Saddle Sore Riders CLUB

Howdy Saddle Sore Riders,

Well slap my saddle and call me lucky—July was a rootin’ tootin’ good time, and August looks like it’s fixin’ to be just as wild and wonderful!

We kicked off the month in grand fashion with our Fourth of July Ride, co-hosted with our good friends at the Norco Horsemen’s Association for the CITY OF NORCO. With 51 riders saddlin’ up for a two-hour adventure down into the river bottom and back, it was a sight to behold! A great big thank you to all our outriders and ground crew who wrangled, guided, and kept things rollin’ smoothly. A special Saddle Sore Yahoo! goes out to Bill Naylor, one of our outriders who showed true grit and cowboy spirit wrangling a few surprises from a new rider. Bill, you embodied the cowboy code, and we tip our hats to you!

We rounded out July with an absolute barnburner of a Burger Night at the American Legion. Cindy Merritt and her crew outdid themselves, sellin’ a record number of burgers that had folks smilin’ and smackin’ their lips! Mike, our resident fry-slingin’ cowboy, kept the hot taters comin’ no matter how long the line got. And what a crew! Jeanne, Rona, Karen, and Shelly worked like ranch hands at branding time—fast, efficient, and with a smile! Maylynn held down the front lines at the register, upselling with charm and making sure every customer left happy and full. Y’all truly are the A-Team!

Now hold onto your hats—August is bringin’ the heat and the action!

We’re startin’ off with the much-loved Fallbrook Ride, hosted by none other than Jeanne Kelly. If you like splashin’ through water crossings, this ride will be right up your trail! Then, two Saturdays later, we’re servin’ up Tack & Tacos—your golden opportunity to sell off that pile of extra tack you’ve been trippin’ over. Booths are FREE for current members or $25 for non-members. Pro tip: Just sign up as a member and get that booth free—now that’s cowboy smart!

And don’t forget, we’ll be ridin’ into September 1 with our always-popular Labor Day Ride. This laid-back, low-key parade is the perfect time to introduce your horse to somethin’ new. We’d sure love to see you all there—come show off your Saddle Sore pride!

Want to give back in a powerful way? Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 24, and sign up to help at the Challenged Children’s Rodeo. Cowboys for Christ are takin’ the lead, and Bruce Smith is your go-to fella if you want to volunteer. Helpin’ at this event will warm your heart like a cup of coffee by a campfire—you won’t regret it.

As August rolls on, with school bells ringin’ and the days gettin’ shorter, don’t forget to stay hydrated, ride safe, and always remember why we do what we do—for the love of horses, the thrill of the trail, and the strength of our Saddle Sore family.

I’ll leave y’all with a good ol’ cowboy quote:

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” — Will Rogers

Happy Trails, Don Pettinger

President

Saddle Sore Riders, Inc.®