Little Manatee River State Park’s 10th Annual Mystery Map Ride
Tori Blankenship
Blankenship Stables was able to participate in the 10th Annual Mystery Map Ride, hosted by the Friends of the Little Manatee River State Park. The Friends of the Little Manatee River State Park is a citizen’s support organization dedicated to enhancing the facilities and user experience at the park, banding together to volunteer their time and efforts to help the Little Manatee River State Park be the best it can be. In the spirit of community service, they not only improve this already great park, but have fun doing it!
I have been fortunate enough to be able to attend 5 previous Mystery Map rides at this park, but this one was definitely the most inventive! There was a total of 82 horse and rider teams that showed up this year - the numbers have grown significantly since the beginning of this event. Every riding discipline with just about every breed (including a gorgeous Friesian stallion) was represented as one huge equestrian melting pot ready to have fun and support this great park & organization.
After signing up, we were given entry numbers to be displayed on our bridles, a sheet of paper with instructions and were pointed in the direction to start our ride. The instruction sheet started out with this;
“Welcome all ye brave souls, to the tournament of “Truth - Justice and Valour”. This noble contest takes its’ name from the values that shaped Robin Hood’s legend and it be what he is looking for in the lads and ladies he will add to his merry band of men. But first, ye must prove yourself in these trails. You are in the 12th century, an age of superstition in which men believe in anything from fairies to dragons. As you follow this map, you will be timed and competing against a mystery person whose time had been sealed till the last person crosses the finish line. We want no harm to come to man nor beast, so use caution and keep safe - perhaps the mystery person felt the same and did not complete a task. Just follow the map with a song in your heart and nerves of steel.”
Then it went on to give the instructions and clues that would lead us to the 19 obstacles we would encounter in the woods on the trail…… lancing for rings, defending oneself with quarter a staff, ducking through neck ropes, walking through debris, dragging limbs, crossing bridges and ditches, winding through a maze, through a “cave”and walls made from tarps, tossing hoops over targets, archery….. Very, very, very creative!
Our Foxtrotter trio was made up of one “been there-done-that” trail horse ridden by myself, one show horse turned “almost been-there-done-that” trail horse too ridden by Karlene Landess, and Betty Tricarico’s absolute Princess show horse who was not quite sure she even wanted to be there or might even consider doing that! We had a blast figuring out the clues on the map - were semi-lost a couple of times in the woods, and totally enjoyed our Flat-Footing and Foxtrotting past posting riders on their hard trotters to make up for time while being lost!
The last clue to lead us to the end point was a little confusing. Karlene and I were trying to make heads or tails of it when Betty took control of the situation and kicked her Princess up into her head shaking flatfoot walk and beat us back to the finish line by about 3 minutes. She was beaming with pride when we met her there.
We joined the other riders who had already completed the ride under the tents set up to enjoy a catered bar-b-que lunch and celebrate all of our victories and laugh at our disasters. Their were still a few riders out on the course when we decided to load up and head home with our tired selves and horses.
Betty received a voice mail the next day about winning something at the ride and was asked to return the call. We had won the 50/50 raffle while we were there, so she thought that it must have something to do with that. When she returned the call, she found out that her and her Princess show horse, “Dusty” had won the Mystery Map event by being just seconds off of the target time. It was that huge flatfoot walk she put her in, on her way to the finish line that did it!! Karlene and I won 2nd and 3rd place honors trailing in behind her. That week we picked up our prizes at the Ranger Station consisting of buckets stuffed with horse supplies & goodies, gift certificates to local tack stores and clothing stores for all three of us. A major shopping spree is in our future thanks to the generous supporters of this event. Our calendars are already marked for next years ride!
The Little Manatee River State Park is located in southern Hillsborough County Florida. The park is comprised of 2,416 acres along US 301 and the Little Manatee River which lends its name to the park. The park has 12 miles of equestrian trails, four equestrian campsites with four box stalls and numerous of tie-out posts. The scenic picnic area along the river has tables, grills, and pavilions. Little Manatee River State Park is located five miles south of Sun City, off U.S. 301 on Lightfoot Road. For more information on future events and projects, visit www.friendsofthelittlemanatee.com or contact President, Cathy Morse @ 813-677-9291
