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, 2026 |
| Eastern Mojave XP | Feb 6-7-8, 2026 |
| Laurel Mountain XP | Mar 13-14-15, 2026 |
| Cuyama Oaks XP | Mar 27-28-29, 2026 |
| Caballo Sin Nombre XP | April 17-18-19, 2026 |
| Mt Carmel XP | May 7-8-9-10, 2026 |
| Chicken Creek XP | Jun 13-14-15, 2026 |
| Strawberry Fields XP | Jun 26-27-28, 2026 |
| Grand Canyon XP | Sep 3-4-5-6, 2026 |
| Colorado Fall Color XP | Sep 26-27-28, 2025Sep 25-26-27, 2026 |
| Sesenta Años | Nov 7-8-9, 2025 Nov 6-7-8, 2026 |
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Our Next Ride
CUYAMA OAKS XP
NEW CUYAMA, CALIFORNIA
March 27-28-29, 2026
I spoke with Jon Jones after the Gifford Fire and he is confident the ride will go on as usual. The fire was stopped at the Kidd Ranch, so everything east of that is fine. The main damage was to the structures and the chaparral. Jon reports that some old roads were opened back up which will provide us with some new options. The wildflowers and grass should be back to normal by ride time next year.
We offer AERC sanctioned endurance and LD distances as well as XP Club Rides
The distances are subject to change due to weather and land owner restrictions
NEW CUYAMA, CALIFORNIA
CUYAMA INFORMATION
This is the 23rd year of our popular ride in New Cuyama, located in the grasslands and oak covered foothills between Bakersfield and Santa Maria. When the wildflowers and spring grasses are blooming its one of the most beautiful places on earth. The ride was actually started by Jim Mitchell who gave us unlimited support and use of his ranch in Schoolhouse Canyon. After more than a decade the original land grant property between the Mitchell Ranch and the highway was sold to Harvard University who converted it to a vineyard. When that happened it looked like we would lose access to the foothill trails. Fortunately, Jon and Mari Jones, ranchers on Cottonwood Road, allowed us to camp on their property in Cottonwood Canyon and that allowed us to keep the ride going. The Jones Ranch is a lovely place to camp but when it rains it is impossible to camp there. When that happens we move the camp next door to the Hassett Thomson Ranch in wet years. We always hope to be back on the Jones Ranch where we can camp under the oak trees once again, but its the Hazlet Family that ensures us a place to camp regardless of the weather. This is a very special event as it requires the permission of so many different land owners in an area that few wish to share their property with others. We have been fortunate to have so many people supporting us in Cuyama Valley. There are private roads and trails connecting the various properties, so we’re able to use all the scenic loops near the mountains that we have in the past. Once again, Jon has checked with neighbors to the west for access to lands we haven’t been able to use in the past. Jon remains our contact for keeping everything in place for the ride. Last fall and this year Richard has spent much of the winter at the Jones Ranch and is responsible for keeping the trails open, which is no small task. Historical information of the area is available on our expanded Cuyama information page under 2026 XP Rides and Dates.
Address for Health Certificates: Jones Ranch, 2401 Cottonwood Canyon Road, New Cuyama, CA 93254 No health certificates are required for horses originating in California.
TRAIL: Most of the ride takes place on private lands that trace back to the old Spanish Land Grants. The trail is more difficult than most XP Rides and ranges from a crude single track to dirt roads. There will be wire gates to open and close as we pass through private cattle country. The trail has some rocky portions that some feel necessitate the use of hoof protection. The elevation at camp is 2600 feet. The area is home to mountain lion, bear, coyotes, and an occasional Frozen Duck. The trails wind through the same rolling pastures that have supported cattle since the days of the California Vaqueros.
AWARDS: Participation awards will be given to all participants. Horse and rider teams that complete all three days are eligible for an XP Vest awards.
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
Copyright © 2025 XP Rides
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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
