MOSCOW, IDAHO— The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) will host the 54th Annual Chief Joseph Trail Ride, July 23 – 27, 2018. A portion of the 1,100 mile, historic trail is ridden each year, with the entire sequence taking thirteen years to complete. Its route traces, as closely as possible, the route Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce took while attempting to escape the US Cavalry in 1877. This year’s segment is the only “loop ride” during the thirteen years. The assembly and destination camps are both in the Tolo Lake area near Grangeville, Idaho. The exact route is subject to change, but this year’s participants will ride through White Bird Battle Ground, where the first battle took place, across Joseph Plains and along or over Hammer Creek, Rice Creek, Wolf Creek, Graves Creek, and the Salmon River.
Each year, participants make lasting memories and lifetime friends among fellow riders while enjoying their Appaloosa horses. The ApHC hosted the first Chief Joseph Trail Ride in 1965 to commemorate the historic journey taken by a band of Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph and others. The ride is exclusively for registered Appaloosas and is the longest-running and most popular trail ride hosted by the ApHC.
For additional information on this year’s Chief Joseph Trail Ride and the official ride entry form, visit https://www.appaloosa.com/trail/ChiefJoseph.htm or contact the ApHC Trail & Distance Coordinator Pat Bogar at (208) 882-5578 ext. 264.
The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was established in 1938 with a mission of honoring the heritage and promoting the future of the Appaloosa horse. The ApHC has since registered more than 700,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline including racing, endurance riding and serving as reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, the heart of the Palouse region—the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.
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