Overview
Below are the finalized Divisions and rules that will apply to the 2023 year as a whole including quarterly and annual rankings.
Please note – website updates will be going on throughout the year as improvements are made and the 2023 rules are applied to the site leaderboards, rankings, reporting, and other items, and thus the website may not reflect the most accurate and up-to-date data based on the new rules. After the end of the year, during annual audits, all data will be reviewed and finalized to determine final standings.
New Membership Levels
Top Trail Membership: $35/year
- No more premium or basic, one simple plan
- Join any time, good for 1-year from sign-up date or renewal
- Singular membership gets all features on website and other activities
- Participation in new monthly contests, mileage challenges, and other events
- Lifetime mileage tracking
- Multiple horses allowed
- Digital certificates, badges, and recognitions
- All other premium membership features
- Free Premium membership at TopHorseTrails.com
- Message Top Trail to upgrade your account
- Membership adjustments mid-year for 2023 only
- As memberships renew, they will convert to the new flat rate plan
- Basic members will be automatically upgraded to Premium features listed above
- New members will sign-up on the new plan as soon as new structure is built into website and registration process (around April 1)
- Printed certificates
- MUST opt in for printed certificates via member profile (checkbox for printed certificates)
- Sent annually for Lifetime Mileage for miles ridden up until December 31 each year
- Sent annually for Miles ridden during current year (Jan 1 – Dec 31) for Rider
- Sent annually for Miles ridden during current year (Jan 1 – Dec 31) for Primary Equine
- Patches
- Sent annually for milestone achievements (1000 mile increments) during the year (Jan1 – Dec 31) based on actual miles ridden (not Challenge miles)
Add-Ons
- NATRC: $25/year
- Must be a NATRC member prior to purchasing this add-on
- This fee is required by NATRC and counts as 1 Ride Entry by NATRC (virtual ride only)
- Can only be purchased any time, effective January-December of purchased year
- Will not be prorated based on purchase date, only valid until December 31 of year purchased
- Affiliations: No Additional Cost / No Limit
- Must be a member of affiliate before purchasing add-on
- Current Affiliations Roster
- Michigan Horse Council
- Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association
- 40-Something Cowgirls
- Hags with Nags
- Groups: No Additional Cost / No Limit
- Any paid member can start a Group and will become Group Admin but group must be approved by Top Trail management
- Group admins will be responsible for prizes but may ask for assistance from Top Trail / Horse Saddle Corral as needed
- Group admins can determine the criteria for ranking in their group, it does not have to be based on mileage
- Group admins can work with Top Trail admins to determine best reporting system or just track it on their own for determining scoring, rank, and awards, how often awards are given out, etc
- Current Groups Roster
- Fuzzy Butters
- Double Trouble
All fees are to cover time, materials, postage, and fun prizes.
New Mileage Challenges & Divisions
These are the primary Challenges and Divisions that are based on quantity of miles. The purpose of these Challenges is to push the rider to put in the effort if they want to compete based on mileage, otherwise Riders can still ride and record miles and happen to rank where they rank and focus their attention on other Contests and Events. Riders are limited to one Challenge per year – Trail Ride or one of the Equine Sport Divisions.
Trail Ride Challenges
The Trail Ride Challenges require participants to be riding horseback on trails or dirt roads only, are not paid to ride, and do not pay to compete in organized events. These divisions are for the pleasure trail rider only.
- Pleasure Division: 1-250 miles
- Adventurer Division: 250-500 miles
- Explorer Division: 500-1000 miles
- Legends Division: 1000+ miles
Trail Ride Challenge Rules
- All riders will start every year at zero for the Challenges.
- As riders record miles, they will level-up through the Divisions.
- Riders who exceed their Division mileage at any time during the year will automatically be upgraded to the next division.
- There is no minimum mileage per ride.
- Rides must be uploaded within 10 days of riding (240 hours), but uploading rides sooner rather than later is highly encouraged due to variances when it comes to time zones, device time-date stamps, and server time-date stamps. Server time-date stamps will supersede all other time-date stamps.
- Trail Riders are allowed to participate in up to 3 paid events per year without having to change to Competitor Division. In the event a rider rides more than 3 paid events, they can manually change themselves to the Competitor Division via their profile page OR admins may change them over to the Competitor Division during auditing if more than 3 paid rides are discovered.
