American Endurance Ride Conference Names 2014 Honorees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RENO, Nevada – March 10, 2015 – In a sport where simply crossing the finish line takes determination and grit, earning Hall of Fame honors in the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) is reserved for those riders and equines with true tenacity. Endurance enthusiasts from all over the country gathered this weekend in Reno to attend the AERC Annual Conference and national awards banquet where Pat Oliva, 78, was named AERC’s Hall of Fame person. Pat has been competing in endurance riding for more than 40 years, with a 21,495 lifetime miles on rides of 50 miles or longer. An inspiration to all who know her, the Woodbine, Maryland, septuagenarian completed 575 miles of endurance competition in 2014.

Introduced by one of the many riders Pat has mentored over the years, AERC Board Member Skip Kemerer, Pat took to the stage with her characteristic modesty and good humor. “I want you to know that it’s because of all of you that I’m still riding,” she said. “We race each other but in the afternoon, when the ride is over, we’re all friends.” Upon accepting her award, Pat encouraged her fellow endurance riders to “pass that kindness on to others.” Known for her loud and frequent laugh, Pat rode the first-ever Old Dominion endurance ride, back in 1974, as well as the 40th anniversary ride in 2014. Her main mount over the past year has been Colonel Pepper, an 18-year-old bay Arabian gelding.

AERC’s Hall of Fame horse for 2014 is MRR Pyro (“Murphy”), owned by Karen Fredrickson of Kneeland, California. Murphy is a ranch horse who just happens to have captured just about every honor an equine can earn in AERC: Decade Team (10 years of competition with a single rider), Perfect Ten (10,000 miles, 10 years of competition, 10 first place wins, 10 Best Condition wins), and the Pard’ners Award, for the ultimate in sportsmanship and team partnership, with his human counterpart.

Murphy, 18, has a 97% completion rate, remarkable in a sport where so much can happen over 50 miles of competition out on trails in the wilderness. Karen accepted the award for Murphy, calling him her “once-in-a-lifetime horse” and said he was the personification of all the horses in children’s stories, cowboy tales and Disney movies you could imagine.

American Endurance Ride Conference Names 2014 Honorees 2-2-2-2

The organization’s Pard’ners Award went to Ron Barrett and Rafuro HCC. With 132 finishes out of 134 starts, the duo teamed up to compete for 19 seasons before Raf retired in 2006. To date, Ron has completed 11,200 AERC miles and Raf retired with 7,380 miles.

Gail Williams of Zillah, Washington, won the Ann Parr Trails Preservation Award for her trail building (and re-building) work in endurance riding’s Northwest Region. The Anne Ayala Junior Scholarship went to young rider Starla Dale of Murrieta, California.

Members of the nonprofit American Endurance Ride Conference, which sanctions distance rides of 25 to 100 miles, will again gather for their annual awards presentations next March in Reno, Nevada. More information on endurance riding is available by visiting www.aerc.org or by calling the AERC office at 823-2260. By request, the office will send out a free information packet to prospective members.

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

National AERC Award Winners for 2014 Announced

March 8 2015

At the annual AERC Convention last night in Reno, Nevada, the new AERC Hall of Fame recipients were announced in front of a festive dinner crowd.

Pat Oliva from Maryland in the Northeast region was named the 2014 Hall of Fame Person. Pat has well over 21,000 endurance miles and is known for her good humor and for helping people along the way. "If you can't take the time to stop and help somebody. you don't belong in this sport," she said in her acceptance speech.

MRR Pyro, owned and ridden by Karen Fredrickson from the West region was named the 2014 Hall of Fame Horse. With over 10,400 miles, "Murph" and Karen won the 2011 Pard'ners Award. Endurance isn't his only career, said Dr Dave Nicholson who presented the award. He's also "just an ol' ranch horse," who's put on plenty of miles over the years in that aspect.

2014 Pard'ners Award went to Ron Barrett from the Southwest region and Rafuro HCC. With over 7400 miles on his record, "Raff" is 35 years old now and "he could still outrun me," Barrett said in his acceptance speech.

Gail Williams from the Northwest region was surprised with the Ann Parr Trails Preservation Award. Aarene Storms presented the award.

More National Awards will be found on the AERC website.

More updates from the weekend convention can be found here: http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2015AERC/

Slight Redesign of This Year's Tevis Buckle

A minimally redesigned 60th anniversary Tevis buckle will be available for those horse-and-rider teams who complete the 60th anniversary running of the Western States Trail Ride on August 1st, 2015.

According to Tevis Ride Director President Chuck Stalley, "We have drafted, and the BOG has approved, a slight redesign of the award buckle to include "60th Anniversary" on the top banner in the location where "Award" usually sits.

"Pending final negotiations with our buckle production company, this will become reality for our ride finishers in August. Stay tuned for confirmation of news on the special buckle for this year's ride. It will be beautiful either way."

For more information on the 60th anniversary ride or for an entry form, see
Teviscup.org

AERC Convention HOT TOPICS Session Heating Up

AERC.org

March 2 2015

Due to the current raging debates and controversies on multiple forums and discussion groups world-wide over the Middle East racing debacles and the passions that proposed solutions have raised, AERC Convention Hot Topics are getting hotter!

John Parke has announced that the Friday morning Hot Topic seminar, from 7:30 - 8:45 AM, will now be: “How Should the AERC Respond to Horse Welfare Issues in International Endurance Riding?”

It's an opportunity for your voices to be heard. Please attend, listen, discuss, and learn!

FOSH Announces 2014 Gaited Distance Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2015
 
Friends of Sound Horse (FOSH) is pleased to announce the Award winners for the 2014 FOSH Gaited Distance Program.  The FOSH Gaited Distance Program is a Division of the FOSH Gaited Sport Horse that records, recognizes and rewards gaited horses involved in the sports of Competitive Trail Riding, Limited Distance and Endurance Riding.  Entrants included the Icelandic Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse, Tennessee Walking Horse, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse, Single Footing Horse, Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Paso Fino and Rocky Mountain Horse.  The high mileage award winner was a Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse in the Endurance Division.    
 
Predominio de la Armistad, a Paso Fino, owned by Susan Crawford of York, PA was the award recipient in the Light Weight Division of the Competitive Trail Category.  The Reserve in this Division was the Paso Fino, Illuvia de la Pluma, also owned by Susan Crawford.
 
Dancer’s American Beauty, a Tennessee Walking Horse owned by Dorothy Foster of Oroville, CA was the winner of the Limited Distance Award in the Lightweight Division.  The reserve in this category was also a Tennessee Walking Horse, Scarlet Ribbons Gold Rush owned by Valerie Lewis Jaffe of Ennis, TX.
 
Mocha Jack, a horse familiar to those in the sport of Endurance repeated his win from 2013 by capturing the Endurance Lightweight Division.  This Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse is owned and ridden by Becky Lange of Santa Maria, CA.  The reserve in this Division was also a repeat winner from 2013.  The Tennessee Walking Horse Ebony’s Bravo Moon was reserve in the Lightweight Endurance category.  Owned by Laurie Henschel of Clintonville, WI, he was the 2013 winner of the Limited Distance Award.
 
Champagne Supernova, a Singlefooting horse owned by Laura Horst of Cool, CA was the winner in the Endurance Lightweight Division. 
 
Mocha Jack captured the Overall High Milege Award by logging the greatest number of competitive miles in any Category.  In earning these miles, Mocha Jack had 12 top ten finishes including 1 first, 1 second, 1 third, 2 fourths, and 2 fifths.  This Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse is owned and ridden by Becky Lange.  The Tennessee Walking Horse, Ebony’s Bravo Moon owned by Laurie Henschell was reserve.  Stonewall Saddle Company was the sponsor of the High Mileage Award. 
 
