Horse riders coming to King County’s Danville Georgetown Trails for prize ride

Hundreds of horseback riders will come together at King County’s Danville Georgetown Trails Sept. 8 for the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington Tahoma Chapter’s annual Prize Ride.

Events include a three-hour ride that’s suitable for all skill levels, plus prizes, raffle and silent auction, lunch and a training demonstration by Jon Ensign Horsemanship. Participation in the ride ranges from 250-500 riders with horses.

The cost to participate in this year’s event is $10 per rider, and $5 each for additional hand. Each year the ride raises more than $1,000 to donate to a local, non-profit organization. Funds raised this year will help pay for gravel and other supplies to improve King County trails and decrease water quality problems.

The ride is conducted on the Danville Georgetown Trails, just east of Maple Valley. Danville Georgetown is an area that’s more than a square mile in size and features more than 25 miles of well-maintained trails. Most of the Danville Georgetown site is owned by King County, and local horsemen have been maintaining these trails for more than 40 years.

Registration for the ride runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 8. The first riders will get under way at 8 a.m. This year’s ride is sponsored by Reber Ranch and Roni Strupat-REMAX Team One.

Safety is important on this ride. For that reason spectators are asked to stay at least fifteen feet away from any horse and not approach any rider and horse without first getting a verbal "OK" from the rider. No dogs are allowed on the ride and any dogs at the prize ride staging area must be well behaved and on a short leash. Parents should have direct physical contact with their children at all times.

The Danville Georgetown Trails are easy to find. Turn east of State Route 169 and onto Kent-Kangley Road. Turn left onto Summit-Landsburg Road, and watch for the signs. More information is available at www.tahomabchw.org; at 206-595-5642; or at 206-999-8108.

King County Parks has more than 130 miles of backcountry trails and relies on the hard work of volunteers to keep the trails safe and maintained. Thanks to the recent passage of a King County Parks levy, additional horseback riding trails are being identified.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/.