27th Annual Jack Monroe Beach Ride

This was the second year that I have attended this event. In some ways I was dreading it. Last year I learned there are a lot of rude horse people with bad horse manners. This is to say, I think they are more interested in showing off than they are in their safety or those around them. They have no consideration that when they gallop up on their horse that they may be approaching a horse that is new to all of this and is easily frightened.

This year was different! Was it because they clearly stated NO COWBOYING and NO RUNNING? Is it because fewer people showed up because of the weather forecast and/or the ecomony? I suspect "all of the above" as the reasons. There was also a very visible presence this year in regards to security which I have no memory of at all last year.

Whatever the reason, I really enjoyed the ride this year. We arrived Wednesday after a couple mishaps, electrical system on horse trailer failed and then after that was fixed, a camper tire shreaded itself to pieces. Our goal was to arrive and be setup before dark, didn't happen. We arrived before dark, but it was dark when we finished setting up. However, we did much better this year as we were eating dinner at 2AM after we setup last year, we were eating at 8PM this year, so there was big improvement.

I believe the Lord truely thinks highly of this event. While the Columbia, SC area was being hit with lots of rain and serious storms, the rain at the Lakewood Camping Resort only took place at night AFTER we were done with our horse activities.

Thursday started off by leading the horses to the beach to get them use to it. My horse Fancy was so animated and stress that we, along with my wife and her horse, ended up on the home page of The Sun News. You can see the pictures here, at least as of this writing you can! http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/724/gallery/668753.html#http://media.myrtlebeachonline.com/smedia/2008/11/13/15/54-horses-fancyA.standalone.prod_affiliate.78.jpg

In the end, Fancy was calm and had waves breaking on us and hitting her belly. She would enter the ocean with her left eye facing the water, but refused to do so if her right eye was facing the water.

All in all we had a great time. I am sure they are disappointed in the turn out this year. I appreciate the lack of COWBOYING taking place on the beach and in the camp ground. Of course, we did do some cnatering on the beach, but we did it in areas where no other horses or people were close by, because we respect other riders and passer byers!

I do recommend this event, though it is pricey as it is a charity event to raise money for the American Heart Association. There are rumors going around that Lakewood Camping Resort may not allow the use of their property next year due to the individuals who live there all year are tired of it. Also heard rumors that the organizers are unhappy because Lakwood does not allow people to come in for the day of the ride only, thus keeping a lot of people away who could help the fundraising numbers. RECOMMONDATION: Work with Myrtle Beach State Park and have the day trippers go there!

Next we are not planning on returning as we want to try something new, specically the Ward Ride, which seems to be the weekend before or after the Beach Ride. Can't do these things EVERY WEEKEND, would if I could though!!!

Paul