950 TRAIL RIDERS SADDLED UP AND MADE HISTORY DURING A NATIONWIDE FUNDRAISER HOSTED BY ACTHA TO SAVE THE AMERICAN WORK HORSE

All Proceeds From the Guinness World Records® Breaking Event Were Donated by ACTHA to Horse Rescue Charities Across the United States

Austin, TX (June 16, 2010) – The American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) made horse riding history with the first ever Guinness World Records achievement for the Largest Trail Riding Competition on Sunday June 13, 2010. A total of 950 riders participated in the record breaking achievement that successfully raised over $69,000 for horse rescue programs across the nation.

On the day of the event riders gathered in 24 states to compete in local trail rides that were organized by ACTHA for the official Guinness World Records attempt, in which riders competed on six-mile trails comprised of safe, fun and natural trail obstacles, that were observed by professional judges. In addition to the riding participants, over 622 volunteers across the nation pitched in to make the days events possible.

“Every volunteer on this monumental effort will have a special place in our hearts and the hearts of the noble horse and equines everywhere,” said Tom Scrima, General Manager of ACTHA, a three-year-old registry and sanctioning body for competitive trail horses and rides. “We asked ourselves, ‘How can we make a bigger impact?’ Our goal is to  create enough jobs for the American horses and equines in the next 3 years so that the entire slaughter issue will be a non-issue’”

To qualify for the record, the guidelines stipulated that the competitive trail ride would have a minimum of 250 riders competing in at least 10 venues with a minimum of 25 riders per site. For this attempt, only trail rides sanctioned by ACTHA were counted. Each trail ride had several divisions with one overall winner for each competition. All proceeds from this national event were donated to horse rescue charities and programs across America.

The simultaneous record attempt culminated in a certificate presentation by an official Guinness World Records representative to Lisa Ericson, ACTHA’s local Nevada affiliate, on behalf of all of the volunteers, local ride mangers, ACTHA staff and sponsors that made this event possible. The presentation was held during Clinton Anderson’s Walkabout Tour at the renowned South Point Equestrian and Events Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Visit www.actha.us to learn more about ACTHA’s efforts to save the American work horse.  

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ACTHA’s Mission:
• To provide an enjoyable venue showcasing the wonderful attributes of the great American trail horse, granting them the recognition they so richly deserve.
• To maintain a registry open to all breeds and a point designation system which will stay with each horse for its lifetime, thereby adding to their value and distinction.
• To enable the humane treatment of horses in need.

ACTHA's current sponsors and recognizing breed associations include:
The Horse Show with Rick Lamb RFDTV, American Paint Horse Association, Arabian Horse Association, Best of America by Horseback, Cavallo Horse and Rider, Clinton Anderson/Downunder, Daily 72, Equestrianfriends.com, Equestriansingles.com, Equine VIP, Equus Online University, eZall, HORSE COLIC RELIEF, Horse Loverz.com, HorseLoverZ.com, Horsemanship, HSUS, Life Data Labs (Farrier's Formula), Midwest Horse Digest, Molly's Custom Silver, Monty Roberts, Morgan Horse Association, Muddy Creek Rain Geer, Mustang Heritage Foundation, ROBART PINCHLESS BITS, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, The Missouri Fox Trotter Association, The National Walking Horse Association, Todays Horse Trader, Total Health Enhancement, Trail Blazer Magazine, Trail Town USA, Troxel, Tucker Saddles, US Horse Biz, Vetericyn.