You Can Ride Historic Immigrant Trails: at City of Rocks Pioneer Endurance Ride

May 24 2018

Oh, those hardy pioneers, all quarter million of them. Between 1841 and 1869, they headed West, seeking new opportunities, Manifest Destiny, gold, adventure, and more.

The California Trail - some 2-3000 miles long - was one route some of them trod, on horseback, on foot, and with their covered wagons from Missouri River towns to Northern California.

The Boise-Kelton Stage route started in Kelton, Utah, north of the Great Salt Lake, (the closest stop in southern Idaho) and ran up to Boise. It followed Ben Holladay’s 1864 mail route and became the preferred road between Kelton and Boise for stagecoaches and freight wagons.


Today, the California Trail and Boise-Kelton stage routes run right smack through City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho. The latter runs through Emigrant Canyon

and crosses the California Trail near the landmark Twin Sisters peaks.


You can still see the remains of a stage stop on the Boise-Kelton trail - and you'll ride right past it on Days 1 and 2 on the 50-mile trails. All distances, all days of the City of Rocks endurance ride, will trod over at least a small portion of the California Trail, and will pass by Register Rock, where immigrants' signatures can still be seen today scrawled in wagon axle grease.


So saddle up, come ride a bit of history at the 3-day City of Rocks Pioneer endurance ride on June 7, 8, and 9: distances of 25 or 50 miles, plus trail rides.

More information at:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2018CityOfRocks/

Endurance Horse Podcast, Episode 4

EnduranceHorsePodcast - Listen

Endurance Horse Podcast Episode 4 is on the air!

Sponsored by Christina Hyke Photography, LLC

In Episode 4 we are going to hear from fascinating riders from across the globe. We are going to hear Daryl Owen’s National Championships ride report from New Zealand. Also from New Zealand, Jenny Chandler’s first time sending in an audio file, another wonderful Marvel rider from down under, Kat & her musical ways (thanks to Kat, I had several songs stuck in my head for days). We will also hear from the land of Billy the Kid, thanks to our wonderful south west rider, Keisha Wood, be sure to check out Keisha’s blog for more updates, stories and photographs on her journeys.

We will also hear from Tennessee Lane, be sure to check out her SoCo Endurance page & links listed here. Also, I had reached out to several ride managers to send in an audio telling us about their ride, and I heard back from a rider to tell us all about the great Shore to Shore Ride in Michigan. This is the first of what I hope to be more, if you would like to feature your favorite endurance ride on the podcast, please email me and I will send you the interview guide for the ride management.

All of this and so much more, including an update from one of our precious young riders, and also an intro/first time file from Karly, down under. We would also like to welcome Amanda from Virgina with her three horses, Candy (POA), 1/2 Arabian son of Candy & Oliver who was recently pulled from a feedlot. Oliver is an Egyptian Arabian. We will hear from FEI Endurance rider Melissa Coolich of Coolich Endurance. She has an amazing story of overcoming a health crisis to be able to compete. Thank you to Melissa for her inspiring story of healing and sharing your passion for endurance. I’d also like to welcome Lindy Griffith of Florida, and her Rocky MTN Maxwell and Chief (Arab/Rocky MTN). These sound like wonderful horses to ride.

Listen:
https://endurancehorsepodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-40-endurance-horse-podcast/

Tevis: Signature Rider Spots Going Fast!

Teviscup.org

Are you a Signature Rider at Heart?

It is neck and neck for the Signature and International rider sign-ups with five of each. We have heard rumors of more of both getting ready to enter!

So all of you Tevis lovers, please feel free to help us with the costs of maintaining this famous ride by becoming a Signature Rider. You will not be disappointed!

Our goal is to have 20 Signature Riders this year, so please open your heart and pocketbook for the world famous Tevis Cup.

We have also had in the past our International riders sign up to become Signature riders and take lots of goodies back to their home country. We are all inclusive in this program!!! Waiting hear from you next lucky 15 that are signing up!

Entry form and more information here:
http://www.teviscup.org/images/2018/Tevis-Entry-2018v12.18.17.pdf

City of Rocks: UNCLE SAM *STILL* WANTS YOU

May 16 2018
www.endurance.net/international/USA/2018CityOfRocks

There's still time to sign up! This is a great NW ride to fill the void that the cancelled Klickitat Trek left.

Uncle Sam (and Steph, Regina, Merri, Connie, Almo, the Idaho State Park Service) wants you to come to the City of Rocks Pioneer endurance ride June 7-8-9 in Almo, Idaho. Show your patriotism and show you're a proud American endurance rider! Or just have fun, but come!

