Competing in the Bedford Riding Lanes Association Bedford Pace
The Bedford Riding Lanes Association (BRLA) is a publicly supported, non-profit organization, which maintains more than 100 miles of equestrian riding lanes, running through beautiful private properties, nearby my home in Bedford. Twice a year, BRLA holds a competition fund-raiser called the Bedford Pace. The Pace is divided into 4 categories - Hunt, Pleasure, Junior, and Western. Prior to
the event, an official rides each course to set the time. The participants begin riding, not knowing what the set time is. The rider or riders who finish closest to the set time win the event. Betsy Perreten, my stable manager loves
riding in the pace and did so this past Sunday, competing in the Pleasure category.
1 I met Betsy Perreten and Monique Schulman shortly before 7:30AM at the John Jay Homestead. The early morning fog was caused by a very strong atmospheric inversion. After heavy rains and winds on Saturday, the temperature dropped about 30º causing heavy misting. It was a perfect day for a pace, a hike, a bike ride. or just observing.
2 Ramon and Rinze were frisky and ready for the pace. Mine was the first team to start that day.
3 The trees and landscape looked eerily beautiful.
4 A large tent was set up for the luncheon and awards ceremony at noon.
5 Not quite at the starting gate
6 I brought Betsy and Monique cappuccinos from home. They enjoyed the extra attention, I think.
7 Betsy was riding Ramon and Monique was on trusty Rinze.
8 The starting tent was barely visible from where I was standing.
9 The next stop was the starting gate.
10 A nice portrait before the Pace
11 The clocks were about to start.
12 Off they went! Not too fast and hopefully, not too slow!
13 The sky was attempting to clear as trailers arrived and teams were unloaded and saddled up.
14 Parking was allowed along the main access road to the John Jay Homestead.
15 Carlos and I drove around the neighborhood looking for the teams. It was too early so I went home and did some gardening. The pink arrows mark the course, preset by a special task force. The pace lasts anywhere from 1-hour 15-minutes to 2-hours, depending on the class.
16 When I returned at about 9:15, I caught sight of Ramon coming to Rt. 22, just across the street from the finish line.
17 Here are the boys and their riders.
18 A good ride, but maybe slightly too slow??
19 I told them to hurry up, but to no avail. Actually, I turned out to be correct - my team came in fifth - about five minutes too slow!
20 Now they decided to speed up for the photos at the finish line!
21 Happy, not too tired, and elated that the sun was shining, finally!
22 The sign-in tent also served as a promotional tent for the upcoming BRLA fundraising barn tour held on Monday, October 15th.
23 Betsy and Monique rested the horses and chatted with friends before riding back to my stable, which is not too far away.
24 I discovered this magnificent osage orange tree on the farm. It was full of the bumpy green fruits.
25 Look carefully and you can see that the tree is laden with sticky green globes.
26 A closer look
27 The pleasant-smelling fruit is filled with a sticky white latex sap that has been used as an insect repellant. Osage wood is very dense and is prized for tool handles, fence posts, and bows.
28 We collected some osage fruit in a bushel to take home.
29 Another half of a team setting out
30 This is the other half.
31 More and more trailers arrived bringing more teams to compete.
32 Betsy setting off for home - She and Monique came back for lunch.
33 I continued to photograph. I promise to ride in the Pace next spring.
34 Another team walking towards the John Jay Homestead barn
35 This is a fun event for families.
36 Horses grazing
37 Handsome Paso Fino horses, which originated in Puerto Rico
38 The hearty lunch was catered by De Cicco Family Markets.
39 The Pace always has a nice turnout.
40 The ribbon table
41 The Junior winners were Amanda and Lauren Ko.
42 The Western division winners were Pam Hutchison and Trina Smith.
43 Betsy and Monique took 5th place in the Pleasure category.
44 The winners of Pleasure division were Kate Stoupas, Susannah Pask, and Veronika Brandhuber.
45 And the winners of Hunt category were Earl Nemser and Thomas Petterfy.
46 What an amazing day it turned out to be!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha, that looks like fun.
I like the "foggy" pictures.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | September 11th, 2012 at 12:38 am
Martha,
5th place isn't so bad, lets give them an E for effort. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | September 11th, 2012 at 1:16 am
Boy, does that look like fun! You really must ride next year, Martha.
