Michigan: Alger County Prosecuting Attorney retires after 17 years of service

Uppermichiganssource.com - Full Article

By Nicole Buchmann | Posted: Fri 3:01 PM, Mar 29, 2019

MUNISING, Mich. (WLUC) - The Alger County Prosecuting Attorney, Karen Bahrman, is retiring after 17 years of service.

With laughter, Bahrman used her last day to reflect on what brought her to this position back in 2002.

"I started in Marquette and then went to Delta County, but I lived in Alger County almost the entire time so when there was vacancy here it seemed like a very great opportunity for me," said Bahrman...

Read more here:
https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/Alger-County-Prosecuting-Attorney-retires-after-17-years-of-service-507844721.html

Endurance.net's "Between the Ears" Photo Contest: There's Still Time

Merri and Shirley Bossy in France

March 28 2019

You still have time to enter, and vote, in Endurance.net's Between the Ears photo contest. Contest and voting closes midnight April 11. Winners will be announced April 16

Or just browse the fun and beautiful photos looking down the trails between the ears of our equine companions:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2019BetweenTheEarsContest1/

The rules are simple: enter your favorite "Between The Ears" photo or photos. And vote for your favorite by sending an email to contests@endurance.net . The rule is: one vote per email address per day.

Even if you don't enter a photo, you can still enjoy the contest and vote for your favorite every day.

First place (determined by highest number of votes) will receive a small painted portrait of your choice (horse or other pet), courtesy Steph Teeter (www.idaho.com/StephTeeterArt/consignment/ ). "Best Condition" and "Middle of the Pack" prizes will be chosen at digital random: a copy of Merri Melde’s book 'Soul Deep in Horses’, an original edition of Leonard Liesen’s book ‘Endurance: a French Perspective', plus $50 gift certificates from Riding Warehouse!

Entries and votes close Thursday April 11; prize winners will be announced Tuesday April 16.

See the photos and choose your favorite, and more information at:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2019BetweenTheEarsContest1/

Amateur Showcase: For Baldino, There’s Plenty Of Joy To Be Found After 2,200 Miles In The Saddle

Chronofhorse.com - Full Article

By: Natalie Voss
Mar 27, 2019 - 2:59 PM

Kate Baldino is one of those people who believes passionately in finding your joy—in life, in the saddle, and in her case, over thousands of miles of open terrain, hills and woods.

Baldino, 20, is a competitive endurance rider who has logged over 2,200 miles in the saddle since she began in the discipline at the age of 12 and went on to represent the United States in the 2015 and 2017 World Endurance Championships. These days she’s also added full-time student, part-time barn help and part-time student of dressage to her plate. She takes it all in stride with a sense of calm and a chipper attitude.

“I’m lucky that I wake up happy, and I know not everyone is that lucky. That’s not a negative character trait, it’s just where you sit on a spectrum. It’s easy for me to be happy,” Baldino said. “My mom laughs because people ask her how long it takes me to do a race, and she says it takes one day to do a race, and they say, ‘Your girl’s got some grit.’ I like to think that I do. I enjoy things like that—things that some people would look at and think of it as an insurmountable challenge, I look at and think, ‘That sounds like fun...’ ”

Read more here:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/amateur-showcase-for-baldino-theres-plenty-of-joy-to-be-found-after-2200-miles-in-the-saddle

2019 Distance Nationals Updates

March 27 2019

The 2019 Distance Horse National Championships will be held October 25-27 in Vinita, OK at Alanna & Gunnar Franks Ranch.

We have partnered our National Championships to include the Appaloosa Horse Club, Paso Fino Horse Association, Performance Shagya-Arabian Registry, American Morgan Horse Association, Akhal-Teke Association of America and the American Saddlebred Registry Championships.

Along with the National Championships we also offer several Open Owl Hoot Spook Rides that are open to all horses and require no membership or qualifications; these Open Rides are sanctioned by the Arabian Horse Association and the American Endurance Ride Conference.

Alanna & Gunnar Frank will also be holding a “Best Costume Contest” for both horse and rider and will have a live band playing on Saturday, October 26.

We want to thank our 2019 Sponsors, as without you this event would not be possible! Thank you to Adequan, Awards Recognition Concepts, Lisa Blackstone, Stachowski Farms, Region 8, Region 13, Cynthia Richardson, Valley Vet Supply, Riding Warehouse, and Cindy Young of Wild Side Tights.