FOSH thanks all gaited horse owners who supported the GOSH Gaited Distance Program in 2014.  We look forward to the 2015 competitive year and the opportunity to recognize and reward gaited horses who compete in the equine sport of Competitive Trail Rides, Limited Distance and Endurance.
 
About FOSH:  Since 1998, FOSH is the only national organization dedicated to the promotion of the sound gaited horse emotionally, mentally and physically; fair competition; and humane training and education regardless of breed or discipline.

Contact Person: Teresa Bippen
tbippen1957@yahoo.com

Applications Now Being Accepted for U.S. Endurance Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor Position

USEFNetwork.com

RELEASE: February 25, 2015
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky. - Following a comprehensive review of the position, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is seeking a U.S. Endurance Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor.

The job description and application can be found here.

Individuals interested in serving as the U.S. Endurance Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor must submit an application no later than Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

For more information regarding the process of hiring the U.S. Endurance Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor contact Kristen Brett at kbrett@usef.org or 859.225.6919.

Endurance Heart Size

Elite endurance horses have bigger hearts than their less successful fellows, according to a recent report in the American Journal of Veterinary Research.

Dr Meg M Sleeper and colleagues examined 34 Arabian endurance horses. Based on their performance in a recent competition, horses were classified as elite (23 horses) and less successful (11).

A standardised ultrasound examination of each horse's heart was carried out…

Read more here:
http://www.equinescienceupdate.com/articles/ehs.html?utm_source=Equine+Science+Update+enews+Jan+2015+%28FREE%29&utm_campaign=CCJan15Free&utm_medium=email

Take the Endurance Riding Survey

February 24 2015

Does the current format of American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) suit your needs and desires? Are there some changes or additions that you feel could enhance your experience or help grow the sport of Endurance Riding in the United States? This will be a Hot Topic discussion at the AERC Convention in Reno, March 6 so let us know your thoughts. All responses to this survey are anonymous.



Or if you like the sport the way it is, please take the time to tell us that too!



This survey is being conducted by www.Endurance.Net and responses will be shared with the AERC Board of Directors, as well as the larger community of Endurance Riders.


Take the survey at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AERCEndurance

Tevis Talks Will Feature Clinton Anderson

Teviscup.org

On Thursday evening March 5, 2015, at the Old State Theatre in Auburn, California, Clinton Anderson will be the guest speaker at "Tevis Talks", sponsored by the Western States Trail Foundation.

Australian Clinton Anderson and the Downunder Horsemanship Method have helped thousands of horses and riders. He is committed to inspire the dreams of horsemen and horsewomen everywhere.

No-Host open bar begins at 6 PM; talk hosted by Matt Scribner begins at 7:30 PM. Signature "Gold" tickets are $175; Signature "Silver" tickets are $75; General Admission tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door.

Purchase your ticket on-line at the Tevis Store:
http://teviscup.org/the-tevis-store#!/TEVIS-TALKS-with-CLINTON-ANDERSON/c/8511030/offset=0&sort=priceAsc
or call WSTF at 530-823-7282 for more information.

AERC Convention's Trade Show Includes Book Barn

February 20 2015

A "Book Barn" will join the Trade Show vendors at the 2015 AERC Convention in Reno, Nevada, on March 6 and 7. Authors Aarene Storms (Endurance 101), Sharma Gaponoff (Tevis, From the Back of My Horse) and Merri Melde (Soul Deep in Horses: Memoir of an Equestrian Vagabond) will be present to sign their books or CDs and entertain with tall tales of their endurance adventures.

Books by other endurance authors will be available, including Karen Bumgarner (America's Long Distance Challenge II: New Century, New Trails, and More Miles), Leonard Liesens (Endurance: A French Perspective), Dodie Sable (To Finish Is to Win: One Woman's Riding Adventures, and A Day in the Life Of… ), Julie Suhr (…but it wasn't the Horse's Fault), and Steph Teeter (Training and Event Journal - cartoon style).

For more information and to sign up for the Convention, see:
http://www.aerc.org/2015Convention.pdf

AERC Raffle Donation Request

Hooray for AERC's fabulous ride managers! AERC is successful only because of the dedication of all our ride managers.

We are seeking donations of ride entries to include in the AERC convention raffle. These are always sought-after prizes at the popular raffle booth. If your ride is/was before the convention on March 6 & 7 (this year's convention dates), please consider donating an entry to your 2016 ride.

You can send a certificate to the AERC office or just send word by reply e-mail and we will make up a certificate for you with the ride name, date, etc., and your contact information. We'll have the certificates up on the raffle table at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno for all members to check out, and will be handing out flyers listing all the ride managers that have donated entries.

We hope to have lots of ride entries in our raffle! They are a highly-sought after raffle prize by the attendees. Thanks again for your hard work and dedication to the sport.

Please let us know if we may be of any assistance.

The AERC Office Staff -- Kathleen & Troy
American Endurance Ride Conference
P.O. Box 6027, Auburn, CA 95604
866-271-2372
http://www.aerc.org

Reply to Troy at endurancenews@foothill.net

Feb 20 is Last Day for Discounted Seminars at AERC Convention

Have you registered for the 2015 AERC Convention yet?

Tomorrow, Friday February 20, is the last day to register for the AERC Convention Speaker Seminars at the discounted rate. The Convention will be held Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7 in Reno, Nevada. Email your registration forms on or before February 20 for the discount. After February 20, all registrations received will be processed at the on-site rate.

Additionally, cancellations received after February 20 will be assessed $10. No refunds for no-shows!

For more information and to register, see
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2015AERC/2015Convention.pdf.

Unbranded: 4 Men Riding Mustangs Across the American West and it Started in Aggieland

HoustonPress Blogs - Full Article

By Margaret Downing Wed., Feb. 18 2015

The photographs are breathtaking, the idea for the enterprise and how they were able to carry it out equally so.
In Unbranded, author Ben Masters tells the story of how he got the idea that what he really needed to do was to ride horses across the American West. He recounts how it started at Texas A&M University "one of the few places in the world where you can find people crazy enough to ride a horse for thousands of miles."

Masters had undertaken a long-distance riding trip with a friend -- four months and 2,000 miles -- on quarter horses. When he decided to do it again, he says he realized he needed a different kind of horse, one more adaptable to back country hardships.

He chose the mustang...

Read more here:
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2015/02/unbranded_4_men_riding_mustangs_across_the_american_west_and_it_started_in_aggieland.php

Take Action: Ask Your Member of Congress to Support H.R. 845, the "Forest Trails" Bill

February 18 2015

Last week, the National Forest "trails bill" that Back Country Horsemen of America supported last year was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Cynthia Lummis  (R-WY)  and Tim Walz (D-MN). The bill, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act (H.R. 845), continues to spur high-level dialogue and a search for solutions to the growing trail maintenance crisis on our national forests.
 
BCHA strongly supports H.R. 845.
 
You can click here to read the text of the bill as introduced.
 
The bill was introduced at the request of BCHA and our partners, The Wilderness Society and American Horse Council. It responds, in part, to a June 2013 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that reviewed the status and causes of the Forest Service trail maintenance backlog. 
 
