A CMO rider taking a compass bearing from a clue - A LARGE ROCK ON A STUMP. CMO stresses sound horsemanship, and we like to call it "The Thinking Horse Sport"!

The object of the sport is to ride out as an individual or a team on a prescribed course and find as many of the hidden Objective Stations as you can and get back in the least amount of time, on either a ten station long or 5 station short course.

The long course can be anywhere from a around 8 to as long as 25 miles. The terrain depends on the ride manager's choice of area - but CMO rides are held all over the country from the high forests of Washington State to the rolling hills of Indiana!

The short course is much smaller, and is oriented towards families, riders wishing a less competitive event, training of new horses, and new riders looking to check out the CMO fun.

Click here for a complete introduction.

All riders are welcome. To check out a ride schedule in your area, follow this link.

To join CMO, simply attend a ride in your area. The ride manager will help you with the application form, and your membership is valid starting right away!

Paint Horse Points Application If you ride a paint horse you may be eligible for points from the American Paint Horse Associaiton. The link above is to the Paint Alternative Competition Event Approval Application (whew!) which you can download and submit for consideration of NACMO events.
Equestrian Trail Rights - Information All equestrian groups have a stake in ensuring equal access to trails in all states and especially state and federal lands. This right is under assault by many groups, and it is up to horse enthusiasts all over the country to fight back. Information will be collected at the link above in an ongoing effort to preserve our traditional rights as horseback riders.
	Rider Gets an Earful at Taylor Mountain We all know horseback riding can be dangerous. Being prepared for emergencies is a challenge given the nature of our sport. Sometimes accidents happen... and it is important to share information to help others avoid injuries. Sometimes one happens that is pretty funny... so for a bit of a laugh, friends, lend me your ear!.

NACMO members enjoy some specialized insurance coverage for joining. Please read this article to fully understand both the coverage extended and the limits of this coverage. A must read for all NACMO members.

The NACMO board adopted a series of rules changes at the December board meeting designed to clarify and tighten some issues that have come up over the past few years. Please take the time to look these over.

If you have any questions, please contact your state director.

Loss of open land has been identified as the greatest threat to the future of all equestrian sport, recreation, and industry. By educating horse people and encouraging partnerships with conservationists and other user groups at the local level, the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is mobilizing thousands of equestrians to work for land access and protection in their communities.

Trail Trotters' Day is a free program with no fees or membership requirement.

For more details and registration is simple on ELCR's website, www.elcr.org, just look for the Trail Trotter link. Of course, please do not hesitate to contact the national office if you have any questions at all about Trail Trotters' Day.

Why should NACMO join Trail Trotters' Day, 2006?

Trail Trotters' Day is about a group of individuals working together for something they enjoy. It is also likely they will involve their friends and neighbors - who may not be members of NACMO. Trail Trotters' Day will provide you with an opportunity to increase your membership.

Part of the Trail Trotters' Day program involves publicity in the local press. This may also provide increased visibility for this positive community action project for NACMO.

Trail Trotters' Day is about the involvement of horseback riders in their own community, but it also demonstrates the scope and potential involvement of horse owners across the country. NACMO understands this because they are already working with ELCR and the Equestrian Partner community.

Trail Trotters' Day is being funded with the help of ELCR's major sponsors including the National Forest Foundation and Tread Lightly! Land and stewardship materials are being provided by Tread Lightly!, one of ELCR's Alliance partners.

All Trail Trotters' Day projects will be completed on June 3, 2006, National Trails Day. Since this is a one-day annual event, your time commitment will be brief. Although participants may volunteer for projects on any type of land, due to a backlog of maintenance, ELCR hoping you will consider projects on or near national forest land. A map of the locations of our national forest land is available through ELCR's office.

It is quick and easy to become a Trail Trotter by registering for an existing project or to register a new project on ELCR's website or by calling the national office at (815) 858-3501. Please help us make Trail Trotters' Day a success not only for NACMO, but also for our riding land across the country.

Contact: Rhonda Hooker
Administration Assistant
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource
126B N. Main St., Elizabeth, IL 61028
tel: 815-858-3501
fax: 815-858-3508

Information on maintaining your horse's health.