Equine Sport Challenges
PENDING: if we are able to update the reporting, profiles in time for annual auditing – otherwise, we will implement this change in 2024
- Professional Division
- Any rider paid to ride (trainer, guide, outfitter, etc)
- Track all miles for paid rides and regular riding
- Arena mileage allowed
- No mileage criteria (minimum, maximum, or levels/divisions)
- Competitor Division
- Any rider who pays to compete in more than 3 organized events (AERC, NATRC, shows, etc) during the year
- Track all miles for paid rides and regular riding
- Arena mileage allowed
- No mileage criteria (minimum, maximum, or levels/divisions)
- Multi-Sport Division
- Any other equine facilitated sport (carting/driving, equine hiking, burro racing, or combination of equine sports, etc)
- As this category grows, we will look at breaking it out into further divisions as needed, even its own Challenge group
- Any location (arena, trail, paid, etc)
- No mileage criteria (minimum, maximum, or levels/divisions)
- Any other equine facilitated sport (carting/driving, equine hiking, burro racing, or combination of equine sports, etc)
Equine Sport Challenge Rules
- Rides must be uploaded within 10 days of riding (240 hours), but uploading rides sooner rather than later is highly encouraged due to variances when it comes to time zones, device time-date stamps, and server time-date stamps. Server time-date stamps will supersede all other time-date stamps.
- If uploading your GPX file via app, you will need to log into the website and manually update any additional Ride Details within 10 days of the ride date, this is not required but encouraged if you want to compete for additional awards and prizes.
Scoring Criteria for Trail Ride & Equine Sport Challenges
- Qualified miles completed
- Goal: Encourage riders to ride more in general
- Primary ranking factor for Mileage Challenges
- Contribution + Engagement
- Goal: Encourage riders to help others by including photos with ride posts, helping others on the Facebook group or website forums, etc
- Will be used in the event a mileage tie breaker and trail variety tie breaker is needed
- Will also be a qualifier for ‘Top Trail Team’ nominee consideration
New Mileage Upload Reporting
The ‘Add Ride’ form and ‘Edit Ride’ form will be updated to allow for additional ride information to be submitted for ranking and scoring criteria, if the Rider so chooses to update those fields. Additional fields are not required but are encouraged for participation in additional challenges, contests, and to qualify for prizes.
Update Rides on Website
- Checkboxes: Publicly Accessible, Private Property, Public + Private (select one)
- If on private land, mark Private Property
- If trail is publicly accessible (public land, paid entry, etc), then mark it as Publicly Accessible so others know they can access it too
- If a mix of both, check box for “Public + Private”, this will be used to manually audit the trail map more closely to evaluate if the trail map can be edited down to publicly accessible land only for sharing on Top Horse Trails
- Upload photo(s)
- Will be used for Challenge scoring, tie breaking
- Trail Paparazzi awards for members who post the most photos with their rides
- Will also be part of consideration for ‘Top Trail Team’ award nominations
EasyTrails App Users
Update Trail Files Before Uploading
- If on private land, mark Private
- If on public land, mark Public
- If a mix of Public and Private, mark Public
- Name file after park location or trail name
New Monthly Contests
In an effort to increase engagement and member enjoyment, host monthly themes and contests. Monthly contests give all members, even if they don’t ride a lot, a chance to win. Winners will be chosen based on specified criteria or voting within the Top Trail Facebook group. Must have an active membership to participate and qualify for prizes. Any Facebook group member, even if not a paid Top Trail member, can participate in select Contests by voting via Like/Reaction to a submission on the Monthly Contest Thread. Themes for each month will change annually to keep things interesting.
These are the monthly themes for 2023 – so you can plan ahead:
- February: Love
- Post photo of riding with your love, somewhere you love, wearing something you love, or just riding doing what you love!
- Top 3 photos with most Likes/Reactions win a prize
- March: Spring
- Jumping Activity: Most “Springy” Jump
- Whether by costume type, jump style, you and your horse wearing slinkies, whatever way you interpret “springy” – go for it and take a photo or video!
- Post photo or video of you and/or your equine jumping (or attempting) something related to the theme (big jump or even teeny-tiny jump or even a step-over, mounted or in-hand) and post it to the Monthly Contest Thread
- Top 3 with most Likes/Reactions win a prize
- Jumping Activity: Most “Springy” Jump
- April: Poetry Month
- Write your best equine poetry and post it in the Monthly Contest Thread in the Facebook Group
- Top 3 with most Likes/Reactions win a prize
- May: Funniest Riding Track Shape
- Time to get creative with your riding! Location of ride can be anywhere – arena, trail, field, etc and will not be disqualified regardless of what Division you’re in
- Start your GPS tracking and ride your horse in the funniest shape you can think of to record your GPS track shape (draw a horse, dinosaur, or…. other things)
- Upload your ride track to Top Trail as normal as a ride
- Once uploaded on the Top Trail website, take a screenshot of the map and save the image
- Post the ride map screenshot image to the Monthly Contest Thread in the Facebook Group
- Top 3 with most Likes/Reactions win a prize
- June: Great Outdoors
- Post your best trail riding photo from the current month on the Monthly Contest Thread in the Facebook Group, multiple entries allowed, post them as you ride them
- Random drawing for prizes for everyone who posts in monthly contest thread
- July: Patriotic
- Dress yourself and your equine up in the best patriotic display and go for a ride – take pictures – post them to the monthly contest thread in the Facebook Group
- This applies to all USA and International riders – dress up in your country’s most patriotic garb
- Top 3 with most Likes/Reactions win a prize
- August: Sizzlin’ Hot
- Post your hottest trail riding photo from this month – whatever that means to you – on the Monthly Contest Thread in the Facebook Group
- Random drawing for prizes for everyone who posts in monthly contest thread
- September: Fall
- Post your funniest or craziest falling off story to the Monthly Contest Thread in the Facebook Group
- Top 3 with most Likes/Reactions win a prize
- October: Costume Rides
- Go riding in costume and take photos, post them to the monthly contest thread in the Facebook Group
- Top 3 with most Likes/Reactions win a prize
- November: Thankful
- Post what you are most thankful for this past year to the Monthly Contest thread in the Facebook Group
- Random drawing for prizes for everyone who posts in monthly contest thread
- December: Celebration
- Celebrate by posting your favorite trail photos from the whole year
- Random drawing for prizes for everyone who posts in monthly contest thread in the Facebook Group
- January 2024: Goals
- Post your yearly goal to the Monthly Contest thread in the Facebook Group
- Random drawing for prizes for everyone who posts in monthly contest thread
New Rankings & Recognition
In order to make participation more enjoyable and rewarding, there will be additional recognitions and awards in addition to the standard divisional recognitions.
