By Rita Thompson-Tinsley
In the wonderful world of horse adventures, there are trail rides, and then there is WILD ROSE (Horse Obstacle Contests).
Avid trail riders Carole and Gary Wilder became involved in a couple of trail competition programs several years ago. They were a good team and had a knack for the activity. They had accumulated tremendous contacts with trail facilities across the state of Arizona.
The Wilders had a different concept of what a ride should be like. They took their own trail riding experience, and molded it into their own signature version of what they felt like the program should evoke. They developed this concept for riders committed to improving their horse skills. And the riders were elated.
However, after a time, Team Wilder was finding the former programs to be rigid in their policies and applications, though excellent at their endeavors. So they began to contemplate retirement. Gary recalls that at the time, “My ‘mentor coach‘, someone whose opinion I value greatly, told me that I couldn‘t retire.“ The mentor explained, “Gary, you have a ministry. You and Carole have something you are giving these folks that they love.“ The Wilders were convinced that they indeed had something valuable to offer in the trail riding world.
While conducting rides in the past, they became acquainted with Cristi Rose, founder of the 501(c)3 non-profit ranch Bethany‘s Gait (BG), which benefits both local veterans and first responders, and their families, and rescue horses. The Wilders began supporting BG regularly in their riding events and decided to partner with them in this new endeavor.
The Wild Rose name was concocted by Carole and Gary: WILD, from Wilder‘s last name, and ROSE from Cristi‘s last name: the perfect title for their combination of assets.
The Wilders put together all the ride planning such as dates, locations, agendas and such. Carole, as ever, the impeccable hostess and efficient organizer of events; Gary, ever the mastermind behind the strategic obstacle creations (sometimes referred to as ‘Gary-ized obstacles‘); and Bethany‘s Gait providing their internet website for promoting events, registration for participants, providing schedule information and maps, and importantly, providing quality volunteers to help at the events.
Wild Rose Horse Obstacle Contests was designed to encourage the rider and horse to develop a partnership based on trust and to measure horsemanship skills. The overall focus is on safety, fun, confidence building, and challenging the rider and horse to new levels. In addition to those guidelines, they became further focused on the warmth and friendly ambience of the events, the essential spirit of good sportsmanship, and of course the icing on the corral cake, phenomenal scenic locations for each ride.
Per Bethany‘s Gait’s mission statement, they are dedicated to ‘Rescuing Horses, Restoring Lives‘. They’ve found that bringing rescue horses together with the community of veterans in their programs offers a dynamic situation where horse and human heal through a bond that is developed based on unconditional love, unwavering trust, and a keen understanding of what the other has been through.
The programs offered at Bethany‘s Gait touch the lives of not only local veterans and first responders, but their entire families. Many of the participants of Wild Rose sign up for events in order to support such an effective and endearing cause. The motto at Wild Rose rides is ‘We Ride to Give Back’.
Another of the Wild Rose ‘family members‘ is Jennifer LaBelle of Silver Buckle Photography. She takes all the professional pictures during the obstacle trail rides and came up with the official logo for Wild Rose.
After a little Gary-izing and adjusting, the cross was placed perfectly centered under the horse – another piece of work in what was destined to be a perfect part of the plan. At events, Wild Rose now sells t-shirts, hoodies, sweat shirts, and bumper stickers with their eye-catching logo, all proceeds going to Bethany‘s Gait.
Wild Rose judge Diane (whose last name happens to be Judge), expresses her opinion from her position. “I love Wild Rose events because of how well they are organized. I love the camaraderie that has developed throughout the years among the contestants as well as the judges.“
Susan Shuford, an avid competitor, loves the opportunity to assist the mission of Bethany‘s Gait. “For someone like me, who likes to compete and who is married to an Army Infantryman, Wild Rose is a perfect union.“
Since the Wilders have taken the reins at Wild Rose, participation has more than doubled. They have riders coming regularly from not only from throughout Arizona, but from Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Idaho as well. Together, Gary and Carole have become essential partners in the ideal equestrian weekend that keeps every rider on the edge of their saddle seat waiting for their very next trail adventure.
For more information on Bethany’s Gait and Wild Rose Horse Obstacle Contests, go to BethanysGait.org.