If enacted as currently written, H.R. 845 would:
• Direct the U.S. Forest Service to develop a strategy to more effectively utilize volunteers and partners to assist in maintaining national forest trails;
• Provide outfitters and guides the ability to pay permit fees in trail maintenance activities instead of dollars;
• Address the liability issue that hampers volunteer and partner trail maintenance activity in some national forests; and
• Prioritize specific areas for trail maintenance within national forests.
 
Take Action!
Please call or write your congressional representative to express support for H.R. 845. As a result of widespread bipartisan interest, the bill could move quickly through the House of Representatives if no controversial provisions or requests for new appropriations are added. We also hope to see a companion bill introduced in the Senate soon.
 
Go to this website to find contact information for your member of Congress. In your own words, tell your representative why you support H.R. 845, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act. Tell them of your passion for, and commitment to, keeping national forest trails open and enjoyed by horsemen and others. Lastly, please ask them to consider co-sponsoring H.R. 845.
 
If you are a resident of Wyoming or Minnesota, please include in your message a heartfelt "Thank You!" to Representatives Lummis and Walz, respectively, for introducing H.R. 845 on behalf of the Back Country Horsemen.
 
Feel free to share copies of your letters (quietrecreation@gmail.com) with BCHA's Advisor for Public Lands & Recreation, including any response you receive from your member of Congress.
 
BCHA is excited to have this bill reintroduced.
 
Our campaign has taken nearly three years to get to this point. Consequently, we believe BCHA is well-positioned--along with its partners--to continue to explore and promote lasting solutions to the trail maintenance crisis on our National Forests.
 
Thank you! And please call or send letters today to you congressional representative in support of H.R. 845.
 
Jim McGarvey, Chairman
Back Country Horsemen of America

Register Today for the 2015 American Endurance Ride Conference Convention

Journalists are invited to attend the AERC Conference Seminars free of charge. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Register Today for the 2015 American Endurance Ride Conference Convention
Join us March 6-7, 2015 at the Grand Sierra Resort, Reno Nevada

AUBURN, California – February 18, 2015 – Endurance competitors and enthusiasts from all over the United States will gather on March 6 & 7, 2015 at the Grand Sierra Resort, in Reno, Nevada for the annual American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) Convention.  The agenda features a wide array of informative seminars and discussions on topics of top interest to participants in the sport of endurance. For more info, and to register and receive the best pricing on conference seminars, please visit http://www.aerc.org/2015Convention.pdf and register before February 20.

Conference attendees always enjoy the popular annual Tack Swap that allows riders to pick up tack and related items at bargain prices, with 10% of proceeds benefitting the AERC.  Attendees can also attend the free trade show which runs Friday 9-6 and Saturday 9-5 and features a wide variety of vendors that offer a great opportunity to purchase the type of gear distance horses generally use.

A perfect venue for those interested in learning more about the sport of endurance riding, the Conference features informative Speaker Seminars by industry leading experts sharing their knowledge in equine health care, endurance riding and endurance-related fields. For example, Jan Hancock, author of Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds and equestrian representative on the American Trails National Advisory Board, will kick off the conference with a presentation on Protecting Trail Access and Planning for Future Access. Additional seminar topics include Body Condition Scoring & Other Current Topics with Susan Garlinghouse, MS, DVM; Dr. Kenneth Marcella DVM will be taking an in-depth look at the structure and function of the equine back in Back Issues in the Endurance Horse; Karen Chaton will offer a top rider’s perspective in Longevity: Keep Your Horse Going for Years; and in The Ins and Outs of Garnering a Best Condition, World Champion and Tevis Cup winner Becky Grand Hart will share her tips for how you can increase your equine’s chances of earning best condition at your upcoming rides. (For a complete listing of Conference seminars, please visit www.aerc.org)

John Parke will host two free early-morning ‘Hot Topic’ workshops where endurance riders can participate in thought-provoking discussions. This year’s topics include “Cooking Up an AERC Ride: Should We Change the Recipe?” and “Fishing for Members: Casting the Net Without Tossing ’em Back” led by Patti Stedman.

In addition to the informative sessions, the AERC has a full weekend of events planned for all attendees including:

·       National Awards Banquet. AERC’s top riders and equines for the 2014 season will be honored at Saturday’s banquet. Also recognized will be the Hall of Fame and Pard’ners Award recipients and equines who have reached 5,000+ endurance miles. Don’t miss this special evening.

·       Regional Awards. Winners of regional mileage, points, and best condition awards for endurance and limited distance will be celebrated and acknowledged at a ceremony/reception on Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

·       Friday Night Dance. Come mingle and dance at this always-fun evening of music, dancing and celebration.

·       Raffle. The popular AERC raffle drawings take place during trade show hours (tickets: $1 each). Most vendors make donations to the raffle, and numerous ride managers from all regions will be donating ride entries. If you have items you’d like to donate to the raffle, bring them by the raffle booth at the start of the convention. Raffle benefits AERC.

·       General Session. This open forum meeting, held Saturday at 11:00 a.m., offers members an opportunity to speak directly with AERC board members. Come and express your views on the direction of the organization and the sport of endurance riding. Election of officers by the AERC board of directors will also take place during this session.

·       Committee Meetings. Most AERC committees meet during convention. Meeting times will be posted at the convention.
About the AERC
The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) was founded in 1972 as a national governing body for long distance riding. Over the years it has developed a set of rules and guidelines designed to provide a standardized format and strict veterinary controls. The AERC sanctions more than 700 rides each year throughout North America and in 1993 Endurance became the fifth discipline under the United States Equestrian Team.

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

For more information please contact:

Candace FitzGerald

Dobbin Group

candace@dobbin-group.com

603-738-2788

A Personal Rant About What’s Become of FEI Endurance

Enduranceintrospection Blog - Full Article

By Patti Stedman | December 7th, 2013

[The first thing I have to do is officially divorce my personal opinions, comments and this entire rant from what is my official role on the AERC Board of Directors. I have certainly expressed my thoughts and feelings and ideas to that group of twenty-six, and am open to discussing that if anyone has questions on what is going with regard to doing BoD business, but not here, and not today.]

Here, this morning, I am going to have a temper tantrum of massive proportion to express my disgust and frustration.

I am furious that international competition, which left me cheering and proud in the late 1990s when I was just starting the sport, has become a shamefully divisive topic of discussion...

Read more here:
http://enduranceintrospection.com/a-personal-rant-about-whats-become-of-fei-endurance/

AERC Board of Directors Appalled at Equine Deaths in Abu Dhabi CEN Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
American Endurance Ride Conference Board of Directors
Date: February 11, 2015

The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) Board of Directors is expressing anger and disgust following reports of three equine fatalities which occurred at a national Concours Endurance Nationale (CEN) event held in Abu Dhabi January 31, 2015.

Horrifying photographs show Splitters Creek Bundy, a 12-year-old Australian-bred gelding, collapsing into the sand with catastrophic fractures of both front legs, while vehicles and onlookers continue along the course. The bay gelding had failed to finish in his last three competitions, all held in the United Arab Emirates, but had previously been raced seven times at distances from 80 to 120 km (50 to 75 miles) at an average speed of 22.6 km/hr (14.04 mph).

The flat, non-technical courses in this region have been criticized worldwide for their emphasis on punishing speed and increasing rates of forelimb fractures, many of which remain unreported by relevant national and international governing bodies.

AERC’s president, Dr. Michael Campbell, said, “AERC is appalled at the Al Reef tragedy, and does not condone or support this type of riding or treatment of horses. Such abuse of equines is inexcusable and disgusting in the extreme. This is not what we stand for.”