Want to sponsor Distance Nationals? Visit the event's website and click on "Sponsorship Information." Or email Paige Lockard:

paige.lockard@arabianhorses.org

Nevada: EHV-1 UPDATE: Quarantines To Be Lifted this Week

SagebrushRider.com - Full Article

By sagebrushrider - March 26, 2019

Clark County – On Monday, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) lifted the first quarantine and, if no additional positive cases of Equine Herpes Virus – Type 1 (EHV-1) are reported, the other two quarantines will be lifted later this week.

“I owe a sincere thanks to the equine community for keeping their horses at home and helping to prevent the spread of this disease,” Dr. JJ Goicoechea, NDA state veterinarian, said. “Horse event season just got underway in southern Nevada and starts soon in northern Nevada, and I appreciate everything horse owners did to keep the EHV-1 from spreading.”

Dr. Goicoechea continues to recommend best biosecurity practices as event season is underway, and always monitor horses for signs of disease, like fever or runny nose...

Read more here:
https://sagebrushrider.com/news/ehv-1-update-quarantines-to-be-lifted-this-week/?fbclid=IwAR2laGbx8_mezO6OpNakNacvkd4YxpMaxs8l_nurgLlVTx03yKAbP3sLQ6w

2019 Darley Awards Live Tonight

On Saturday, March 23, the 32nd Annual Darley Awards – Arabian racing's most celebrated event of the year for the United States – will take the stage at the St. Regis Houston hotel in Houston, Texas.

This marks the very first time the prestigious awards ceremony will be live streamed in its entirety since the program's inception in 1987, celebrating the best owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys and Arabian racehorses in America for the 2018 racing season.

Many thanks to our sponsor, RoseBrook Farm, as well as the host of the Darley Awards, the Arabian Racing Cup, for making this broadcast possible.

OFFICIAL LIVE BROADCAST OF THE 32ND ANNUAL DARLEY AWARDS WILL BEGIN SATURDAY AT 8:30 PM CST. (Pre-Event coverage will be aired the hour prior.)

Watch here

N.J. Rider To Serve On New Endurance Sport Committee

Tapinto.net - Full Article

By TAPINTO HORSES STAFF
March 20, 2019 at 10:25 AM

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Meg Sleeper, of Frenchtown, N.J., was appointed to the Endurance Sport Committee (ESC) by US Equestrian (USEF).

Areas of focus for the ESC include clearly defining pathways for athletes within the sport, growing the sport of endurance within the U.S., and building a strong base at the national level for endurance athletes to expand into international levels of competition.

As a part of these efforts, USEF recently announced that it will host its inaugural Endurance National Championships at the 2019 North American Endurance Championship, held from Nov. 14-16, 2019, at the Broxton Bridge Plantation in Ehrhardt, S.C. Hosted by Central Florida Horse Shows, top U.S. endurance combinations will vie for USEF National Champion and Reserve National Champion honors at the CEI1*/CEIYJ1* and CEI2*/CEIYJ2* levels...

Read more here:
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/newark/articles/n-j-rider-to-serve-on-new-endurance-sport-committee-11

Endurance.net's "Between The Ears" Photo Contest Continues

March 20 2019

We're getting a taste of some beautiful horse ears and trails and rides from around the country (and the world - thanks, Joao, for a Between the Ears shot from Portugal!)

The rules are simple: enter your favorite "Between The Ears" photo or photos. And vote for your favorite by sending an email to contests@endurance.net . The rule is: one vote per email address per day.

Even if you don't enter a photo, you can still enjoy the contest and vote for your favorite every day.

Have you noted the prizes? First place (determined by highest number of votes) will receive a small painted portrait of your choice (horse or other pet), courtesy Steph Teeter (www.idaho.com/StephTeeterArt/consignment/ ). "Best Condition" and "Middle of the Pack" prizes will be chosen at digital random: a copy of Merri Melde’s book 'Soul Deep in Horses’, an original edition of Leonard Liesen’s book ‘Endurance: a French Perspective', plus $50 gift certificates from Riding Warehouse... and more!

Entries and votes close Thursday April 11; prize winners will be announced Tuesday April 16.

See the photos and choose your favorite, and more information at:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2019BetweenTheEarsContest1/

Amazing Grace: From “walking skeleton” to trail’s highest award

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Story

March 14, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

Care, patience and time have transformed a neglected and emaciated two-year-old filly into a national award winner.

Despite the worst start in life, By the Grace of God, a chestnut mare owned and ridden by Victoria Whitehead of Tuskegee, Alabama, was named the 2018 winner of the North American Trail Ride Conference’s President’s Cup, at the organization’s national convention in Reno, Nevada, last week.

