The Influences That Shaped OCTRA

OCTRA’s roots reach back to the legendary 100-mile, 3-day ride hosted by the Green Mountain Horse Association in Vermont. Early members Ruth Kitchen, Di Lindblad, Wilma McTear, and Nancy Beacon traveled there to test themselves on this demanding course—an experience that sparked the idea of bringing long-distance riding home to Ontario.

At the time, competitive trail rules were still evolving. Pulse checks weren’t taken, and few riders realized the Arabian’s natural advantage—except Ruth Kitchen, who dominated the field. Inspired and determined to build something similar, the group organized their first 25-mile ride with support from the Rockwood Trail Riders. To better train their horses, they studied Linda Tellington-Jones’ foundational work on conditioning, drawn from her historic Tevis finish.

Expertise from south of the border also shaped OCTRA’s early years. Dr. Matthew Mackay-Smith and his wife Winky traveled north to teach clinics and compete in Ontario, often accompanied by distance-riding greats Larry and Valerie Kanavy. They brought with them new ideas—from the value of cooling horses aggressively to the discovery that pulse recovery could safely be measured at four minutes rather than the standard ten. OCTRA adopted the four-minute standard, a change still unique among competitive trail organizations today.

Ontario riders and horses were making their own mark as well. Before he became an award-winning show judge, Peter Cameron won the very first OCTRA 50-mile Competitive Trail Ride in 1967 on a Morgan owned by Nancy Beacon. Partnerships also formed with ECTRA (Eastern Competitive Trail Riding Association). Together, the two organizations shared knowledge, judges, veterinarians, and a mutual enthusiasm that helped distance riding grow across the northeast.

Research played a role too. Gail Ecker of the University of Guelph brought students, weigh scales, and sampling equipment to OCTRA rides—work that contributed to the development of modern electrolyte formulas such as Perform ‘n Win. The recipe continues today with Mad Barn.

Members Brian and Mavis McCullum helped expand trail access province-wide, founding the Ontario Trail Riders and advocating tirelessly for public horse trails, while other disciplines—such as Ride & Tie—brought new families and new energy to the sport.

Together, these people, ideas, and partnerships created the foundation of OCTRA: a community shaped by curiosity, cooperation, and the shared belief that the best miles are the ones we ride together.