Big Sky Memorial Ride

Bidding is NOW OPEN! So many amazing horse related items!

Thank you to Sandra Cheek for this photo of yesterday’s ride! Please tag us Big Sky Memorial Ride if you have photos to share!

For our riders this weekend:

Here is some helpful information for the weekend:

Friday Schedule:

- 2:30 PM: Registration opens in the barn
- 3:30 PM: Vetting starts
- 6:00 PM: Potluck in the barn (Main dish provided; please bring a side dish or dessert)
- 6:45 PM: Mini Clinic in the barn (Topic: Trail Etiquette by Beth Meenaghan)
- 7:00 PM: Ride Meeting in the barn

Saturday Ride Schedule:

75-Mile Riders (Start time: 5:30 AM / Must be off course by 11:30 PM):

- Bear Claw: 13 Miles (Orange) – 30 min hold
- Barron View: 24 Miles (Pink) – 45 min hold
- Purple/Yellow Loop (with an out vet check): 25 Miles
- Out check: 14 miles – 15 min hold
- In camp: 11 miles – 45 min hold
- Bear Claw: 13 miles (Orange) – Done!

50-Mile Riders (Start time: 6:00 AM / Must be off course by 6:00 PM):

- Purple/Yellow Loop (with an out vet check): 25 Miles
- Out check: 14 miles – 30 min hold
- In camp: 11 miles – 45 min hold
- Barron View: 24 Miles (Pink) – Done!

25-Mile Riders (Start time: 7:00 AM / Must be off course and pulsed down by 1:00 PM):

- Purple/Yellow Loop (with an out vet check): 25 miles
- Out check: 14 miles – 45 min hold
- In camp: 11 miles – Done!

Intro Riders (Start between 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM):

- Blue Koocanusa Loop: 10 miles
- Note: The intro ride is not timed, but you must check in with the timer when you leave and return. Please pick up your registration card and vet-in on Friday or Saturday morning before you leave. Completion prizes will be awarded to all intro riders.

Saturday Dinner & Sunday Awards:

- Saturday Dinner (5:30 PM): Included for all participants and volunteers ($10 for additional guests).
- Sunday Awards (7:30 AM): If you need to leave before Sunday morning, please collect your award from either Bonnie or Shayne.

Housekeeping Things to Remember:

- Parking: We will have a parking attendant. Please honk your horn and wait to be parked upon arrival. There will be a sign!
- Helmets: Everyone (all ages) must wear a helmet when on a horse, not just participants.
- Dogs: Dogs must be leashed/contained at all times and are not allowed in the vetting area.
- Quiet Hours: 9:00 PM on Friday and 11:00 PM on Saturday. Please ensure generators are turned off by these times.
- Manure: Please scatter manure.
- Stall Rentals: If you rented a stall, please ensure it is mucked out before you leave. A couple extra muck buckets, carts, and a dump trailer will be provided.
- Recreation: Lake Koocanusa is just 2 miles from camp, so feel free to ride down and enjoy the water!

Here is the Google Maps pin for the Ride Camp location, as well as the written directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HjFnptM5yDdtEiLg9
Starting at the intersection of Hwy 2 and Hwy 37 in Libby, MT.
Travel north on Hwy 37 for 13.5 miles.
Turn left onto USFRoad 228 (paved) towards Libby Dam Visitor Center, just before the Kootenai River Bridge (approximately 0.5 miles past milepost 13).
Continue for 8.3 miles.
Turn left onto Jackson Creek Rd (gravel) approximately 0.3 miles past milepost 8.
Note: Do not turn onto Little Jackson at around mile 6.
Travel approximately 1 mile and look for event signs and parking.

The countdown is on! Just a few weeks until we head to Big Sky Memorial Ride! 🐎⛰️

If you've never experienced this ride, you're in for something special. Picture winding forest trails, cool creek crossings, breathtaking views of Lake Koocanusa, and a ride camp where friendships are made as easily as miles.

Whether you're tackling your first Intro Ride or aiming for 100 miles, Big Sky offers the kind of weekend that reminds us why we love endurance riding.

What riders can look forward to:
🌲 Miles of scenic wilderness trails
🏕️ Shaded horse camping on private property
🍔 Friday night BBQ and dinners included Friday and Saturday
🏅 Completion awards for every distance, including Intro riders
❤️ A supportive, welcoming endurance community

Youth riders under 18 ride FREE in the 25, 50, 75, and 100-mile distances through EDRA's youth program, and free mentorship is available with membership for those just getting started.

August 1 will be here before you know it. Grab your riding partner, pack the trailer, and come spend a weekend making memories in beautiful northwest Montana.

Register today: https://form.jotform.com/261376597922167

Who's planning to be there? Tell us which distance you're riding!

Big Sky Memorial Ride 2026 🐎
August 1, 2026 | Libby, Montana

Join us in the mountains of northwest Montana for one of the most scenic endurance rides in the PNER region. Big Sky Memorial Ride offers beautiful forest trails, panoramic views of Lake Koocanusa, shaded camp spots, wilderness riding, and a welcoming community atmosphere that keeps riders coming back year after year.

