Hays Daily News, Kansas
By CARL MANNING
Associated Press Writer
GARDNER, Kan. (AP) -- Jim Hole was among the riders in the Great Santa Fe Horse Race finishing the 515-mile endurance ride this weekend in a town where pioneers had to decide which route to take on their westward journey.
The race started Sept. 3 near the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico, going more or less along the wide, meandering trail that opened in 1821 as a trade route between Santa Fe, then part of Mexico, and its starting point in Independence, Mo.
The race called for riders to go 50 miles a day for 10 days, sometimes through blistering heat and daylong downpours as they covered the sweeping landscapes of open prairies and rolling plains.
Hole, of Sacramento, Calif., was one of two riders Friday who had made the entire trip on one horse, even though the rules allow for multiple horses. Since the start, Hole's constant companion has been Little Big Man, an 8-year-old bay Arabian gelding he calls his "friend and partner."
For Hole, the race was a link to the past, as he slept under the stars with his horse and saw much the same landscape the settlers saw.
"Sometimes you have to experience what they went through to appreciate what you've got today," Hole said. "You feel the wind on your shoulders, the smells, hear the birds. It takes you back to another day."
That's something Rob Phillips, founder and coordinator of the race, had in mind when he came up with the idea a year and half ago.
"We wanted them to get the feel for the terrain, and I think they are getting a good feel for that, but you can never replicate how it was in the 1800s," said Phillips, of Lawrence.
He said the race started with 60 riders. That's been pared to 45 or 50 as the race entered its final days.
On Friday, 21 riders competed at Eisenhower State Park near Melvern Lake in Osage County. Phillips said the park was used because it had riding trails. They rode an 18-mile circuit three times to get in their miles before setting up camp outside Gardner.
"They're out here to see what they can do. They don't have to ride every day," said ride manager Marilyn McCoy, of Sierra Vista, Ariz.
On Saturday, riders will repeat the process at Hillsdale Lake to the finish the race, then return to Gardner to find out how they fared.
Originally, the race was to end in Independence, Mo., but the proliferation of highways, streets, subdivisions and businesses between here and there ruled that out.
"The more we looked, it wasn't feasible because of the traffic. We just couldn't do that part," Phillips said. "The lakes have riding trails where we can do 50 miles on them and they are near the Santa Fe Trail."
The competition had at least a dozen categories, and the overall winner will be the rider with the shortest time.
Phillips originally envisioned an 800-mile dash for the cash. But the distance was reduced for the sake of horses and riders, and cash prizes were eliminated so the event could be sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference, the national governing body.
"We didn't want the people riding the horses so hard just to win a dollar, but they'll still get bragging rights for the rest of their lives," Phillips said.
Friday was a day of gentle winds, making the prairie grass and sunflowers wave and temperatures in the 60s. Susan Thompson, of Sweetwater, Tenn., took a scheduled break while her horse, a 7-year-old brown Arabian gelding named Thee Macade was being checked by veterinarians -- one of four vet checks each horse undergoes each day.
Thompson said the biggest challenge at the start was the New Mexico heat. But she said the day-to-day challenge is taking care of the horses.
"They can't tell you when they don't feel good, or are hungry or thirsty," she said.
Phillips' inspiration for the race came after hearing about Francis X. Aubry, a trader who made a $1,000 bet in 1848 that he could travel the trail from Santa Fe to Independence in six days. He took five days and 16 hours to cover the 800-mile route that normally took a month, establishing a record that still stands.
While this is the first year for such an event, Phillips said, "We have a vision that this will become one of the major equine events in our country."
The arrival of the riders coincides with 150th anniversary celebration of Gardner, which owes its start to the Santa Fe and Oregon trails.
"The original settlers were blacksmiths and suppliers for people on the trail. This was the last stop before deciding whether to the Santa Fe, Oregon or California trails," said Chamber of Commerce President Peter Solie.
The three trails were one coming out of Independence through Gardner. Then west of town, the Santa Fe went southwest, mainly as a two-way trade route, and the Oregon settlers' route split to the northwest. The California Trail then parted from the Oregon in southern Idaho.
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On the Net:
Santa Fe Horse Race: http://www.sfthorserace.com
City of Gardner: http://www.gardnerkansas.gov
Friday, September 14, 2007
Officials to Investigate Horse Deaths at Endurance Ride
TheHorse.Com
September 14 2007, Article # 10407
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The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) will investigate the deaths of the two horses that were hit by a car after crossing the finish line on day seven of the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Ride, said AERC President Mike Maul. The investigation will be conducted independently of the insurance investigation into the incident.
Rider Teresa Wilcox suffered bruises and scrapes. Rider Sandy Olson suffered a dislocated hip and broken thumb. Both riders were released from the hospital and returned to the ride site.
"This is a terrible thing that has happened," said Maul. "My heart goes out to the riders who were injured. I am so glad to hear that they are back at the ride site."
"An incident such as this during the ride or at the finish has never happened before in the 35-year history of AERC," said Maul. "All incidents, whether large or small, are investigated by the AERC with the purpose of making the sport safer for both riders and the horses participating in the event."
According to Maul, the AERC sanctions almost 800 rides in the United States each year, with more than 23,000 total entries.
"AERC sanctioning provides a uniform standard for those rides, which are put on by members of the AERC as ride managers," said Maul. "The ride itself is supervised by the ride manager and is not under the supervision of the AERC."
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is an 800-mile endurance ride completed over a 13-day period. The ride started in Santa Fe, N.M., on Sept. 3 and will end in Missouri on Sept. 15. One of the main objectives of the race is to educate the public not only on the national historic Santa Fe Trail, but also to introduce the sport of endurance riding to thousands, said Maul.
September 14 2007, Article # 10407
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The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) will investigate the deaths of the two horses that were hit by a car after crossing the finish line on day seven of the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Ride, said AERC President Mike Maul. The investigation will be conducted independently of the insurance investigation into the incident.
Rider Teresa Wilcox suffered bruises and scrapes. Rider Sandy Olson suffered a dislocated hip and broken thumb. Both riders were released from the hospital and returned to the ride site.
"This is a terrible thing that has happened," said Maul. "My heart goes out to the riders who were injured. I am so glad to hear that they are back at the ride site."
"An incident such as this during the ride or at the finish has never happened before in the 35-year history of AERC," said Maul. "All incidents, whether large or small, are investigated by the AERC with the purpose of making the sport safer for both riders and the horses participating in the event."
According to Maul, the AERC sanctions almost 800 rides in the United States each year, with more than 23,000 total entries.
"AERC sanctioning provides a uniform standard for those rides, which are put on by members of the AERC as ride managers," said Maul. "The ride itself is supervised by the ride manager and is not under the supervision of the AERC."
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is an 800-mile endurance ride completed over a 13-day period. The ride started in Santa Fe, N.M., on Sept. 3 and will end in Missouri on Sept. 15. One of the main objectives of the race is to educate the public not only on the national historic Santa Fe Trail, but also to introduce the sport of endurance riding to thousands, said Maul.
Ride & Tie Right at Home
Cool Ride and Tie event a perfect fit in the foothills' endurance mecca
By: Todd Mordhorst, Journal Sports Editor
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Scott and Tracy Bakewell, of Pilot Hill, approach the finish line at the Cool Ride and Tie last weekend on the Olmstead Loop in Cool. The Bakewells finished the 13-mile race in 2 hours, 12 minutes to win. Loomis residents Marcia Smith and Tom Johnson took first in the 22-mile race, finishing in 2:34. Mike Ahlbrand/courtesy photo
COOL - Competing a few miles down the road from the Pilot Hill residence, the Bakewell family made itself at home during last weekend's Cool Ride and Tie.
The Olmstead Loop in Cool hosted the second annual event, making it a short trip for local competitors and they took full advantage. While Scott and Tracy Bakewell raced to first place in the 13-mile event, renowned endurance athletes Tom Johnson and Marcia Smith of Loomis, took the top prize in the 22-mile race.
Ride and tie involves two runners and one horse per team. All three team members must cross the finish line and the team must make a minimum of six exchanges between rider and runner throughout the race.
"I love the mix of endurance running and horses," said Tracy Bakewell, took a 15-year break from the sport before returning this year. "I'm very passionate about both and I thought it was unbelievable that a sport like this existed. My husband wasn't into it at all, but he went to a few, got the feel for it and now we can turn it into a family camping weekend adventure."
Emily Bakewell, 8, even got into the action in Cool. She and her mother competed in the four-mile race Saturday afternoon, riding Emily's mustang Rudy.
"She'd wanted to do one for awhile," Tracy explained. "I was really happy they offered an event afterward for the younger riders."
Rufus Schneider and Nita Browning rode Koona to first place in the four-mile race. In the nine-mile division, Madelynn Jordan and Bill Bordan were winners, atop Torche. The Cool Ride and Tie was an immediate hit with the endurance community after Cool's Frank Lieberman introduced it last year. A former Tevis Cup and Western States Endurance Run finisher, Lieberman has been involved with ride and tie for many years and thought a local event would only be appropriate.
"We had talked about it for years," said Lieberman, whose wife Linda also played a key role in organizing the event. "The setting here is perfect for it, so we finally just decided to go ahead and do it."
The event is one of 24 races throughout the country sanctioned by the Ride and Tie Association. It also serves as a fundraiser for the Michael Gray Trust. Gray, who owned the Cool Feed Store, had been a supporter of the inaugural race before suffering a fatal stroke. Last year's proceeds went to the Gray family, while this year's proceeds went to the family of former ride and tie competitor Jeremy Davis, who passed away in July.
Lieberman said 37 teams competed on Saturday as a group of 37 volunteers made sure the event ran smoothly.
"It was one of the bigger turnouts for an event like this that I've seen," said Bakewell, who owns Personalize It, an engraving business. "Having it close to home, we definitely had more support from friends. And we had a chance to promote the sport to some of our friends."
By: Todd Mordhorst, Journal Sports Editor
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Scott and Tracy Bakewell, of Pilot Hill, approach the finish line at the Cool Ride and Tie last weekend on the Olmstead Loop in Cool. The Bakewells finished the 13-mile race in 2 hours, 12 minutes to win. Loomis residents Marcia Smith and Tom Johnson took first in the 22-mile race, finishing in 2:34. Mike Ahlbrand/courtesy photo
COOL - Competing a few miles down the road from the Pilot Hill residence, the Bakewell family made itself at home during last weekend's Cool Ride and Tie.
The Olmstead Loop in Cool hosted the second annual event, making it a short trip for local competitors and they took full advantage. While Scott and Tracy Bakewell raced to first place in the 13-mile event, renowned endurance athletes Tom Johnson and Marcia Smith of Loomis, took the top prize in the 22-mile race.
Ride and tie involves two runners and one horse per team. All three team members must cross the finish line and the team must make a minimum of six exchanges between rider and runner throughout the race.
"I love the mix of endurance running and horses," said Tracy Bakewell, took a 15-year break from the sport before returning this year. "I'm very passionate about both and I thought it was unbelievable that a sport like this existed. My husband wasn't into it at all, but he went to a few, got the feel for it and now we can turn it into a family camping weekend adventure."
Emily Bakewell, 8, even got into the action in Cool. She and her mother competed in the four-mile race Saturday afternoon, riding Emily's mustang Rudy.
"She'd wanted to do one for awhile," Tracy explained. "I was really happy they offered an event afterward for the younger riders."
Rufus Schneider and Nita Browning rode Koona to first place in the four-mile race. In the nine-mile division, Madelynn Jordan and Bill Bordan were winners, atop Torche. The Cool Ride and Tie was an immediate hit with the endurance community after Cool's Frank Lieberman introduced it last year. A former Tevis Cup and Western States Endurance Run finisher, Lieberman has been involved with ride and tie for many years and thought a local event would only be appropriate.
"We had talked about it for years," said Lieberman, whose wife Linda also played a key role in organizing the event. "The setting here is perfect for it, so we finally just decided to go ahead and do it."
The event is one of 24 races throughout the country sanctioned by the Ride and Tie Association. It also serves as a fundraiser for the Michael Gray Trust. Gray, who owned the Cool Feed Store, had been a supporter of the inaugural race before suffering a fatal stroke. Last year's proceeds went to the Gray family, while this year's proceeds went to the family of former ride and tie competitor Jeremy Davis, who passed away in July.
Lieberman said 37 teams competed on Saturday as a group of 37 volunteers made sure the event ran smoothly.
"It was one of the bigger turnouts for an event like this that I've seen," said Bakewell, who owns Personalize It, an engraving business. "Having it close to home, we definitely had more support from friends. And we had a chance to promote the sport to some of our friends."
News from The GSFHR with 2 days to go
Posted by Michael Maul to Ridecamp
In first place with two days to go is Scott Griffin of Seattle, WA
supported by Suzy Kelley on multiple horses - new rider to the
sport this year with about 500 miles. He's riding Arab/Half-Arab
horses. Team name Mission Not Impossible
Team Mission Not Impossible
Second place is Karen Fredrickson of Kneeland, CA riding the same
horse all the days. Karen has nearly 9,000 endurance miles nd is on the Pac North Outlaws team with jim and Cindy Brown and Linda Tribby. Bio on the page below.
Team Pacific North Outlaws
Other riders on the same horse for all the days so far are Jim
Hole of Rocklin, CA with 830 endurance miles on Mixed/Mule
Team Hole
Bonnie Yoho of Salem, AR with about 700 endurance miles riding
Tennessee Walking Horses, Standardbred Team name Misfit ranch
Team Misfit Ranch
Teresa Wilcox has been back in camp since Wednesday.
Sandy Olson is still in the hospital in traction.
In first place with two days to go is Scott Griffin of Seattle, WA
supported by Suzy Kelley on multiple horses - new rider to the
sport this year with about 500 miles. He's riding Arab/Half-Arab
horses. Team name Mission Not Impossible
Team Mission Not Impossible
Second place is Karen Fredrickson of Kneeland, CA riding the same
horse all the days. Karen has nearly 9,000 endurance miles nd is on the Pac North Outlaws team with jim and Cindy Brown and Linda Tribby. Bio on the page below.
Team Pacific North Outlaws
Other riders on the same horse for all the days so far are Jim
Hole of Rocklin, CA with 830 endurance miles on Mixed/Mule
Team Hole
Bonnie Yoho of Salem, AR with about 700 endurance miles riding
Tennessee Walking Horses, Standardbred Team name Misfit ranch
Team Misfit Ranch
Teresa Wilcox has been back in camp since Wednesday.
Sandy Olson is still in the hospital in traction.