The goal is to put the emphasis on the Fun + Noteworthy awards for members who want a chance at ranking or winning something but don’t want to or are unable to compete for higher mileage. Mileage Divisions are meant to be challenging to push each rider to ride more miles in order to rank. Fun + Noteworthy categories give all riders a chance to rank for lots of attainable things, be recognized, and win prizes.
- Top Trail Member of the Year | People’s Choice Award
- Select Riders will be nominated by Top Trail admins for their performance during the year, contribution to the trail riding sport, and helping others
- Nominees will be featured on the Top Trail website and shared on the Top Trail Facebook Group
- Voting will happen either via the Top Trail Facebook Group or an Online Survey
- All members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite nominee during the month of January
- Winner will be announced at the end of January / early February
- This will be considered the Top prize of the year
- Overall Mileage Rankings
- Top Trail Rider + Equine
- Top Trail Rider (most miles + variety)
- Top Trail Equine (most miles, variety)
- Top Sport Equestrian + Equine
- Top Sport Equestrian
- Top Sport Equine
- Top Trail Rider + Equine
- Divisional Mileage Rankings
- Trail Ride Divisions
- Pleasure
- Adventurer
- Explorer
- Legends
- Professional
- Competitor
- Recreational
- Trail Ride Divisions
- Affiliate Rankings
- NATRC
- MHC
- MFTHBA
- Hags with Nags
- Group Rankings
- Fuzzy Butters
- Double Trouble
- Fun + Noteworthy Awards
- Additional awards as determined by Top Trail admins
New Reporting + Updates
Reporting posted to Top Trail website, Top Trail Facebook page, and Top Trail Facebook group. NOTE: new reporting system in the works so we can expedite reporting, otherwise, some reports may be delayed.
- Monthly
- Monthly Contests
- Additional rankings as time and report automation allow
- Quarterly
- Divisional Rankings
- Group Rankings
- Annually
- Top Trail Team – People’s Choice Award
- Top Trail Rider / Equine
- Top Sport Equestrian / Equine
- Divisional Rankings
- Affiliate Rankings
- Group Rankings
- Fun + Noteworthy Rankings
Updated Rules, Terms, and Conditions
Ride GPX files must be uploaded within 10-days (240-hours) of completion of ride. The intent is to get more riders out on trails and for them to enjoy being out on trails more. By increasing the days allowed to upload GPX files, it gives riders a chance to do multi-day trips and still have those miles count. We do still need to have a limit due to reporting, audits, etc, but the 10-day rule seemed most fair to all riders.
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By submitting rides marked “Public Trail” and all related files, photos, and information related to that public trail, members are consenting to allow that information to be used by Top Trail Horse, Top Horse Trails and other related subsidiaries for marketing purposes and to provide additional programs and services across various platforms. All files will be screened before use to verify public land boundaries in case of accidental ‘Public’ marking.
- This is to make members aware of what happens to their shared data and information.
- Most trail information will be used to help build out the Top Horse Trails website and support the mission of getting more equestrians out on trails to ensure we don’t lose access.
- We will never sell your personal data to other companies, the intent is to use it to improve our own trail riding products and services through our own brands in support of our mission.
- This stipulation is already in full effect per the Terms of Service stated on the Top Trail website and agreement with these terms is already required for members – we are simply making it more transparent and bringing it to members attention here.
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All rules will be interpreted based on the intent of the rules, as deemed by the Top Trail admins. Top Trail reserves the right to adjust some rules and guidelines as needed without notice. If there is significant impact to members, as deemed by Top Trail admins, these adjustments will be posted publicly on the Top Trail website and shared on the Top Trail Facebook group for awareness.
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The rules, terms, and conditions stated above supersede all other rules, terms, and conditions. Terms of Service still apply unless superseded by updated rules, terms, and conditions stated above.
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