Endurance riding, which AERC can claim originated in the United States almost 60 years ago as an organized sport, is sanctioned internationally by the Federation Equestre International (FEI). The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a member of FEI Regional Group VII, which has drawn harsh international criticism for repeated reports of equine abuse, positive drug tests, and illegal switching of both horses and riders during competition.

While FEI instituted new rules to improve equine welfare in August 2014, forward measurable progress remains slow. When pressed by journalists in regards to the three equine deaths at the Abu Dhabi competition, representatives of FEI stated that the Al Reef race was a national event and thus out of their jurisdiction.

At the March 2014 AERC Convention and Annual Board of Directors Meetings, John Long, then-CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation, met with the AERC Board of Directors to address the mutual concerns regarding reports of equine abuse, positive drug tests and blatant rule violations largely occurring within members of Group VII. At that time, AERC was considering a motion to withdraw from participation in international endurance competition until such time as FEI could demonstrate adequate control and reform of the crisis. After lengthy discussions, Mr. Long, who has since retired, stated USEF’s firm commitment to aggressively address change and improved rule enforcement within FEI. At that time, Mr. Long stated, “If we stay together and nothing good comes out of this over the next six months or a year, then we’ll walk away from it together. We’ll do it together.”

AERC’s board members strongly condemn the continuing trend within some Group VII participants towards rule violations and the racing of horses at blistering speeds leading to chronic injuries, fractures and death. The 26-member board urges USEF and FEI to demonstrate their previous commitments to change and reform the egregious offenses occurring within the international arena of endurance riding.

Contact: Troy Smith
American Endurance Ride Conference
www.aerc.org
endurancenews@foothill.net
866-271-2372, 530-823-2260

February's Endurance Day on Horses In The Morning with Karen Chaton

Horsesinthemorning.com - Listen!

February 10 2015

Endurance Day with Karen Chaton opens with a look at Bioscanning for saddle fit, training the spooky horse with Matthew Coats and new endurance rider questions answered by Patti Stedman. Listen in...

http://www.horsesinthemorning.com/hitm-for-02-10-2015-endurance-day-on-spooky-horses-and-new-endurance-riders/

Owyhee River Challenge

Karen's Horse Tales blog

Saturday, February 7, 2015
by Karen Bumgarner

Somewhere in the craziness of what mind I have left, I decided to put on an endurance ride. I settled on the name of Owyhee River Challenge because you ride from the Succor Creek area to the Owyhee River for a vet check. And then back over the hills to camp. After a vet check in camp you have an easy 10 mile loop through Succor Creek Canyon. The 25's will have two short loops with vet checks in camp. I even have some wonderful volunteers lined up but need more.

Only during the winter I kept coming up with more ideas!
A Ride & Tie Friday!
And Endurance Saturday.

PLUS a Ride or Run on Sunday! What was I thinking? In addition there will be a HUGE raffle Saturday night. Maybe a couple silent auction items as well. All this to benefit a little girl waiting for a heart transplant...

Read more here:
http://karenshorsetales.blogspot.com/2015/02/owyhee-river-challenge.html

Team Easyboot 2015 - The Contest is Open

Easycareinc Blog

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 by Kevin Myers

We are excited to announce EasyCare is now accepting applications for Team Easyboot 2015. Team members will be selected based on their knowledge of the EasyCare product line, their diversity of riding activity, and their influence in their community.

Expectations of Team Easyboot Members
If accepted onto Team Easyboot 2015, members are expected to:

Represent EasyCare in a professional and positive manner.
Actively promote and inform others about all EasyCare products and help others in the field.
Be available to assist in boot fitting and to provide advice in person and online.
Blog once a month on the EasyCare corporate blog.
Actively participate with positive interaction and product advice on the Easyboot Facebook page.
Wear Team Easyboot attire at events.
Display Team Easyboot logo on tack, trailers and vehicles.

Summary of Benefits

Access to discounted EasyCare product for personal use.
Access to the EasyCare staff for general booting education and problem-solving.

Note: Product purchased through the Team Easyboot discount program is for personal use only and cannot be resold.

Application
If you would like to be considered for membership on Team Easyboot 2015, please answer a few basic questions in our online Application Form. Applications will be accepted until 10:00 PM Mountain Standard Time on Friday, February 13, 2105.

The Selection Process
Members of Team Easyboot 2015 will be selected by a panel of EasyCare staff. The new team members will be announced on Monday, February 23, 2015.

Good luck!
- See more at: http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/bootlegging/team-easyboot-2015-the-contest-is-open#sthash.15clu5y0.dpuf

2015 Convention 'Cast: Endurance is For Everyone!

February 2 2015

AERC and Endurance.net will be teaming up to bring you live updates from the 2015 AERC convention in Reno. If you can't make it, tune in! We'll have tweets and vine video clips and photos throughout March 6 and 7, including the Saturday night National Awards ceremony. Kind of like a live coverage of the Oscars and behind the scenes, only better: AERC endurance style!

You can get tweets by following "endurancenet" or "#2015aerc" on Twitter***, or bookmarking the web page
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2015AERC/

For more information on the convention, and to sign up, see
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2015AERC/2015Convention.pdf

Stay tuned!

***AMENDED - this post previously said the hashtag for the convention would be #aerc2015. It is now #2015aerc. Otherwise you'd also be getting tweets from a non-horsey Rheology convention in France!

Endurance Green Beans Take it a Step Further

January 31 2015

The Green Bean Endurance website has a new makeover, thanks to the diligent work of Jillane Baros, Sharalyn Hay, Jacke Reynolds, and Deb Moe.

Greenbeanendurance.com - a website resource for Green Bean Education, Encouragement, and Endurance, now offers a formal membership, for both Green Beans and 'Ripe Bean' endurance riders.

The Green Bean Endurance page started on Facebook in January of 2014 as an expansion of the original PNER Green Beans group, and it quickly spread like wildfire.  Sharalyn Hay originated the "Green Bean" idea to create an inviting and safe environment for riders new to endurance or who had horses new to endurance to share their experiences and get support.  Since then, the title of "Green Bean" has been expanded to include all those who wish to learn more about endurance. The new website offers free access to educational resources and links, discussions, and Green Bean apparel; and it offers extras for joining members.

Green Bean members have access to Member Directories (looking for other Green Beans, or mentors in your area?); Members-Only Forums; monthly giveaways; newsletters; discounts; and Green Bean Competitions.  In the new future, they will be rolling out "badges" to recognize individual rider accomplishments on their profiles.

With 120 riders registered, the 2015 Green Bean Teams are full; each team consists of 5 Green Beans with 999 miles or less; completions on any horse count toward overall mileage during the 2015 season.

For more information on joining Green Bean Endurance, as a Green Bean or a Ripe Bean, see:
https://greenbeanendurance.com

Early Spring Special: Free Classified Ads on Endurance Net!

Endurance.net Classifieds

Winter getting to you? It's time to ignore those winter storms bearing down on your area, and look ahead to spring and getting ready for a new endurance ride season.

www.Endurance.net has been the leading site for all Endurance-related classifieds since 1998.

For the months of February and March, come celebrate 17 years of classifieds and another year of endurance trails, with Free Listings of endurance (and trail, and other!) horses, saddles, tack & boots, property, trucks & trailers. We also have a slot for Endurance Dogs and Personals!

Go to http://www.endurance.net and click on the Classifieds Link

Vendors at the 2015 AERC Convention

AERC.org

GREAT VENDORS you will find at the AERC Convention (Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada) on March 6 & 7 -- some old, some new!

