national dues (and any clinic charges), which activates our insurance coverage, for the first riding event. Then, if one decides to join, the local dues are paid at the next meet.  Do you ride always when you meet or do you sometimes have meetings only etc.... We've been trying hard to combine business issues with riding meets, especially during prime riding months. In winter, we had a couple of trips, and a couple of  "don't bring your horse" clinics. We used Lazy Bow ponies for "introduction to driving", and "preparing for the D1 and D2 exams." We've only had one sit-down-and-talk-only meeting, the organizational one;  we will be having others as needed, but as few as possible. What is the required D1 rating ride like? A member of the New York STARS chapter has written a great article on her test: OPRC - one rider's D-1/D-2 experience Requirements for membership: 1) 21 years or older to attend functions 2) Sense of humor 3) qualify on the OPRC D1 riding exam (walk/trot) 4) ability to laugh at oneself 5) helmet  6) boots with heels 7) joyful demeanor and a willing  laugh  8) desire to have FUN with your horse and with others sharing a similar attitude 9) sense of humor 10) there is no #10 General background information: We got organized in Dec'2001, and had our first get together in Jan 2002. It's been fun, but hectic. We have between 14 and 20 members, I'm losing count, and I have to enter 2 or 3 new ones (not sure which it is) into my database. I'm really in to stealing other people's good ideas (and I occasionally have the good grace to ask them if they mind).  Ours is the local branch of the National organization. (See the Practical Horseman article ).  The jist of the matter is that the member's have to be at least 21 years old. It is very loosely based on the British Pony Club, in that we have rating rides, and all riders are required to pass the D-1 (lowest level, walk-trot, tack, parts of the horse ...) level test to attain full membership. This is to ensure a modicum of safety. There is the option of jumping or not, all types of rider and equine are welcome. Additional rating rides will be provided, usually twice/year, as needed or desired. The tests have been modified from the USAPony Club standard, and are available on the national website (http://www.oldpeoplesridingclub.org/oppc/d1_test.html).  The club was started to answer the question, "Why should the kids have all the fun?" The idea is to do anything, as long as it is fun. Competitions are low key, and safe attire is all that is required, and a good sense of humor.  We hope to eventually have enough members so that different people will show up at any given event, depending on how members' schedules happen to look. Membership doesn't imply an obligation to attend anything, one participates in those events that sound fun. Types of events that we've been discussing and planning besides the things we've done (see the "Home" page)are playdays (gymkana,omoksee ...), eventing, Calgary Stampede trip, Herron Park Horse Trials trip, Spruce Meadows in Alberta (RCMP drill team?!), combined driving, mounted orienteering, trip to the coast to meet with OPRC clubs over there for a horse/rider swim, ... we're soaking up ideas from the newsletters of all of the other clubs, and there are a lot more ideas than had ever occured to me! Is this club the answer to my search for the "Fountain of Youth?" No, it isn't. After reading the warning label on the fountain, it didn't seem like it was all it was cracked up to be, after all (Fine Print).

Original Practical Horseman Article   Rating Ride: One rider's D-1/D-2 experience