Posted by: Sharon | September 11th, 2012 at 4:25 am
What great photos and it certainly looks like everyone enjoyed it. Love the fog photos as it brought back memories of early morning rides. Martha, I will look forward to seeing you take part in this event next year. Blessings to you.
Posted by: syl | September 11th, 2012 at 7:27 am
Martha, I can never get enough of your beautiful horses. I don't care
where they placed. Hope you can ride soon.
Enjoy this beautiful day.
Kathy
Posted by: kathy peterson | September 11th, 2012 at 7:28 am
Ramon and Rinze are such beautiful horses. Photo #10 with I think, Betsy and Ramon is my favorite. What fun for Betsy and Monique to participate in the Bedford Pace and how nice of you Martha to support your team, epecially bringing cappuchinos! I look foward to your blog this Spring of you participating Martha.
Posted by: Cindy F | September 11th, 2012 at 7:55 am
Hi Martha, This sure was a fun event for Betsy, riding Ramon and Monique riding Rinze in the Bedford Riding Lanes close to your farm! The weather certainly started out very foggy, so similar some of our foggy mornings here close to Puget Sound! How nice that the weather improved as the day went on! Sorry Betsy and Monique didn't win there ride, but they still look happy just being in the event! Sure will be fun to see you in that event next spring! All of these photos are superb! How fun that you and Carlos were driving around the neighborhood looking for the teams! How interesting that each pace lasted 1hour&15minutes to 2hours! I can see why you went back to do some gardening since you couldn't find the girls! Photos #16 to 21 were great to see the girls finishing the race! Also loved seeing the osage orange tree and how nice to get those clumpy fruits to take home! Photo # 33 of you talking to Monique was charming! The weather certainly improved and how fun to see the families watching these events and the other races! The lunch must have been fantastic! Also love photo #43-charming! This certainly was an amazing day! Thanks for this delightful tour! Hope you have another great day! Off to see The Daily Wag with "A Guinea Fowl Update!" Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 11th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Looks like it was an awesome day!
Posted by: Holiday Baker Man | September 11th, 2012 at 10:34 am
I think a rider who places at all has done darn good considering no one knows the time set, but it seems it was a good thing you hurried them along at the end there.
That was some serious fog at the start that might have changed the turn of events. Either way, better luck next race and maybe we'll see you riding then.
~
Hey, it's going to be great watching your shows on Hulu and of course on PBS starting October 6th. I watched two segments on Hulu this morning and already I'm hungry for Chicken Oreganato and steak that you seared and then finished cooking in the oven. Two separate meals of course. I've been a little down in the dumps lately because a new season of your show did not start this week like I'm used to seeing and you know WHO is in your studio now. Well, I won't be watching her or any new show that airs in your time slot, and I'm done with Hallmark. Hooray for Hulu, PBS and Youtube! Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 11th, 2012 at 10:37 am
I think picture #6 is a wonderful portraiture.
Posted by: Susan | September 11th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Thanks for the mention--best. Earl
Posted by: Earl Nemser | September 11th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Martha,
What a nice day for a ride. Glad you had a great day.
Like you said, 5th place isn't so bad.
Posted by: Gilles Labelle | September 11th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Hi Martha,
I think they did great, whether they came in first, last or somewhere in the middle the main thing is they had a great time and the horses got excercise. It was a win win situation. The pictures are amazing, especially seeing those beautiful horses in the fog. Just beautiful
Karen
Posted by: Karen Tracy | September 11th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
Osage Orange! I wonder who planted it and how long ago? Are you going to make hedges of them?
I've often thought of Osage Oranges since I learned about them being used for fences on the range, and that was in elementary school, but never thought to look it up to see what they are like. I would never have guessed they got so tall.
Posted by: jw | September 12th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Hi Martha,
I love reading your stories about your equine adventures!
I'm interested in the saddle that Betsy is riding in, in image 6 on this blog post. As a therapeutic riding instructor, I am always looking for different tack that might comfortable accommodate the special needs of some of my riders
If you could share that information, that would be great
It looks like a sort of bareback pad, with added support!
Thanks!
Posted by: Chelsea V. | September 14th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
I loved looking through the photographs. I filmed the Fall Pace this year & you can view it on YouTube under Kate Stoupas. If you would ever like to have me film you riding let me know. My girlfriends & I always enjoy the Bedford Pace & anyway we can help we will. I am on the board of the Greenwich Riding Trails & you must come & ride our pace.
Kate Stoupas
Posted by: Kate Stoupas | November 26th, 2012 at 10:15 pm