Welcome American Trail Gear, Ann Kratochvil, Arabian Saddle Co., AthleticEquine.com, Auburn Labs, Boz Saddlery, EasyCare Inc., Fleeceworks, Hawthorne Products, Hooves & Whiskers, Hought Tack, Jan's Jems, Porta-Grazer, Purina Animal Nutrition, Sage Brushes Studio, Specialized Saddles, Trailwise Saddles, Triple Crown Nutrition, UndeRider (sports bras & underwear), Vettec Hoof Care, Western States Trail Foundation, Wild Carats, XP Rides. See you in Reno in just over six weeks!!! The FREE trade show is open 8-6 Friday, 3/6, and 8-5 Saturday 3/7.

Link: http://www.aerc.org/2015Convention.pdf

Endurance is for Everyone: 2015 AERC Convention

Come to Reno, Nevada March 6 and 7 for the 2015 AERC Convention, for the annual Trade Show, Speaker Seminars, Hot Topics Workshops, Regional Awards, Friday Night Dance, Raffle, Tack Swap, and more.

Hot Topics Sessions on Friday and Saturday mornings include “Cooking Up an AERC Ride: Should We Change the Recipe?” and “Fishing for Members: Casting the Net Without Tossing ‘em Back”.

Speakers for the Friday Seminars include Jan Hancock, “Protecting Trail Access and Planning for Future Access”; Dr Hal Schott, “100 Mile Survey Analysis”; Dr K. Gary Magnesian, “Gastric Ulcers in the Endurance Horse”; Dr Susan Garlinghouse, “Body Condition Scoring & Other Current Topics”; and Patti Stedman, “Top 10 Questions Green Beans Ask”.

Speakers for the Saturday Seminars include Dr Ken Marcella, “Back Issues in the Endurance Horse”; Karen Chaton, “Longevity: Keeping Your Horse Going for Years”; Martin Adams, “Nutrition for the Endurance Horse”; and Becky Hart, “The Ins and Outs of Garnering a Best Condition”.

Regional Awards will take place Friday evening, and the National Awards Banquet will take place Saturday evening.

For more information, and to register, see
http://www.aerc.org/2015Convention.pdf

Where have all the Arabians gone?

Desertarabian.org - Full Article

by Bruce M. Johnson

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
© 1961 Pete Seeger

Those of us who recall this ballad may well now ask, “Where have all the Arabians gone?” as we continue to read about declines in registrations and show entrees. What is the situation? How is the Desert Arabian doing? What lies ahead, and what can we do to improve the prospects for the future?

Historical Perspective

Registrations of Arabian horses began in 1908 with the establishment of the Arabian Horse Club of America (later the Arabian Horse Registry of America). Horses were registered by year of birth. Prior to 1908, fewer than 10 foals had been born each year. That number grew to more than 20 by 1925, and then reached 75 by 1932. Breeding by Albert Harris, Henry Babson, J M Dickinson, Roger Selby, W K Kellogg, and many others drove the annual number of foals into triple digits in 1936 and reached 398 in 1945. The numbers continued to climb in most years after World War II, hitting 1,097 in 1956 and 2,084 in 1960.

Breeding grew rapidly for the next 25 years. There were so many foals that statistics were kept by year registered rather than birth year. In 1985 there were just over 30,000 horses registered...

Read more here:
http://desertarabian.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/WhereHaveGone.pdf

2014 Drinkers of the Wind Challenge Winners

January 5 2015

The Institute for the Desert Arabian Horse announced that the 2014 Drinkers of the Wind Performance Challenge has been won by OT El Azrak (Raveon Ravenwood x OT Dysara RSI), one of Crockett Dumas' homebreds.

“Crockett Dumas is yet one more time demonstrating the wonderful abilities of our Desert Arabians by winning the Schimanski Trophy in our 2014 Drinkers of the Wind Challenge. Crockett and his Pritzlaff bred herd keep topping the list of our Drinkers winners proving that our modern Desert Arabians possess the same attributes as their ancestors did. We congratulate and commend Crockett for his continued efforts in breeding, conditioning and training, and competing these wonderful horses and hope that 2015 is yet another great year for him.”

Reserve Champion in the Top Ten Performance Desert Arabians in the US went to Frisia Mamuluk (Serenity Sharuf x Serenity Btmamluk), a 2005 gelding bred, trained and shown by Willemena DeBoer. “Willemena is using the blood stock of Hansi Heck in her program and she is having wonderful success with it. She has three horses competing in the Drinkers program and all are successful.”

Other Arabian endurance horses in the Top Ten were:

Frisia Shaheen, (Serenity Shahail x Serenity Arufa) bred by Willamena De Boer using Serenity bloodstock.

OT Rymoni GLY (Dymoniet x OT Rafisa RSI), owned by Troy and Clarie Eckard and bred by Crockett Dumas, for his Endurance wins.

OT Dyra Bataa RSI (Rave on Ravenwood x OT Dysara RSI) another of Crockett Dumas' homebreds making a wonderful showing in endurance.

Avalon Yasminah (Ibn Faydin x Mahrus Mis Asiil) a 2006 mare bred by Jennifer Ligon and owned and competed by Mary Fields in endurance.

DB Al Magid, (Aswad Khayal x DB Minna) 2008 Desert Arabian owned by Krista Foyston and competed in endurance.

The Drinkers of the Wind Award program is a high-point award program for the original equine athletes of the Arabian desert. The award is committed to breeding in the tradition of the Bedouin, honoring the Desert Arabian as athlete, performer and competitor, and recognizing the Desert Arabian in a wide array of performance disciplines, including English, Dressage, Driving, Eventing, Hunter, Western, Competitive Trail, Endurance, and Sport Horse Under Saddle.

For more information, see
Desertarabian.org.

Canadian Endurance Riders Kick-off New Year in Top Gear

Horse-canada.com

January 15, 2015 | 0 comments

by: Equine Canada

At the CEI Greenway Gallivant held in Dunnellon, Fla., Jan. 1–3, 2015, Canadians earned great finish times in the CEI 1* 80 km and CEI 2* 120 km races.

In the CEI2* 120 km race held on Jan. 2, Wendy MacCoubrey of St. Justine de Newton, Que., finished in a time of 7:58:42 for fourth place out of 12 starters riding Agils Golden Indy (Agil x aglayla) , Lynda Townsend’s eight-year-old Canadian Arabian gelding.

Yvette Vinton, a member of 2014 World Equestrian Games team, of Morriston, Fla., rode Teese ( ZT Ali Baba x Samtyr), her 15-year-old Arabian gelding, to an eighth place finish (5:54:34 ) in the CEI1* 80 km race held Jan. 2.

On Jan. 3, Robert Gielen of Flesherton, Ont., was third (5:23:00) in the CEI1* 80km race riding Vegas, his 10-year-old Arabian gelding sired by Haffir El Rimal. Vinton and DJB Kid Stars (Las Starsnstripes x El Paso), her 12-year-old Arabian gelding, finished in 12th place in a time of 7:41:20.

http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/canadian-endurance-riders-kick-off-new-year-in-top-gear/

January's Endurance Day on Horses In The Morning with Karen Chaton

Horses in the Morning - Listen!

January 13 2015

HITM for 01-13-2015 – Endurance Day – Portable Tow Truck, Photonic Therapy, Pre-Purchase Exams

Endurance Day with Karen Chaton opens with a look at the portable tow truck and a look at cool Cashel gear from The Distance Depot. Next up Donnis Thran enlightens us about The Massage Light and photonic light therapy. Rounding out the show Dr. Julie Bullock talks about pre-purchase exams. Listen in...

