American Competitive Trail Horse Association

The American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) is a fairly new organization with the stated mission of “Providing an enjoyable venue showcasing the wonderful attributes of the great American Trail Horse, granting them the recognition they so richly deserve. To maintain a registry open to all breeds and a point designation system which will stay with each horse for its lifetime, thereby adding to their value and distinction. To enable the humane treatment of horses in need. ACTHA donates up to 50% of its proceeds to eligible horse charities annually.”

The ACTHA website advertises the following: “That the Organization’s Founders, Karen VanGetson and Carrie Scrima, were tired of long drives to multi-day, timed competitions. They wanted a venue where they could enjoy their horses and the wonderful scenery around them. Of course they wanted some challenge and a chance to learn as well as show off their horse’s talents. But most of all they wanted beauty, camaraderie and fun! Try as they might to find this in areas they were interested in or on a national level, their search was in vain. So Carrie said "Let’s start one!" Thus the foundation for ACTHA began.”

ACTHA is billed as casual competition and has been endorsed by well known Horse Trainers, Clinton Anderson and Monty Roberts.

A Competitive Trail Challenge is billed as a 6-10 mile ride, negotiating judged obstacles such as crossing streams, crossing bridges, riding up/down steep hills,
backing around obstacles, dragging a log, opening/closing gates, jumping over a low log, riding through vine styled obstacles, trotting over spaced logs, stand in position while a loud noise is present, walk on/around plastic tarp/bags and trotting/cantering from point A to point B.

Sounds like a good training venue to me. If you are interested in the American Competitive Trail Horse Association, please go to their website and poke around.

http://www.actha.us/