September 26th, 2020
Come join us on one of Colorado's scenic historic trails! The Greenland Hightail Endurance Ride is the third day of the Colorado Hightail Endurance Series with introductory, 25, and 50 mile rides. The colors are stunning, and the trails are incredibly well marked. Excellent ride with moderately easy trails, great footing and fabulous views of Pike’s Peak and the Front Range.
A little history... Greenland was once a bustling little village and shipping point. By 1871, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad extended to the site and it was platted as a 20-acre town in 1875 prior to Colorado becoming a state. It continued to thrive with two general stores, a post office, school and even a saloon or two. The railroad stations shipped out livestock, potatoes, grains, milk, building stones and pottery. The ranching industry continued even after the town declined in the 1930s. Now it is ours to meander the trails and share adventures!
Trail Experience: Prepare for a fun gorgeous mountain experience with all the fall colors. All distances start at base camp in the Greenland Open Space near Monument, Colorado with sections of the ride on the historic Colorado Front Range Trail. The Trail passes through native grasslands, by ponds, through rolling Gambel oak hills and skirts ponderosa pine forests. Views of Greenland open space, buttes and Pikes Peak previal.
Vet Checks: All vet checks are at Base Camp, for all rides!
More Day to Day Chatter: To keep up with ride development, please join and follow our Facebook page or reach out to Chalice, Phil or Jesse anytime! We are so excited to share smiles with you!
Event Schedule
Friday
11:30 AM – Office opens
12:00 Noon – Vetting in begins and will continue until sunset.
6:00 PM – Ride meeting with our trail masters walking through tips and tricks for the trail, includes extra maps if you need them. No ties for the event placing.
Saturday
6:30 AM – 50 mile controlled start
7:00 AM – Vetting begins for 25 milers
9:30 AM – 25 mile controlled start
10:00 AM – Introductory controlled start
5:30ish PM - YUMMY dinner serving begins, bring your best side dish! Camp cook awards might be in your future :)!
6:00 PM - Awards for Introductory, 25 & 50 Mile events along with good camp laugh awards.
Yummy Tummy Meal!
Friday Night - Lots of local restaurants near by.
Saturday Night -
Main dish provided will be Sweet Baby Rays Bar-B-Que sauce over meatballs, in sandwiches or excellent alone. Watermelon, Schomburg's wonderful pasta salad (yay!), and potato salad! Please bring a side dish and/or dessert and join the meal!
For riders and volunteers each day meals are included, all others at $10 per person daily. All are welcome-- Please let us know early so we can plan for headcount accordingly!
AVAILABILITY & RESTRICTIONS
Port-a-Potty - Several will be available throughout camp.
Dogs - Dogs are allowed, but on leash only please. Free range in the dog park.
Water - Non-potable water will be available for horses- again THANK you volunteers! Please, be sure to bring enough for your use.
Colorado Health Paperwork: Current health certificates and coggins for any out of state horses required. Health Certificate address: 1532 Noe Road, Larkspur, CO 80118
Vet Check - All Vet Checks are in camp.
VETERINARIANS
"How lucky are we to have such fabulous talent join us!"
Thank you to all Veterinarian support- we are very grateful!
Control Judge: Dr. Laura Blanton
Vet: Dr. Jackie Christakos & Interns
Vet: Dr. Nigel Miller
Dr. Laura Blanton
Branson, CO
Backgrounder: 
Dr. Laura Blanton, DVM, was born and raised in a small town in northern California. From there she left to attend Colorado State University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science in 1998. After CSU, she spent two years gaining experience in the industry, including time spent working for an outfitter in northwestern Colorado and on feedlots in Iowa and eastern Washington state. She eventually attended the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degre in 2004.
Immediately after finishing veterinary school, Dr. Laura took a job with Bakersfield Veterinary Hospital in Bakersfield, CA. There she primarily worked with horses, with just enough cow-calf, exotic and exhibition livestock work to keep the days really interesting. She has a special interest in goat medicine and husbandry, and really enjoys working with youth projects.
Having spent nine years in Bakersfield, Dr. Laura left BVH in the fall of 2013 to join her husband Chad, who had been managing a ranch on the Dry Cimarron River outside of Folsom, NM for the past three years. She is looking forward to sharing her experience and knowledge with the people of Union County, NM and surrounding areas.
Vet: Dr. Jackie Christakos
Littleton, CO
Backgrounder: Dr. Christakos grew up in southern Illinois where she took riding lessons as a young girl. She became involved in eventing in high school, competing to preliminary level with her off-the track thoroughbred and helping manage a performance horse boarding facility before relocating to Colorado in 2004 to begin her undergraduate education. Dr. Christakos received her Bachelor of Science degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 2008 and 2012 respectively. She then completed her internship at Littleton Equine Medical Center in 2012-2013, rotating through surgery, emergency and field services.
Dr. Christakos has remained with LEqMC since completion of her internship in June of 2013. She became certified in Equine Veterinary Medical Acupuncture in the spring of 2014. Dr. Christakos’ areas of focus at LEqMC are lameness, emergency medicine, acupuncture and general practice.
When she is not working, Dr. Christakos enjoys riding her thoroughbred gelding, hiking 14ers, snowboarding, and hanging out with her husband, Ty and their dog Hank.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University, 2008
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, 2012
- Internship, Littleton Equine Medical Center, 2012-2013
Vet: Dr. Nigel Miller
Elizabeth, CO
Backgrounder: Dr. Miller graduated from Colorado State University in 2016 and completed an Equine Internship at Littleton Equine Medical Center prior to joining the Animal Clinic. His interest include equine medicine, lameness, and reproduction. He grew up in Elizabeth, Colorado and enjoys running, riding horses, hiking, and camping. His favorite animals are his horse Headlight and dog Sprite.
Nearest Emergency Clinic: Littleton Equine Medical Center - (303) 794-6359
Ride Base Camp is very easy to navigate and parking friendly! It has a wonderful group picnic shelter, restroom, kiosk, benches, water spigot, and parking for horse trailers; hitch rails, horse obstacle course, and dirt surface parking lot.
"SUPER CLOSE LOCAL HORSE CAMPING" area alternative!
If you'd like to camp overnight close by and not in basecamp (sometimes it can be a wee bit noisey as we understand it) there is horse motel within minutes, and what a drop dead gorgeous location: "That Special Place" owned/operated by Wendy Hickox. She is off Tomah Rd, just a wee bit past the Dawson Butte Trail-head. You would exit off I-25 on exit 181- Plum Creek Parkway. She has box stalls, runs, plenty of water, and will accommodate campers, your own pens, etc. Even has a potty available on site. She says she is not good with email so please call her cell for reservations. Cell: 720.840.8880 is the best contact. She charges for both per head per horse and per camper. Check in with her for rates."
Directions to Ride
Ride is located just West of Interstate-25 at Exit 167. North of Monument exit and south of Larkspur exit. Conveniently located 1/2 mile west of I-25 at the Greenland Exit 167 between Monument and Larkspur.
Take I-25 Exit 167, west .2 miles and south .5 miles to Greenland trailhead.
Also accessible on the south side from the New Santa Fe Trail trailhead in Palmer Lake.
Trails:
www.douglas.co.us/dcoutdoors/trails/open-space-trails to see the permanently marked trails.
Port-a-Potty - Several will be available on site.
Dogs - Dogs are allowed, but on leash only. This ride takes place at a monitored Douglas County Open Space. There is a Dog park nearby for those with pups who have energy to burn. Please keep your pet friend on a leash unless in the dog park.
Water - Non-potable water will be available for horses - again THANK you volunteers! Please, be sure to bring enough for your use.
Register Now!
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