For horse lover Mullen, 'the ride is the prize'

Goupstate.com - Full Article

Landrum resident, with teammate Ellie, to compete in 100-mile race

By Eric Boynton
eric.boynton@shj.com

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Sue Mullen has ridden horses in countless races of up to 100 miles, but there's never an end to the trails left to conquer.

Horses have been a part of the 59-year-old Landrum resident's life since she began riding nearly 53 years ago. She purchased her first horse at 9 with money garnered mostly from baby-sitting in addition to funds plucked from birthday cards.

"My parents kept waiting for me to outgrow it and I never did," said Mullen, who was raised in Montana.

Her next goal is to compete for the renowned Tevis Cup in the Western States Trail Ride when the 55th running happens July 24.

Known as the "granddaddy" of endurance rides, the event is a 100-mile excursion that begins in Robie Park, Calif., (outside Lake Tahoe) and ends in Auburn, Calif., with riders required to finish in less than 24 hours.

"I always wanted to do the race, but life kept interfering," said Mullen, a mother of three and grandmother of one with another on the way. "I'll be 60 (in April) so I decided it's now or never. I hope to finish, but if we don't, we'll have a great adventure anyway."

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