About The Venue

Flying M Ranch is outside the city of Yamhill which is in the northern part of Yamhill County, southwest of Portland Oregon. It is a very rustic location with dry camping only. There is no potable water in the campground but there is a creek for stock to drink from. There are some hitching posts on-site. There is plenty of room for your RV, trailer, or tent and plan to either tie horse to your rig or use a portable corral. Sorry, there are no on-site stalls available. 

There is little to no cell service at the ranch.

Event Details

Saturday's Trail Challenge will be around 7 miles with 6-8 obstacles. 

Sunday's Trail Challenge will be shorter, closer to 5 miles, but still with 6-8 obstacles.

Judge Clinic

RIDERS' PARTICIPATION

This is a "fly on the wall experience" where the few riders gain an insider perspective of ETS judging. In this ETS Judging Clinic, the participating riders are asked to attempt the obstacles in the Judges' hands-on training.  Regardless if a rider actually does that obstacle, each rider gets to 'listen-in' to the discussion of the performance and the scores immediately after each attempt. Riders are encouraged to view all judges' materials (see below).  LIMITED NUMBER OF RIDERS!

JUDGES' PARTICIPATION

This clinic is for both amateur horseman and equine professionals who wish to learn how to apply their expertise and knowledge to judging obstacles as per ETS Standards. This clinic features hands-on practice on example obstacles with real riders. Aspiring judges gain confidence through practice and feedback on their scoring from experienced ETS judges. 

PREPARATION FOR THE CLINIC:

The ETS Judging Clinic consists of a short review of ETS Judging Standards with the bulk of the time spent actual practice judging on "live obstacles" with a few riders. 

To  prepare for the clinic, we ask that you complete the 'Classroom' portion by reviewing the Study Materials located on the Judge Certification page (JUDGE tab). You are asked to take the 'Knowledge Check' prior to the clinic.

Here is a quick link: JUDGE PREPARATION MATERIALS

There is no membership charge with the clinic, simply toggle the Daypass option when you register.

The Terrain

The trails are gentle slopes and some steep trail and you will encounter water crossings on the trail. We will travel along old logging roads as well as more challenging forest trails. The trails offer exciting views of the Coastal Mountain Range and the North Fork of the Yamhill River, as well as a variety of flora and fauna. 

Meals

There will be a potluck dinner Saturday night, we will BBQ hot dogs and provide buns and toppings, so bring a dish to share! We are not going to be near a store so please be prepared for a weekend away from it all!

Awards

Event #1 & #2 of the 2018 Willamette Valley Trail Buckle Series 

Series Event Dates: July 21 & 22-Yamhill, September 8 & 9-South Salem, September 29 & 30-South Salem

Champion buckles awarded in each division at end of series at Glenhaven Farm in South Salem Oct. 7th. 

Beautiful ribbons for 1st-6th place each day for Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions!

This ride is also part of the NW Saddle Series.

Additional Fees

Additional fees to be paid at the ranch upon arrival.

• $20 per night primitive camping. (Similar to places like Mt. Adams Horse Camp.)
• $5 per vehicle day use fee for non-campers.
• $5 per horse per day for facility use, all horses.

Additional Opportunities

We will need riders on Friday July 20 for our Judges Clinic. 

For more info about Flying M Ranch go to www.flying-m-ranch.com or check them out on Facebook!