CLOSE to 100 competitors from as far afield as Geraldton and Denmark entered the Avon Valley endurance ride on August 16.
The ride took place at Mokine on a picture perfect day.
Local landowner Blair Wilding had generously allocated a paddock for camping and his property for a testing track.
The horses delighted in their clover covered paddock to top up energy and hydration reserves prior to the start of the ride.
A field of 50 competitors left the ride base at 7am for the 80 kilometre main ride.
When the early morning fog lifted riders were rewarded with majestic views across the Avon Valley.
The sunny conditions, flowering canola and lush cereal crops highlighted the beauty of the district at this time of year.
Riders had nine hours to complete the ride.
The first rider across the line travelled very competitively at 16km/h to complete the ride in five hours and two minutes.
The last rider took nearly the total riding time allowed.
The field was spread out.
Riding at a more sedate pace were the social 40km and 20km riders who enjoyed the scenery.
Ride organisers were delighted with the entry of one of the landowners Nick Tighe, who rode his polocrosse mare Jojo in the 20km event.
In between a busy seeding programme Mr Tighe had helped organizsers with some local farm geography and also supplied a water truck for use on the day of the ride.
The vets, the guardians of the horses' welfare, were very impressed with the presentation of horses and the 78 per cent completion rate.
Head vet Anne Barnes from Murdoch and Nicola Hodgson and Astrid King from Heartlands Vet clinic in York were kept busy with the continual flow of horses.
Horses were checked at regular intervals for metabolic parameters and lameness to ensure they were fit to continue.
At the end of the day riders gathered to receive prizes which included colourful birdfeeders made at the Toodyay Men's Shed, painted miniatures by Graeme McPherson from Australind and bags of chaff from local growers.
Ride organisers thanked local landowners for graciously opening their properties for this event and Windward Balloon Adventures, Riverside Hotel, Elders, Kunine Chaff, RM Smith and Sons, Farmer Smith's, Landmark, Mitre 10, Sholto Arabians and Snowy Brosnan for their support.
