2026 Marks the 50th Year of XP Rides.
We hope you can join us during our Golden Anniversary Year.
Please read this before moving on: The XP website is maintained by an old man with a fading memory and is subject to many errors. We post any current updates of importance at the top of the Home Page of the website. Below this message is the ride calendar. The home page has been updated and ride dates are current and should conform to the AERC calendar. Below the calendar, we post “Our Next Ride”. If the time of that ride has past, you may assume we are still busy finishing up the clean up and paperwork from that ride. We will get around to updating the information for the upcoming rides as soon as possible. If you find a conflict of information about the XP Rides, whether it be the correct date or something else please contact David or Ann Nicholson before putting anything on social media. We try to correct errors as soon as possible.
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2026 XPCalendar
| Picket Post XP | Jan 2-3-4, 2027 |
| Laurel Mountain XP | Feb 5-6-7, 2027 |
| Eastern Mojave XP | Mar 4-5-6-7, 2027 Pending AERC sanction and Permitting |
| Cuyama Oaks XP | Mar 19-20-21, 2027 Pending AERC sanction |
| Caballo Sin Nombre XP | April 16-17-18, 2027 Pending AERC sanction and Permitting |
| Mt Carmel XP | May 6-7-8-9, 2027 Pending AERC sanction and Permitting |
| Chicken Creek XP | To be determined |
| Strawberry Fields XP | To be determined |
| Grand Canyon XP | To be determined |
| Colorado Fall Color XP | October 16-18, 2026. September 17-18-19, 2027 |
| Sesenta Años | Nov 6-7-8, 2026. Nov 5-6-7, 2027 |
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Our Next Ride
Sesenta Años
November 6-7-8,2026
25 and 30 and 50 all days; plus 10-15 or more XP Club rides all days
Annie is once again providing free lunches to those willing to assume the risk of eating in a remote camping situation.
This ride is not managed by either Annie or Dave. It is not a typical XP ride. We will continue to help John Parke manage this ride in 2026 but he is the manager and will make all the ride decisions. We usually do not send out entry replies until the week before the ride. At that time we will send out the pre ride information and .gpx files that can be loaded into the program or device of your choice.
John is laying out new trails for the AERC event that will stay in the lower elevations and be easier than the steeper trails in the back country. Those interested in seeing the backcountry should enter the XP club events which will require similar effort for horse and rider as the AERC but will the mileage will be adjusted to keep finishing times the same as the traditional endurance rides of yesteryear.
Ride Location: This ride will be held on the beautiful Rancho San Fernando Rey in the upper Santa Ynez River Valley north of Santa Barbara. This is an original Spanish land grant rancho of 37,000 acres looking much like it did 200 years ago. The terrain is classic central California rolling hills and valleys covered with oaks and grass. Unlike John’s ride twelve years ago, this time the basecamp and every inch of the trail will be located on the Ranch.
Trail Description: There will be a different trail each day. There will be plenty of water on the trail at spring fed stock tanks. The trail will mostly use dirt ranch roads and cow trails. Since it may still be very dry in mid November, hoof protection is advisable.
Rules: The rules of the American Endurance Ride Conference will apply. The ride is open to every breed of horse or mule. AERC rules require horses entering the 50 mile ride to be 5 years or older and horses in the 25 mile ride to be at least 4 years old. Since John rides perhaps the strangest horse in endurance, he encourages everyone with a reasonably fit trail horse whether it is an Arab, a quarterhorse, a gaited horse, a mule, or whatever, to give at least one of the shorter distances a try. In addition to the AERC rules there are some things about the XP Rides that differ from other Socal rides. Please take the time to read our thoughts on medications, riding vs racing, and general behavior of riders and crew members. Our family and friends organize these events to have fun. They are not intended to be high class international competitions.
Special Considerations: Because this is a private ranch, the Rancho San Fernando Rey’s own release form must be signed by every single person coming onto the property, whether as a rider, a crew, a volunteer or anything else. You will not be allowed to enter the Ranch without a signed RSFR release for every person in your vehicle. To protect the ranch roads and the pasture where the basecamp is located, the ride will be cancelled in case of substantial rain during or immediately before the ride. Because this is a working cattle operation, loose dogs will not be tolerated. Best to leave your dog at home .