Grace’s remarkable turnaround started in 2012, when Whitehead found her as “a walking skeleton” in a pasture with no feed. She was covered in rain rot.

“She was so emaciated that when I went to catch her, she didn’t even bother walking away,” said Whitehead. She named the two-year-old “By the Grace of God” because of her faith in God...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/03/14/amazing-grace-trail-highest-award/?utm_medium=40digest.7days3.20190314.home&utm_source=email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=campaign

2019 Tevis Educational Ride - NEW DATE: JULY 12 - 14

Teviscup.org

The Foresthill District of the USFS reported that as of the first week in March, there was still 16 - 20 FEET of snow at Robinson's Flat, the Day 1 staging area of the Tevis Educational Ride. Unfortunately, Robinson's Flat is unlikely to open in time for us to transport riders and their horses to the start of Day 1 on the originally planned June 22nd date. The EDUCATIONAL RIDE date has been delayed to July 12 - 14th to give riders the best experience and the opportunity to ride as many miles of the Tevis trail as possible. Our hope is that riders already entered will still join us in July instead of June. We are disappointed too! A full refund will be given to entered riders who must cancel. For riders who haven't entered yet, there are still openings. Please enter soon!! 
If you have questions or comments please contact us: Email: wstf@teviscup.org Phone: 530-823-7282
Thank you.

Please note this announcement is regarding the EDUCATIONAL two-day ride event only. The 100-miles in One-Day Traditional Ride will be held on August 17, 2019.

For more information see
http://teviscup.org/

A horse named Takoda

LeesvilleDailyLeader.com - Full Article

By O. CHIP ROBINSON | Staff Reporter | orobinson@beauregarddailynews.net
Posted Mar 12, 2019

Why would anyone hop on a horse and ride 100 miles in less than 24 hours across all imaginable terrains, in every weather condition possible when there is absolutely zero financial incentive for doing so?

For Anacoco resident Kerry Lowery it’s because she likes a challenge and she gets to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the country that most people never will.

She also said it was because of the bond it establishes between her and Takoda.

“Being with your horse is one thing, but being on your horse when you’re 80 miles in to a 100 mile ride is something completely different. It’s like being on a team, you’re together and it’s teamwork, we are partners. There’s no other feeling like it.” Lowery said...

Read more here:
https://www.leesvilledailyleader.com/news/20190312/horse-named-takoda

US Equestrian Announces New Appointees to International Disciplines Council and Endurance Sport Committee

USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Mar 13, 2019, 10:02 AM EST

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) has announced the approval of the appointment of Jan Stevens (Ashland, Mont.) to the International Disciplines Council (IDC), and Cheryl Newman (Candler, N.C.), Natalie Muzzio (Clifton, Va.), Lisanne Dorion (Williston, Fla.), Meg Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.), and Carolyn Hock (Riverside, Calif.) to the Endurance Sport Committee (ESC). These appointments will remain in place until, or if, a new endurance affiliate is approved by the US Equestrian Board of Directors, at which point the appointments would revert to the affiliate.

Positive changes are on the horizon for U.S. endurance as the ESC works closely with U.S. Endurance Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Mark Dial and USEF Director of Endurance Kristen Brett. Areas of focus for the ESC include clearly defining pathways for athletes within the sport, growing the sport of endurance within the U.S., and building a strong base at the national level for endurance athletes to expand into international levels of competition.

As a part of these efforts, USEF recently announced that it will host its inaugural Endurance National Championships at the 2019 North American Endurance Championship, held from November 14-16, 2019, at the Broxton Bridge Plantation in Ehrhardt, S.C. Hosted by Central Florida Horse Shows, top U.S. endurance combinations will vie for USEF National Champion and Reserve National Champion honors at the CEI1*/CEIYJ1* and CEI2*/CEIYJ2* levels.

For more information on the ESC, please contact Kristen Brett at kbrett@usef.org.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.

Endurance.net's Between The Ears Photo Contest!

March 11 2019

www.endurance.net/international/USA/2019BetweenTheEarsContest1

You send us your photos, you vote on them!

Email us your favorite Between the Ears photos to contests@endurance.net. Include a few short details - your name, horse's name, and where the photo was taken. We'll upload them to a page on Endurance.net , and post updates on Facebook, where everybody will be able to choose their favorite and vote via email.

"First place" will be determined by the sheer number of votes. "Best Condition" and "Middle of the Pack" prizes will be chosen at digital random.

First Place will receive a small painted portrait of your choice (horse or other pet), courtesy Steph Teeter ( www.idaho.com/StephTeeterArt/consignment/ ).

