Best of America by Horseback

Join us to enjoy...

• Riding with TV show host Tom Seay through some of the most beautiful mountains in the East!
• Musical entertainment by nationally known Western Musician and Cowboy Poet, Del Shields
• Steve Edwards & Julie Dillon will be offering  4 free clinics during the weekend & 4 clinics with one-on-one instruction for groups  no larger than 3-5 people. Cost is $60 per person, or $40 per hour for a group of 3-5!
• Watch and participate in a celebrity campfire cooking demonstration with Johnny Nix! Johnny will be putting on 2 free demonstrations & will also do 2 classes preparing a full meal, from start to finish with instruction for $50 per person
• A wonderful weekend with fellow trail riders!

Register early, as space is limited and is on a "first come-first serve" basis until full.
 
Registration is $150 per person.
This includes the Saturday evening banquet and meal.
 
You must make your own reservations for camping, housing, corral spots, and meals through Leatherwood Mountain Resort by calling toll free 877-736-8686 and speak with Bethany.  
 

Click here to register ONLINE now!
OR
Click here to download registration form!(to mail back)

 

Ride regulations:
*No gate registrations accepted.  Registration is "first come, first serve" basis until full
*A signed liability release is required for everyone.  Parent/Guardian signature is required for riders under 18.  Everyone must agree to terms.
*We will ride rain or shine.
*BOABH film/photography crew will be on site.  Please dress and act appropriately.
*$25 charge for non-riders wishing to attend the Saturday evening banquet/meal.
*Participants are responsible for making their own overnight or day parking, housing, stall and meal reservations with Leatherwood Mountain Resort by calling toll free 1-877-736-8686 and speak to Bethany.  For driving directions, please refer to www.leatherwoodmountains.com
*Participants are responsible for own meals.  Meals will be available for purchase from the Saddlebrook Restaurant.  Advance registration required for Friday night BBQ $15 per person.
*Everyone is expected to demonstrate proper trail riding etiquette.
*No Refunds.  No Transfers.  
*Payment is due in full at time of registration.  Payment for the ride and the camping, stalls and meals are separate and will be charged separately.
 
 

Schedule (subject to change)

Friday, Oct 23

 

9:00am – Check-in and sign-ups for individual sessions with clinicians, Steve Edwards

     &/or Julie Dillon and individual cooking sessions with Campfire Cook,   

     Johnny Nix. Check-in will be held at Saddlebrook restaurant.

11:00am – 1pm – BOABH Trail Club Member’s & Leatherwood POA Trail Ride with the Best of America Team. Gather at the covered Pavilion. (Ride limited to only members of these groups)

2:00-3:00pm – Education Session with Julie Dillon, Clinician & Gaited Riding

                Instructor—no charge

2:30-4:00pm — Campfire Cooking Demonstration with Johnny Nix for the Best of America by Horseback Trail Club Member’s & Leatherwood POA.  (limited to only members of these groups)

3:05-4:05pm — Education Session with Steve Edwards, Equine Trainer & Instructor – no charge

4:15pm – Wine Tasting held in the lawn by the restaurant – Everyone invited!

6:00pm – Traditional Pulled Pork Smoked BBQ meal with all the fixin’s.

$15 per person, reservation required.   Held at the covered Pavilion.

8:00pm – Entertainment by Western Musician & Cowboy Poet, Del Shields.

 

Saturday, Oct 24

 

8:30am — Check-in for late arrivals at the restaurant.

9:00am-12 noon —Trail ride with Best of America Team, gather at the covered Pavilion.

12:30-2:00pm — Campfire Cooking Demonstration with Johnny Nix—no charge

2:05–3:00pm —Education Session with Julie Dillon, Clinician & Gaited Riding

Instructor-no charge

3:05-4:00pm — Education Session with Steve Edwards, Equine Trainer & Instructor—no charge.

3:00–6:00pm — Campfire Cooking class with Johnny Nix. Cooking instructions for a full meal from start to finish, including dessert.  $50 per person.

4-6pm — Personal training sessions with Julie Dillon or Steve Edwards ($60/hour, per person for one-on-one instruction or $40 hour, per person for 3-5 in group)  Sign-up in advance please

5:00pm —Blue Grass Picking Circles in the barn & restaurant area.

5:45pm —Reception by BOABH and Leatherwood Staff for BOABH Club Members &

    Leatherwood Property Owners.

6:30pm —Banquet Dinner at the covered Pavilion (included in registration fee, additional tickets can be     pre-purchased for $25 pp)

             Following dinner -- Entertainment by Western Musician & Cowboy Poet, Del Shields.

Sunday, Oct 25

 

8:30 am — Cowboy Church with Del Shields.  Attend on horseback. Held at the cabin stage by the Welcome Center. Pets are welcome too!

9 am – 11 am  —Trail Ride with Best of America Team. Gather at the covered Pavilion.

11am -1 pm — Campfire Cooking class with Johnny Nix.  Cooking instructions for a full meal from start to finish, including dessert.  $50 per person.

1:00-4:00pm — Super Equine Trail Challenge—all levels can participate!  Contact

              Bethany for more details!  Pre-registration is required.

                 Tom Seay, Steve Edwards & Phil Whitson judging!

4:00-6:00pm — Personal training sessions with Julie Dillon or Steve Edwards. ($60/hour, per person for one-on-one instruction or $40 hour, per person for 3-5 in group)  Sign-up in advance please

 

 

*We will have a vendor mall located adjacent to the covered Pavilion throughout the weekend.  There will be local craft vendors as well as equine merchandise for sale.  If you have an interest in becoming a vendor, please contact at Bethany@bestofamericabyhorseback.com

 

 

Ride Registration Fee:

 $150 for Non-BOABH Trail Club members /$100 for BOABH trail club members and Leatherwood Mountains property owners.  Registration fee includes Banquet Dinner on Saturday night.  You may register online at www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com or print off registration form and mail back with check. 

