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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Elaine Swiss of Round Mountain received several awards in Competitive Trail at the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) Region Four annual banquet on Saturday, February 6 in Oklahoma City, OK. Swiss and her horse EW Zarabella, known as "Zelle", also received 2009 annual recognition January 3 in Decatur from the National Competitive Trail Horse Association (NCTHA).

"This was Zelle’s first full year of competition in NATRC" said Swiss. "Because her stablemate Toodles had done well last year, Zelle did not have the opportunity to compete in the beginner’s Novice Division, instead starting out with more difficult obstacles and more experienced competitors who have been in the sport for years. She caught on fast though." Zelle is a 7-year-old Arabian of Polish bloodlines.

Swiss and Zelle earned Third Place Horsemanship, Fifth Place Horse and Fifth Place Team in the Competitive Pleasure Division of NATRC. The team also earned Fourth Place All Around and Fifth Place High Mileage with 220 total competition miles in NCTHA.

A Competitive Trail Ride is not a race. It’s a timed, judged competition on a natural trail. In the Competitive Pleasure division, riders complete 20-30 miles per day over two days on a mapped course within a prescribed time, usually 5-6 hours. The rider is assessed on his or her ability to work as a team with the horse and be a safe rider and handler. The horse is judged by a veterinarian on condition, soundness and performance. Creek and log crossings, gate openings and steep hills are examples of some of the judged observations on the trail.

NATRC Region Four includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana and competitions are held in National Forests, State Parks and on private ranches in these states. More than 200 horse and rider teams competed in three different divisions in Region Four in 2009. NCTHA compiles the results of a number of different types of competitive trail competitions including NATRC, Supreme Trail Challenges and Texas Trail Challenges. There were more than 100 teams competing in NCTHA in 2009.

On June 26, Swiss is offering a NATRC Clinic at Storm Ranch in Dripping Springs. Horse and rider teams from all disciplines may participate and learn more about competitive trail which is a sport for the whole family. More information is available on www.natrc4.org.