• VETERINARY PRE-RIDE INFORMATION
• RIDERS OF THE LOST DUCK 
• EASTERN MOJAVE SCENIC XP
• CUYAMA OAKS WINTER XP   
• MT. CARMEL SPRING XP 
• SCHELLBOURNE SUMMER XP  
• PAUNSAGAUNT FALL XP  
• GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM XP 
• SOUTHERN UTAH AND NATIONAL PARKS

XP MULTIDAY RIDE SERIES

More than thirty years ago, F.W. Duck and his friends started endurance riding on the original pony express trail. Several years ago we completed the highly successful XP2001 Ride over the trail between St. Joseph and Virginia City. This year we are back to our normal schedule with the addition of the new Sunrise Ranch Rides in California. We have changed the format of the Grand Canyon Ride to do all five days out of the same camp. All of our rides feature the improved shower trailer and free lunches by Annie and our friends. Annie will continue to provide meals on our rides, for an additional fee, provided that you reserve them in advance.

 

Over the years the Duck family has made a lot of great friends along the trail.  We always look forward to the new ride year to renew those friendships and to make new ones.   We hope that you will be able to join us on the endurance trail this year.

 

The riders that complete any five day ride on the same horse will qualify for either an XP jacket, crewbag, or a specially designed plaque.  Overall awards will also be available on the three day rides. There will be daily awards for completion as well as first place and best condition awards for each of the rides.

 

CUYAMA OAKS XP - WINTER

MARCH 21st thru 23rd, 2009 PHOENIX RANCH, NEW CUYAMA, CA 

 

This is the ninth year for our most popular ride in New Cuyama, located in the oak covered foothills east of Santa Maria. When the wildflowers are blooming through the verdant spring grasses, it is a beautiful sight and a good reason for the Duck to spend the winter in the Promised Land, working on the ride.

 

Unfortunately, due to the limited space of the camp sites and the constraints put on us by the forest service and land owners, we are forced to continue limiting the entries. This ride definitely has the flavor of an XP Ride and those who expect a typical California ride will be very disappointed and should find something else to do for the weekend. ....more info

MT. CARMEL - SPRING XP

MAY, 2rd thru 4th, 2009 - MT CARMEL, UTAH (ZION NATIONAL PARK)

 

       Join us for a great ride in beautiful southern Utah and the scenic canyon country east of Zion National Park. The base camp, for all three days, is located just south of Mt. Carmel Junction at 5200’ elevation. The average daytime temperatures should be in the mid 70’s and rain showers are a possibility. The evenings are cool, so bring warm clothes and horse blankets. There will be plenty of water on the trail and at the campsite. There are a wide variety of sales and service establishments, including motels and restaurants, within walking distance of the base camp. The golf course, across the street from camp is open to the public.

         The well marked trails follow single track cattle and horse trails, two track jeep trails and a minimal amount of graded road. The trails go through a variety of grassy meadows, pinion and juniper forests. The views along the trail are breathtaking. We continue changing the order and layout of the rides to cut back on the deep sand. We hope to open a new section of trail into base camp that will allow us another route in and out of base camp. Most of the trails are sandy or clay, with just enough rocks to make it interesting. The trail is easy with gentle climbs and good footing. For those of you with extra time, the campsite is an excellent place to camp and see Bryce, Zion or the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. ...more info

SCHELLBOURNE SUMMER XP

        JUNE 1 thru 5th, 2009 

The following information is from previous years and there are some important changes for this year.  Some of the most important are:

1  Base Camp is moved from Schellbourne Station on Hwy 93 to Fort Schellbourne, the original pony express station. This year we will camp across the road from last years camp

2. The new base camp will be cooler and cleaner.

3. The trails will not have to ride back through the hot open country in the valley at the end of the day.

4. Food will be available in at Schellbourne Station.

5. Climatic conditions are drier this year and there is less snow on the mountains than last year.

6. The sequence of trails will be very similar to previous years.

 

...more info

PAUNSAGAUNT FALL XP

AUGUST 28TH THRU SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2008 BRYCE CANYON, UTAH

 

This five day loop ride takes place on the Paunsagaunt Plateau which forms the spectacular cliffs and canyons of Bryce National Park. This beautiful area has to be one of the most special places on earth. The Paunsagaunt is a high mountain valley with large open meadows rimmed with heavy timber and outcroppings of blazing pink cliffs that have eroded into bizarre shapes. The area has clear running streams in all the draws and is world famous for its deer and elk herds. While the rest of the west is sweltering in the late summer heat, the XP Riders are enjoying mid day temperatures in the mid 70’s. The views from the rim trails overlook all of Southern Utah from the Escalante Grand Staircase on the east, the Grand Canyon on the south, to Zion and Cedar Breaks on the west. The Paunsagaunt XP was Randy Coleman’s favorite ride. Randy, a long time XP Gold Medal Rider and a friend to everyone who knew him, peacefully passed away while attending the ride in 2006. The 2007 ride and all future Paunsagaunt rides will be dedicated to his memory...more info .

 

GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM XP

OCTOBER 8TH THRU 12TH, 2008 KAIBAB PLATEAU, ARIZONA

 

All five days of the Grand Canyon XP are out of the same basecamp which is located in Dry Park, on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  We ride through beautiful aspen and conifer forests and across wide open meadows through the North Kaibab Plateau on the Arizona Trail and the Rainbow Rim trails. Both of these trails offer spectacular views of the Grand Canyon. The trails course along the rim of the canyon but are far enough back from the cliffs that one does not have to a worry about a fear of heights.  We hope to be in the middle of our usual Indian Summer during the time of the ride. The fall foliage, set against a backdrop of heavy green forests and the colors of the Grand Canyon offers a riding experience of a lifetime. The Kaibab Plateau is quite flat on top and the horses will have few, if any, climbs of significance. Although many of the trails are what you would expect in an alpine forest, there are some sections that can be somewhat rocky. We expect cool, mild days but be prepared for chilly nights. Typical October temperatures are in the sixties and seventies during the day and thirty to forty at night. As with all XP rides, free lunches are provide to everyone including the crews. Annie will prepare meals for a nominal charge if requested in advance...more info 

SOUTHERN UTAH AND NATIONAL PARKS

Kanab, county seat of Kane County, Utah is unique in the world for its spectacular geographic setting and is the hub of the greatest sightseeing and riding in the world. Bryce Canyon National Park lies in the north end of the county on the edge of the Paunsagaunt Plateau. To the Northwest, in the same pink rock formation, are the spectacular cliffs of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Just to the south of Cedar Breaks, in the Vermillion Cliffs lies Zion National Park. The vast expanse south of town opens into the Kaibab Plateau and the Grand Canyon. All of the area east of town is now incorporated into the newest and largest National Monument, the Escalante-Grand Staircase. A short drive to the east brings you to the shore of Lake Powell, a fantastic 175 mile long lake in the Glen Canyon of the Colorado River. Nowhere in the world will you find the natural grandeur of this colorful canyon country. All of the Utah and Arizona XP Rides offer a unique opportunity to experience these natural wonders from the back of your horse. Should you decide to spend some extra time with us, we will be glad to assist you in planning any side trips within the area.