Other prizes will include: a copy of Merri Melde’s book 'Soul Deep in Horses’, an original edition of Leonard Liesen’s book ‘Endurance: a French Perspective', plus  $50 gift certificates from Riding Warehouse…. and more!

Once we open the voting, you can vote for your favorite photo by emailing contests@endurance.net . Only one vote per email address per day.

After the contest we'll post your photos in an album on our EnduranceNet Facebook page to ogle in perpetuity

#BetweenTheEars #PhotoContest


**Photos can be taken anywhere around the world, but USA addresses only are eligible for prizes, unless you want to pay postage and insurance**

Newest AERC Hall of Famers

March 10 2019

At last night's American Endurance Ride Conference Banquet and Awards newly-minted Hall of Famers were honored, among many other stellar year-end award winners.

AERC Pard'ners Award went to Nick Warhol and Forever Dawn GA.

AERC Hall of Fame Horse is Count Shiloh owned by Mary Howell.

AERC Hall of Fame Person is Dr Jim Baldwin.

Congratulations to everybody!

US Equestrian Announces Inaugural Endurance National Championships at the 2019 North American Endurance Championship

USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Mar 7, 2019, 9:06 AM EST

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) is pleased to announce that it will host its inaugural Endurance National Championships at the 2019 North American Endurance Championship, held from November 14-16, 2019, at the Broxton Bridge Plantation in Ehrhardt, S.C. Hosted by Central Florida Horse Shows, top U.S. endurance combinations will vie for USEF National Champion and Reserve National Champion honors at the CEI1*/CEIYJ1* and CEI2*/CEIYJ2* levels.

The 2019 North American Endurance Championship CEI1*/CEIYJ1* and CEI2*/CEIYJ2* is an unofficial FEI team competition, with a similar competition format to that of FEI Nations Cups™, open to teams from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The FEI will recognize the overall order of finish. All entries must be qualified to compete in a CEI1*, CEIYJ1*, CEI2*, or CEIYJ2* according to the FEI Rules for Endurance, effective January 1, 2019.

Additionally, USEF national and reserve national champion titles will be awarded to the two highest-placed competitors in each senior and young rider competition.

Find full details about the championship here.

Keep up with U.S. endurance by following USA Endurance on Facebook and US Equestrian on Twitter and Instagram. Use #USAEndurance.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF sponsors and members.

Dr Kathleen Crandell To Be Guest Speaker at Antelope Island Endurance Ride, Utah

Camille Champagne photo

March 7 2019

"Some exciting news about the upcoming 2019 Antelope Island endurance ride," said ride manager Jeff Stuart. "Dr. Kathleen Crandell from Kentucky Equine Research has graciously agreed to come and speak about Endurance horse nutrition. We are so excited to have her come and share a career worth of knowledge with us. She will be riding the 25 mile ride on Saturday 13 April and speaking later that evening. You don't want to miss it."

Antelope Island will be held April 13 and 14.

For more information and to pre-register, see
https://antelopeislandride.weebly.com/

2019 Tevis Cup Ride Date Change

TevisCup.org

TEVIS RIDE DATE CHANGE

The Western States Trail Foundation Executive Committee, the Tevis Ride Director, along with other key Ride personnel have had discussions over the past week to evaluate the current snow and weather impacts to the 2019 Tevis Cup Ride. Based on the snowfall water content, and comparing current conditions and forecasts to past historical records, the decision was made to postpone the 2019 ride date from July 20 to August 17, 2019. We expect changing to this later date will allow us to use our traditional trail and make the necessary improvements and annual seasonal cleanup efforts before the ride. We appreciate the support and understanding of our riders, volunteers, sponsors, and the Tevis community as we move forward with this new date.

The WSTF

Ralph Smith - 1928-2019

Ralph Smith and Gigi - 1970 Virginia City 100

Kathleen Smith Plambeck: "Gigi was Dad's first horse. Hard to believe he had never ridden before we moved to Washoe Valley!"

NASTR.org

Ralph Smith was the longest active member of NASTR from 1969 to 2016. He and his wife Lorraine joined the club in 1969. They and their daughters Becky and Kathleen rode many of the Club rides including the Virginia City 100 multiple times.

After riding for many years, Ralph continued to support the Club by volunteering on the Triple Crown rides. Very few years did he miss helping at the Virginia City 100. Ralph also kept the record for the Derby Ditch 50 Mile ride, compiling and updating all the riders and the years they finished the ride until the ride was moved from Fernley, Nevada in 2004.

