A LIttle on Poker Rides.............

Part 1

Because of this first experience with trail riding, Aidol proved himself to be a trail worthy Arabian horse. Over the years he saw other poker rides with various riders. Dave was not always available to go but Aidol was always up for a trip to the woods and another poker ride.

Someone asked in the comments what a poker ride is. For those who don't know I thought I should explain what they're like around here before I go on with more Aidol poker ride stories.

Usually poker rides are fundraisers put on by horse folks for their horse club or a favorite charity. The club rounds up all kinds of donations to use as prizes. Any ride I've been on has had tables and tables of choices from tack to craft items and even works of art, gift cards, you name it. Whatever tickled the fancy of the person who donated can end up on the prize tables.

To go on a ride like this the rider pays a fee for a hand and lunch at the end of the ride. Most rides I know allow riders to buy additional hands if they chose. Then when out on the trail riders draw a card for each hand they are entitled to.

The number of check points is usually enough for a five card hand. The last draw is usually back in camp. That way the ride has documentation that all riders are accounted for which is always a plus on big rides. Then prizes are awarded based on those hands.

Of course, you have to wait for all the riders to come in before you know if or what you've won. That's were the lunch comes in. People are not only hungry after their ride but they have something to focus on while they wait for the last riders to come in.

Depending on the different clubs and sometimes the weather lunch can be a number of things. They're usually hot include a drink, chips and a cookie or something for dessert. Some clubs also have additional treats available for purchase.

Some of the best chili I've ever eaten has been on a ride like this. I've had hamburgers and steaks BBQ's to perfection and hot dogs with concoctions on them I'd never thought to try at home. AND I've probably eaten things on these rides that should have killed me but didn't. There's something about the fresh air and a long ride that adds taste to all sorts of things........ at least for me anyway.

While people are eating their lunches or even after they're done but still waiting for the last riders to come in, people mill around the
big tables set up with all kinds of prizes. Since winning riders get their choice, those in camp make sure they see everything there is to see so when it's their turn to chose they know exactly what they want. . Sometimes there are so many prizes, nearly everyone gets something. It depends on how many actual riders and, of course, how many "hands" have been sold.

In this silly state poker is considered to be gambling. Gambling is against the law except on reservations and in some specially licensed card rooms. Poker rides have been deemed a form of gambling so are against the law here.

To get around this technicality the rides are no longer called poker rides and the riders no longer draw numbers. Instead they call the event a "prize ride" (which I am forever forgetting as you can see) and instead of drawing a card at the given checkpoints, riders draw a number usually between 1 and 100.

Most of the time you never know until the end whether the ride is going to award prizes based on high numbers or low numbers. You draw your number and the ride volunteers help write it on the designated card each rider has been issued. (Me I'm known for dropping my card on the trail but luckily someone behind me has always told me so I've been able to retrieve my card)

Then at the end of the ride those cards are verified and totalled. A rider never really knows until the end if you're in it or not unless, of course, you're getting numbers in the middle somewhere. The odds are then you'll get something......you just have to wait around to find out what.

Usually these rides have a couple of really nice big prizes for the first couple of winners. After that the value drops but there's still lots of interesting stuff. I have come home with water buckets, sweat scrapers and I've even won a bale of hay and a bag of feed over the years. I've also walked away empty handed but that's OK I really go for the ride, not the prize.

One of the fun parts of the prize portion is watching people "squabble" over their buddies "stealing" the prize coveted by the other. I've laughed to the point of tears over some of the "confrontations" I've seen. It's all part of the camaraderie that makes these rides fun.

My favorite poker/prize ride is put on by the Meridian Riding Club up at Buck Creek in the Cascade Mountains. My friend, Naomi, used to be an active member of that club so I would go to support her. For many years I never missed that ride until Naomi's health failed and she could no longer ride.

Their ride is the first Sunday after Labor Day which is the day I usually have my annual open house. I haven't attended a ride since I began having that function here at my farm so I've missed these rides the last couple of years. Writing this makes me think I need to not miss them again. All showing and no trail riding makes for a crabby MiKael. Although my annual open house keeps the taxman happy. Him or me, what to chose???

Are there rides or something comparable in your area?