2 Horses Killed in SF Trail Race
Albuquerque Journal
Thursday, September 13, 2007
By Kiera Hay
Journal Northern Bureau
SANTA FE- Tragedy struck the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race when two
horses were killed and their riders injured after being hit by a car Tuesday
near the day's finish line near Canton, Kan.
The stage's top two competitors- Theresa Wilcox of Chadwick, Mo., and
Sandy Olsen of Edmond, Okla.- completed Tuesday's 50-mile ride just before 2
p.m. but rode past the finish line, apparently still racing.
The pair "were neck-and-neck running" in the direction of a paved road
about a half-mile west of the finish line, McPherson County Undersheriff Jim
Johnston said Wednesday.
The women were unable to stop before an oncoming car plowed into their
horses, killing the animals instantly.
"They crossed the finish line and just continued racing. I don't know if
they got caught up in the whole thing or what," Johnston said.
Wilcox and Olsen were airlifted to Via Christi Regional Medical Center
in Wichita. Both were in fair condition Wednesday afternoon, according to a
hospital spokeswoman.
"Their injuries weren't life-threatening, but they had substantial
injuries to the pelvic area and legs," Johnston said.
The driver of the car, 73-year-old Goldie Becker of Canton, sustained
minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where she was
later released, The McPherson Sentinel reported.
The dead horses were taken to a pasture in McPherson County and buried,
Johnston said.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race started Sept. 3 near Santa Fe and
ends Saturday outside Independence, Mo. It spans about 850 miles, roughly
following the Cimarron route of the Santa Fe Trail used by traders in the
1800s. About 500 miles are on horseback, with riders completing 10 stages of
50 miles per day. There are three idle days.
Attempts to reach race organizer Rob Phillips on Wednesday were
unsuccessful. Phillips told a Journal reporter Tuesday- about four hours
after the accident- that no major incidents had occurred during the race's
seven days of competition.
It's extremely rare for horses to perish during endurance rides, said
Mike Maul, president of the American Endurance Ride Conference, a national
governing body for long-distance riding that sanctioned the Santa Fe Trail
race.
About 23,000 horses took part in AERC-sanctioned endurance ride
competitions last year, Maul said, and somewhere between six and 10 died,
which is average. Many perish from colic, he said, although accidents do
happen.
"It's very tragic and it's very sad that it (Tuesday's incident)
happened," Maul said.
Maul said it appeared as though riders Tuesday had adequate room to stop
their horses between crossing the finish line and reaching the paved road.
If Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race organizers demonstrate they are
producing a "safe race," the AERC will sanction the event in the future, he
said.
Dennis Latta, director of the New Mexico Sports Authority, said that
agency- which is listed as a "partner" of the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse
Race on the event's Web site, along with the New Mexico Tourism Department-
would also evaluate the incident.
Indications are, however, that it "wasn't a matter of poor planning on
the organizers' part," Latta said.
"There were no real problems in New Mexico, and I don't think there
would (have been) in Kansas if they (Wilcox and Olsen) had stopped at the
finish line," he said.
Latta said the race, which received $10,000 in sponsorship money from
the Tourism Department, was "a great event for New Mexico" and that safety
appeared to be a top priority for organizers.
McPherson County Sheriff's Department officials consider the incident an
accident and have not pressed charges, Johnston said, adding that Becker was
on a "straight through" section of road and unable to avoid the animals.
Riders were told before the day's stage began that the road was just a
half-mile away from the finish line, Johnston added.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
By Kiera Hay
Journal Northern Bureau
SANTA FE- Tragedy struck the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race when two
horses were killed and their riders injured after being hit by a car Tuesday
near the day's finish line near Canton, Kan.
The stage's top two competitors- Theresa Wilcox of Chadwick, Mo., and
Sandy Olsen of Edmond, Okla.- completed Tuesday's 50-mile ride just before 2
p.m. but rode past the finish line, apparently still racing.
The pair "were neck-and-neck running" in the direction of a paved road
about a half-mile west of the finish line, McPherson County Undersheriff Jim
Johnston said Wednesday.
The women were unable to stop before an oncoming car plowed into their
horses, killing the animals instantly.
"They crossed the finish line and just continued racing. I don't know if
they got caught up in the whole thing or what," Johnston said.
Wilcox and Olsen were airlifted to Via Christi Regional Medical Center
in Wichita. Both were in fair condition Wednesday afternoon, according to a
hospital spokeswoman.
"Their injuries weren't life-threatening, but they had substantial
injuries to the pelvic area and legs," Johnston said.
The driver of the car, 73-year-old Goldie Becker of Canton, sustained
minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where she was
later released, The McPherson Sentinel reported.
The dead horses were taken to a pasture in McPherson County and buried,
Johnston said.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race started Sept. 3 near Santa Fe and
ends Saturday outside Independence, Mo. It spans about 850 miles, roughly
following the Cimarron route of the Santa Fe Trail used by traders in the
1800s. About 500 miles are on horseback, with riders completing 10 stages of
50 miles per day. There are three idle days.
Attempts to reach race organizer Rob Phillips on Wednesday were
unsuccessful. Phillips told a Journal reporter Tuesday- about four hours
after the accident- that no major incidents had occurred during the race's
seven days of competition.
It's extremely rare for horses to perish during endurance rides, said
Mike Maul, president of the American Endurance Ride Conference, a national
governing body for long-distance riding that sanctioned the Santa Fe Trail
race.
About 23,000 horses took part in AERC-sanctioned endurance ride
competitions last year, Maul said, and somewhere between six and 10 died,
which is average. Many perish from colic, he said, although accidents do
happen.
"It's very tragic and it's very sad that it (Tuesday's incident)
happened," Maul said.
Maul said it appeared as though riders Tuesday had adequate room to stop
their horses between crossing the finish line and reaching the paved road.
If Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race organizers demonstrate they are
producing a "safe race," the AERC will sanction the event in the future, he
said.
Dennis Latta, director of the New Mexico Sports Authority, said that
agency- which is listed as a "partner" of the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse
Race on the event's Web site, along with the New Mexico Tourism Department-
would also evaluate the incident.
Indications are, however, that it "wasn't a matter of poor planning on
the organizers' part," Latta said.
"There were no real problems in New Mexico, and I don't think there
would (have been) in Kansas if they (Wilcox and Olsen) had stopped at the
finish line," he said.
Latta said the race, which received $10,000 in sponsorship money from
the Tourism Department, was "a great event for New Mexico" and that safety
appeared to be a top priority for organizers.
McPherson County Sheriff's Department officials consider the incident an
accident and have not pressed charges, Johnston said, adding that Becker was
on a "straight through" section of road and unable to avoid the animals.
Riders were told before the day's stage began that the road was just a
half-mile away from the finish line, Johnston added.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Great Santa Fe Horse Race: Injured horseriders airlifted to Wichita
McPherson Sentianal
Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 5:01 PM CDT
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CANTON -- An accident at 1:58 p.m. Tuesday marred the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race traveling through McPherson County. The accident at 27th Avenue and Cimarron Road seven miles south of Canton.
A vehicle struck two horses and two women riders were airlifted to Wichita after sustaining apparent disabling injuries, according to the McPherson County sheriff's department. The driver of the vehicle was transported to McPherson Memorial Hospital, according to officials. Eyewitnesses reported the women riders apparently went past the finish line and into the path of a vehicle moving northbound to Canton.
The McPherson County sheriff's department, Canton fire and EMS personnel and Moundridge EMS were dispatched to the accident. The riders followed a route from Dakota Road to Fifth Avenue, to Cimarron Road across McPherson County Tuesday.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race involved more than 60 riders who started in Santa Fe, N.M.. They ride more than 50 miles a day along the Santa Fe Trail until they reach Independence, Mo. Saturday. The actual riding distance is 515 miles while the distance traveled is 800 miles.
Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 5:01 PM CDT
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CANTON -- An accident at 1:58 p.m. Tuesday marred the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race traveling through McPherson County. The accident at 27th Avenue and Cimarron Road seven miles south of Canton.
A vehicle struck two horses and two women riders were airlifted to Wichita after sustaining apparent disabling injuries, according to the McPherson County sheriff's department. The driver of the vehicle was transported to McPherson Memorial Hospital, according to officials. Eyewitnesses reported the women riders apparently went past the finish line and into the path of a vehicle moving northbound to Canton.
The McPherson County sheriff's department, Canton fire and EMS personnel and Moundridge EMS were dispatched to the accident. The riders followed a route from Dakota Road to Fifth Avenue, to Cimarron Road across McPherson County Tuesday.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race involved more than 60 riders who started in Santa Fe, N.M.. They ride more than 50 miles a day along the Santa Fe Trail until they reach Independence, Mo. Saturday. The actual riding distance is 515 miles while the distance traveled is 800 miles.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
3000 Miles of AERC Trails on One Horse
Skyla Stewart and Tempo
Where to start-how about near the beginning to set the "stage" for why this accomplishment meant SO much to me. I have my first endurance horse still with me, AW Habod, he is now 26 and enjoying a leisurely lifestyle. Habod "self retired" at 12 or 13 when he broke a coffin bone at home in his field (of rocks). The coffin bone healed fine but he ended up with a secondary issue of low ringbone which ended any distance career. At this time he was at 2665 AERC miles, and it was heartbreaking to know we would never reach that major 3000 mile victory.
For nine years following, I had also been forced into a type of ride "retirement" due to some rather unpleasant life changes. It was at this point my boyfriend (now husband) asked me to marry him, and did I want a ring or a horse for my "engagement"...uh huh, like I NEEDED to think about that answer?? Needless to say, I have been riding my engagement "ring" for over 3000 miles, hee, hee. VERY smart man, very, very smart man. :o)
DA Antar Shalou, born 4-19-91, a big bay Al Khamsa & Egyptian Arabian gelding, this is the horse of a lifetime. He just passed the 3000 mile mark at the Old Selam ride on day two. I have had two such "once in a lifetime" horses, how lucky is that!?! Tempo, as he is called, was bred by Bob and Sheila Harmon of Destiny Arabians here in Eagle Idaho. Bob and Arlene Morris had acquired the unbroken 8 year old gelding, and Bob made Tempo (known as Phylite at the time) his personal riding horse. After a year of searching for a horse, I got a call from Morris' to come take a look at what they had. Well, ONE ride on "Phylite" was all it took, I knew THIS was to be my next soul-mate. After vetting him out, I changed his name to "Tempo" and we began our lives together. Tempo began doing 50's at age 11, with me as his jockey, he was a LOT of horse, he "tried" really hard to be good, which encouraged me to keep working at him. The ONLY time he was so much horse was at endurance rides. I remember them making sure to clear a take-off strip for us at the out-vet holds, as once I started my leg up he was taking out EVERYTHING in his path! It was not only embarrassing, it was down right dangerous, we just had to really pay attention when it was time to mount up. Man I sure do NOT miss those days! Today he is mostly well behaved and a great pleasure-most of the time. Tempo loves life, loves riding, is very expressive and has spent most of those 3015 miles with his lips flapping all over the place. I have more pictures of the inside of that horse's lower lip then I care to think about...ARGH! He is opinionated, loving, independent, generous, kind, grouchy, strong, gentle, can be patient to a fault or impatient to a fault, but he always likes to "go for a ride". He loves having a horse follow him as he IS a leader. Tempo is just a fun horse to be owned by and he makes friends everywhere he goes! There is no place I like better, then sitting next to him at the trailer. He LIKES me and he lets me know it, he wants me to be with him, yet he won't hesitate to leave my hind-end on the trail if he takes a notion to and I have dropped the reins. He just walks off, his eyes glaze over and he heads off to his own "walk-about". You can NOT get him to follow a horse, catch him from a horse, or come back to a horse or group of horses. Tempo doesn't "need" anybody so catching him comes down to either he decides to come back, or he decides he has gone far enough. I hope he continues with all his little quirks for 2-3000 more miles. If his body is willing I am betting his mind and heart will be right there.
Tempo is the kind of horse that people notice, he is big, bold, and "weird". This horse is a friend to me, I can NOT imagine for one moment not having him in my life. I try my best to do right by him, to allow him to enjoy what he does yet temper it. Now with the 3K behind us maybe I will relax and let Tempo pick a couple rides to just have his way (well with-in my judgment) and go have some fun. He LOVES to go fast, he does a nice job of it too with much "tempering" on my part. Endurance rides are Tempo's greatest joy in life, although so often times he is SET on going any way BUT the way the other horses went. I for the life of me will never understand him, and I will NEVER, EVER trust him to get me "home" if we get lost! He would get me home, just might not be for several days, after he has seen all he wanted to see. Very frustrating guy, the thought of riding in the dark alone on a ride is terrifying, there HAS to be more then enough glow sticks, we might never get back otherwise! Tempo has a very odd sense of humor.
Tempo has given to me what fate took away when Habod got hurt. I've waited a lifetime to get a horse to this pinnacle. Tempo and I ARE a team, we are joined at the hip-well unless he goes on a "walk-about". I like having him in my life, as does he like having me in his. I pray that we continue this partnership for many more years.
Skyla and Tempo
Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race. Day 1
By Staci Matlock | The New Mexican
September 3, 2007
Horses, riders get first taste of toughness on first 50-mile leg of race
Trotting out on a long-legged quarter horse named Nugget and wearing a black felt cowboy hat with cut-off jeans, Dawson Higgins didn’t look like a typical endurance rider.
But the Tucumcari resident was the quintessential picture of cowboy New Mexico as he rode the first leg of the 515-mile, 15-day Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race. The race ends Sept. 15 in Independence, Mo.
“I took my (coiled) rope off before we started,” Higgins, 27, said with a smile, taking a break during the ride. “Otherwise, they really would have laughed at me.”
A total of 40 riders began the ride from Country Road 51 at Glorieta/Rowe Mesa about 7:30 a.m. Monday. The ride finished for the day almost 50 miles later near Ribera.
The first two riders to finish the day rode Arabians equipped with light-weight endurance saddles, similar to English saddles, carrying water bottles and other gear typical of endurance riders. First in was Scott Griffin of Seattle, on Cruiser, followed closely by Tennessee Lane Mahoney, a newlywed and horse-trainer from Windsor, Colo., on Sabella. Both riders intend to ride their horses the entire distance.
Dawson held his own, coming in third. His teammate, Shawn Davis, 39, will ride the 50 miles to Springer today. The Tucumcari duo are the only all-New Mexico team in the race.
The first day was likely the toughest of the two-week event, according to riders and race organizers. Veterinarians checked horses before the race began, at two stops during the day’s ride and at the end. Any horse whose heart rate didn’t reach 60 beats per minute within 10 minutes or who showed signs of dehydration or injury were pulled from the race. Similar vet checks will occur each day of the event under rules set by the American Endurance Racing Conference.