This is your chance to experience 3 days of Trail Rides, LDs, or 50-mile rides in City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park in (we are planning for) perfect early summer weather. Ride over old emigrant trails (California Trail, Boise-Kelton Stage route), and see pioneers' names scrawled in wagon axle grease on Register Rock. If you're not too tired after riding 50 miles a day, or if your partner doesn't ride, you can hike, bike, or climb in the parks.



Basecamp is a spacious private field just below City of Rocks, and trails run through one or both parks each day. It's a good challenging ride: basecamp is at over 5000', and trails climb up to around 7000 feet each day.

Non-amenities will be: no meals this year: Two Trees Catering cook Wynne is off gallivanting around Europe, so bring your own food or plan to eat in Almo.



Amenities include great awards, a good time, a probable bluegrass jam or two (bring your instruments!), a possible Lemonaid stand by local kids on the trail to Castle Rocks State Park, the best pizza in Idaho or possibly the USA at Rock City in Almo (which also has a fine, large selection of gourmet beer), or the Almo Steakhouse, and, of course, Durfee Hot Springs. If you show up late to register one night and we are gone and you don't see our swimsuits hanging out to dry, that's where we probably are!

If you plan to come to the ride, help us by preregistering. Any questions, and for more information, see:
www.endurance.net/international/USA/2018CityOfRocks

Still on the fence? Watch some of these videos to whet your appetite:


(or link: https://youtu.be/ZHckkzcbHbQ )


(or link: https://youtu.be/jieI0UMnB7A )


(or link: https://youtu.be/FffBioq5p5I )


(or link: https://youtu.be/KZx8Kuknpao )


(or link: https://youtu.be/DzhYamZc4Wo )


(or link: https://youtu.be/6r8iC0c7EYQ )

Devan Horn Guest on Hiking Podcast

MightyBlueOnTheAT Podcast - Listen

Episode #86 – Devan Horn (Shawty)

For a hiking show, Devan Horn wouldn’t normally belong. Yet this extraordinary woman, a long-distance runner and rider, chose to hike the Colorado Trail while her party of five other women did it on horseback. She was able to draw distinctions and comparisons between the two modes of transport and provides great insights.

She also took part in two Mongol Derbys, with a third coming this year. Click on the link to see more details and wild video of this amazing race.

When our conversation turned back to long-distance running she even mulled over the idea of an attempt at an FKT of the Appalachian Trail. I wouldn’t put that remarkable feat out of her range.

You can connect with Devan through her Facebook page, at texantemujin.

Listen to the podcast here:
https://mightyblueontheat.com/episode-86-devan-horn-shawty/

Recognizing Missouri Fox Trotting Horses Competing in AERC Competition

MFTHBA.com

May 7 2018

From its beginnings in the American West, the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) has spread roots both nationally and internationally. The AERC sanctions more than 700 rides each year throughout North America. In 1978 the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) recognized endurance riding as an international sport, and since that date the U.S. and Canada have regularly swept the team and individual medals. In 1993 Endurance became the fifth discipline under the United States Equestrian Team, now known as the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

In addition to promoting the sport of endurance riding, the AERC encourages the use, protection, and development of equestrian trails, especially those with historic significance. Many special events of four to six consecutive days take place over historic trails, such as the Pony Express Trail, the Outlaw Trail, the Chief Joseph Trail, and the Lewis and Clark Trail. The founding ride of endurance riding, the Western States Trail Ride or “Tevis Cup,” covers 100 miles of the famous Western States and Immigrant Trails over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These rides promote awareness of the importance of trail preservation for future generations and foster an appreciation of our American heritage.

The number of Missouri Fox Trotting Horses competing in AERC competition continues to grow. To support the efforts of the AERC and recognize the registered Missouri Fox Trotting Horses competing in AERC events, the MFTHBA has developed a recognition program.

To be eligible for yearend Missouri Fox Trotting Horse awards, horses must be registered with the MFTHBA; and the horse’s owner(s) must be members in good standing of the MFTHBA and AERC during the competition year the miles are earned. Awards are based on mileage of the horse. Horses may accumulate mileage in multiple categories. AERC endurance and Limited Distance (LD) miles count toward the award. The MFTHBA will recognize a Top 5 in the following categories:

* High Mileage, Limited Distance, by a registered Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Top 5 recognized

* High Mileage, Endurance Distance, by a registered Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Top 5 recognized

Ties will be broken using completion percentage for the year. Prize will be custom jacket with MFTHBA and AERC logo. Award will go to the owner of the horse.

