LMB Riding Club Newsletter - Issue 9 - Bywater Steeplechase

[Kiralynn]

Greetings and welcome to the ninth edition of the Lonely Mountain Band Riding Club newsletter!


CLUB NEWS

The upcoming class horse, Steed of the Rune-keeper, will be available as a store-exclusive mount for 1995 turbine points until February 9th.
From Turbine: Rune-keepers require a large number of tools and implements to ply their trade – rifflers and chisels, stones and writing tools – and their mounts must be capable of bearing them all. The Rune-keeper's steed is well-supplied and ready for a long journey. This liver chestnut steed wears a teal blue saddle pad with silver embroidery and matching neck covering, and its tack is marked with runes of endurance and speed to ensure its rider swift travels. This steed has 250 health and allows you to travel 68% faster than running on foot, making it faster and stronger than many other mounts!m

Use code BLC132 to buy "Lesser Skill Deed Boost" free in the Turbine store through February 2nd! Only one is available per account.


I am offering a reward to anyone who sends me a description of a viable horse race course. You can submit either a standard or cross-country course. If your submission meets the guidelines and is used in a race, you will receive 1 gold!

* The time from start to finish should be 3-6 minutes for standard and 10-15 minutes for cross-country races.
* Courses must have start and finish lines which are easy to identify. These can be the same line.
* The course must not require more than 5 judges to properly officiate. This includes the start organizer, finish line judge, checkpoint judges and/or pace riders.
* The checkpoints should be specific, simple to understand, and easy to spot at short range.
* There may not be easy cheat points, such as campfires, where a rider could jump ahead without being seen.
* The course must have at least one set of obstacles, such as stairs, fences, jumpable walls, steep paths, creek crossings, swamps, etc.


UPCOMING EVENTS

The Windy Acres Ranch is hosting another event! The Bywater Steeplechase and Horse Show will be held on Friday, February 24th at 9pm EST. The steeplechase is a challenging horse race with a grand prize of 750 Turbine Points! The second place rider will win 3 gold and the third place rider will earn 1 gold. The horse show is an exhibition of horses and matching riding outfits. The show winner will receive a 5 gold prize.

Steeplechase riders will face many perils, including bats, bears, boars, spiders and goblins. There are fences to jump, cliffs to avoid, and broken bridges to cross. (Most of these are levels 9 to 11. Inexperienced riders must be wary!) The race course takes approximately five and a half minutes to run.

The pre-race party begins at 8:00pm EST at the Methel-stage between Bywater and Tuckborough. The horse show begins at 9:00pm. The steeplechase will begin when the show concludes, around 9:30pm EST. Participants must register by 8:45pm for the race, show, or both events. Riders may also register for the race and/or show before the party by sending an in-game mail to Kiralynn. The mail must include their name, horse's breed and name, and which events they wish to sign up for.

The post-race party will take place at the Green Dragon Inn in Bywater.

If you are willing to volunteer as a race judge, please contact Kiralynn as soon as possible. We will need 5 judges to properly cover the course.


EQUESTRIAN NEWS

This month's equestrian feature is the Prized Rivendell steed. It can be purchased from Atharbain at Imlad Gelair in Rivendell after reaching Kindred reputation with the elves of Rivendell. It costs 5g 532s. Reputation for this faction is gained through quests, Signets of Rhudaur, Goblin-town tabards, and elvish relics.



Contact Kiralynn of you need reputation items for Bree, Mathom, Wardens or Rivendell in order to purchase a horse. You can also request monetary assistance in purchasing your first horse.


Do you speak the language of Dwarves or Elves? I am collecting names in other Middle Earth languages to add to the horse name generator. If you have a suggestion, please reply to this post or send mail with the name, source language and translation.


RACING TIPS

Select an unusual horse and outfit for the race. The judges will have an easier time identifying you in screenshots as you cross the finish line if you are wearing distinctive gear.

During the pace run of any race, if you have questions about the course, make sure to ask the judges. Don't miss an important shortcut because you were afraid to ask a question. When in doubt, ask!

If you see someone cheating, take a screenshot. Notify the judges the moment the race ends. Be prepared to email the screenshot to a judge.