Horses in the Morning Radio show

Meet new horse friends at PNER - Endurance Rides Convention

Thereflector.com - Full Article

January 7 2015

Annual event will be held Jan. 30-31

Area horse enthusiasts who enjoy trail riding, enjoy riding in new areas, like camping with their horse and feel like hanging out with like-minded people and talking about horses will likely be interested in the upcoming Endurance Rides Convention.

This year, the annual convention, put on by Pacific Northwest Endurance Rides, will be held Fri.-Sat., Jan. 30-31, at the Portland Airport Sheraton Hotel, 8235 NE Airport Way, Portland. The public is welcome to attend all events.

Started back in the early 1970s, the convention will offer:

• A class to allow participants to learn how to use their Garmin GPS for tracking while riding on the trails.
• A Yoga for Riders class.
• Roundtable discussions about how to pack a vet bag, trailering to rides, etc.
• A class on the balanced rider, and more...

Read more here:
http://www.thereflector.com/horse_corral/article_1228dfb0-95e6-11e4-b230-9f7eea7351b6.html

Ella N Fires Jane Doe Repeats as 2014 AERC National BC winner

January 5 2015

Ella N Fires Jane Doe repeated her 2013 feat as the AERC 2014 National Best Condition Award winner. Owned by Lori Windows, of Wyanet, Illinois, the half-Arabian, half-Saddlebred 13-year-old mare also won the 2014 War Mare Award (based on the most overall placing points accrued by the same mare/rider team during one season), and the duo also topped the Midwest Regional Best Condition division.

For all the year-end AERC standings, see:
http://www.aerconline.org/erol/Points%5Cdefault.asp

AERC: Catch the Wave of Endurance Clinics

AERC.org

With the wave of Endurance 101 clinics gaining momentum among AERC volunteers with the goal of attracting new members and to help ‘newbie’ riders move up in distance, AERC.org has created an “Endurance Clinics” page on its website. The page lists upcoming Endurance clinics, and gives information on holding Endurance Clinics for the beginner to more experienced riders who seek mentorship.

“Endurance 101” is mainly for ‘newbies’ to endurance; “Endurance 201” clinics are more hands-on, and often have mounted demos with a mock endurance ride and vet check. “Beyond the Basics” clinics are “to help riders get through the ‘sophomore slump,’” this who want to increase their level of performance in the sport.

AERC promo materials, and PowerPoint modules are available for those putting on endurance clinics.

For more information, see:
http://www.aerc.org/Endurance_Clinics.aspx

Time to Renew your AERC Membership for 2015

RENEW for 2015! You are welcome to renew online or by phone (866-271-2372). There are changes to the rule book, so 2015 membership cards will be mailed with rule books by late October. Ask about our 2-year membership, available only to those who call the office to renew. 

RENEW FOR TWO! Members can renew for 2015 & 2016 for $145 (first member) and $95 additional adult members. Here is the 2015 & 2016 AERC Membership Form for you to fill out and mail in with a check or fax in with a CC#.

http://www.aerc.org/Temp/2015_16Membership.pdf

USEF Issues Joint Injection, Shock Wave Withdrawal Times

Thehorse.com

Edited Press Release
Nov 26, 2014

Effective Dec. 1 and for the 2015 competition year, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has implemented withdrawal practices following intra-articular (within the joint) injections and shock wave therapy.

The withdrawal practices are the result of rule changes passed at the USEF Annual Meeting in January 2014.

For intra-articular injections a four-day withdrawal time from competition has been instituted, while a three-day withdrawal from competition for shock wave therapy has been implemented.

Additionally, for the 2015 competition year, the USEF has created an online medication report form for therapeutic administration of forbidden substances, which is available online.

For more information about the USEF Drugs and Medications Program, visit https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Drugs/Default.aspx.

AERC Director-At-Large Results

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE election results are in: In alphabetical order, here are the directors who will be sworn in (or re-sworn in) at the 2015 AERC convention: Tom Bache, Olin Balch DVM, Randy Eiland, Susan Garlinghouse DVM, Terry Woolley Howe, Mollie Krumlaw-Smith, Mike Maul, Christoph Schork.

Effort equestrian Holly Corcoran strives for world-class standing

Poconorecord.com - Full Article

By Wayne Witkowski
Pocono Record Writer
Posted Dec. 14, 2014

It’s the dream of every serious competitor: to be in an international arena representing the United States.
Holly Corcoran of Effort has carried that dream for the past nine years in equestrian endurance riding and got a taste of it recently when she returned from Brazil after participating in a 100-mile (160-kilometer) endurance race on a provided horse. She has five Arabian breeds of her own at home, the overwhelming horse of choice in this brand of competition.

With the season’s reversed and countries south of the equator in the thick of the summer season, Corcoran opted out of the race before her horse could have with a serious case of dehydration. Veterinarians are on site at stages during endurance riding competitions to see if the animals are fit to go on in the one-day event.

A certified public accountant by profession, Corcoran shared her stories at the weekly Wednesday meeting of the Kiwanis Club of the Stroudsburgs, and feels she and her horses are ready for a chance at the big international stage for the first time when they participate in qualifiers for one of the five spots (and one alternate) on the American team in the Pan American Endurance Games that take place in Toronto next August. Those selections will be determined in endurance trials at Biltmore Estates in Asheville, North Carolina in May...

- See more at: http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20141214/NEWS/141219633/101101/NEWS#sthash.pgutipvT.dpuf

Endurance Day on Horses In The Morning with Karen Chaton

Horses in the Morning - Listen!

December 9 2014 2014

Endurance Day with Karen Chaton opens with several helpful hints for riding in cold wet weather. Next up we hear the heart warming story of two gals who got to be friends through their shared love of endurance riding and now share something truly amazing. Rounding out the show Susie Schomburg goes over the latest AERC rule changes. Listen in...

Horses in the Morning Radio show

Arabian Horse Association Announces 2014 Distance Horse of the Year Award Recipient

Arabianhorses.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 01, 2014

Arabian Horse Association Announces 2014 Distance Horse of the Year Award Recipient

(01-December-14 – AURORA, CO) – Arabian horses are known for their endurance, their beauty, and their ability to be versatile and strong. The Arabian Distance horse is no different and the Arabian Horse Association's (AHA) Distance Horse of the Year award recognizes these attributes and the significant accomplishments of an Arabian, Half-Arabian or Anglo-Arabian horse in the distance sports each year. This year, with an impressive field of nominees, only one could be selected and the honor of this prestigious award was given to GF Brazils Envy.

Distance is the name and high mileage is this horse's game. Owned and ridden by Ann Kratochvil of Ridgecrest, Calif., GF Brazils Envy has been competing in American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) rides for nine years. Kratochvil is an accomplished rider herself, logging over 23,000 endurance miles, but considers Envy to be the best horse she has ever owned.

During her nine years of competition, Envy completed an unprecedented total of 8,560 miles and still has more rides to compete in before the 2014 year is through. Envy's impressive mileage career is as follows: in 2006, she completed 155 miles; in 2007, she completed 505 miles; in 2008, 950 miles; in 2009, 1,200 miles; in 2010, she completed 850 miles; in 2011, she completed 1,220 miles; in 2012, 1,690 miles; in 2013, 1,015 miles; and at the time of his nomination, Envy had completed 1,020 miles in 2014.