Jean Albert Renaud, a Motown songwriter and horseman from Maryland who goes by the name JAR, had to pull out his black stallion Tody at the first stop. The stallion, a Morgan, Arabian and Tennessee Walker crossbreed, stepped on sharp shale and ended up with the horse version of a swollen ankle. “The main thing is to get these horses through safely,” said Renaud, 65, who will ride today with his son on two more of their “Morwalkarabs.”
The first leg Monday covered 14 miles and went up the mesa along a power-line road and over to N.M. 34 on top of the mesa. The next leg was 28 miles across the mesa and down “one long rock” as a rider described it, before reaching the second stop near Ribera. The last leg of the day’s race was a short six-mile hop across the Pecos River. Riders and horses were picked up there by their crews and driven in to Las Vegas, N.M., where they will stay at the mobile Race Village.
Riders with many levels of experience in all kinds of gear and riding several different breeds of horses began the first day of the inaugural event.
Mac McSwain, a cowboy out of Winona, Texas, intends to ride the whole distance switching off between six Spanish mustangs. He wanted to do the race “so the world can see these are great little horses,” McSwain said.
He had a newly purchased equine heart monitor and a global positioning system unit, but “I don’t know how to use either one,” he said with a laugh as he waited his turn for a vet check.
Jonathan Jordan, a rider from Alpine, Calif., wore running shoes. "I like to run," said Jordan, an experienced endurance rider. "It gives tHe horse a break. I ride about 10 miles and then get off and run about two miles."
Paul Strick of Pierce City, Mo., at 69 is the oldest rider in the event. He’s riding two Arabian/quarter-horse brothers and will attempt the entire distance at a leisurely pace. “Some of these riders will go 9 to 10 mph. I’ll go about 4. I want to go home with these horses healthy. If I don’t, my wife is liable to divorce me or kill me."
A cadre of volunteers, also from across the country, are helping check horses in, haul water to rubber tanks placed every five or six miles and try to keep the chaotic event running smoothly.
Minnesotan Craig Opel volunteered for another reason. Along the way, he’s dropping by points along the historic Santa Fe Trail where his great-great-great-uncle and aunt stopped in 1850 as they came across by wagon train. His ancestor Anna Maria Morris kept a diary of the trip, and it was published in the book, Cover Wagon Women - Diaries and Letters from the Western Trails. "I came on this to find as many spots where they stopped as I can," Opel said.
He took a brief detour during the race to the crumbling adobe church at the Pecos National Historic Park. "I stood exactly where she stood 157 years and 15 days ago,” Opel said. "It was pretty cool."
Contact Staci Matlock at 470-9843 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.
Following the race
Sept. 2 — Santa Fe
Sept. 3 — Las Vegas, N.M.
Sept. 4 — Springer
Sept. 5 — Clayton
Sept. 6-7 — Elkhart, Kan.
Sept. 8 — Dodge City, Kan.
Sept. 9 — Larned, Kan.
Sept. 10 — Lyons, Kan.
Sept. 11-12 — Council Grove, Kan.
Sept. 13 — Burlingame, Kan.
Sept. 14 — Gardner, Kan.
Sept. 15 — Independence, Mo.
For more information on the race, visit www.sfthorserace.com.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Riders to race along Santa Fe Trail
The Raton Range
August 28 2007
By Todd Wildermuth
for The Raton Range
RATON, New Mexico (STPNS) --
Springer will host a myriad of horse riders and their mounts as they gallop along the Santa Fe Trail competing in a 13-day, 500-mile endurance ride from Santa Fe to Missouri.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is scheduled to take place Sept. 3-15, with 62 riders leaving from just outside Santa Fe on Labor Day.
The first two days of the 800-mile race will take riders from Santa Fe to Las Vegas, N.M., and then to Springer, where the race participants will spend the night next Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Colfax County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. for visitors to meet the riding teams and see their horses that are part of the first-ever event. The riders are expected to start arriving in Springer about 2 p.m. Tuesday.
August 28 2007
By Todd Wildermuth
for The Raton Range
RATON, New Mexico (STPNS) --
Springer will host a myriad of horse riders and their mounts as they gallop along the Santa Fe Trail competing in a 13-day, 500-mile endurance ride from Santa Fe to Missouri.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is scheduled to take place Sept. 3-15, with 62 riders leaving from just outside Santa Fe on Labor Day.
The first two days of the 800-mile race will take riders from Santa Fe to Las Vegas, N.M., and then to Springer, where the race participants will spend the night next Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Colfax County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. for visitors to meet the riding teams and see their horses that are part of the first-ever event. The riders are expected to start arriving in Springer about 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Friday, August 10, 2007
USEF Seeks Candidates for Chef d'Equipe for Endurance
Release: August 09 2007
Lexington, KY—The United States Equestrian Federation is seeking an individual to fill the position of Endurance Chef d’Equipe. The successful candidate will be provided with a contract for the 2008-2010 biennium and possibly longer.
A Search Committee has been appointed:
-James Wolf - Executive Director, Sports Programs
-Mark Phillips - USEF Chef d’Equipe for Eventing
-Tony Benedetti - Endurance High Performance and Active Athlete Committee member.
-Kathy Brunjes - Endurance High Performance Committee Member, Endurance Athlete Representative to the USEF Executive Board
-Julie Bullock - Chair of the Active Athletes Committee and Vice-Chair of the Endurance High Performance Committee
-Valerie Kanavy - Active Athlete and Endurance High Performance Committee member
-Vonita Bowers – Director of Endurance
The Search Committee was charged with developing a job description for the Chef d’Equipe, conducting a search for an individual to fill this position, and making a recommendation to be reviewed by the Endurance High Performance Committee, the High Performance Working Group and the USEF Executive Committee.
The committee has met several times to discuss the aspects of the search process and to develop a job description. The members will continue to meet regularly to with a goal of selecting a candidate by December 1, 2007. The Committee requests that High Performance Committee members and Active Athletes identify and encourage qualified applicants to apply.
The ideal candidate will meet the qualities as defined in the job description; however, any candidate who generally meets the qualifications is encouraged to apply.
The search committee will begin reviewing applications after July 31, 2007.
This position is posted on the USEF website www.usef.org, specifically on either the Job Opportunities page at this link:
http://www.usef.org/contentPage2.aspx?id=jobs
Or, on the Endurance page (click on Breeds and Disciplines on the left hand menu on the homepage, then click on Endurance)
Advertisements will be placed in various equine publications. Individuals wishing to apply for the position should do so in writing, include their CV and competition history, and forward them to:
Vonita Bowers, Director of Endurance
4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511,
Fax (859) 231-6662, E-mail vbowers@usef.org.
Lexington, KY—The United States Equestrian Federation is seeking an individual to fill the position of Endurance Chef d’Equipe. The successful candidate will be provided with a contract for the 2008-2010 biennium and possibly longer.
A Search Committee has been appointed:
-James Wolf - Executive Director, Sports Programs
-Mark Phillips - USEF Chef d’Equipe for Eventing
-Tony Benedetti - Endurance High Performance and Active Athlete Committee member.
-Kathy Brunjes - Endurance High Performance Committee Member, Endurance Athlete Representative to the USEF Executive Board
-Julie Bullock - Chair of the Active Athletes Committee and Vice-Chair of the Endurance High Performance Committee
-Valerie Kanavy - Active Athlete and Endurance High Performance Committee member
-Vonita Bowers – Director of Endurance
The Search Committee was charged with developing a job description for the Chef d’Equipe, conducting a search for an individual to fill this position, and making a recommendation to be reviewed by the Endurance High Performance Committee, the High Performance Working Group and the USEF Executive Committee.
The committee has met several times to discuss the aspects of the search process and to develop a job description. The members will continue to meet regularly to with a goal of selecting a candidate by December 1, 2007. The Committee requests that High Performance Committee members and Active Athletes identify and encourage qualified applicants to apply.
The ideal candidate will meet the qualities as defined in the job description; however, any candidate who generally meets the qualifications is encouraged to apply.
The search committee will begin reviewing applications after July 31, 2007.
This position is posted on the USEF website www.usef.org, specifically on either the Job Opportunities page at this link:
http://www.usef.org/contentPage2.aspx?id=jobs
Or, on the Endurance page (click on Breeds and Disciplines on the left hand menu on the homepage, then click on Endurance)
Advertisements will be placed in various equine publications. Individuals wishing to apply for the position should do so in writing, include their CV and competition history, and forward them to:
Vonita Bowers, Director of Endurance
4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511,
Fax (859) 231-6662, E-mail vbowers@usef.org.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
USA: Man rides in to the record books
Press Association
Monday August 6, 2007 7:28 PM
Richard Rodriguez overtook the previous total of nine days and 12 hours at 12.01am on Monday.
The 48-year-old broke the record on the Pepsi Max Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Not content with this feat, the American is still riding the rollercoaster to maximise his total.
He said: "It feels amazing to be the world record holder once again, but I'm not just going to give up now - I want to stay on for as long as possible and make my record a solid one.
"The ride crews and all the visitors who have come to support me have been a great help and have inspired me to stay positive during this successful record attempt so I'd like to thank them all."
Mr Rodriguez has to eat, drink and sleep on rollercoasters as he takes on the ultimate endurance test.
In accordance with stringent Guinness Book of Records guidelines, the American will accumulate five minutes respite for every full hour ridden to allow him to change clothes, shower, have a hot meal and transfer onto the Big Dipper for night-time riding.
He was going head to head with two challengers at Freizeitland Gieselwind park in Germany, but they dropped out after 36 hours due to medical reasons.
Mr Rodriguez had held the record for nearly 30 years until German Frank Rossler beat it last year.
Monday August 6, 2007 7:28 PM
Richard Rodriguez overtook the previous total of nine days and 12 hours at 12.01am on Monday.The 48-year-old broke the record on the Pepsi Max Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Not content with this feat, the American is still riding the rollercoaster to maximise his total.
He said: "It feels amazing to be the world record holder once again, but I'm not just going to give up now - I want to stay on for as long as possible and make my record a solid one.
"The ride crews and all the visitors who have come to support me have been a great help and have inspired me to stay positive during this successful record attempt so I'd like to thank them all."
Mr Rodriguez has to eat, drink and sleep on rollercoasters as he takes on the ultimate endurance test.
In accordance with stringent Guinness Book of Records guidelines, the American will accumulate five minutes respite for every full hour ridden to allow him to change clothes, shower, have a hot meal and transfer onto the Big Dipper for night-time riding.
He was going head to head with two challengers at Freizeitland Gieselwind park in Germany, but they dropped out after 36 hours due to medical reasons.
Mr Rodriguez had held the record for nearly 30 years until German Frank Rossler beat it last year.
Monday, August 06, 2007
USA: Great Santa Fee Trail Horse Race
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is an 800 mile endurance ride completed over a 13 day period. It is open to all breeds. The ride will start in Santa Fe, New Mexico on September 3, 2007 and end in Missouri on September 15, 2007.
One of the main objectives of the race is to educate the public not only on the national historic Santa Fe Trail, but also to introduce the sport of endurance riding to thousands.
One Hundred teams will spend each evening in the race village where over 100,000 spectators are expected to visit throughout the entire course of the event.
The riders will complete the specified distance for the day then stop and spend the night at the race village. Each rider’s time will be recorded, and accumulated for end of the race.
The rider with the shortest time overall will be declared the winner. In addition to an individual winner, team competition will exist.
Spectators are encouraged to turn out to greet the riders at “race villages,” which will be overnight stopping points for the riders and their horses.
Santa Fe, N.M., Sept. 1-2
Las Vegas, N.M., Sept. 3
Springer, N.M., Sept. 4
Clayton, N.M., Sept. 5
Elkhart, Kan., Sept. 6
Dodge City, Kan., Sept. 7-8
Larned, Kan., Sept. 9
Lyons, Kan., Sept. 10
Council Grove, Kan., Sept. 11-12
Burlingame, Kan., Sept. 13
Gardner, Kan., Sept. 14-15.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Sweetwater horse trainer will ride in Great Santa Fe Trail endurance race
Cleveland Daily Banner
Published August 03, 2007 10:04 AM EDT
Thompson Training Center, owned and operated by John and Susan Thompson, in Sweetwater is preparing for the biggest endurance horse race, The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race starts Sept. 3 in Santa Fe, NM and will end 800 miles later on Sept. 15 in Independence, Mo. It is broken down into 10 rides of 50-55 miles a day over 510 miles. Only 100 teams will be allowed to enter with about 500 horses dashing over the landscape. Already, 76 riders from 22 states have signed up, paying entry fees ranging from $3,500 to $4,500.
Susan has ridden, trained and competed on horses almost her entire life. Her riding accomplishments include prominence in barrel racing and endurance riding. She has endurance raced since 1996 and has completed 44 of 50 races and accumulated almost 2000 competitive miles.
Thompson is entered in the most prestigious team type, one rider on one or more horses for the entire race and is the only entry from the state of Tennessee. She will be taking two straight Egyptian bred Arabian horses, Thee Pilgram, an 8-year-old gray gelding and Thee MaCade a 7-year-old bay gelding, both sired by Thee Desperado, alternating them each day.
Thee MaCade, in 2006, his first year of competition, finished four of five fifty mile races accumulating 175 competitive miles and finished sixth in the Arabian Horse Association, Region 12 - 50 mile Championship. Thee MaCade has started the 2007 season with a very impressive fifth-place finish in the 50 mile Biltmore Challenge out of 103 competitors in the worst conditions. Rain began to fall around 6 a.m. that morning and continued throughout the day making the trails slick and dangerous. Thee Pilgram, who just began his endurance career in 2007, finished his first race/first 50 at the GERA Fundraiser under the heavyweight division with John Thompson aboard placing 10th.
After a long day in the saddle, riders will be able to rest at race villages. Each village will consist of a 30-acre area resembling a traveling fair, with food vendors, a dining tent, merchants, farriers, veterinarians and places for riders to clean up and rest. The race has already attracted several major sponsors, including the RFD-TV cable-satellite network, the U.S. Postal Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Chevy Trucks, and the Kansas Lottery
Spectators are encouraged to turn out to greet the riders at “race villages” where participants and their horses will spend the night in 11 locations across New Mexico and Kansas. More than 100,000 people in total will be on hand to watch as the competitors arrive.
The Imus Ranch, a New Mexico ranch that helps children with cancer, is the event’s designated charity and will get a portion of the entry and sponsor fees.
