Now is the time to plan your trip to the AERC National Championship ride. This year's ride is being hosted by the Daniel Boone Distance Riders in Clark State Forest, Henryville, Indiana. Thursday, October 16 will be the date for the 100-mile ride and Saturday, October 18 for the 50-mile ride. This gives a day in between the two rides to relax and enjoy the festivities.

If you have not had a chance to attend the National Championship in the past, now is the time to go. Not only do the riders have a chance to compete and ride against some of the best endurance teams in the country but can rendezvous for a few days, sharing ideas, friendships and just having a great time. You will not want to miss the experience.

Clark State Forest is located 20 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky. It is Indiana's oldest state forest with the first land purchased in 1903. There are over 24,000 acres within this forest and approximately 100 miles of horse trails. Most all the trails are in the canopy of the trees.

The hills on this ride are challenging enough to make riders use strategy throughout the course but not so tough that it takes all the fun out of it. The views are awesome from the hilltops as you can see all the way to the Louisville skyline.

In mid-October, the fall colors of red and gold will make the trails appear to glow -- even if the sun is not shining -- and the leaf-covered trails will soften the footing along the way. The trails are easy to follow (even if you are riding the 100 in the dark) and are wide enough to ride side by side. And you will not have to duck under many branches along the way!

This forest has been the host to several endurance events over the past 15 years. Riders keep coming back for the challenge, beauty and camaraderie.

The base camp for the ride will be on Bill Wilson's farm, which sits in the center of this forest and is an easy eight miles off Interstate 65. Camping will be in a large grassy pasture that will be expanded to the neighbor's farm in order to accommodate this large event.

Qualifying for the ride

The qualifications have been modified this year so you should not have any problem in determining if you and you horse(s) are qualified. In order to enter the 50-mile ride, the horse must have 300 AERC lifetime miles and also the rider must have 300 AERC lifetime miles. Also included in the 300 mile requirement is that horse and rider must have ridden at least 100 miles of them together. All mileage must be 50 miles or greater in length.

The qualifications to enter the 100-mile ride are: the horse must have 500 AERC lifetime miles and also the rider must have 500 AERC lifetime miles. All rides must be 50 miles or greater in order to count as lifetime miles. Also included in the 500 mile qualification is the requirement of at least one completion of a one-day 100 mile ride as a horse and rider team together.

The ride will have internet coverage that will be updated as the ride progresses. For more information on this year's National Championship ride be sure and visit the website of the Daniel Boone Distance Riders at www.dbdr.info.

Plan ahead

With the escalating cost of fuel many riders will have to carefully plan their strategy in order to be able to qualify and attend this year's National Championship ride. For riders who compete multiple horses, you may want to try to get a horse qualified to compete in the 100-mile ride and another to compete in the 50. This would be a way to get two championship rides for the price of fuel it takes to do just one. This is just one way to get more bang for your buck.

Another way is to team up with a fellow rider in order to share the cost of fuel and make the trip more affordable. You can also team up while trying to qualify as it can be more fun sharing the experience with someone who shares your same goal.

For members who feel they just live too far West to even think about going, there is always next year. In 2009 the ride will hosted in Greenville, California, the site of the Patriot Day Ride. Ride manager Kassandra DiMaggio has set the date for October 1 and 3. This will be an awesome ride that you must place on your calendar.

Beyond 2009 the National Championship Committee has been looking at the Fort Stanton Ride in New Mexico as well as a couple of other great sites. If you know of a ride that you feel would be a great location for a future National Championship ride, be sure to make your regional director or a member of the National Championship Ride Committee aware of it.