Tulip Hits 22,000

Dave Rabe and Tulip on Day 4 of the 2011 EMS - Photo by Steve Bradley

February 22 2011

Les Carr's Tulip reached 22,000 career miles on Day 4 of the Eastern Mojave Classic on February 20, 2011, with Dave Rabe in the saddle.

Tulip became AERC's highest mileage horse in the 2006 Death Valley Encounter with Les Carr, passing the previous high mileage horse, Rushcreek Lad (18,215), owned by Trilby Pederson.

He reached 20,000 miles in May of 2009.

Tulip, a 22-year-old Morab gelding, is 15.2 hands and excels in 50-mile multi-day rides.

Les Carr, 75, has 47,000 AERC miles himself. And neither show signs of slowing down.


Tulip and his 'Crew': Les, Jill, and Dave Rabe - Photo by Steve Bradley

Hadji Halef Omar Wins 2010 AHA Distance Horse of the Year

Arabianhorses.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2011
Contact: AHA
303-696-4500
Hadji Halef Omar Wins 2010 AHA Distance Horse of the Year
Aurora, CO (February 11, 2011) - Hadji Halef Omar (Centavo x ZA Sabbaths Joy), a 1992 grey gelding, owned by Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss of Queen Creek, Ariz. has been named the 2010 AHA Distance Horse of the Year. The 10-year veteran of endurance competition has taken Palmer-DuRoss over 5,810 miles, a journey for which she is very grateful. "I am nominating Hadji for the Distance Horse of the Year Award in appreciation for all the beautiful places he has taken me and for the places we have yet to see," says Palmer-DuRoss.

"Hadji" has 112 finishes out of 114 starts with 86 finishes in the top 20. Hadji has finished in the Top Ten of half of the endurance rides he's finished with two wins and five best conditions. Together, Palmer-DuRoss and Hadji have finished 14 Pioneer rides, totaling 2,795 miles, an especially impressive feat since Pioneer rides are multi-day events consisting of 155 miles that must be completed with the same horse and rider team. "Asking your horse to do a ride and have them sound and ready to go again the next day and the next day after that requires careful management and a special horse," says Palmer-DuRoss.

In 2010 alone, Hadji was first place in the Open Event Incentive Program in Endurance, second place in the Southwest Region lightweight division, eighth overall in the Southwest region and eighth nationally in Pioneer award lightweight division. He earned two highest vet scores and completed a grand total of 765 miles.

Palmer-DuRoss found Hadji in July of 2001 after her beloved endurance mare had suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. "It's commonly said that when one door closes another door opens and I truly believe that was the case," says Palmer-DuRoss who stopped by a ranch in Beaver, Utah on her way home from an endurance ride to take a look at a grey gelding. "Of course, we did have an extra spot in the horse trailer, just in case."

Hadji had been used as a string horse and already had a wonderful base of long, slow miles that serves as excellent conditioning for a lengthy endurance career. "I bought him for $1,500. It was the best money I've ever spent," says Palmer-DuRoss. Hadji has a Half-Arabian and Quarter Horse back-up, but his work ethic and eager attitude don't give the other horses much of a chance to get on the trail. "A huge amount of Hadji's success is that we ride his ride. Once I convince him not to start out too fast in the beginning he is very good at dictating his own pace," says Palmer-DuRoss.

Palmer-DuRoss transitioned Hadji to barefoot in 2007—another secret to their success. "Hadji used to interfere in the front so bad that eventually he would have had to retire early from the damage done to his legs. Being barefoot has added years to Hadji's career. He feels younger and moves out much better than he ever did in shoes. It is amazing the difference and he gets better every year. Hadji and I do quite a few rides every year and I spend a lot of time resting him between rides and at this point there is no need to overdo his conditioning. At his age and with the shape Hadji is in, he is very easy to keep fit. My best partner Hadji and I keep in condition by exploring new trails and riding with great friends."

Riding For Himself

Alamogordonews.com - Full Article

California man travels across the country in a covered wagon for the joy of it
Alamogordo Daily News
By Elva K. Osterreich, Associate News Editor
Posted: 02/18/2011 12:00:00 AM MST

Traveling only with Bug, Kate and Kitty, Gene Glasscock has made his home on the road. Instead of a comfortable RV in which to ride, he has chosen a covered wagon.

Kate and Kitty are mules who are faithfully hauling Glasscock from one coast to the other. Bug, a little dog, is his boss, Glasscock said.

In the early 1980s, Glasscock took his biggest longrider journey when he road a horse from the Arctic Circle to the equator, a distance of about 12,000 miles. From 2002 to 2005, he rode a horse named Frank through all 48 state capitals in the continental United States. Now, he's just hanging out in his wagon moving west to east at his own pace...

