The Hope Charity Trail Ride will take place on April 5, 2009, a benefit for the Larimer County Child Advocacy Center in Fort Collins, Namaqua Center in Loveland, and A Kids Place in Greeley. Last year, the ride raised $1,700. This ride is held in correlation with K99’s 28 Hours of Hope, an event that raised $106,376.36 last year for these charities.We are hoping to surpass last year’s tallies, both in riders (last year we had 60) and in funds.

This year’s ride will be held in Lory State Park west of Fort Collins. (Remember to buy your Colorado State Parks Pass.) This year, riders have a choice of making a $25 donation, or doing a pledge form, in case they would like to solicit funds from work or just raise more money for the cause. Pledge forms can be downloaded at http://www.larimerhorseman.org.

At breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m., pancakes, eggs, bacon and coffee will be served. Riders will be sent out around 9 a.m. to ride as they want to (within reason, of course.) Lory State Park is an easy ride, and a great place to start out the riding season. No shoes are required, the land is fairly level with easy-to-follow trails and a new one to explore this year. The new trail goes up over the top from Timber Group Picnic Area and ties into the Mill Creek Trail. This trail is about 14 miles round trip. Parking will be the same as last year.

For an extra $5 donation, names will be added to a pot for a chance to win a CSI Saddle Pad – a $295 value. Or, if pledge forms are used, bring a pledge form for $50 or more, and get your name thrown into the pot as well.

If you are interested in helping others and enjoying a ride while you are doing it, please RSVP to Ted Newport at (970) 397-9591.