Some of Susan’s current sponsors are Mayfield Dairy Farms, Merita Bakery (IBC-Hostess), The Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, Valley Farmers Co-op, Farm Credit Services of Mid America, Fort Dodge, Farnam, Incor Design & Promotions and Maiden Chase Arabians.
More information is available at www.sfthorserace.com and www.thompsontrainingcenter.com.
Published August 03, 2007 10:04 AM EDT
Thompson Training Center, owned and operated by John and Susan Thompson, in Sweetwater is preparing for the biggest endurance horse race, The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race.
The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race starts Sept. 3 in Santa Fe, NM and will end 800 miles later on Sept. 15 in Independence, Mo. It is broken down into 10 rides of 50-55 miles a day over 510 miles. Only 100 teams will be allowed to enter with about 500 horses dashing over the landscape. Already, 76 riders from 22 states have signed up, paying entry fees ranging from $3,500 to $4,500.
Susan has ridden, trained and competed on horses almost her entire life. Her riding accomplishments include prominence in barrel racing and endurance riding. She has endurance raced since 1996 and has completed 44 of 50 races and accumulated almost 2000 competitive miles.
Thompson is entered in the most prestigious team type, one rider on one or more horses for the entire race and is the only entry from the state of Tennessee. She will be taking two straight Egyptian bred Arabian horses, Thee Pilgram, an 8-year-old gray gelding and Thee MaCade a 7-year-old bay gelding, both sired by Thee Desperado, alternating them each day.
Thee MaCade, in 2006, his first year of competition, finished four of five fifty mile races accumulating 175 competitive miles and finished sixth in the Arabian Horse Association, Region 12 - 50 mile Championship. Thee MaCade has started the 2007 season with a very impressive fifth-place finish in the 50 mile Biltmore Challenge out of 103 competitors in the worst conditions. Rain began to fall around 6 a.m. that morning and continued throughout the day making the trails slick and dangerous. Thee Pilgram, who just began his endurance career in 2007, finished his first race/first 50 at the GERA Fundraiser under the heavyweight division with John Thompson aboard placing 10th.
After a long day in the saddle, riders will be able to rest at race villages. Each village will consist of a 30-acre area resembling a traveling fair, with food vendors, a dining tent, merchants, farriers, veterinarians and places for riders to clean up and rest. The race has already attracted several major sponsors, including the RFD-TV cable-satellite network, the U.S. Postal Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Chevy Trucks, and the Kansas Lottery
Spectators are encouraged to turn out to greet the riders at “race villages” where participants and their horses will spend the night in 11 locations across New Mexico and Kansas. More than 100,000 people in total will be on hand to watch as the competitors arrive.
The Imus Ranch, a New Mexico ranch that helps children with cancer, is the event’s designated charity and will get a portion of the entry and sponsor fees.
Some of Susan’s current sponsors are Mayfield Dairy Farms, Merita Bakery (IBC-Hostess), The Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, Valley Farmers Co-op, Farm Credit Services of Mid America, Fort Dodge, Farnam, Incor Design & Promotions and Maiden Chase Arabians.
More information is available at www.sfthorserace.com and www.thompsontrainingcenter.com.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Former superintendent on road to recovery after Tevis accident
Auburn Journal
By: Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Retired Western Placer Unified School District superintendent Roger Yohe is expected to recover fully after a harrowing near-death tumble down a cliff during last weekend's Tevis Cup ride.
Yohe, 64, was hospitalized at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center's intensive care unit on Tuesday after suffering four fractured ribs and spending most of Saturday night lying injured on a ledge.
On Saturday, with 25 miles to go in the 100-mile ride from near Truckee to Auburn, Yohe's horse tripped on a rock and both horse and rider fell off a cliff at the side of the narrow trail.
Yohe's wife, Linda Glazier, said he was able to claw into the loose rock as he fell to keep from traveling farther down.
Ending up about 50 to 80 feet below the trail, Yohe used a stick to crawl back up to within 20 feet of the trail.
Fellow Tevis rider Leigh Bacco of Cool watched Yohe and horse fall into the darkness and then went to get help at the next aid station after marking the trail with a jacket.
Bacco said Yohe came to a stop after his tumble on a ledge, with a straight drop of about 120 feet below him.
The fall off the trail occurred at about 9:30 p.m. with both Yohe and Bacco on track to finish in the ride's top 10. Bacco and her horse would go on place ninth while Yohe, holder of seven Tevis finisher buckles, would spend the next eight hours perched below the trail on a small ledge as rescuers worked to build a new trail that would allow him to be taken out be stretcher. A Georgetown resident, Yohe served as superintendent with the Lincoln-area school district from 1996 until his retirement last November.
Glazier, a member of the ride's board of governors, said Yohe would make a full recovery from his injuries, which also included a lacerated liver.
"He's doing just excellent," she said.
Yohe's horse - an 8-year-old Morgan and Arab - received minor scrapes after falling about 20 feet and then gaining its footing.
Yohe was helping Bacco navigate through the darkness when the fall occurred.
"He was getting me through the dark and the trail was so narrow," Bacco said.
Yohe was taken by stretcher to an ambulance and then to a helicopter near Driver's Flat, on the Foresthill Road.
Glazier said that while Yohe was injured in the fall, the finishing rate this year for participants was one of the better ones in recent years, with 91 riders out of 185 who started completing the event in less than 24 hours. The fall was the first in the event for Yohe. It's a ride that's known for its challenging conditions - even for Tevis veterans.
"It's not a ride for snivelers," Glazier said.
Auburn Journal article
By: Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Retired Western Placer Unified School District superintendent Roger Yohe is expected to recover fully after a harrowing near-death tumble down a cliff during last weekend's Tevis Cup ride.
Yohe, 64, was hospitalized at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center's intensive care unit on Tuesday after suffering four fractured ribs and spending most of Saturday night lying injured on a ledge.
On Saturday, with 25 miles to go in the 100-mile ride from near Truckee to Auburn, Yohe's horse tripped on a rock and both horse and rider fell off a cliff at the side of the narrow trail.
Yohe's wife, Linda Glazier, said he was able to claw into the loose rock as he fell to keep from traveling farther down.
Ending up about 50 to 80 feet below the trail, Yohe used a stick to crawl back up to within 20 feet of the trail.
Fellow Tevis rider Leigh Bacco of Cool watched Yohe and horse fall into the darkness and then went to get help at the next aid station after marking the trail with a jacket.
Bacco said Yohe came to a stop after his tumble on a ledge, with a straight drop of about 120 feet below him.
The fall off the trail occurred at about 9:30 p.m. with both Yohe and Bacco on track to finish in the ride's top 10. Bacco and her horse would go on place ninth while Yohe, holder of seven Tevis finisher buckles, would spend the next eight hours perched below the trail on a small ledge as rescuers worked to build a new trail that would allow him to be taken out be stretcher. A Georgetown resident, Yohe served as superintendent with the Lincoln-area school district from 1996 until his retirement last November.
Glazier, a member of the ride's board of governors, said Yohe would make a full recovery from his injuries, which also included a lacerated liver.
"He's doing just excellent," she said.
Yohe's horse - an 8-year-old Morgan and Arab - received minor scrapes after falling about 20 feet and then gaining its footing.
Yohe was helping Bacco navigate through the darkness when the fall occurred.
"He was getting me through the dark and the trail was so narrow," Bacco said.
Yohe was taken by stretcher to an ambulance and then to a helicopter near Driver's Flat, on the Foresthill Road.
Glazier said that while Yohe was injured in the fall, the finishing rate this year for participants was one of the better ones in recent years, with 91 riders out of 185 who started completing the event in less than 24 hours. The fall was the first in the event for Yohe. It's a ride that's known for its challenging conditions - even for Tevis veterans.
"It's not a ride for snivelers," Glazier said.
Auburn Journal article
Monday, July 30, 2007
Champions of endurance: Ceremony honors Tevis Cup horses, riders
By: Jenna Nielsen, Journal Staff Writer
Sunday, July 29, 2007
photo: Jeanette Mero of Mariposa holds the reins of her horse Maksymilian as veterinarian Rob Lydon of Menton conducts an examination during Haggin Cup judging Sunday at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Photo by Philip Wood/Auburn Journal
This year's Tevis Cup made history.
For the first time since the "100 Mile One Day Trail Ride" that starts from Robie Park near Lake Tahoe and ends at Auburn's Gold Country Fairgrounds began in 1955, a paint horse became one of the top-10 finishers.
Pamela Bailie of Pilot Hill and her horse, Skipa Slipa on Ice, finished sixth in the race, arriving in Auburn at 12:05 a.m. Sunday.
"I'm pretty excited," Bailie said Sunday at the awards ceremony for Tevis finishers. "I think it is definitely more rewarding to have the first paint."
Bailie said she took the race one checkpoint at a time, not riding too slow or too fast.
"We just worked our way up," she said. "We had a plan and a time that we wanted to arrive at each checkpoint and we pretty much stuck to it."
John Crandell, 2006's Tevis winner, garnered the 2007 Haggin Cup - which is awarded to one of the top 10 horses that is deemed most healthy - for the second year in row.
Crandell won the cup last year on his horse, Heraldic, and this year on HH Saba Shams.
Crandell arrived in Auburn at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, two minutes behind leader Jeremy Reynolds of Los Gatos.
There was a four-hour time span from the time the first rider finished until the 10th crossed the line at 1:26 a.m.
Reynolds claimed the Tevis Cup but was disqualified from presenting his horse in the Haggin Cup judging after some of his crew members committed traffic violations at the Robinson Flat checkpoint, said Erin Klentos, Tevis ride director.
Reynolds, who arrived in Auburn at 9:43 p.m., was allowed to keep his Tevis win, Klentos said.
"We have rules and we make them very clear to both the rider and the crew," Klentos said. "We want people to understand that even if the crew breaks the rules, it can affect the rider."
Klentos said she did not want to release the specific details about the infractions, but she did say the crew did not obey traffic controls in Robinson Flat, posing a safety threat to other volunteers and other riders. "We still acknowledge the rider," Klentos said. "He did a great job and his horse was excellent. And that is why we chose to allow him to win."
Reynolds didn't offer any specific details either, but he did thank the cup committee.
"I know there are a lot of rumors floating around about what happened," Reynolds said. "I just want to say that the cup committee was very gracious to me. We made a mistake and our crew held us out, but I just want to say thanks to everyone."
The top 10 horses were screened at the fairgrounds Sunday morning and buckles for finishers and the two cups were presented in the afternoon.
Ninety-five riders out of the 185 who started the ride completed it in 24 hours.
That number is not unusual as the completion rate from the past 52 years averages 50 percent, and it doesn't matter if you're a Tevis expert or first-time rider, said Mike Pickett, past president and current treasurer of the Western State Trail Foundation.
"It's a very tough trail," Pickett said. "Even the most prepared riders still run the risk of an unexpected minor injury to their horse."
Horses are pulled out by veterinarians any time at any of the 17 checkpoints - for injuries, lack of hydration and metabolic stability, among other factors.
Three riders received 1,000-mile buckles Sunday and Cassandra Schuler of Petaluma was awarded a 2,000-mile buckle for completing the race 20 times.
"It's a lot of riding," Schuler said. "But I am so grateful to everyone who has ever worked on this ride and those who have crewed for me - which is a lot people. I am hooked on this ride."
The Journal's Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment at www.auburnjournal.com.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
photo: Jeanette Mero of Mariposa holds the reins of her horse Maksymilian as veterinarian Rob Lydon of Menton conducts an examination during Haggin Cup judging Sunday at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Photo by Philip Wood/Auburn Journal
This year's Tevis Cup made history.
For the first time since the "100 Mile One Day Trail Ride" that starts from Robie Park near Lake Tahoe and ends at Auburn's Gold Country Fairgrounds began in 1955, a paint horse became one of the top-10 finishers.
Pamela Bailie of Pilot Hill and her horse, Skipa Slipa on Ice, finished sixth in the race, arriving in Auburn at 12:05 a.m. Sunday.
"I'm pretty excited," Bailie said Sunday at the awards ceremony for Tevis finishers. "I think it is definitely more rewarding to have the first paint."
Bailie said she took the race one checkpoint at a time, not riding too slow or too fast.
"We just worked our way up," she said. "We had a plan and a time that we wanted to arrive at each checkpoint and we pretty much stuck to it."
John Crandell, 2006's Tevis winner, garnered the 2007 Haggin Cup - which is awarded to one of the top 10 horses that is deemed most healthy - for the second year in row.
Crandell won the cup last year on his horse, Heraldic, and this year on HH Saba Shams.
Crandell arrived in Auburn at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, two minutes behind leader Jeremy Reynolds of Los Gatos.
There was a four-hour time span from the time the first rider finished until the 10th crossed the line at 1:26 a.m.
Reynolds claimed the Tevis Cup but was disqualified from presenting his horse in the Haggin Cup judging after some of his crew members committed traffic violations at the Robinson Flat checkpoint, said Erin Klentos, Tevis ride director.
Reynolds, who arrived in Auburn at 9:43 p.m., was allowed to keep his Tevis win, Klentos said.
"We have rules and we make them very clear to both the rider and the crew," Klentos said. "We want people to understand that even if the crew breaks the rules, it can affect the rider."
Klentos said she did not want to release the specific details about the infractions, but she did say the crew did not obey traffic controls in Robinson Flat, posing a safety threat to other volunteers and other riders. "We still acknowledge the rider," Klentos said. "He did a great job and his horse was excellent. And that is why we chose to allow him to win."
Reynolds didn't offer any specific details either, but he did thank the cup committee.
"I know there are a lot of rumors floating around about what happened," Reynolds said. "I just want to say that the cup committee was very gracious to me. We made a mistake and our crew held us out, but I just want to say thanks to everyone."
The top 10 horses were screened at the fairgrounds Sunday morning and buckles for finishers and the two cups were presented in the afternoon.
Ninety-five riders out of the 185 who started the ride completed it in 24 hours.
That number is not unusual as the completion rate from the past 52 years averages 50 percent, and it doesn't matter if you're a Tevis expert or first-time rider, said Mike Pickett, past president and current treasurer of the Western State Trail Foundation.
"It's a very tough trail," Pickett said. "Even the most prepared riders still run the risk of an unexpected minor injury to their horse."
Horses are pulled out by veterinarians any time at any of the 17 checkpoints - for injuries, lack of hydration and metabolic stability, among other factors.
Three riders received 1,000-mile buckles Sunday and Cassandra Schuler of Petaluma was awarded a 2,000-mile buckle for completing the race 20 times.
"It's a lot of riding," Schuler said. "But I am so grateful to everyone who has ever worked on this ride and those who have crewed for me - which is a lot people. I am hooked on this ride."