Read more here:
http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_17418605

Distance riders brave cold

Eastern Arizona Courier
Published on Sunday, February 13, 2011 8:24 AM MST


Veterinarian Sid Vargas of El Paso, right, checks the physical condition of a horse at the Graham County Fairgrounds during the Springdale Romp, a distance riding event, on Tuesday. Riders are required to vet their horses the day before the ride, halfway through the ride and after the ride. Thirty-three riders (61 were expected but many couldn’t make it due to bad weather) from across the country came to Safford to compete in endurance rides.

Veterinarian Sid Vargas of El Paso, right, checks the physical condition of a horse at the Graham County Fairgrounds during the Springdale Romp, a distance riding event, on Tuesday. Riders are required to vet their horses the day before the ride, halfway through the ride and after the ride. Thirty-three riders (61 were expected but many couldn’t make it due to bad weather) from across the country came to Safford to compete in endurance rides. Photo by Brian Wright

http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2011/02/13/news/doc4d55c7b65b13e536945060.txt

2011 AERC National Championship update

February 12 2011

the 2011 AERC National Championship will be held on August 25 and 27, 2011 at Fort Stanton, New Mexico. Base camp is located in a large open meadow at 6,200 feet elevation on BLM land. Trails are two-track roads, others cross rolling hills and open meadows.

The 100-mile ride will be held on August 25, and the 55-mile ride will be on August 27. All entries must meet AERC qualification criteria:

* - 55-mile ride: 300 lifetime miles (horse) AND 300 lifetime miles (rider), with at least 100 miles together. The mileage requirements must be met with endurance competitions of 50 miles or more only -- no limited distance miles count towards qualification criteria.

* - 100-mile ride: 500 lifetime miles (horse) AND 500 lifetime miles (rider), with at least one 100 mile, one day ride together. The mileage requirements must be met with endurance competitions of 50 miles or more only -- no limited distance miles count towards qualification criteria.

* - Alternate qualification (either distance): If the horse and rider team has completed 1,000 AERC endurance miles (rides 50 miles or more only) they are qualified to enter.

A pre-ride over the trails will be two Fort Stanton 3-day Pioneer rides (165 miles), on July 10-11-12, and July 14-15-16. It will include 6 days of 35-mile Limited Distance, and 4 days of Ride & Tie.

For more information see:
http://www.fortstantonenduranceride.com/

US Endurance Chef d'Equipe Position

USEF.org

Endurance Chef d'Equipe - United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (Lexington, KY)

Goals:

Short Term--

* Assess training needs of riders interested in competing in international competitions and develop clinics based on those needs;
* Develop and implement a training program for ranked riders and their horses ;
* Prepare riders to compete in the 2011 Pan American Championship with the goal of implementing those strategies in preparing a team for World Endurance Championships

Long Term--

* Assist the High Performance Committee in the development and implementation of the Endurance Strategic Plan with the primary goal of winning a team medal with Individual placements in the top ten in World Endurance Championships.

Duties:

Assist the Endurance High Performance Committee in developing a program that will:

* Promote interest and participation in international/FEI endurance competitions;
* Educate and train riders who are interested in competing in international/FEI competitions. This will include developing clinics and sourcing clinicians who can provide the necessary training and education in areas such as horse physiology, classical riding skills, nutrition, horseshoeing, and race strategy.
* Prepare horses and riders for the 2011 Pan American Championship that can be built upon for future World Championships;
* Prepare horses and riders to win team medals with individual placements in the top ten at World Championships;
* Develop fair, effective, transparent selection procedures;
* Develop an annual budget in conjunction with the Endurance Director that supports the program’s goals.

In addition, the Chef d’ Equipe will:

* Train riders named to the Ranked List through personal coaching and through clinics with the assistance of clinicians in the areas of horse physiology, classical riding skills, nutrition, horseshoeing, and race strategy in preparation for designated international/FEI competitions for which USEF will select individuals and/or a team to compete;
* Attend selection events each year in order to promote, coach, and make selection recommendations for upcoming competitions;
* Review horse and rider performance with the rider after each selection event, and send a report to the selectors after each selection event;
* Maintain records of communications with athletes;
* Work in conjunction with the Endurance High Performance Committee and the Endurance Director to meet the goals of the program;
* Exercise the judgment and discretion in the manner and means necessary to accomplish the goals of the job.