Ralph completed the Virginia City 100 twelve times. His horse Beansprout, a 1/2 Arabian gelding, was a 1000 mile Virginia City horse, completing it 10 times. He and Ralph completed the ride in 10 consecutive years without a pull from 1978 through 1987. Ralph and Beansprout were also the very first NASTR Triple Crown Winners with the fastest time in 1985. At that time the Triple Crown consisted of the Derby Ditch 50, NASTR 50 and Virginia City 100.

A Memorial Service for Ralph was held on February 16, 2019 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 3835 Lakeside Drive in Reno. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to the Honor Flight Network.

Janet Tipton's Mustang Lady Jasmine (aka Ladybug) Elected to Mountain Region Endurance Riders Hall of Fame

by Janet Tipton

Our MRER Hall of Fame horse was born and raised on the deserts of Nevada in the Antelope HMA near Ely. She was gathered as a 2 year old in December of 1998 and adopted in 1999. And so her story begins.

She began her endurance career in April, 2004 at the Color Country ride in Hurricane, UT. For the next couple of years she completed more rides adding miles each year. She wasn’t fast but she was steady she and her partner were loving their time together exploring new places. They also competed in Extreme Cowboy races and even managed to garner the Extreme Horseman’s Challenge Open Champion title in 2011, as well as traveling the state showing in parades and events with the Aces Wild – An all Mustang Drill team.

In 2009 she received 3rd place National LD Champion. And then in 2011 she placed 2nd Place National LD Champion. However, disaster struck that year and she experienced a devastating injury that cut her season short . Multiple veterinarians said that her career was over and that she would be lucky to be pasture sound . However, with diligent rehab and a little luck thrown in she returned to the trail and showed everyone she wasn’t finished yet. Not by a long shot.

In 2013 the team received the MRER Partners Award and in 2015, at the ripe old age of 19 she had her best year ever. She completed 34 LD rides and 1 Endurance ride garnering her the title of National LD champion. She also surpassed the 5,000 LD mile mark making her the first horse in the history of AERC to do so. This amazing little horse (13.2 hands) has carried a heavy weight rider through it all. She has completed rides in 11 states.

To date her record stands at: 231 ride starts with 229 completions (1 over time and 1 rider option), She has never been pulled from a ride. She has 6045 LD miles, 410 endurance miles and 28 Best Conditions, 12 first place finishes and 91 top ten finishes.
The little horse with the big heart.

Video:

2018 AERC National Championships

January 23 2019

Article in Arabian Horse World

The 50- and 100-Mile Championships celebrate and honor the top endurance riders in their respective weight divisions, by Genie Stewart-Spears

Read the article here.

Julie Suhr to Speak at Harvey Bear Introduction to Endurance Clinic

March 3 2019

The second annual Harvey Bear Introduction to Endurance Clinic that will be held May 18th and 19th, 2019, Harvey Bear park in San Martin, California (just south of San Jose) has an elite lineup of speakers.

The 'grand dame of endurance,' and AERC Hall of Famer Julie Suhr will join Head Veterinarian Susan McCartney, and 3-time World Endurance world Champion and Hall of Famer, Becky Hart as speakers during the clinic. Long time and highly respected AERC head veterinarian Melissa Ribley will be the head vet for the weekend.

The clinic is for for people who are interested in learning about Endurance riding, as well as for beginners who have some Endurance experience but would like to learn more. Bring a horse or just yourself. 6 hours of lecture, Truck and Trailer sessions, Pot luck ride dinner, ride meeting, camp overnight, and on Sunday- two fun rides- 7 and 15 miles, with real vet checks, awards, and experienced Endurance riders as trial guides.

When you leave on Sunday you will know all you need to know to enter your first ride, or be better prepared to continue your Endurance career! It is literally an endurance ride for first timers that any horse that can walk 7 miles can do.

Helmets are required by all participants, and the ride pace is controlled.

Don't miss the Trailer backing clinic on saturday morning taught by Gretchen Montgomery. Learn how to back up your trailer by someone other than a spouse or significant other. It was a hit last year!

For more information or to register, see
https://nwarhol.wixsite.com/clinic?fbclid=IwAR2AVuFD96FI9oM6nNA2L4q1BSAHLSO2tt3ItIMGo_2sFSBkeL3M4ZXcCz0

Podcast: 2x ANCER Champion & 4x Appaloosa National Mileage Champion Kerry Lowrey

Player.fm - Listen to the podcast

Listen to the podcast interview with two-time ANCER Champion and four-time Appaloosa National Mileage Champion, Kerry Lowrey