While high mileage is important for this award recipient, Envy has other monumental accolades. Having received 12 first place finishes, 105 Top Ten awards and 15 best Condition Awards, Envy has shown that she is not only fit and fast, but also a horse with a huge heart. Owner Ann Kratochvil and Carla Richardson believe these were just some of the many reasons Envy was deserving of the nomination and win.

AHA would like to congratulate GF Brazils Envy on her many accomplishments and her winning of this coveted award.

This year, the AHA Award Sub-Committee comprised of the Awards, AHA Distance Ride Commission and Distance Ride Committee chairs and two at-large Distance Committee members, had the distinguished task of reviewing ten nominees for the AHA Distance Horse of the Year award. They had a tough decision to make, with an impressive field of nominees.

AHA would like to congratulate all of the 2014 Distance Horse of the Year Award nominees: Amigo Rissar+, Awesomes Fire N Ice, Belesema Finalia, Cashin In, Davanna Tom Cat, MMF Thunders Echo+/, Sea Dragon, Sizedoesntmatter and Wyntez Buddy. Each of these horses were deserving nominees and AHA wishes them luck in 2015.

- See more at: http://secure.arabianhorses.org/apps/index.cgi?page=pressrel&prid=281#sthash.6t9X0HFz.dpuf

Contact: AHA
303-696-4500

Reed Donates Filly for NASTR Fundraiser

NASTR.org

December 9 2014

The Nevada All-State Trail Riders are pleased to announce the 2015 NASTR Trails Fundraiser Auction featuring TR My Surprise. This beautiful 2012 Arabian filly has been donated by Terryl A Reed. Thank you Terryl for you generosity and support of equestrian trails.
TR MY SURPRISE- AHR*663030 is sired by COWBBOY BOB x HR AFLAME. COWBBOY BOB is the 2014 Virginia City 100 Mile Ride Best Condition winner. Dam is BOLD ROSE, a SANSKRIT daughter. BOLD ROSE is also the dam of TR MAVERIC who was the 2009 Virginia City 100 mile ride winner, TR JACKPOT, and TR JJAG, successful endurance horses.

Final bids will be taken at the Nevada Derby 50 mile AERC ride held on April 4, 2015, where SURPRISE will be on site. Watch for more photos and details about the NASTR Fundraiser Auction.

For more information, see
http://nastr.org/

John Parke and Remington: AERC’s First Double Decade Team

December 8 2014

John Parke and his 2013 AERC Hall of Fame horse Remington became AERC’s only Double Decade team when they completed the Death Valley Warmup 50-mile ride on December 6, having completed a 50 mile ride for twenty years in a row.

The 26-year-old, 13.3-hand Icelandic pony, elected to AERC’s Hall of Fame for 2013, has 11,405 miles and is 11th on the all-time AERC mileage list. Park and Remington were also AERC’s Pard’ners Award winners in 2006.

“This was a beautiful ride in the high desert through the Joshua Trees with a view of snow capped Olancha Peak in the Sierras,” Parke said. “We finished under the full moon. It was a good day.”

Message from New President of Western States Trail Foundation

by Tony Benedetti

Being new to the job of President of the Western States Trail Foundation, I am just trying to get my foot up in the stirrup. WSTF has much to do each year, and this year is no different.  Besides putting on that little event called Tevis, a few of the WSTF projects include working with the American River Conservancy to protect 10,000 acres for recreational use just west of the Granite Chief Wilderness Area, working with the USFS to continue the development of the Chickenhawk trail head, continually maintaining the WSTF trail, and many other projects. All of this is after the work WSTF did in conjunction with other groups reconstructing the Swinging Bridge that was destroyed in the American Fire in 2013.

My success as president will be largely due to the hard work of the members of the Board of Governors.  Already this new fiscal year, planning and work has begun or continues on the projects I just mentioned. There are also many volunteers that work continuously on these projects who are not on the Board of Governors. I would like to introduce the new officers for the WSTF for 2014-15; Barbara White and Steve Hallmark as Vice Presidents, Shellie Hatfield as Treasurer, and Debby Lyon as Secretary. We'd also like to welcome Carrie Ellinwood to the Board of Governors this year. 

I am honored to be President of the WSTF and will do what I can to continue the legacy of what we call Tevis.
 
Tony Benedetti
President 
Western States Trail Foundation 
http://teviscup.org/

Marine Completes 3000-Mile Cross Country Ride

Facebook.com - Camp Pendleton Scout

Matt Littrell, a Marine veteran, completed a cross-country horseback ride from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to Camp Pendleton, California on Nov. 30.

He calls the nearly 3,000 mile ride "The Long Trail Home" and made the journey to raise awareness for veterans that are suffering from PTSD.

“I didn’t really want to do this ride; however, I woke up one day and knew that I just had to do it. We’re losing 22 of our brothers and sisters every day and I was almost one of them," said Littrell. "I am doing this for them.”

Littrell started with his horse’s hoofs in the Atlantic Ocean and 2,800 miles later finished with them in the Pacific Ocean. He started on May 1 and rode 20 miles a day until completing the journey on November 30.

Littrell is an Elbert, Colorado native and served as an infantryman with Golf Co., 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment from 2001 to 2005.

More:
https://www.facebook.com/244860127876/photos/a.308325997876.151385.244860127876/10152550613607877/?type=1&theater

17-year-old Fire Mt Destiny Reaches 7000 Miles

December 1 2014
Merri Melde-Endurance.net

Following in the hoof prints of his legendary sire Sierra Fadwah +/, Gina Hall’s 17-year-old gelding Fire Mt Destiny reached 7000 AERC endurance miles this weekend in the Gold Rush Shuffle in California.

Destiny was in “Beast Mode!” Hall said. “Beast Mode is right!!” said daughter Carolyn Meier, who rode with her mom Hall. “At 17 with 7,000 miles he was jigging coming into the finish!”

Destiny also reached a major milestone this year in becoming only the 5th horse to get his 1000-mile buckle in the Virginia City 100. That was also Destiny’s 20th 100-mile ride completion.

Fire Mt Destiny’s sire Sierra Fadwah +/ was the first endurance stallion to reach the 7000-mile mark. He entered the AERC Hall of Fame in 1992, and he retired in 1994 at age 21 with a total of 7280 miles over 87 rides without a single pull.

For a story on Fire Mt Destiny and Gina Hall before this year’s Virginia City 100, see
http://merritravels.endurance.net/2014/04/destination-virginia-city-100-gina-hall.html

Tevis: Welcome Back Swinging Bridge!

Swinging Bridge Rehabilitation
 
Put a fork in it, we're done! The Swinging Bridge is finally back in business! The bridge, which spans the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River at the base of the Devil's Thumb climb, has been restored and brought back from the ashes following the 2013 American Fire. This was accomplished jointly with USFS employees and WStrail.org volunteers. The USFS did a stellar job in getting the bridge done exactly one year after the American Fire was contained.

Job well done! 

GF Brazils Envy is 2014 AHA Distance Horse of the Year

The Purebred Arabian mare GF Brazils Envy is the 2014 Arabian Horse Association Distance Horse of the Year. She is owned by Ann Kratochvil of California, and was bred by Jim and Cindy Gromelski of Colorado. GF Brazils Envy has competed in Endurance since 2006 and has 8625 lifetime miles.

Congratulations Ann!

Western States Trail Foundation Holiday Party

Join us for the annual Western States Trail Foundation Holiday Party!

