The 23rd annual Trail Ride for Haven House will be Sept. 24 at Ted and Cindy Evans' Farm.
The annual fundraising event for the local domestic violence shelter will be held rain or shine. Haven House provides safe shelter for women and their children who are trying to escape domestic violence, and offers counseling, as well as provides assistance in finding jobs and educational opportunities. The program offers classes in parenting and budgeting.
Haven House Executive Director Mary Ann Allen said, "The Haven House Trail Ride has become a tradition among riders in southeast Missouri. It has the atmosphere of a reunion. We love getting to see old friends who return year after year, but also meeting those who are newly introduced to the event. Everyone has a good time riding, of course, but also catching up with each other over lunch. The first year, we raised nearly $3,000 and were shocked. Last year, riders brought in $16,000. To have this much fun and do this much good for others makes for a tremendous event."
This will be Sherry Lucas' 22nd time to ride in the event and her second year to serve as the ride's chairman. She missed the first ride, but has made it to each one since then.
Lucas, like the other riders, knows it is an opportunity to "reach out and help the ones that need it."
Haven House and the trail ride have special meaning for Lucas, who explained, she was 17 when she married for the first time. Her first husband "tried it (domestic violence) on me and if it had not been for my family's help, I might not have been able to get out of the relationship.
"Others don't have families and they are caught in the situation," Lucas said. "So many women think they have no choice. They have no family. At 18, I realized and got out. I have talked to some personally and it doesn't work that way for them."
Lucas serves on the shelter board of directors and as ride chairman because she knows "Haven House is there to help the victims."
The day of the ride, "you meet people you have not seen for a while. For some, it's the only time we see them," Lucas said. "They come from all around to have a fun time. If you don't know the trails, we will teach you the trails."
Lucas cautions everyone, there may be yellow jackets or ground hornets, but everyone involved in the ride is cautious. "We have not had anyone hurt."
Registration begins at 8 a.m. The organized rides for gaited and non-gaited horses will leave promptly at 10 a.m. There will be fast, medium and slow rides traveling 10 miles through the Mark Twain National Forest.
Sponsors of this year's event will be Poplar Bluff Medical Partners, an affiliate of Saint Francis Healthcare system, Missouri Foundation for Health, and First Midwest Bank.
A free continental breakfast, as well as lunch, will be provided. The barbecue lunch will be compliments of Jerry Hillis. Riders will hear live Bluegrass music during the lunch break. Participants should bring lawn chairs.
Prizes include: $2000 Circle Y Flex Lite Saddle, compliments of J&L Tack and Haven House Board of Directors; $1000 Gift Certificate at Grays Farm and Feed and compliments of Bradley Minton and Grays; $500 Savings Bond, compliments of First Midwest Bank; and $300 Lucchese Boots, compliments of Wild West Store.
First, second, third and fourth place finishers will be determined by the total of pre-paid pledges presented at registration, and selection of prize will be based on finishing order. T-shirts will be provided for each rider presenting $25 in pre-paid pledges.
Verification of negative coggins is required.
To get to the Evans farm, take County Road 402 (Pine Cone Estates Road) to County Road 404 for parking (2.6 miles from West Outer Road of Highway 67).
For additional information, call Haven House at (573) 686-4873.