The term "also ran" applies to any horses who are not among the first four to cross the finish line.
When two horses cross the finish line at the same time, it is a "dead heat".
A "dark horse" is a horse whose capabilities and chances of success are not yet known.

Horse races are usually named after a place, sponsor or season. The types of races include chases, classics, crowns, cups, derbies, handicaps, memorials, miles, sprints and stakes. A chase, or steeplechase, is a horse race that includes jumping obstacles. A cup is a year-end championship. A derby is a race for three-year-old (adult) horses. A stakes race is where the top horses compete after winning other races.

Have a tip to share? Reply to this post!


BACK ISSUES

Here are links to Issue One, Issue Two, Issue Three, Issue Four, Issue Five, Issue Six, Issue Seven and Issue Eight in case you missed them.

[Kiralynn]

I'm sure you've all seen this, but just in case you haven't...

The Hunt For Gollum (Lord of the Rings authorized prequel movie.)

[Kiralynn]

FEBRUARY IS MOUNT MONTH!


Now Available:
Steed Of Night
Steed Of Minas Ithil
Steed Of Bright Days
Steed Of The Rune-keeper
Yule Festival Snow Steed

Stabled (Currently Unavailable):
Fleet-footed Goat (January 2012)
Steed Of The Guardian (December 2011)
Steed Of The Hunter (October 2011)
Harvestmath Steed (December 2011)
Green Painted Skeleton Steed (November 2011)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Steed of Night

This magnificent steed has a dark charcoal coat with glistening chocolate undertones, amber eyes and is bedecked with a glimmering saddle pad, a fiery neck guard and reinforced leather saddle, bridle and leg boots.

HISTORY: Tamed by the Rangers in Angmar and adorned with trappings crafted by Eimyr, this steed symbolizes a renewed pact between the Eldgang and the Free Peoples following the fall of Thaurlach.
•This steed has 250 health and allows you to travel 68% faster than running on foot.



Steed of Minas Ithil

This silver-grey horse, draped in a flowing bright blue and white covering with matching banner, is meant to display and carry the fearsome Guard of Isildur into battle.

HISTORY: The soldiers of Minas Ithil, long since seized by the Enemy and renamed Minas Morgul, would have ridden these steeds. There are some Free Peoples who still remember the Tower of the Moon, and they dress their loyal steeds in the livery of Minas Ithil as a sign to the forces of Mordor that some things cannot be stamped out forever. This steed is inspired by the Volume 3: Book 3 Epic Story, which features a flashback to the time of Isildur and his companion soldiers of Minas Ithil.
•This steed has 250 health and allows you to travel 68% faster than running on foot.



Steed of Bright Days

An offering fit for those with a bright and colorful spirit. This dark brown and white horse bears bright blues, greens and yellows on its caparison.

HISTORY: This steed is descended from stock gifted to Cirion, Steward of Gondor, by Eorl the Young following the Battle of the Field of Celebrant and the granting of the lands of Calenardhon to Eorl and his people. The barding represents the flowering fields beneath a blue sky and symbolizes the creation of the sovereign nation of Rohan.
•This steed has 250 health and allows you to travel 68% faster than running on foot.



Steed of the Rune-Keeper

Rune-keepers require a large number of tools and implements to ply their trade – rifflers and chisels, stones and writing tools – and their mounts must be capable of bearing them all. The Rune-keeper’s steed is well-supplied and ready for a long journey. This liver chestnut steed wears a teal blue saddle pad with silver embroidery and matching neck covering, and its tack is marked with runes of endurance and speed to ensure its rider swift travels.
•This steed has 250 health and allows you to travel 68% faster than running on foot!



Yule Festival Snow Steed

Ride in style on this brown & white Yule Festival steed wearing a fancy blue & white snowflake blanket!
•This steed has 100 health and allows you to travel 62% faster than running on foot.

[Carica]

Pretty horses...... *drool*

[Kiralynn]

Windy Acres Ranch now has a web site at MyMiddle-Earth.net!

[Aldekim]

Kiralynn of Rohan wrote:

Windy Acres Ranch now has a web site at MyMiddle-Earth.net!

Outstanding!!