Equestrian event planned to raise funds for rider injured by motorcyclist

Monroemonitor.com - Full Article

By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor

All Bonnie Davis wanted to do was spend some time horseback riding with her friend, Jackie Hunt. Now she’s spending her time planning a fundraiser to help pay for her friend’s hospital bills.

The fundraising event called “Ride for Jackie” will take place on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sky River Equestrian Center located in Sultan. The event will include an obstacle course, hot lunch, silent auction and raffle. Hunt, who fell from her horse in September after an encounter with two motorcycle riders, suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the fall. All proceeds from the benefit will go towards Hunt’s medical bills which include the cost of the aid car, two trips to the emergency room, and her follow-up medical care.

“She’s discovering, every day, things that are challenges that weren’t before,” said Davis.

On Sunday Sept. 8, Davis, who lives in Monroe, was riding through the Mann Road trails in Sultan with her friend, Hunt. They were just getting ready to call it a day when they encountered two motorcycle riders.

The encounter, while unexpected, did not immediately cause alarm to either Davis or Hunt. They occasionally encounter motorized vehicles on the local trail systems, and normally have no issues at all with the local off-road vehicle community.

“This was an isolated incident,” said Davis. “It’s outraged the motorcycle community, as well.”

The confrontation was unexpected because the Mann Road trails are located on 50,000 acres of privately managed timberland on which motor vehicles are prohibited. The management firm has granted conservation access which allows horseback riding, dog walking, backpacking, walking, bicyclists and legal hunting.

Unfortunately, the motorcycle riders, in addition to being on the trails illegally, seemed, to Davis, to purposely act in a hostile manner. One of the riders, rather than following standard trail etiquette, chose to engage his motorcycle in a loud and threatening manner...

Read more here:
http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/10/08/equestrian-event-planned-to-raise-funds-for-rider-injured-by-motorcyclist/