The Journal's Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment at www.auburnjournal.com.
Friday, July 27, 2007
With Tools on Web, Amateurs Reshape Mapmaking
Photo: Christopher Berkey for The New York Times
April Johnson used a G.P.S. device to help create a map used for the Trace Tribute endurance horse ride near Nashville. "
SAN FRANCISCO, July 26 — On the Web, anyone can be a mapmaker.
With the help of simple tools introduced by Internet companies recently, millions of people are trying their hand at cartography, drawing on digital maps and annotating them with text, images, sound and videos.
In the process, they are reshaping the world of mapmaking and collectively creating a new kind of atlas that is likely to be both richer and messier than any other.
They are also turning the Web into a medium where maps will play a more central role in how information is organized and found.
Already there are maps of biodiesel fueling stations in New England, yarn stores in Illinois and hydrofoils around the world. Many maps depict current events, including the detours around a collapsed Bay Area freeway and the path of two whales that swam up the Sacramento River delta in May.
James Lamb of Federal Way, Wash., created an online map to illustrate the spread of graffiti in his town and asked other residents to contribute to it. “Any time you can take data and represent it visually, you can start to recognize patterns and see where you need to put resources,” said Mr. Lamb, whose map now pinpoints, often with photographs, nearly 100 sites that have been vandalized.
Increasingly, people will be able to point their favorite mapping service to a specific location and discover many layers of information about it: its hotels and watering holes, its crime statistics and school rankings, its weather and environmental conditions, the recent news events and the history that have shaped it. A good portion of this information is being contributed by ordinary Web users.
In aggregate, these maps are similar to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, in that they reflect the collective knowledge of millions of contributors.
“What is happening is the creation of this extremely detailed map of the world that is being created by all the people in the world,” said John V. Hanke, director of Google Maps and Google Earth. “The end result is that there will be a much richer description of the earth.”
This fast-growing GeoWeb, as industry insiders call it, is in part a byproduct of the Internet search wars involving Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and others. In the race to popularize their map services — and dominate the potentially lucrative market for local advertising on maps — these companies have created the tools that are allowing people with minimal technical skills to do what only professional mapmakers were able to do before.
“It is a revolution,” said Matthew H. Edney, director of the History of Cartography Project at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “Now with all sorts of really very accessible, very straightforward tools, anybody can make maps. They can select data, they can add data, they can communicate it with others. It truly has moved the power of map production into a completely new arena.”
Online maps have provided driving directions and helped Web users find businesses for years. But the Web mapping revolution began in earnest two years ago, when leading Internet companies first allowed programmers to merge their maps with data from outside sources to make “mash-ups.” Since then, for example, more than 50,000 programmers have used Google Maps to create mash-ups for things like apartment rentals in San Francisco and the paths of airplanes in flight.
Yet that is nothing compared with the boom that is now under way. In April, Google unveiled a service called My Maps that makes it easy for users to create customized maps. Since then, users of the service have created more than four million maps of everything from where to find good cheap food in New York to summer festivals in Europe.
More than a million maps have been created with a service from Microsoft called Collections, and 40,000 with tools from Platial, a technology start-up. MotionBased, a Web site owned by Garmin, the navigation device maker, lets users upload data they record on the move with a Global Positioning System receiver. It has amassed more than 1.3 million maps of hikes, runs, mountain bike rides and other adventures.
On the Flickr photo-sharing service owned by Yahoo, users have “geotagged” more than 25 million pictures, providing location data that allows them to be viewed on a map or through 3-D visualization software like Google Earth.
The maps sketched by this new generation of cartographers range from the useful to the fanciful and from the simple to the elaborate. Their accuracy, as with much that is on the Web, cannot be taken for granted.
“Some people are potentially going to do really stupid things with these tools,” said Donald Cooke, chief scientist at Tele Atlas North America, a leading supplier of digital street maps. “But you can also go hiking with your G.P.S. unit, and you can create a more accurate depiction of a trail than on a U.S.G.S. map,” Mr. Cooke said, referring to the United States Geological Survey.
April Johnson, a Web developer from Nashville, has used a G.P.S. device to create dozens of maps, including many of endurance horse races — typically 25-to-50-mile treks through rural trails or parks.
“You can’t buy these maps, because no one has made them,” Ms. Johnson said.
Tevis Cup prize for Guinasso, Big Dog
Photo: TEAMWORK: Deanna Guinasso of Redding rides her 7-year-old Arabian horse Big Dog near Lake Oroville during the tandem’s first 50-mile endurance ride. Guinasso and Big Dog will compete Saturday in the 100-mile Western States Trail Ride from Squaw Valley to Auburn.
By Thom Gabrukiewicz (Contact)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Deanna Guinasso's breath is a staccato sing-song: "Hoo, hoo, hoo -- hoo, hoo, hoo -- hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo."
And it's all about the exhale.
"It's a secret -- I shouldn't tell you -- but it's exhale, exhale, exhale," said the 57-year-old Guinasso, a Redding fitness instructor, former competitive body builder and Ms. National Fitness competitor who happens to own the patent on a little piece of exercise equipment marketed as the Suzanne Somers Toning System.
"Don't even think about the inhale, 'cause you have to breath anyway. Think about the exhale and you'll blow away that negative voice that says, 'I can't.' It blows away the toxic buildup."
It even helps her horse, a 7-year-old Arabian named RGR Flashfire -- "I call him 'Big Dog,'" Guinasso said -- stay calm. Focused. Ready to run -- hard.
The pair will depart at 5:15 a.m. Saturday -- among a braying sea of a possible 250 horses -- to challenge the Western States Trail Ride, a 100-mile endurance ride with nearly 19,000 total feet of elevation in climbs and nearly 22,000 feet of descents.
"I know I can do this," said Guinasso, who has run three marathons and twice roller skated 100 miles in competition, from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. "And my horse, he's ready, too. He's going to do the climbs, and I'm going to get off and run the canyons. We're a team; he's my running partner, he's my 100-miler."
The Western States Trail Ride -- known in equestrian circles as the Tevis Cup -- is the oldest modern-day endurance ride, having been contested since 1955. The route follows the same course as the Western States 100 Run that was contested on June 23-24.
The ride was first organized by Wendell Robie, an Auburn businessman and dedicated equestrian, according to the Western States Trail Ride Foundation Web site. People in the 1950s doubted a horse could cover the trail from Lake Tahoe to Auburn in a single day. Wendell and some friends proved otherwise. He continued to hold the ride annually and also organized the Western States Trail Foundation to preserve the 100-mile trail and the ride.
A horse and rider who complete the race in 24 hours -- and is found fit to continue -- wins a silver belt buckle. The rider and horse that complete the course in the fastest time win the Tevis Cup.
And to the rider with the fittest horse -- as determined by examination of the first 10 horses to cross the finish line -- goes the Haggin Cup (first awarded in 1964 to Paige Harper, riding his 6-year-old Arabian gelding, Keno).
"Arabians are the body builders of the horse world," Guinasso said. "Superior genetics, greatly developed lung capacity. I've got my preference and I wanted a good horse, so I got an Arabian -- coming from the body building world, I want to be buff, too."
Despite pushing horse and rider to the limit, Western States Trail Foundation organizers focus not only on the rider's health, but on the health and well-being of the horse. There are several veterinarian checks, as well as mandatory rest stops. If the horse can't continue, your day is done.
"You have 24 hours to Git er done,'" Guinasso said. "I'm ready. I'm ready to do well.
"And my horse, he's ready, more than ready."
For more information on the Tevis Cup, and to keep track of Guinasso and Big Dog's progress in real time, visit www.foothill.net/tevis/index.html. Guinasso's bib number is 83.
Reporter Thom Gabrukiewicz can be reached at 225-8230 or at tgabrukiewicz@redding.com.
JPN: Horse.TV Shining Moon Coverage
Horse.TV has completed their report of the first FEI 160k ride in Japan.
Video images of the 2007 Shining Moon 100 are available at the Japanese Horse.TV website.
Short version - including interviews for the top three riders after the ride.
Long version – 30 minutes Horse.TV regular monthly program (July) including other horse related news in Japan and studio interview with Tamotsu Sasaki, the winner of the Shining Moon ride. In Japanese only. You could still enjoy video images from this program.
Monday, July 23, 2007
APEX Mini-Clinic at AERC National Championship
APEX Mini Clinic
APEX: A Partnership for Endurance Xcellence
AERC National Championship
Aug. 24, 2007
11-1:30 pm
I. APEX Concept: Troy Ball, APEX President
II. Progressive Conditioning: John Crandell III
III. Question and Answer w/ brown bag lunch: John, Stagg, and Troy
IV. Planning and Pacing for a Quality Ride: Stagg Newman
John Crandell, III 2006 US “Triple Crown” winner – the Old Dominion, the Tevis Cup and the National Championship, John is a dedicated international competitor and trainer who develops high performance strategies for the elite endurance athlete.
Stagg Newman Stagg has earned national championships and international gold medals. His horse, Ramegwa Drubin, was the 2003 Hall of Fame inductee; Stagg and his current horse, Jayel Super, have won Old Dominion four times (including 2007); and Stagg recently served as the 2006 president of the AERC.
Troy Ball National championship winner in other disciplines, Troy has completed her first year in endurance with two Best Conditions and a gold medal. She offers her fresh outlook and dedication to advancement as a founding member and president of the APEX team.
APEX Mission Statement
Partnering in training and academic advancement to achieve the highest performance levels in endurance horses, riders, and teams.
www.apex-us.org
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
USEF: FEI/National Passports waived for CEI* and CEI** events
July 17, USEF:
The below Extraordinary rule change proposed by the USEF Endurance Technical Committee was approved. The result is that Endurance will be exempt from needing FEI or National passports for 1* and 2* events.
The below Extraordinary rule change proposed by the USEF Endurance Technical Committee was approved. The result is that Endurance will be exempt from needing FEI or National passports for 1* and 2* events.
CHAPTER 8 - EXHIBITORS, RIDERS, DRIVERS AND HANDLERS
GR802 Duties. [Chapter 8. Exhibitors, Riders, Drivers and Handlers]
[Note: This is a revision to a rule change scheduled to take effect
12/1/07]
6. U.S. Competitors competing in their own country in an FEI- sanctioned event, not requiring an FEI Passport, must present a valid USA National Passport or a valid FEI Passport. Exception: Endurance Minor Events.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Big Horn 100: New basecamp a success
2007 Ride Report from Teddy Lancaster (Runningbear):
Antelope Butte is the new BH base Camp. Everyone loved it here. No dust, plenty of room and grass AND, LOTS cooler!!!! First loop was a lollipop up to a spot just past Horse Creek and looping back to have the riders doing the first and last 12-13 miles on the same trail. Second loop went up to Jack Creek (19 miles), looped 11 miles) around back to Jack Creek with the last 19 miles the same as the first going backwards. I do not think the ride is much easier, but we did not have the awful heat of the lower camps, and it was great to come back to Antelope Butte for Halfway.
Lyle was great as always, along with 2 other vets. No one seemed to have a problem finding trail.
Frankly, I LOVE this ride and if it stays up here I think it will still remain a "challenge" without the "worry".
All in all, I think the ride was a success and I sure hope it brings more back for nest year and the years to come.
Teddy
See Bighorn 100 website for photos and results
Big Horn 100: New basecamp a success
2007 Ride Report from Teddy Lancaster (Runningbear):
Antelope Butte is the new BH base Camp. Everyone loved it here. No dust, plenty of room and grass AND, LOTS cooler!!!! First loop was a lollipop up to a spot just past Horse Creek and looping back to have the riders doing the first and last 12-13 miles on the same trail. Second loop went up to Jack Creek (19 miles), looped 11 miles) around back to Jack Creek with the last 19 miles the same as the first going backwards. I do not think the ride is much easier, but we did not have the awful heat of the lower camps, and it was great to come back to Antelope Butte for Halfway.
Lyle was great as always, along with 2 other vets. No one seemed to have a problem finding trail.
Frankly, I LOVE this ride and if it stays up here I think it will still remain a "challenge" without the "worry".
All in all, I think the ride was a success and I sure hope it brings more back for nest year and the years to come.
Teddy
See Bighorn 100 website for photos and results
Saturday, July 14, 2007
PanAm: 10 Year Reunion!
A inglesa Dominique Freeman convida a todos os que competiram nos Jogos Mundiais da
Natureza, em 1997, para um jantar dia 18 de Julho (quarta-feira), na Churrascaria GRAN VILLE. O motivo do jantar é reencontar os amigos que participaram do evento e também comemorar seus 10 anos de competição em provas no Brasil. Dominique Freeman representará a Grã Bretanha no Campeonato Pan Americano & Open de Enduro Eqüestre a ser realizado no próximo dia 20 de Julho, na Fazenda Pau D'Alho, em Campinas.
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Dominique Freeman invites all those who competed at the 1997 PanAm to a 10 year reunion celibration on Wed (18July, at Churrascaria GRAN VILLE. Reconnect with old friends over dinner and also celebrate the 10 year aniverary of Endurance in Brasil!
Dominique Freeman will represent Great Britainin the open division of the upcoming 2007 Pan Championship Americano & Open de Enduro Eqüestre to be run on 20July at Fazenda Pau D'Alho, em Campina!
EnduranceBrasil.com
=======
Dominique Freeman invites all those who competed at the 1997 PanAm to a 10 year reunion celibration on Wed (18July, at Churrascaria GRAN VILLE. Reconnect with old friends over dinner and also celebrate the 10 year aniverary of Endurance in Brasil!
Dominique Freeman will represent Great Britainin the open division of the upcoming 2007 Pan Championship Americano & Open de Enduro Eqüestre to be run on 20July at Fazenda Pau D'Alho, em Campina!
EnduranceBrasil.com
Monday, July 09, 2007
AHA to sponsor Endurance National Championship
The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) will be a contributing sponsor of the 2007 AERC National Endurance Championship, to be held in Oreana, Idaho in August.
AHA marketing director Daniel Stevenson said that the organization is interested in broadening their scope to include support of disciplines such as Endurance and Competitive Trail. The Arabian horse breed is by far the best performer in distance events, and some consider this sport to be the ultimate test for the traits that set the Arabian horse apart among other breeds: endurance, heart, strength and soundness.
For more information on the event, see the 2007 AERC National Endurance Championship website.