Register: https://form.jotform.com/261376597922167

Distances offered:
• Intro Ride (10–15 miles)
• 25 Mile
• 50 Mile
• 75 Mile
• 100 Mile
• Test Your Mettle 50 Mile Relay

Whether you’re brand new to endurance riding or chasing big mileage goals, there’s a place for you here. Our Intro Ride is perfect for riders learning, conditioning, training, or simply wanting to enjoy the trails with their horse. Free mentorship is available with membership, and youth under 18 ride free in the 25, 50, 75, and 100 mile distances through our youth program.

All riders receive:
✔ Free vet checks
✔ Friday & Saturday dinner
✔ Awards for completions, including Intro Ride participants
✔ Horse camping included
✔ Friday night BBQ for family & friends while supplies last

Ride camp is located on private property surrounded by the Kootenai National Forest with miles of secluded trails, creek crossings, shaded camping, access to Lake Koocanusa, and a beautiful barn that serves as the heart of camp all weekend long.

Big Sky Memorial Ride was created in honor of loved ones lost and has grown into a ride that celebrates endurance, community, and the people who inspire us to keep going down the trail.

📍 BNR Ranch / Big Sky
Libby, MT
Ride Managers Bonnie Girod and Shayne Russell
[email protected]
(406) 291-1127

Don’t Fence Me In Endurance Ride | Central Washington

Beautiful, open country riding awaits on the Lakeview Ranch BLM land. These scenic trails wind through sagebrush and along striking rim rock formations, offering mostly good-footing two-track with a small amount of technical single track. This is not a difficult ride, making it a great fit for a wide range of horses and riders.

New this year: A 13-mile intro ride—perfect for those looking to get started or enjoy a shorter distance.

What makes this ride special?
DFMI is designed to be mentally approachable for both horse and rider. The course features one long 30-mile loop:

30-mile riders complete it once with an out vet check
50-mile riders complete the loop, vet check, then return for a shortened second loop

It’s a great balance of forward-moving trail and just enough technical terrain to keep things interesting and scenic.

Ride camp & community
Ride camp is on private rangeland with plenty of level parking. After the ride, stick around for the traditional burgers and a chance to relax, swap stories, and connect with friends, old and new.

Details at a glance:
📍 Near Odessa, WA (Lakeview Recreation Area)
🚿 Horse water at camp
🚻 Porta-potties | generators OK | dogs on leash
📶 Cell service: spotty

Entry Fees:
• 13.5 mile intro: $95
• 30 mile: $160
• 50 mile: $160
• $20 discount for EDRA members

Registration:
https://form.jotform.com/253436519370156

Schedule highlights:
Friday: Registration, vet in, ride meeting
Saturday: Ride day + burgers at 4:00 PM
Sunday: Awards at 7:30 AM

Questions? Contact Ride Manager Susan Summers
📧 [email protected]
📱 (509) 680-5516

Photo credit: David Honan Photography

Don't miss this iconic ride!

Beautiful trails and ride camp at the base of Mt. Adams

The Trout Lake Endurance Ride takes place in the stunning forests of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near the charming town of Trout Lake. Riders travel through beautiful forest two-track and winding single-track trails with frequent views of the impressive Mount Adams. Along the way you’ll encounter creek crossings and a few bridges that make the trail both fun and memorable.

Ride camp is located at the north end of the field at Mount Adams Horse Camp, creating a spectacular setting at the base of the mountain. As you pass through Trout Lake on your way to camp, be sure to stop at the local gas station store for a famous huckleberry milkshake.

The Trout Lake ride has been part of the endurance community since 1990 and proudly hosted the Pan American Championship in 2003. One of the things that makes this ride special is the incredible local support. Community volunteers help throughout the weekend, and our local veterinarian keeps a close watch to ensure horse and rider safety.

This year we will also offer a 75-mile TYM relay, where two-horse/two-rider teams alternate loops. It’s a fun and strategic way to experience the course. Full relay rules are available on the EDRA website.

Weekend Schedule (subject to change)

Friday
2:00 PM – Registration
3:00 PM – Vetting begins
5:30 PM – Volunteer dinner
6:30 PM – Mini clinic (TBD)
7:00 PM – Ride meeting

Saturday
Start times TBD based on weather
4:00 PM – Burgers for riders and volunteers

Sunday
7:30 AM – Awards

Camp Amenities & Notes

• Porta-potties
• Generators OK
• Dogs welcome (must be on leash)

Manure must be picked up and taken home, or you may leave bagged manure with a donation.

The Forest Service requires Certified W**d Free Hay.

At the out vet check there will be water for horses and riders, hay for horses, and snacks for riders.

Photo by David Honan.

Only a handful of spots are left! Register today to get two clinics for the price of one!

Clinician Spotlight: Nate Ostrander
Two Eyes Horsemanship | Saturday, March 28

If you ride endurance and want your horse to move more freely, recover better, and stay relaxed under saddle, this clinic is for you.

Nate brings 15+ years of professional training experience across both Western and English disciplines. His approach blends posture, contact, body control, and groundwork into one cohesive system that improves communication between horse and rider.

What makes this clinic different?
You’re not just watching exercises — you’re learning how rider posture directly affects your horse’s comfort, efficiency, and recovery.

Friday evening: Intro session and Q&A
Saturday: In-saddle clinic integrating groundwork, biomechanics, and forward movement

Beginner-friendly, but valuable for experienced riders wanting refinement.

And yes — this is one of two full horse clinics included with conference registration.

March 27–29 | Colfax, WA
Register now: https://pci.jotform.com/form/240316222405139