October 4 is Deadline for AERC National Championships Registration

Official website

The Championships will be held over the Armadillo Trails in the Davy Crockett National Forest in Kennard, Texas, for the AERC 2023 National Championships! October 19 for the 50 mile ride and October 21 for the 100 mile ride. Plus there will be 30, 50, and 100 mile open rides. '

Entry deadline is October 4.

You can mail your entries or email your entries. Each distance needs a separate entry. This entry is also for the Armadillo Open rides as well as the LD.

Go here for more details on the ride and for entry forms.

2023 September's Horses in the Morning Endurance Podcast

Horsesinthemorning.com - Listen

Former US Army Ranger Conquers Mongol Derby, New Endurance Racing Legend Memoir, Sept 12, 2023

We learn about teaching horses to wear a neck collar. Former US Army Ranger Reid Albano shares his experience riding the Mongol Derby as an amputee. Chasing Dreams: The True Story of the Youngest Female Tevis Cup Champion author Sanoma Blakely stops by for a chat. AERC VP Kelly Williams Stehman has an update.

Listen:
https://horsesinthemorning.com/former-us-army-ranger-conquers-mongol-derby-new-endurance-racing-legend-memoir-sept-12-2023/

US Equestrian Announces Athletes for 2023 FEI Endurance Pan American Championships for Seniors and Young Riders & Juniors

USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | Sep 22, 2023, 3:00 PM EST

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the five athlete-and-horse combinations that will represent the U.S. at the 2023 FEI Endurance Pan American Championships for Seniors and Young Riders & Juniors. The championship will be held Nov. 23-26, 2023, in Llay Llay, Chile. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Lisanne Dorion with support from team veterinarian Dr. Olivia Rudolphi.

The following athlete-and-horse combinations are listed in alphabetical order:

• Niki Beck (Gillette, Wyo.) and Majestic Cloudy Boy, her own 2009 Appaloosa gelding
• Uma Kraskin (Deland, Fla.) and CL Magnolia, a 2014 mare owned by Carlos Letelier
• Tom Rajala (Hillsborough, N.C.) and HF Barii, a 2010 Arabian mare owned by Maxi Wimmer
• Alex Shampoe (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Southern Justice, a 2012 Arabian gelding owned by Dessia Miller.
- Direct Reserve: Fine Cut Gold, a 2011 Arabian mare owned by Valerie Kanavy.
• Cheryl Van Deusen (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) and C.L. Misteriosa, a 2012 mare owned by Carlos Letelier

The opening ceremony for the event will take place on Nov. 22, in Santiago, Chile, and the first veterinary inspection will begin at 3:30 p.m. local time on Nov. 23. The ride will take place on Nov. 24 with the prize giving ceremony to follow.

For more information on the 2023 FEI Endurance Pan American Championships for Seniors and Young Riders & Juniors, visit the official event page on FEI.org or chileendurance.cl.

The Wahatoya Cup 100 in Southern Colorado

By Merri Melde
September 7 2023

If you think a mountainous 100-miler is tough, think about what the Ride Manager can go through getting the trail ready.

Thirty-three people had pre-signed up, but due to the predicted weather and other extenuating factors, only 15 entered the 100-miler and the 75-miler/75-mile elevator.

No matter how well you plan for any contingencies as a Ride Manager, there’s no way to plan for everything that can go wrong. A good Ride Manager can pivot on a dime and change plans if necessary, and that’s what Tennessee Blouin had to do for all the distances on ride day, due to the predicted rainstorms.


“After the first 2 loops, I made the executive decision to reroute the remaining 60 miles on to mostly county roads. I know it's not what people signed up for, but it was the safest thing to do.

“We got a LOT of rain the night before, the trails were already slick. The riders got to enjoy going out over the wall - even if they couldn't see it due to the thick fog, they said it was ‘pretty slick.’

“But with a 100% chance of another deluge, and I mean deluge, hitting us as it gets dark, I had to do it. IT BROKE MY HEART. TRULY. I had gorgeous, fun, stimulating trails lined up for my WahCup riders and they ended up slogging through mud and riding roads.

“In the end the riders seemed appreciative and agreed it was the right decision. Better than having to pull, or getting horses hurt, or cancelling the ride altogether.

“I could not have pulled this emergency reroute off without the help of my radio team. They repositioned in places they had never been as I dropped pins for them and formulated a completely new route, with safe places for vet checks, and with legs that worked mileage-wise for the elevators/75s to split from the 100. Riders and crew were able to shelter from the heaviest storm right here in my own home, and warm up by the fire on my porch.

“Anyway it all worked out - and nobody died. In fact, we had 100% completion, and that is always my primary goal. I do everything I can to help my riders complete.”

Nine riders finished the 100-miler and six finished the 75-miler. Winner of the Wahatoya Cup 100 was Ken Wolgram and Sparklin Plenty in a ride time of 10:57. This team also took the Keven Meyers Memorial Cup, the Best Condition award.

Sanoma and Goober: Terrebonne woman pens book on historic endurance race win

CentralOregonDaily.com - Full Article

by Eric Lindstrom | Central Oregon Daily News
Thursday, August 31st 2023

It’s an improbable underdog story that belongs alongside “Rocky” and “Rudy.” It’s the story of an 18-year-old Terrebonne girl, a horse she got for free on Craigslist and their victory in the most prestigious endurance horse race in the world.

It’s the story of Sanoma Blakeley and the race that inspired a book.

“The Tevis Cup is the most famous endurance race in the world. It’s 100 miles across the Sierras,” Sanoma said.

One race. One victory. One life-changing moment in time.

Sanoma was riding horses before she could walk.

“I definitely was a crazy horse girl before I even knew what that was,” Sanoma said.

“There’s pictures of me with my little feet where they couldn’t even, you know… just basically sat on the horse’s back...”

Read more here:
https://centraloregondaily.com/tevis-cup-terrebonne-horse-race-sanoma-blakeley-goober/