THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505050202
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA A. MYERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
The horses are coming to Portsmouth!
As many as 250 horses may grace the streets of Olde Towne in an eight-mile horseback ride scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. May 21.
Mounted patrol units from across the state, as well as private horse owners and riders, have been invited to ``The Olde Towne Portsmouth Ride,'' a fund-raiser of The Friends of the Portsmouth Mounted Patrol.
Each rider will be asked to pay a $25 non-refundable registration fee. All proceeds will benefit the Portsmouth Mounted Patrol.
``Our annual budget this year is $8,500, which isn't very much,'' said Sgt. Richard Lodge, who oversees the five horses and four riders of the Portsmouth Mounted Patrol.
``We're always running into financial difficulties down here. And The Friends of the Mounted Patrol, the group that supports us a lot, thought this would be a great way of raising some money,'' he said.
Because this is a first-time event, the group does not know how much money will be raised, nor does it have a goal.
``We'll just be grateful for whatever we get,'' said secretary-treasurer Loretta Larcombe. ``It'll depend on the number of entries. The first time out, you just don't know.''
Participants will ride their horses at a leisurely pace through Portsmouth's most historic and scenic areas: down First Street to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, along the Seawall to Portside, by Crawford Bay to the Naval Hospital grounds, down Court Street to the 1846 Courthouse, along High Street past the new Children's Museum and through parts of the Olde Towne residential neighborhood.
In addition, costumed actors may be available at some sites to provide a brief history of Portsmouth.
``We just hope we have a large turnout. We hope it's successful,'' said Lodge of the police department.
``I think Portsmouth has a lot to show. There's a lot of history here. Hopefully, it will encourage the ones who do ride to come back.''
The riders and their horses will take a short break at Portside, the halfway point. There, Friends of the Mounted Patrol plan to sell T-shirts and will possibly hold a picture-taking session for children eager to sit on one of the Mounted Patrol horses.
Apples and carrots, which may be used to feed the horses, may be available for sale at Portside, said Lodge. Sodas will be provided for the riders and water for the horses.
No streets will be closed, so riders have been asked to be alert to cars, motorcycles, buses and other vehicles, as well as dogs, cats and pedestrians. Horses without the temperament to handle city sights and sounds safely should not participate in this ride.
``We picked a Sunday between noon and 4 p.m. because traffic's light then,'' said Lodge. ``And we will have some marked units in case we need to block an intersection for the horses to go through.''
The city of Richmond, which has a very large mounted patrol, started a similar ride about three years ago. Portsmouth Mounted Patrol officers participated last year and had ``a great time,'' said Lodge.
Invitations have been sent to every mounted patrol unit in the state, though uniformed law enforcement officers will not be asked to pay the registration fee. The owners of horse barns also have been contacted.
``The guy who puts our horseshoes on has a large clientele, so he's taking invitations around, too,'' said Lodge. ``At this point, I don't know how many to tell you.''
All riders must be at least 16 and will be asked the day of the ride to sign a liability release. Any rider under 18 must have a separate release signed by a parent or guardian.
The ride will begin at 451 First St., right across from the Mounted Patrol headquarters. Gates will open at 10 a.m. The ride begins promptly at noon and lasts between three and four hours.
``If it's successful this year, we're certainly planning on it becoming an annual event,'' said Lodge.
Forms and entry fees must be received no later than May 19. The ride is limited to 250 participants.
Checks can be made payable to: The Friends of the Portsmouth Mounted Patrol, c/o Loretta Larcombe, 410 Crawford Parkway, Portsmouth, Va. 23704. MEMO: For information, call 397-8830 or 393-8016.
by CNB