Early Arrivals: If you need to arrive before Thursday, John suggests you contact Rancho Oso, a private equestrian campground just a few minutes down the road from the ranch entrance. Ranch Oso has excellent facilities. Camp for Sesenta Anos will open on Thursday, November 5th.
From the south: drive through Santa Barbara on Highway 101, turn onto Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass, turn right onto Paradise Road a mile or so after crossing the bridge, turn left after a mile or so into the Ranch at our sign. If you are concerned about going up San Marcos Pass with a really big rig, then stay on 101 until Buellton, turn right onto Highway 246, and turn right onto Highway 154 to join those coming from the north.
From the north: drive through Santa Maria on Highway 101, turn onto Highway 154, turn left onto Paradise Road after passing Lake Cachuma, turn into the Ranch at our sign.
Address for Health Certificates: Rancho San Fernando Rey, 166 Paradise Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93105. If you are already IN California, you don’t need a health certificate.
Entry Fees:
AERC Per Day $150.00 check or $155.00 Paypal
XP Club Rides, Intro rides and Juniors Per Day $120.00 check or $125.00 Paypal
The fees are the same for the 50 mile and 25 mile rides which includes the increased camping and drug fees for this years event. We have been forced to increase fees once again for the AERC rides but we have kept them the same for the XP rides. The increase in fees DOES NOT cover the increases in expenses for ride management but we are doing our best to keep the sport affordable for everyone. Fun riders enter the XP event. A minimum number of entries with prepayment is required. After this minimum is reached we will accept post entries. After entering online you can pay via the Paypal friends and family option or send a check to Ann Nicholson, 19898 Road V, Lewis, Colorado 81327. The Paypal address is entry@xprides.com
Important Notice re Post Entries and Refunds
Cancellations before October 31, 2026 will receive a full refund. After that date, there will be NO refunds without a vet certificate. Once we have sufficient entries to meet the expenses of the event we will accept post entries with a $20.00 post entry fee.
For more information contact:
John Parke’s assistants:
Ann Nicholson, 907-821-1819
Dave Nicholson, 970 880 0150 ~ 907 209 8881
ridemanager@xprides.com
Rancho San Fernando Rey Release Form https://xprides.com/rsfr-release-form/
We appreciate the online pre-entries as it helps us plan and reduces the last minute bookkeeping, but we welcome last minute entries on site as well.
AERC riders who are non members add $20.00 per day for their “day member fee”.
Cell and internet service is available at the ride site.
Ann Nicholson, 907-821-1819
Dave Nicholson, 907 209 8881 or 970 880 0150
Enter this ride.
Phone 907 209 8881 or 970 880 0150 or e-mail duck@xprides.com
Entry Fees
The following is our basic fee structure for 2026:
LD and Endurance Distances are $135.00 / PayPal $140.50
Juniors, Intro riders and XP club riders are $100 / PayPal $104.00
Riders who are not current members of AERC riding an AERC LD or Endurance ride pay an additional $20.00 non-member fee per day. $155.00 / PayPal $161.20
Riders who enter within 4 days of a ride add $10.00 post entry fee
REFUND POLICY
Cancellation Refunds: Ride entry withdrawal requests received via email on/before 1800 on the 7th day prior to the first day of the ride will receive a full refund. There will be an administrative fee for refunds during the week prior to the ride. No refund for withdrawals within 48 hours or for no shows.
AERC has raised their non member fee to $20.00 per day. AERC non members are charged a day member fee of $20.00 to participate in the AERC sanctioned ride. This does not apply to the intro/fun/xp club rides.
Phone 907 209 8881 or 970 880 0150 for Dave
email duck@xprides.com
Phone 907 821 1819 for Annie e-mail annie@xprides.com
If you find something confusing or in error in this message please contact me personally and I will clear it up.
For more information contact Ride Manager:
Ann Nicholson, 907-821-1819
Dave Nicholson, 970 880 0150
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Potpourri
This is the basic catch all for the XP website. Here you will find past articles as well as some personal pages, some of which are password protected. Take me to the pages