Saturday, December 13th
5:30-11:30 pm
Elks Lodge, 195 Pine St. 
Auburn, CA

Full Bar--Dinner Buffet--Dessert
$40 per person

Dress in your best Western Wear
Raffle Prizes: 2015 Ride Entries, including Tevis
Music and Dancing
 
Please RSVP by sending a check and number of guests to the WSTF Office:

150 A Gum Lane, #103
Auburn, CA 95603

See Teviscup.org for more information.

After 12/10, please RSVP by phone: 530-823-7282.

AERC Reaffirms Open Endurance Records

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AERC RECORDS TO REMAIN OPEN
Date: November 2014

Membership in the American Endurance Ride Conference has always meant more to its members than just riding in long distance competitions. The organization supports trail building and maintenance, horse welfare through veterinary research and education, as well as tracking rider and equine mileage and points for its 700 endurance competitions held annually across the U.S. and Canada.
The nonprofit organization, and its 26-member board of directors, recently learned how much free access to rider and equine history meant to the organization’s nearly 5,000 riders, and a generation of past endurance riders. This fall, AERC’s board passed a proposal to make rider and horse endurance ride history available only to current members, via a computer log-in at the organization’s website, www.aerc.org.

Non-members have always been able to participate in AERC rides by paying a $15 day member fee for each ride, and their ride records had been accessible online.

But once the records became member-only, the outcry from endurance riders, past and present, as well as breeders of endurance horses, was immediate and vocal, and the board unanimously voted just recently to rescind their earlier decision.

Open access allows the public to check out records of some amazing endurance riders, like Dave Rabe of Nevada, who recently became AERC’s highest-mileage rider, with more than 60,500 miles in competitions of 50 miles or longer – that amount of miles is the equivalent of two and a half trips around the world!

AERC’s 2015 ride season begins on December 1, 2014, and the organization welcomes interested riders to contact the office, 866-271-2372, for a free informational packet about endurance riding.

AERC projects currently underway designed to encourage growth and stability for AERC include: hiring a marketing contractor to increase AERC's brand awareness; a mentor program for new endurance riders; educational clinics for new and intermediate riders; more educational videos available on AERC's YouTube channel; an updated website; and a program to recruit new ride managers.

Contact: Troy Smith
American Endurance Ride Conference
www.aerc.org
endurancenews@foothill.net
866-271-2372, 530-823-2260

2015 AERC Rule Changes

AERC.org

The following changes, effective 12/1/14, have been adopted by vote of the AERC Board of Directors.

• Equines must be 6 years of age (72 mo.) to start a one-day 100 mile ride. (Rule 3.1)

• Equines must have a body condition score between 3 and 8 to start an AERC ride. (3.4)

• All AERC rides, both limited distance and endurance, must have at least one check- point and hold. (2.1.7)

• Please carefully read over rule 2.1.6.2 and 6.2.1-6.2.1.1, detailing changes to the time to meet criteria.

• An initial triage and treatment plan must be in place for all AERC rides. (Sanction Form)

• Recovery pulse rate at the finish is lowered from 68 bpm to 64 bpm (although that may be raised in documented extreme weather conditions). (6.2.1.2)

• Low-dose omeprazole (at the preventive dosage of 1 mg/kg/day) will be allowable. It is still prohibited to use omeprazole at the full 4 mg/kg/day “treatment” dose at any time during competition. (Drug Rule Appendices)

For more information see:
AERC.org

McCamey Kimbler Wins 2014 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award

John Nation Photo
USEFNetwork.com

RELEASE: November 17, 2014
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce McCamey Kimbler as the winner of the 2014 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. The USEF Youth Sportsman's Award is designed to identify potential future leaders in the equine industry and provides an opportunity for the USEF to recognize outstanding youth members for their achievements. An international endurance rider from Aberdeen, S.D., Kimbler was nominated by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

The 18-year-old high school senior grew up with horses and has been competing in endurance for several years, training her horses herself. Within the last few years, she has been ranked in the top five in the USEF Endurance Junior/Young Rider Standings and the top ten in the FEI Young Riders World Endurance Ranking. In 2012, she was awarded the Brunjes Junior/Young Rider Trophy and received a USEF High School Equestrian Athlete Program grant. Kimbler was the youngest rider named to the USEF Long List for the 2012 Longines FEI World Endurance Championships. The following year, she competed in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup race in Australia and the Pan American Endurance Championship in Uruguay. In 2014, she finished the Tevis Cup, a challenging 100 mille one-day trail ride.

Outside of her competitive success, Kimbler has been involved with many equestrian programs. She has held leadership roles in the equestrian industry, including liaising between the USEF and AERC and serving as Regional Youth Director and Vice President for the Arabian Horse Youth Association. Additionally, Kimbler is involved with her local 4-H group and was a member of the winning team at the 2012 Horse Quiz Bowl State Championship.

A student of Central High School, Kimbler is the President of the Student Senate and the State Student Council Secretary. The National Honor Society member also participates in Freshman Orientation, the debate team, and the cross country team, while maintaining a 3.837 GPA on a weighted scale. Kimbler plans to attend college and dental school.

Kimbler will receive a commemorative trophy, a $1,000 grant to the educational program of her choice, and a lifetime membership to USEF, valued at $2,500.

The reserve overall winner of the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award is Elizabeth Traband (Centre Hall, Pa.), nominated by the United States Hunter Jumper Association. She will receive a $500 grant.

The other national nominees were:
Madeline Backus, Larkspur, Colo. (United States Eventing Association)
Sydney Collier, Ann Arbor, Mich. (United States Para-Equestrian Association)
Jessica Fan, Lake Jackson, Texas (United States Dressage Federation)
Connor Farley, Waverly, W.Va. (Western Dressage Association of America)
Malu Foley, Cedar Crest, N.M. (American Vaulting Association)
Rachel Frieman, Los Angeles, Calif. (International Andalusian Lusitano Horse Association)
Micah Furr, Salisbury, N.C. (Paso Fino Horse Association)
Reggie Glover, Weimar, Texas (American Driving Society)
Margo Goldfarb, Franklin, Tenn. (American Connemara Pony Society)
Melissa Heres, Aragon, Ga. (American Saddlebred Horse Association)
Emma Lemke, Franklin, Tenn. (Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America)
Ryan Melendez, Temecula, Calif. (Arabian Horse Association)
Anaiah Richter, Murrieta, Calif. (International Friesian Show Horse Association)

For more information on the USEF Youth Sportsman's Award, please contact Jennifer Mellenkamp, Director, National Breed/Discipline Affiliates, at jmellenkamp@usef.org or (859) 225-6955.

Endurance.net's Book of the Month: Riding the Milky Way

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by Babette Gallard, October 2006

On the warm spring day when Babette Gallard and Paul Chinn decided to ride 1600 kilometres along the St James Way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, he had never ridden before, she had only ever ridden under duress, their horses had yet to be found and the dog was a passing whim they were trying to forget. "Riding the Milky Way" tells the story of their journey. The humans were broke, burnt-out and vaguely hoping that early retirement would save their health and sanity. The horses were plucked off the equine scrap heap in France and still grappling with their new roles as something between mount and mountain goat. The dog was doing his best to understand why he was there. This inspiring, amusing and informative book sweeps the reader along with each member as he or she, horse or dog, progresses step by step towards a goal that has become more than just Santiago. The author not only explains how to avoid the pitfalls they encountered but also tells the reader what is expected of riders making this ancient pilgrimage. Packed with sketches and photographs, this book will inspire even the most timid traveller, while also giving practical guidance for someone wanting to do a similar journey. Finally, it is much more than just a good read. It is an excellent, if sometimes irreverent, guide to the legendary St James Way.