 

Join the Trail Club

Save $ now on your registration fee and enjoy added benefits during the weekend!  Join the Trail Club!  12 months/$144.    www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com/thetrailclub.html

 

Super Equine Trail Challenge

Call or email Bethany for details, or go to http://www.leatherwoodmountains.com/news.htm to download the registration form.

 

Campfire Cooking Classes

Pre-signups for the Campfire Cooking Classes with Johnny Nix are welcome! Call Bethany and reserve your spot today!

 

Pre-Ride Equine Clinic Opportunity

Steve Edwards will be here the first part of the week offering seminars to teach you the basic art of communication with your horse, donkey or mule.

Topic seminars

-Halters: key to mules, donkeys, horses 10-21-09

-Why does my mule, donkey horse do that? 10-22-09

-Communicating with your mule, donkey, horse 10-23-09

Cost $85.00 per participant per day & $10.00 per spectator

http://www.muleranch.com/schedule.asp

 

 

Tours of Leatherwood Mountains Homes & Land Real Estate offerings will be conducted periodically throughout the weekend.  For more information about our listings please visit www.leatherwoodrealestate.com or call 336-973-5028.

Facility Amenities:  RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

·       40 Luxury Rental Cabins (some have private barns) – go to www.leatherwoodmountains.com  to review the available cabins.

·       21 Camp sites with 20 amp power & water hook up (along the banks of Elk Creek) – FULL for the October Ride.

·       Ample space for primitive camping in horse pastures (portable corral panels can be used for horses)

·       East, West & Creek Barns (60 stalls) have showers (East & West Barn), restrooms, wash pits & tacking areas. Limited number of stalls still available!

·       Annex Barn (8 stalls) has outside wash pit, no shower or rest room – Limited number of stalls still available!

·       70’ x 120’ Lighted Covered Riding Pavilion and gathering space for meals & entertainment.  

·       90’ x 200’ Show arena that adjoins the covered Pavilion

·       45’ Round pen

·       75+ Miles of horse trails – all very accessible and fun to ride!

Accommodations:

Arrangements (2 night min.) must be made through Leatherwood Mountains and are on a first come first reserved basis.

For People:

• Luxury Rental Cabins (some have private barn) – go to www.leatherwoodmountains.com to review the available cabins.
• Campsite with power & water hook-ups - $20.00 per night (horses are not permitted in this campground) – FULL for October ride.

For Horses & People:

• Primitive campsite (located in pastures) - $10.00 per night (horses may be tied or portable corralled within your primitive campsite for $5.00/horse)

 

·      Stalls - $20.00 per night (include a 35 lb bag of shavings) – Limited number still available!

 

If you would you like to extend your weekend to a vacation:  Cabin accommodations, stalls & campsites may be reserved for dates in advance of the ride weekend, and/or extended for dates beyond the ride weekend.  Based on availability.

 

Meals:

 

• Friday Night Traditional Smoked Pork BBQ Dinner with all the fixin’s - $15.00 per person – reservations are required.
• Saturday Night Banquet Dinner is included in the rider registration fee. Additional banquet meal tickets are available for non-registered riders - $25 per person.
• Saddlebrook Restaurant is our full service on-site restaurant and will be serving breakfast & lunch during the ride weekend. 

 

Payment is due in full at the time of your reservation.  Sorry, no refunds.  Payment for the rider registration fee will be charged separately when you register.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR HORSES & PEOPLE:

Our rental homes are fantastic; most have amazing views, big decks and wonderful living space.  Some of our homes are horse-friendly, you can rent the stalls and pastures for an additional $20.00 per horse, per night. Trailering to the equine facility trail-head may be required, or you can ride your horse down – depending on where your cabin is, it’s about a 20-35 minute ride to the Equine Facility. We also have some pet-friendly homes too, so you can bring your furry friend for an additional fee of $75.00 per pet.

 

Our campground is located on Elk Creek, which is a beautiful trout stream, and has 21 sites with 20 amp power & water hookups (no dump station).  There are showers & bathrooms located in the EAST & WEST barns that can be used by any of our camping guests.  Primitive camping will be in our pastures.  Horses may not be kept in the campground, but, may be kept at the primitive sites.

 

You can't beat our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain trails! We are sure you and your horses will love it.   The roads into Leatherwood are good roads that big rigs travel year round.  The last 20 miles are curvy country roads; so, you should be careful and take your time.  There is very little elevation change when traveling from most locations.

 

A bag of shavings will be provided with each stall rental located in our Equine Facility – if you care to, you can purchase additional shavings while you are here. Feed and water buckets are also provided. If you wish, you may use your own buckets but please place our buckets back in the stalls upon your departure. You will need to bring your own feed and hay. You are responsible for feeding and taking care of your horses and cleaning their stalls while you are here.  If you have stalls with your cabin accommodations, you will need to bring shavings with you or you may purchase them when you arrive.

We think you will love the facilities! The barns are spacious, with 12X12 box stalls & open air, covered slatted stalls, wash pits, bathrooms and a community tack room. We have sand paddocks for short time turn-out use while you are here.  It is important to use the turn-outs for only a short time since other guests will be waiting for their turns to use them, also.  Horses must not be turned out in these paddocks for the night.  You may also want to keep in mind that some of our rental homes have their own stalls & pasture where you can keep your horses if you decide to rent one of our available homes.