Sunrise Ranch Rides - what's the deal?

        In the late 1700's and early 1800's my family migrated west into what is now Texas. Sunrise Ranch, near Dripping Springs, was sold in the late 1950's but our family retained the original name and brands. I thought it fitting to put the name to use for the western rides and other ventures that we have planned; besides, it makes a nice logo.

The XP Rides, named for the Pony Express brand, have become synonymous with multi-day rides and a certain style. We want to reserve the XP Ride name for multi-day rides fitting that reputation and style. My retirement from the full time practice of veterinary medicine a year ago gave me the opportunity to pursue some other interests, which include reviving a simpler style of ride, not unlike the rides that Suzy Ketchum used to offer in the eastern Sierras, in the early eighties. Other interests include venturing into forms of distance riding events not associated with the AERC, such as competitive orienting on horseback, general trail rides and some events associated with motor vehicles.

The Nicholson Family has been involved in the sport of distance riding for a long time. We have actively competed in and managed Competitive Trail Rides, Endurance Rides and some special events, such as the cross-country rides on the Pony Express Trail. We enjoy the company of the riders who participate in distance riding sports and enjoy looking for new places to ride, camp, and share outdoor experiences. During my travels around the west, I am always looking for interesting places to ride, which translates into finding interesting places to put on a ride. It seems prudent to me to try out new areas and rides in a manner that will not jeopardize the reputation of the XP. The rides that we are planning will probably attract riders who may not be riding and training at the level required for multi-day events. Therefore we will obviously need to implement more safeguards for the horses that we do for a traditional XP event. The objective is to provide rides that will offer interesting places to ride and train, with a minimum of amenities, and a more relaxed atmosphere, that will introduce new riders to our style.
I hope that ride managers, offering rides with more structure and amenities will continue to prosper and conduct even more rides, so that everyone will have an opportunity to seek a venue they wish to play in. Our rides are not for everyone, nor are they meant to be. They operate under the direction of our family, whose style and opinions are well known. Distance riding is a many faceted sport, and the variety of venues shows strength, not a weakness. We welcome you to give our corner of the sport a try.

At the present time we have sanctioned two new rides. The first is in the Eastern Mojave Scenic Ride on January 31st and February 1st of 2004. Another ride, The Lost Padres, near Frazier Park, is scheduled for May 22nd and 23rd.  Both of these rides will offer AERC sanctioned 25 and 50-mile rides. Everyone should understand that these events will stress Endurance Riding as opposed to Endurance Racing. The eastern Mojave is a big desert and you can kill yourself and your horse if you lose your grip on reality. This ride will be run under the same sort of unstructured management that the XP rides have done for years. If you lack the ability to take responsibility for yourself and your horse, you should stay home, or go to some of the other events that offer more structure and safety nets.