The AERC’s competition year began December 1 and will run through November. Winners are recognized the December following the close of the competition year.

To learn more about AERC and their upcoming events, visit https://aerc.org/

2018 May's Endurance Day on Horses in the Morning

Horsesinthemorning.com - Listen

May 8, 2018

On this month’s Endurance episode Karen Chaton talks about the Relive App, the Stalley family who organizes the Cache Creek Ridge Ride talks about what it takes to put on a great ride, and Diane Stevens has some great conditioning tips for Endurance horses.

Listen in:
http://www.horsesinthemorning.com/relive-app-cache-creek-ridge-ride-horse-conditioning-tips-endurance-day-for-05-08-18/

City of Rocks: UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU

May 4 2018

Uncle Sam (and Steph, Regina, Merri, Connie, Almo, the Idaho State Park Service) wants you to come to the City of Rocks Pioneer endurance ride June 7-8-9 in Almo, Idaho. Show your patriotism and show you're a proud American endurance rider! Or just have fun, but come!

This is your chance to experience 3 days of Trail Rides, LDs, or 50-mile rides in City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park in (we are planning for) perfect early summer weather. Ride over old emigrant trails (California Trail, Boise-Kelton Stage route), and see pioneers' names scrawled in wagon axle grease on Register Rock. If you're not too tired after riding 50 miles a day, or if your partner doesn't ride, you can hike, bike, or climb in the parks.


Basecamp is a spacious private field just below City of Rocks, and trails run through one or both parks each day. It's a good challenging ride: basecamp is at over 5000', and trails climb up to around 7000 feet each day.

Non-amenities will be: no meals this year: Two Trees Catering cook Wynne is off gallivanting around Europe, so bring your own food or plan to eat in Almo.


Amenities include great awards, a good time, a probable bluegrass jam or two (bring your instruments!), a possible Lemonaid stand by local kids on the trail to Castle Rocks State Park, the best pizza in Idaho or possibly the USA at Rock City in Almo (which also has a fine, large selection of gourmet beer), or the Almo Steakhouse, and, of course, Durfee Hot Springs. If you show up late to register one night and we are gone and you don't see our swimsuits hanging out to dry, that's where we probably are!

If you plan to come to the ride, help us by preregistering. Any questions, and for more information, see:
www.endurance.net/international/USA/2018CityOfRocks

To whet your appetite, here's one of our favorite and popular video previews:

(or link:)
https://youtu.be/ZHckkzcbHbQ

2018 AERC Award Nominations Now Open

AERC Hall of Fame, Pard'ners Award, Volunteer Service Award, Ann Parr Trails Preservation Award nominations are now open!

If you wish to make nominations for the 2018 awards, go to: https://aerc.org/static/2018nomination.aspx

PLEASE be as detailed and specific as you can to let the committee know about your nominee's qualifications for the award. The members of the Hall of Fame Committee may not know the person/equine or their accomplishments. Be sure to encourage your fellow AERC members to nominate too.

Pacific South: Descanso Endurance Ride Cancelled

Dear Riders: 

It is necessary for me to cancel the Descanso Endurance Ride and the Descanso Ride and Tie which has been scheduled for the 
weekend of May 19/20, 2018.

The Cuyamaca State Park has set the cost for the permit for using the public trails at more than $3,400. There has not been sufficient interest in the ride to generate enough entries to cover the costs for the permit fees, basecamp, vets, etc. These rides never make money, and it is always necessary to add money to pay for the extras, but David and I are unwilling to cover the several thousand dollars that would be required to go forward when there appears to be so little interest in the ride this year.

I have only received 63 entries for Saturday and 31 entries for Sunday and only 4 ride and tie teams have entered. While it may seem that this is a premature decision because it is still 3 weeks away, but I am at the point where awards need to be ordered and deposits placed, veterinarians need to be released and riders who use these rides for conditioning, need to plan for a replacement ride. 

I want to thank the loyal riders and new riders who did enter the ride. I appreciate their support. I especially want to thank 
Challenge Ranch who had 19 entries and two ride and tie teams. I know that Challenge Ranch’s kids have been working very hard to get their horses ready for this event, and I know that they will be very disappointed that it is necessary for me to cancel the ride. 

I have identified a possible site for a new ride in Campo and hope to possibly get this scheduled before the end of this year. 

Terry Woolley Howe