For more information on AHA see the Arabian Horse Association website.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Ozark Club promotes sport of endurance riding
Ozark Country Endurance Riders sponsor 25-to-30 mile and 50-to-100 mile contests.
by Ann Keyes
For the
News-Leader
Who: Ozark Country Endurance Riders
Mission: Ozark Country Endurance Riders "believes in the integrity of the sport of endurance riding," says a Web link to the equestrian group. OCER strives "to encourage the education of equine enthusiasts, to promote the preservation and use of trails"; the group places the welfare of horses first and foremost.
About: OCER is a regional riding club that covers Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The group sponsors limited distance horse rides from 25 to 30 miles; endurance rides run 50 to 100 miles. All OCER rides are sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference, a group that serves as a national governing body for long distance riding. Rules and guidelines are provided that call for strict veterinary controls, according to American Endurance Ride Conference.
OCER sites the AERC guides as reason for membership: The health and well-being of horses is constantly checked throughout AERC and OCER rides. OCER, with nearly 100 members, also observes trail etiquette and expects members to reflect as much. Thrill of competition, by the adding of points in various areas on rides, is also included in membership with OCER, says group president Kathy Cruthers.
"We don't win a lot of money. No, actually, we don't win any money," says Cruthers with a laugh. "We win some nice awards at the end of the year, and we just enjoy going out and camping with our horses and getting together with friends. We pretty much all know each other and welcome newcomers, too, and before too long they feel like they're one of the family. It's one competition where you may be competing against somebody, but if they need something on a trail, then you're more than happy to help them out."
Cruthers says most horses ridden for endurance are Arabian or part Arabian, but any breed can participate; most members condition their horses by riding several days a week. Membership to OCER is $20 annually for individuals and $25 for families. The group has no formally scheduled meetings; members find out about rides via an occasional newsletter.
Upcoming: Clayton, Okla., is the site for OCER's "Mid-Summer Night's Madness" endurance ride. The nighttime event, scheduled July 28, includes contests for 25- and 50-mile horse rides.
Further ahead: Look for OCER to launch a Web site and increase newsletter mailings, says Cruthers. And OCER has endurance rides scheduled every two weeks from September through December. OCER comes to Missouri in mid-October, Cruthers says; the location is yet to be announced. Thanksgiving weekend OCER rides the Show-Me State in Collins.
Want to join or need to know more? Find a printable membership form at www.aerccentralregion.org/ ocermembershipform07.pdf. Send postal membership inquiry to Belinda Skiles, 1914 Quail Creek Road, Marion, Kan., 66861. Call Cruthers in Fayetteville, Ark., at (479) 443-6595.
by Ann Keyes
For the
News-Leader
Who: Ozark Country Endurance Riders
Mission: Ozark Country Endurance Riders "believes in the integrity of the sport of endurance riding," says a Web link to the equestrian group. OCER strives "to encourage the education of equine enthusiasts, to promote the preservation and use of trails"; the group places the welfare of horses first and foremost.
About: OCER is a regional riding club that covers Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The group sponsors limited distance horse rides from 25 to 30 miles; endurance rides run 50 to 100 miles. All OCER rides are sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference, a group that serves as a national governing body for long distance riding. Rules and guidelines are provided that call for strict veterinary controls, according to American Endurance Ride Conference.
OCER sites the AERC guides as reason for membership: The health and well-being of horses is constantly checked throughout AERC and OCER rides. OCER, with nearly 100 members, also observes trail etiquette and expects members to reflect as much. Thrill of competition, by the adding of points in various areas on rides, is also included in membership with OCER, says group president Kathy Cruthers.
"We don't win a lot of money. No, actually, we don't win any money," says Cruthers with a laugh. "We win some nice awards at the end of the year, and we just enjoy going out and camping with our horses and getting together with friends. We pretty much all know each other and welcome newcomers, too, and before too long they feel like they're one of the family. It's one competition where you may be competing against somebody, but if they need something on a trail, then you're more than happy to help them out."
Cruthers says most horses ridden for endurance are Arabian or part Arabian, but any breed can participate; most members condition their horses by riding several days a week. Membership to OCER is $20 annually for individuals and $25 for families. The group has no formally scheduled meetings; members find out about rides via an occasional newsletter.
Upcoming: Clayton, Okla., is the site for OCER's "Mid-Summer Night's Madness" endurance ride. The nighttime event, scheduled July 28, includes contests for 25- and 50-mile horse rides.
Further ahead: Look for OCER to launch a Web site and increase newsletter mailings, says Cruthers. And OCER has endurance rides scheduled every two weeks from September through December. OCER comes to Missouri in mid-October, Cruthers says; the location is yet to be announced. Thanksgiving weekend OCER rides the Show-Me State in Collins.
Want to join or need to know more? Find a printable membership form at www.aerccentralregion.org/ ocermembershipform07.pdf. Send postal membership inquiry to Belinda Skiles, 1914 Quail Creek Road, Marion, Kan., 66861. Call Cruthers in Fayetteville, Ark., at (479) 443-6595.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Japan: First 160KM Endurance Ride in Japan!
Endurance Riders from the USA and Australia share the trail with 15 riders from Japan in this first 160km ride. Said Hal Hall, "We want to express our gratitude for the invitation to attend and compete in Japan's first International FEI 160km CEI*** Shining Moon endurance ride. This is undoubtedly an exciting moment for the founders of the sport in your country as well as to the organizers and those who will be competing. Given our involvement over the years in assisting with Japan's progression in the sport of long distance endurance riding, we share in your excitement."We wish the best for the future of the sport in this most unique equestrian environment!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
USEF: Open Endurance Clinic
This is a reminder that there will be a Clinic in Gladstone June 22, 23 and 24th at the USEF Headquarters. I have attached information regarding the clinic. Please register by Friday, June 15.
Please note the health requirements for bringing horses to Gladstone.
Rooms are available at $69.00 per night at the Courtyard by Marriot located in Basking Ridge, NJ. if reservations are made 5 days in advance. This is an easy drive to the Headquarters. The # is (908) 542 - 0300
Contact (908) 234-1251 for details
Vonita Bowers
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
USEF Endurance Director
(908) 326-1154 Direct Dial
(908) 234-9417 Fax
(908) 234-0848 Main Number
Please note the health requirements for bringing horses to Gladstone.
Rooms are available at $69.00 per night at the Courtyard by Marriot located in Basking Ridge, NJ. if reservations are made 5 days in advance. This is an easy drive to the Headquarters. The # is (908) 542 - 0300
Contact (908) 234-1251 for details
Vonita Bowers
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
USEF Endurance Director
(908) 326-1154 Direct Dial
(908) 234-9417 Fax
(908) 234-0848 Main Number
FEI Endurance Task Force Appointed
The FEI has appointed the members of the Endurance Task Force who have been asked to undertake a full review of the sport ahead of the disciplines major rule review due in January 2009.
Over fifty applications were received from FEI National Federations for persons to fill the twelve places available. In view of the number of applications and the wide range of skills and experience held by those who had applied, the FEI took the decision to increase the number of members to eighteen. However the original number of Divisions within the task force remain the same at six, each with a serving Chairman.
These Chairmen, together with their two co members, will work on the specific areas of review within their division whilst maintaining full communication with the other Divisional Chairman. Many of the areas of review are linked across all six Divisions and so no one part of the Task Force will be independent of another.
The FEI has established a communications portal which will allow the Task Force Members to directly communicate between each other and to receive comment and feedback directly from individuals from within the sport. Full details will be announced shortly.
A progress report will be issued in October with the full recommendations being finalised in early 2008. These recommendations will then be circulated to all National Federations for comment. The FEI Endurance Technical Committee will then fully consider the review proposals (amended as required following NF feed back) ahead of the establishment of the 2009 rule book.
The Task Force will consult widely to ensure input to the process is open to all those involved with the sport. Throughout the process will be open and transparent with regular updates published on the FEI web site.
The cooperative and unified approach to the review of the discipline, as seen at the World Forum in Paris last March, is indicative of the collective wish of FEI Federations to continue to develop and raise the standards of International Endurance sport around the world.
Details of those appointed can be found through the following link:
Link to list of appointments
Over fifty applications were received from FEI National Federations for persons to fill the twelve places available. In view of the number of applications and the wide range of skills and experience held by those who had applied, the FEI took the decision to increase the number of members to eighteen. However the original number of Divisions within the task force remain the same at six, each with a serving Chairman.
These Chairmen, together with their two co members, will work on the specific areas of review within their division whilst maintaining full communication with the other Divisional Chairman. Many of the areas of review are linked across all six Divisions and so no one part of the Task Force will be independent of another.
The FEI has established a communications portal which will allow the Task Force Members to directly communicate between each other and to receive comment and feedback directly from individuals from within the sport. Full details will be announced shortly.
A progress report will be issued in October with the full recommendations being finalised in early 2008. These recommendations will then be circulated to all National Federations for comment. The FEI Endurance Technical Committee will then fully consider the review proposals (amended as required following NF feed back) ahead of the establishment of the 2009 rule book.
The Task Force will consult widely to ensure input to the process is open to all those involved with the sport. Throughout the process will be open and transparent with regular updates published on the FEI web site.
The cooperative and unified approach to the review of the discipline, as seen at the World Forum in Paris last March, is indicative of the collective wish of FEI Federations to continue to develop and raise the standards of International Endurance sport around the world.
Details of those appointed can be found through the following link:
Link to list of appointments
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
OD Tribute to Maggie Price
I didn't know Maggie well -- she was in her declining years when I met her for the first time -- which was, not surprisingly, at the OD ride. I was new to endurance at that time and didn't know her history other than she was a staunch supporter of the OD, and on that day was doing what would be (I believe) her final endurance ride. Because her condition was such that she could only ride at a walk, not many were sure she would be able to do it. But, with the help of a corp of supporters and friends, and astride a wonderful mare, she rode, at a walk, the whole OD 25, crossing the Shenandoah River and back, and making it to the finish line with just moments to share. I remember the standing ovation she got at the awards ceremony, and her big smile -- all because she'd completed the OD once again.
For those who remembered Maggie Price's final desire for an OD dove release tribute -- a tribute which has now become an OD tradition for those who were instrumental to the OD ride, and the sport of endurance -- you'll be delighted to know she got her wish. And when I tell you that she got *exactly* what she'd wished for, I'm not kidding.
At the start of the Awards Program on Sunday several entertaining and touching stories about Maggie were shared with the crowd by those who knew her best, including an emotionally choked Stagg Newman -- which ensured there was quite a few moist eyes being dabbed at the end. The crowd was then invited to step outside the big tent to encircle a wicker basket containing 13 snow white doves owned by OD members Lisa and Andy Green. Their 9 year old son, Hunter (who had been first to finish the Friday 30 LD), performed the release.
It was a very moving scene as the beautiful creatures burst from the basket in a flurry of sparking white, and flew upwards in a magnificent spiraling group flight. All eyes turned heavenward as the flock circled wider and wider over the valley, turning and winging and glittering in a loose, yet perfect formation, going every higher until their flight turned into a magical sparkle of dotted white against a brilliant blue sky and the deep forest green mountains.
As the doves reached the height of the mountain crest they abruptly, and quite unexpectedly, converged into a tight formation, looking remarkably like a white arrowhead pointing west. It was so unusual that everyone gasped. Someone called out "they must have seen a hawk", but as everyone searched the sky ... lo and behold -- - a buzzard floated into view over the top of the western mountain range, directly above the doves! As everyone stood in complete amazement, an entire flock of buzzards drifted over the mountain to join the first, offering their own gentle, circular aerial tribute as the doves circled in flickering white just below.
Never in my life have I seen anything so incredibly perfect ... or so unreal. I'm sure that the entire delighted crowd felt, as I did, that Maggie had had a hand in this, and was sitting up there in the heavens, watching, just smiling from ear to ear.
She'd gotten her heart's desire. Buzzards for her OD tribute.
It couldn't have been more perfect.
Way to go, Maggie. Way to go.
Flora Hillman
President, OD
For those who remembered Maggie Price's final desire for an OD dove release tribute -- a tribute which has now become an OD tradition for those who were instrumental to the OD ride, and the sport of endurance -- you'll be delighted to know she got her wish. And when I tell you that she got *exactly* what she'd wished for, I'm not kidding.
At the start of the Awards Program on Sunday several entertaining and touching stories about Maggie were shared with the crowd by those who knew her best, including an emotionally choked Stagg Newman -- which ensured there was quite a few moist eyes being dabbed at the end. The crowd was then invited to step outside the big tent to encircle a wicker basket containing 13 snow white doves owned by OD members Lisa and Andy Green. Their 9 year old son, Hunter (who had been first to finish the Friday 30 LD), performed the release.
It was a very moving scene as the beautiful creatures burst from the basket in a flurry of sparking white, and flew upwards in a magnificent spiraling group flight. All eyes turned heavenward as the flock circled wider and wider over the valley, turning and winging and glittering in a loose, yet perfect formation, going every higher until their flight turned into a magical sparkle of dotted white against a brilliant blue sky and the deep forest green mountains.
As the doves reached the height of the mountain crest they abruptly, and quite unexpectedly, converged into a tight formation, looking remarkably like a white arrowhead pointing west. It was so unusual that everyone gasped. Someone called out "they must have seen a hawk", but as everyone searched the sky ... lo and behold -- - a buzzard floated into view over the top of the western mountain range, directly above the doves! As everyone stood in complete amazement, an entire flock of buzzards drifted over the mountain to join the first, offering their own gentle, circular aerial tribute as the doves circled in flickering white just below.
Never in my life have I seen anything so incredibly perfect ... or so unreal. I'm sure that the entire delighted crowd felt, as I did, that Maggie had had a hand in this, and was sitting up there in the heavens, watching, just smiling from ear to ear.
She'd gotten her heart's desire. Buzzards for her OD tribute.
It couldn't have been more perfect.
Way to go, Maggie. Way to go.