Qualifications:

* A thorough knowledge of the Policies and Procedures and organizational structure of the United States Equestrian Federation;
* The will to win;
* Proven leadership ability;
* Ability to communicate timely and effectively both verbally and in written form with riders and others as necessary and especially during a competition;
* Ability to successfully work with athletes, officials, veterinarians, and fellow USEF staff members.
* Excellent people skills with an ability to coach, motivate, and direct riders;
* A well organized individual with the ability to direct a progressive endurance program in conjunction with of the Director of Endurance;
* Foresight and vision to develop and nurture an endurance program that will result in the winning of medals at international competitions.
* A strong understanding and knowledge of endurance and a superior understanding of race strategy.
* A true horseman with the basic understanding to the physiology, nutrition, training and conditioning of endurance horses;
* Approachable by the athletes and others and forthcoming with advise;
* Able to think strategically on a national and international level;
* Ability to foster talent;
* Provide the assurance that no personal conflicts exist that may hinder the candidate’s ability to perform the job.

Term:

* Ideally this position will be filled by June 1, 2011 providing a qualified candidate is found.
* The position will last through the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
* This job description is subject to change dependent upon the individual candidate’s qualifications and skills.

Visit http://usngbjobs.teamworkonline.com/teamwork/r.cfm?i=34086 to apply for this position.

American Endurance Ride Conference Annual Convention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: February 3, 2010

Horseback riders of all types will find inspiration at the American Endurance Ride Conference’s 2011 convention at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada, on March 4 and 5. The theme for this year’s annual meeting is “Family-Friends-Fun” and the show promises a family-friendly celebration of endurance riding for participants of all ages.

A free trade show in the exhibit hall from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday features the lightweight tack and saddles favored by distance riders, plus a myriad of products for all horse enthusiasts. A tack swap which benefits AERC gives convention-goers a chance to pick up used saddles and tack at great prices.

For those interested in finding out more about endurance riding, seminars are available both Friday and Saturday which feature icons of the sport sharing their knowledge. Seminar passes are $55 per day ($35 for each additional family member).

On Friday, Angie McGhee of Wildwood, Georgia, author of the humorous book, “The Lighter Side of Endurance Riding,” will team up with her daughter Josie for “Adventures in Family Riding.” Gary Magdesian, DVM, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, will talk about recent research on horses not completing at the Tevis Cup 100-mile endurance ride. Next, equine veterinarian Langdon Fielding, DVM, will discuss risk factors for endurance pulls. Rounding out Friday’s program is Jan Worthington, a top endurance competitor who, at age 70, was the oldest competitor at the recent World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Saturday’s line-up includes “Lame or Not Lame? You Be the Judge,” moderated by Thomas Timmons, DVM, which will give audience members a chance to recognize subtle lameness clues. Julie Suhr, an AERC Hall of Fame member and one of the most respected members of the sport, will present “The FUNctional Endurance Family” with her daughter, Barbara White, a 30-time finisher of the grueling Tevis Cup competition. Saturday’s final seminar is “Nutrition for Endurance Equines,” presented by Performance Horse Nutrition’s Stephen Duren, MS, PhD.

The conference also features a regional awards ceremony on Friday afternoon and a dance later that evening, and free “hot topics” sessions on both Friday and Saturday at 7:30 a.m., where members discuss and debate current subjects of concern.

Top equines and riders of 2010 will be honored at Saturday’s national awards banquet. The evening culminates with the naming of the newest inductees into the organization’s Hall of Fame, both human and equine, and the Pard’ners Award winner, honoring the person and horse who best personify true partnership and sportsmanship.

Convention registration can be made by phone to the AERC office at 866-271-2372. A complete convention overview and reservation forms are available online at www.aerc.org. The reservation line for the Grand Sierrra Resort and Casino is 800-648-5080.

For information about AERC's upcoming convention or membership in AERC, visit aerc.org or phone toll-free 866-271-2372.

Contact: Troy Smith
endurancenews@foothill.net
866-271-2372, 530-823-2260

Great Britain: Golden Horseshoe Ride introduces new family class

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Martha Terry
1 February, 2011

Endurance riders will tackle new routes at this year's Golden Horseshoe Ride on Exmoor (15-17 May), with organiser Barbara Wigley hoping that leading partnerships will use the 160k (100 miles) class en route to selection for the European Championships.

"The 160km class is possibly the most demanding on the British calendar and is ideally suited to riders looking towards international competition," said Mrs Wigley.

Home International chef d'equipe Maggie Pattinson said she would encourage all top riders to compete.

"Years ago, people would head to Exmoor to get some hard work under their belts," she said. "We've gone through a phase of being a bit soft and worried the horse might break — but we've got to see if these horses are fit enough..."

Read more here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/305338.html