Flora Hillman
President, OD
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Selectors for US Endurance Teams 2007-2008
The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the following individuals as Endurance Team Selectors for 2007-2008:
Fred Cluskey; Del Mar, CA
Kathryn Downs; Somerville, ME
Linda Howard; Park City, UT
Tom Johnson; Loomis, CA
Jim Wiseman; Jackson, TN
Alternate Selector:
Susan Kasemeyer; Lenoir City, TN
Pan Am and European Endurance Team Veterinary Panels named:
The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the Veterinary Panels for the Pan American Endurance Team and for the European Open Endurance Team:
Pan American Endurance Championship, July 19 - 20 Campinas, Brazil
Todd Holbrook DVM; Stillwater, OK
Dwight Hooton DVM; El Paso, TX
Duncan Peters DVM; Lexington, KY
European Open Endurance Championship, September 8, Barroca D' Alva, Portugal
Jim Bryant, Jr. DVM; Monroe, WA
Martha Misheff DVM; Dubai,UAE
Duncan Peters DVM; Lexington, KY
Fred Cluskey; Del Mar, CA
Kathryn Downs; Somerville, ME
Linda Howard; Park City, UT
Tom Johnson; Loomis, CA
Jim Wiseman; Jackson, TN
Alternate Selector:
Susan Kasemeyer; Lenoir City, TN
Pan Am and European Endurance Team Veterinary Panels named:
The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the Veterinary Panels for the Pan American Endurance Team and for the European Open Endurance Team:
Pan American Endurance Championship, July 19 - 20 Campinas, Brazil
Todd Holbrook DVM; Stillwater, OK
Dwight Hooton DVM; El Paso, TX
Duncan Peters DVM; Lexington, KY
European Open Endurance Championship, September 8, Barroca D' Alva, Portugal
Jim Bryant, Jr. DVM; Monroe, WA
Martha Misheff DVM; Dubai,UAE
Duncan Peters DVM; Lexington, KY
USEF: Open Endurance Clinic
JUNE 22, 23 & 24th
PLACE: The Historic Hamilton Farm, Gladstone, New Jersey.
The Clinic features two and one half days of equestrian instruction and nutritional education. In addition, horses will be evaluated by the USEF Pan American Veterinary Panel. This is a great opportunity to polish your equine skills and knowledge.
This is an OPEN CLINIC. Priority is given to Ranking List Riders who sign up prior to June 10. After that date, riders will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information, see the Clinic Packet or contact:
Vonita Bowers
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
USEF Endurance Director
(908) 326-1154 Direct Dial
(908) 234-9417 Fax
(908) 234-0848 Main Number
Help support our Equestrian Teams by making a donation to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation !
Contact (908) 234-1251 for details
PLACE: The Historic Hamilton Farm, Gladstone, New Jersey.
The Clinic features two and one half days of equestrian instruction and nutritional education. In addition, horses will be evaluated by the USEF Pan American Veterinary Panel. This is a great opportunity to polish your equine skills and knowledge.
This is an OPEN CLINIC. Priority is given to Ranking List Riders who sign up prior to June 10. After that date, riders will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information, see the Clinic Packet or contact:
Vonita Bowers
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
USEF Endurance Director
(908) 326-1154 Direct Dial
(908) 234-9417 Fax
(908) 234-0848 Main Number
Help support our Equestrian Teams by making a donation to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation !
Contact (908) 234-1251 for details
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Julie Suhr reaches 30,000 miles!
Julie Suhr crossed the finish line of the 2007 Shine and Shine Only Endurance ride, for her 30,000th mile of Endurance compeition!
"I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, those people who have congratulated me on crossing the 30,000 mile mark. I have had three things going for me—I was blest at birth with good health, I have had tremendous family support and I have had the financial means to play the game. Not everyone has been that fortunate. I hope by way of payback, for all the sport has given me, to show others that the spirit and the desire to ride a good horse does not lessen with age.
In addition, on Saturday when I achieved my goal, I had the best people in the world by my side. Kathie Perry and Sara Spencer, let me drag on them for 50 miles. Alex North, Becky Glaser, Patricia and Mike Soffel cleaned my horse up for the BC judging because I was too beat. And I know that Bob and our daughter, Barbara, were there every footfall because they wanted this ride for me as much as I did.
For those of you wondering if you are past the point of taking up this sport, and to answer Nik's question, I was 40 when I tried my first endurance ride in 1964. I failed miserably and was rightfully pulled at the first vet check. I completed my first ride in 1965. Bob, for whom it took 25 years of marriage to get on a horse, completed his first ride, the Tevis Cup, in 1976 at the age of 58. He thought it would be easier than crewing. He rode his last 50 miler at age 84. And thank you, Nik, for asking how young we were rather than how old we were.
Trilby and Les and Dave Rabe are the riders with many, many more miles than I have. They are the only ones I know that have been more privileged than I. "
Julie
The following is a biography of Julie Suhr written a few years ago by Pamela Burton, published in HorseCity.Com
Rider Profile - Endurance
Julie Suhr
Hometown: Scott's Valley, California
Biography by Pamela Burton
Julie Suhr just turned 76. She lives in Scott's Valley near Santa Cruz, California. For over thirty years, she has ridden in cross county endurance races of 30, 50, and 100 miles each. Starting in 1968, Julie began riding the coveted 100-mile, one-day Tevis Cup race. She has started the race 28 times and finished 22, with three Haggin Cup wins, the award given to the horse among the top ten finishers, which is judged to be in the best condition to continue. Julie says that her ability to still ride long distances is directly attributed to good health, and a supportive husband.
Julie says there are some changes she has noticed from a lifetime of riding, and some things to keep in mind when "riding into your 70's". First, "polish up your sense of humor". The thing that does not change with age is the thrill of a good ride on a good horse". She admits that the confidence she used to take for granted is tempered by the reality of knowing that if she goes off she could break a hip. She knows her reflex actions and balance are nowhere near as sharp and quick as they once were. She feels that if you are going to continue to compete, the selection of endurance prospects is reduced. She now likes to buy a horse keeping the 6 "S's" in mind; Safe, Sane, Short (14.2 or 3 at most), Smooth, Sound and Sure-Footed.
She has noticed some other changes brought on by the years. She is more sensitive to hunger and thirst. Julie says that she rode her first Tevis Ride (over 30 years ago) with "not a single drop of liquid or food." She now carries four water bottles on her saddle. Her most important addition to her riding gear is her survival fanny pack, which she wears around her waist. "This is my security blanket. It goes where I go." In case of a fall off her horse, she will have on her body:
* A space blanket.
* Band-aids.
* A glowstick to fend off wild animals, or to attract attention.
* A knife with an easy-to-open blade.
* A small leatherman tool that has many uses.
* Some waterproof matches.
* A couple of leather thongs for quick repairs.
* Some benadryl in case of attack by killer bees.
* A few Advil in case of pain.
* A short, small pencil with a tiny notepad. She says the point always breaks the first time you put it in your pack, but no problem, you can sharpen it with your knife.
* Lastly, a lipstick, "Because you never know who you are going to run into out there."
Julie also says that her thermostat no longer works as well as it used to. "I am much more apt to be too cold or too hot than in previous years. She likes Polar fleece that zips up the front so that you can get it off and on without removing your helmet, and is easy to tie around your mid-section with just one loop while riding. Julie is sure that "the two discoveries that have meant the most to mankind are not the discovery of fire or the invention of the wheel. They are polar fleece and Velcro." She has also switched from an English to an endurance type saddle that has a deeper seat and a rounded pommel in the front to give her more support.
Julie continues to go to at least one endurance ride a month, and is often accompanied by her husband and trail companion, Bob, who turned 82 this year.
"I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, those people who have congratulated me on crossing the 30,000 mile mark. I have had three things going for me—I was blest at birth with good health, I have had tremendous family support and I have had the financial means to play the game. Not everyone has been that fortunate. I hope by way of payback, for all the sport has given me, to show others that the spirit and the desire to ride a good horse does not lessen with age.In addition, on Saturday when I achieved my goal, I had the best people in the world by my side. Kathie Perry and Sara Spencer, let me drag on them for 50 miles. Alex North, Becky Glaser, Patricia and Mike Soffel cleaned my horse up for the BC judging because I was too beat. And I know that Bob and our daughter, Barbara, were there every footfall because they wanted this ride for me as much as I did.
For those of you wondering if you are past the point of taking up this sport, and to answer Nik's question, I was 40 when I tried my first endurance ride in 1964. I failed miserably and was rightfully pulled at the first vet check. I completed my first ride in 1965. Bob, for whom it took 25 years of marriage to get on a horse, completed his first ride, the Tevis Cup, in 1976 at the age of 58. He thought it would be easier than crewing. He rode his last 50 miler at age 84. And thank you, Nik, for asking how young we were rather than how old we were.
Trilby and Les and Dave Rabe are the riders with many, many more miles than I have. They are the only ones I know that have been more privileged than I. "
Julie
The following is a biography of Julie Suhr written a few years ago by Pamela Burton, published in HorseCity.Com
Rider Profile - Endurance
Julie Suhr
Hometown: Scott's Valley, California
Biography by Pamela Burton
Julie Suhr just turned 76. She lives in Scott's Valley near Santa Cruz, California. For over thirty years, she has ridden in cross county endurance races of 30, 50, and 100 miles each. Starting in 1968, Julie began riding the coveted 100-mile, one-day Tevis Cup race. She has started the race 28 times and finished 22, with three Haggin Cup wins, the award given to the horse among the top ten finishers, which is judged to be in the best condition to continue. Julie says that her ability to still ride long distances is directly attributed to good health, and a supportive husband.
Julie says there are some changes she has noticed from a lifetime of riding, and some things to keep in mind when "riding into your 70's". First, "polish up your sense of humor". The thing that does not change with age is the thrill of a good ride on a good horse". She admits that the confidence she used to take for granted is tempered by the reality of knowing that if she goes off she could break a hip. She knows her reflex actions and balance are nowhere near as sharp and quick as they once were. She feels that if you are going to continue to compete, the selection of endurance prospects is reduced. She now likes to buy a horse keeping the 6 "S's" in mind; Safe, Sane, Short (14.2 or 3 at most), Smooth, Sound and Sure-Footed.
She has noticed some other changes brought on by the years. She is more sensitive to hunger and thirst. Julie says that she rode her first Tevis Ride (over 30 years ago) with "not a single drop of liquid or food." She now carries four water bottles on her saddle. Her most important addition to her riding gear is her survival fanny pack, which she wears around her waist. "This is my security blanket. It goes where I go." In case of a fall off her horse, she will have on her body:
* A space blanket.
* Band-aids.
* A glowstick to fend off wild animals, or to attract attention.
* A knife with an easy-to-open blade.
* A small leatherman tool that has many uses.
* Some waterproof matches.
* A couple of leather thongs for quick repairs.
* Some benadryl in case of attack by killer bees.
* A few Advil in case of pain.
* A short, small pencil with a tiny notepad. She says the point always breaks the first time you put it in your pack, but no problem, you can sharpen it with your knife.
* Lastly, a lipstick, "Because you never know who you are going to run into out there."
Julie also says that her thermostat no longer works as well as it used to. "I am much more apt to be too cold or too hot than in previous years. She likes Polar fleece that zips up the front so that you can get it off and on without removing your helmet, and is easy to tie around your mid-section with just one loop while riding. Julie is sure that "the two discoveries that have meant the most to mankind are not the discovery of fire or the invention of the wheel. They are polar fleece and Velcro." She has also switched from an English to an endurance type saddle that has a deeper seat and a rounded pommel in the front to give her more support.
Julie continues to go to at least one endurance ride a month, and is often accompanied by her husband and trail companion, Bob, who turned 82 this year.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Marshals ride to rescue horse
by Corey Ross
Wiltshire.co.uk
AN ESCAPED competition horse was rescued safely during a south Wiltshire endurance event, thanks to the efforts of two persistent marshals.
Ted Spires and Reuben Alcock were marshalling the Wiltshire Droves Endurance Event, which started from Salisbury Racecourse, over the Easter weekend when the horse was startled by a car, threw its rider and bolted from the scene of the accident.
[More ...]
Wiltshire.co.uk
AN ESCAPED competition horse was rescued safely during a south Wiltshire endurance event, thanks to the efforts of two persistent marshals.
Ted Spires and Reuben Alcock were marshalling the Wiltshire Droves Endurance Event, which started from Salisbury Racecourse, over the Easter weekend when the horse was startled by a car, threw its rider and bolted from the scene of the accident.
[More ...]
Saturday, April 21, 2007
World Games 2010 Foundation Names Discipline Managers for 2010 Event
The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc. announced its Discipline Manager selections for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. The following individuals have been selected after an exhaustive search process, conducted over the last few months:
Driving: Susan Gilliland, Dunellen, FL USA
Endurance: Art Priesz, Ivanhoe, MN USA
Eventing: Jane Atkinson, Stamping Ground, KY USA
Para-Equestrian: Janis Linnan, Clovis, CA USA
Reining: Brad Ettleman, Denver, CO USA
Vaulting: Kersten Klophaus, Wermelskirchen, Germany
Dressage: Glenda McElroy, Glendale, CA USA
Show Jumping: David Distler (Co-Manager) Norwalk, CT USA
Show Jumping: Hugh Kincannon (Co-Manager) Lexington, KY USA
Vitally important to the overall success of the 2010 Games, the Discipline Managers will be responsible for planning, managing and directing the World Championship competitions, any test events leading up to the 2010 WEG, communicating with the High Performance community and related organizations, and overseeing development and administration of the discipline’s budget. The eight managers will work on a contract basis with the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc.
“Selecting the Discipline Managers has taken extensive time and energy because there were so many terrific candidates around the globe to choose from,” stated Rob Hinkle, Chief Operations Officer for the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc. “The hard work and diligence by many people has paid off, however. We are thrilled that these individuals have agreed to work with us over the next three and a half years.”
“We are very happy with the choices made by the Organizing Committee,” stated Michael Stone, Secretary General of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). “It is an extremely tough task to get to this point because there are so many qualified candidates, but we feel this group will serve us well in 2010.”
The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines ever previously been held together at a single site— both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million. It is anticipated that more than 600,000 spectators will attend the 16-day competition.
Media Contact:
Terry Johnson
Office: +1 859-225-2010, ext. 222
Cell: + 1 859-619-4399
For bios and photos, please follow this link
Driving: Susan Gilliland, Dunellen, FL USA
Endurance: Art Priesz, Ivanhoe, MN USA
Eventing: Jane Atkinson, Stamping Ground, KY USA
Para-Equestrian: Janis Linnan, Clovis, CA USA
Reining: Brad Ettleman, Denver, CO USA
Vaulting: Kersten Klophaus, Wermelskirchen, Germany
Dressage: Glenda McElroy, Glendale, CA USA
Show Jumping: David Distler (Co-Manager) Norwalk, CT USA
Show Jumping: Hugh Kincannon (Co-Manager) Lexington, KY USA
Vitally important to the overall success of the 2010 Games, the Discipline Managers will be responsible for planning, managing and directing the World Championship competitions, any test events leading up to the 2010 WEG, communicating with the High Performance community and related organizations, and overseeing development and administration of the discipline’s budget. The eight managers will work on a contract basis with the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc.
“Selecting the Discipline Managers has taken extensive time and energy because there were so many terrific candidates around the globe to choose from,” stated Rob Hinkle, Chief Operations Officer for the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc. “The hard work and diligence by many people has paid off, however. We are thrilled that these individuals have agreed to work with us over the next three and a half years.”
“We are very happy with the choices made by the Organizing Committee,” stated Michael Stone, Secretary General of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). “It is an extremely tough task to get to this point because there are so many qualified candidates, but we feel this group will serve us well in 2010.”
The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines ever previously been held together at a single site— both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million. It is anticipated that more than 600,000 spectators will attend the 16-day competition.
Media Contact:
Terry Johnson
Office: +1 859-225-2010, ext. 222
Cell: + 1 859-619-4399
For bios and photos, please follow this link
Thursday, March 22, 2007
USEF: Ranking List Trials for 2007
The Endurance International High Performance Committee wishes to announce the following rides as Ranking Trials for 2007 and beyond (Pending Approval of new Procedures for Rider Ranking, Team Selection and Endurance Selection Trials by the USEF Executive Committee).
Points may be earned at the events listed below toward placement on the Endurance Rider Ranking List. Additional events may be added at a later date. This memo is also posted on the USEF Web site.
For more information please see the Press Release on the proposed procedures dated December 6th, 2006 or contact:
Vonita Bowers, Endurance Director vbowers@usef.org
(908) 326-1154 Direct Dial
(908) 234-9417 Fax
(908) 234-0848 Main Number
(903) 563-0732 Cell #
(1. 20 Mule Team, February)
2. FITS CEI3*
Mar. 9-11
Morriston,Fl
Jan Stevens
3. Git-R-Done II CEI3*
Apr. 14
Inyokern, Ca
Carolyn Hock
4. Biltmore Challenge CEI3*
May 5-6
Asheville, NC
Cheryl Newman
5. Ft. Howes CEI3*
June 10
Ashland, MT
Jan Stevens
6. Spirit of Excellence 100 CEI 3*
July 22
Ontario, Canada
Fred Buchanan
7. Arabian Nights CEI3*
Aug. 25
Oreana,ID
John and Steph Teeter
8. USEF National Zones Team Challenge CE13*
Sept. 22
Ashland, MT
Bill and Jan Stevens
In addition, the following National Rides have been added to the list
1. Vermont 100
July 21
West Windsor,VT
John Greenall
2. WSTR 100 "Tevis Cup"
July 28
Truckee, Ca
Bill Pieper
3. Armadillo 100
October 27
Kennard, Tx
Bo and Linda Parrish
4. Git R Done 100
October 27
Inyokern, Ca
Tammy Robinson
5. Carolina 100
November 27
Bethume. SC
J D Fountain
Points may be earned at the events listed below toward placement on the Endurance Rider Ranking List. Additional events may be added at a later date. This memo is also posted on the USEF Web site.
For more information please see the Press Release on the proposed procedures dated December 6th, 2006 or contact:
Vonita Bowers, Endurance Director vbowers@usef.org
(908) 326-1154 Direct Dial
(908) 234-9417 Fax
(908) 234-0848 Main Number
(903) 563-0732 Cell #
(1. 20 Mule Team, February)
2. FITS CEI3*
Mar. 9-11
Morriston,Fl
Jan Stevens
3. Git-R-Done II CEI3*
Apr. 14
Inyokern, Ca
Carolyn Hock
4. Biltmore Challenge CEI3*
May 5-6
Asheville, NC
Cheryl Newman
5. Ft. Howes CEI3*
June 10
Ashland, MT
Jan Stevens
6. Spirit of Excellence 100 CEI 3*
July 22
Ontario, Canada
Fred Buchanan
7. Arabian Nights CEI3*
Aug. 25
Oreana,ID
John and Steph Teeter
8. USEF National Zones Team Challenge CE13*
Sept. 22
Ashland, MT
Bill and Jan Stevens
In addition, the following National Rides have been added to the list
1. Vermont 100
July 21
West Windsor,VT
John Greenall
2. WSTR 100 "Tevis Cup"
July 28
Truckee, Ca
Bill Pieper
3. Armadillo 100
October 27
Kennard, Tx
Bo and Linda Parrish
4. Git R Done 100
October 27
Inyokern, Ca
Tammy Robinson
5. Carolina 100
November 27
Bethume. SC
J D Fountain
Monday, March 19, 2007
USA: Valley woman wins riding award
by Susie Vasquez
The freedom of an open trail is the best thing about equestrian endurance competitions for both the rider and in many cases, the horse, said Carson Valley resident Suzanne Ford Huff.
"I grew up in Montana and tried showing, but I didn't like being confined to an arena," Huff said. "It's more natural for a horse to be out in nature than an arena. They're happier - at least an Arabian is."
She has a right to that opinion. She's an avid competitor and this year won first place in the American Endurance Ride Conference 100-mile category for the 2006 season, a national award.
Endurance riding is a controlled long-distance race that can take up to 24 hours, the top-level races 100 miles or longer.
Huff said she is goal-oriented and loves the challenge. Fifty-mile competitions are a little too tame, so right now she is concentrating on the 100-mile.
[More ...]
"I grew up in Montana and tried showing, but I didn't like being confined to an arena," Huff said. "It's more natural for a horse to be out in nature than an arena. They're happier - at least an Arabian is."
She has a right to that opinion. She's an avid competitor and this year won first place in the American Endurance Ride Conference 100-mile category for the 2006 season, a national award.
Endurance riding is a controlled long-distance race that can take up to 24 hours, the top-level races 100 miles or longer.
Huff said she is goal-oriented and loves the challenge. Fifty-mile competitions are a little too tame, so right now she is concentrating on the 100-mile.
[More ...]
Friday, March 02, 2007
US: Endurance in Arizona
Horse and rider going long way
Kim Goetz
Special for The Republic
Mar. 2, 2007 12:00 AM
Stephanie DuRoss of Queen Creek has covered nearly 5,000 miles of trails on horseback.
An endurance rider for 19 years, DuRoss, 33, and her horse, an Arabian gelding named Hadji, have logged half of those miles on trails all over the country.
"I've had a phenomenal year with him (each of) the last two years," said DuRoss of the gelding she purchased for $1,500 from a rancher six years ago. Little did she know how well this former hunting mount would do as an endurance horse.
advertisement
DuRoss and Hadji were recognized for their most recent achievements at the American Endurance Ride Conference in Nevada last week, taking three national and four regional awards.
The horse and rider team was among three in the nation to receive a gold medal for the completion of a series that included five multiday rides that covered 155 to 250 miles each.
"That's pretty huge," DuRoss said. "It takes a good three years to get an endurance horse to do what he is doing now."
DuRoss said she has to take good care of her horse on and off the trail to get so many miles out of him.
A typical training day for the duo consists of a 20-mile ride on sand, hills and rock through the San Tan Mountain Park. In the world of endurance riding, limited distance trails start at 25 miles, DuRoss said.
Although the majority of the horses that compete in endurance are Arabians, all breeds are welcome and most that ride pleasure trails are conditioned enough to compete in limited distances, she said.
"The goal of endurance riding in general is 'to finish is to win,' " said DuRoss. "There are some people that go out there and just ride because they want to be with their horse."
Veterinary checks before, during and after the ride require horses to meet several physical criteria in order to continue on and complete the trail. DuRoss said finishing the trail is one thing, but to finish with your horse in the best condition is a huge accomplishment.
"The welfare of the horse is top priority," said Rusty Toth, ride manager for an upcoming endurance ride at McDowell Regional Park in Scottsdale. "That's where the challenge of the sport comes in. You have to know the fitness level of your horse."
DuRoss said she paces her ride depending on her horse that particular day. At times she will get off and run beside Hadji to save his energy so that he finishes stronger and in good condition.
"Each ride is different," said DuRoss. "I try and take care of him so he can take care of me."
DuRoss and Hadji will compete in a 55-mile endurance ride in Scottsdale. Although there are several endurance rides in Arizona, this will be the first in the Valley in some time.
The Scottsdale McDowell Mountain Endurance Ride will be April 7. It will include 25- and 55-mile rides.
Kim Goetz
Special for The Republic
Mar. 2, 2007 12:00 AM
Stephanie DuRoss of Queen Creek has covered nearly 5,000 miles of trails on horseback.An endurance rider for 19 years, DuRoss, 33, and her horse, an Arabian gelding named Hadji, have logged half of those miles on trails all over the country.
"I've had a phenomenal year with him (each of) the last two years," said DuRoss of the gelding she purchased for $1,500 from a rancher six years ago. Little did she know how well this former hunting mount would do as an endurance horse.
advertisement
DuRoss and Hadji were recognized for their most recent achievements at the American Endurance Ride Conference in Nevada last week, taking three national and four regional awards.
The horse and rider team was among three in the nation to receive a gold medal for the completion of a series that included five multiday rides that covered 155 to 250 miles each.
"That's pretty huge," DuRoss said. "It takes a good three years to get an endurance horse to do what he is doing now."
DuRoss said she has to take good care of her horse on and off the trail to get so many miles out of him.
A typical training day for the duo consists of a 20-mile ride on sand, hills and rock through the San Tan Mountain Park. In the world of endurance riding, limited distance trails start at 25 miles, DuRoss said.
Although the majority of the horses that compete in endurance are Arabians, all breeds are welcome and most that ride pleasure trails are conditioned enough to compete in limited distances, she said.
"The goal of endurance riding in general is 'to finish is to win,' " said DuRoss. "There are some people that go out there and just ride because they want to be with their horse."
Veterinary checks before, during and after the ride require horses to meet several physical criteria in order to continue on and complete the trail. DuRoss said finishing the trail is one thing, but to finish with your horse in the best condition is a huge accomplishment.
"The welfare of the horse is top priority," said Rusty Toth, ride manager for an upcoming endurance ride at McDowell Regional Park in Scottsdale. "That's where the challenge of the sport comes in. You have to know the fitness level of your horse."
DuRoss said she paces her ride depending on her horse that particular day. At times she will get off and run beside Hadji to save his energy so that he finishes stronger and in good condition.
"Each ride is different," said DuRoss. "I try and take care of him so he can take care of me."
DuRoss and Hadji will compete in a 55-mile endurance ride in Scottsdale. Although there are several endurance rides in Arizona, this will be the first in the Valley in some time.
The Scottsdale McDowell Mountain Endurance Ride will be April 7. It will include 25- and 55-mile rides.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Endurance.Net does the Scottsdale Arabian Show
By Merri Melde
Or, HILL-RIDIN' YOKEL MEETS THE BLUE BLOODS.
Or, AN ENDURANCE HILLBILLY'S INTERPRETATION OF A CLASSY HORSE SHOW.
I've seen a few jumping and dressage shows and 3-day eventing shows on TV, but I've never been to a big horse show like the Scottsdale Arabian Show, first held in 1955, and now one of the largest Arabian shows in the country. I know I'm going to catch flak from show people, but here's my astute analysis of the show world based on my observations.
Now, seeing that I ride Arabian endurance horses, I know a little bit about Arabians. In fact, I've ridden a lot of Arabian endurance horses, many many thousands of miles, in many stages of their training, over varied terrain and in all kinds of weather, Arabians that can go 50 or 100 miles in one day, or 50 miles several days in a row, and I've ridden one or two pretty good ones. Admittedly, I have terrible form, riding with my feet way out in front of me, probably leaning too far forward and hunching over my hands, (dressage teachers cringe when they see me coming anywhere near their arena), but this keeps me in the saddle with green spooky horses, which I've ridden a lot of. So, I know a little about Arabians. Or, I thought I did.
The Whole Story
Or, HILL-RIDIN' YOKEL MEETS THE BLUE BLOODS.
Or, AN ENDURANCE HILLBILLY'S INTERPRETATION OF A CLASSY HORSE SHOW.
I've seen a few jumping and dressage shows and 3-day eventing shows on TV, but I've never been to a big horse show like the Scottsdale Arabian Show, first held in 1955, and now one of the largest Arabian shows in the country. I know I'm going to catch flak from show people, but here's my astute analysis of the show world based on my observations.
Now, seeing that I ride Arabian endurance horses, I know a little bit about Arabians. In fact, I've ridden a lot of Arabian endurance horses, many many thousands of miles, in many stages of their training, over varied terrain and in all kinds of weather, Arabians that can go 50 or 100 miles in one day, or 50 miles several days in a row, and I've ridden one or two pretty good ones. Admittedly, I have terrible form, riding with my feet way out in front of me, probably leaning too far forward and hunching over my hands, (dressage teachers cringe when they see me coming anywhere near their arena), but this keeps me in the saddle with green spooky horses, which I've ridden a lot of. So, I know a little about Arabians. Or, I thought I did.
The Whole Story
Ride Over the Rainbow to AHA Regional Championship
Ride Over the Rainbow, a 50 and 100 mile ride in British Columbia, has been awarded the Region 17 Endurance Championships from AHA!
The championships have historically been held in Manitoba at Myna Cryderman’s rides however, I hope that we can alternate throughout Region 17 to afford everyone a chance to compete in a Regional Championship ride without travelling half way across the country! I am very pleased to promote the excellence of OUR wonderful Arabians in this discipline!
The rides will be held on July 1st, 2007 (yes, a Sunday) at our usual base camp near Merritt, BC. Trail includes 8,900’ of vertical gain over 100 miles on logging roads and cow and game trails. Views are of four separate valleys and mountain ranges. Start and finish lines are at base camp with one ‘out’ vet check for the 100 mile ride.Contact Barbara Holmes-Balmer at (250)768-8206 edress: bahoba2@silk.net or check out Rainbow’s page on the ERABC website page www.erabc.com for information as it becomes available!
Submitted by Barbara Holmes-Balmer
Ride Manager
Sunday, February 25, 2007
AERC Convention 2007
February 23/24
AERC National Convention
Reno, Nevada
AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference) members gathered for the annual convention. NATRC (North American Trail Ride Conference) joined the AERC for a grand gathering of distance riders.
A huge trade show kept shoppers and vendors busy, and two days of presentations, lectures and hands-on clinics provided education and entertainment to convention goers.
The Saturday night banquet and awards ceremony was in a packed room. AERC presented awards to it's top riders and horses in many divisions.
The prestigious Hall of Fame and Pard'ners Awards were presented to:
Maryben Stover - California resident: long-time rider, ridemanager and supporter of junior riders.
Pandora's Pixy - owned by the late Randy Coleman, a mare that has achieved 11,000 lifetime miles in Endurance, and the 'Perfect Ten' award (10,000+ miles, 10 wins, 10 Best Conditions.
John Park and Remington - Pard'ners through 10,000 miles and years of trails and trials.
An assortment of photos can be found at Gallery
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