2016 Darley Awards

Arabianracingcup.com

The Darley Awards were founded by the Arabian Racing Cup in 1987 to honor the best in Arabian horse racing. The Darley Awards present an opportunity for those involved in Arabian racing to come together from across the nation and around the world to celebrate its virtues and award its best. Now held at the world renowned Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, no other event brings as much attention to Arabian racing in the USA as the Darley Awards ceremony.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival DARLEY AWARDS, which come under the auspices of the Arabian Racing Cup, is clearly recognized as the highest achievement possible for racing Arabians in the U.S. This event, along with the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards, will once again be held at the fabulous Dolby Theater.
At the press conference, Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies Racing announced "Darley Awards Hollywood 2016."

This glamorous event, sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will be held April 1 through 3 in Hollywood, California. It will partner once again with the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards, which recognizes the outstanding international women of Arabian racing.

According to Sawaya, the Awards will be given glamorous treatment over two evenings. The Darley Awards will be presented on April 1 at the Dolby Theater in Highland Center. On Saturday, April 2, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Darley Award Stakes (PA) will be held at Santa Anita Race Course and Sunday evening, April 3, the Celebration Banquet and annual stallion breeding auction will be held at the host hotel, the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel.


http://arabianracingcup.com/Darleys2016.html

Book Your Hotel Now for the AERC Convention

We're still about 20% short of our room block at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, and we're asking you to please make your reservations by Sunday, January 17, to ensure that we won't be required to pay fees for our convention space rental.

You can either phone the Grand Sierra (800-648-5080) and say you are with AERC, or reserve online:

https://aws.passkey.com/event/14080113/owner/16854/home

Rooms are $59 on Thursday night ($79 for a Summit room) and $89/$119 on Friday and Saturday. These rates are only guaranteed through Monday, January 18 so time is of the essence!

If you're hesitant about the weather, we understand, but historical highs/low for this weekend is 50/30 -- here's the long-range forecast:
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/reno-nv/89501/february-weather/329507?monyr=2/1/2016

PLEASE, make your reservations if you are able to do so. Thanks!

More about the convention: http://www.aerc.org/static/Convention.aspx

January AERC BOD Meeting

January 13 2016

The AERC Board of Directors met in conference call last night. The Executive Director (Kathleen Henkel) reported continued strong growth in membership this year. It was announced that Cheryl Van Deusen was awarded the Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award for 2015 by USEF and Kelsy Russell was awarded the Brunjes Junior/Young Rider Trophy for 2015 also by USEF. Candace Fitzgerald's contract as AERC Marketing Professional was renewed. A motion from the Junior Committee lowering the age of a Junior Sponsor from 21 to 18 was passed. The Board had an extended discussion of ride format and measuring strategies. The Board looks forward to seeing everyone at the AERC Convention next month (February 19 and 20) in Reno.

Equestrians of all levels find horses in Humble, Texas

Chron.com - Full Article

By Lindsay Peyton
January 13, 2016

Equestrians looking for an adventure in Houston don't have to search far.

Just head north to Cypress Trails, a stable in Humble that offers guided trail rides, horse rentals, lessons, boarding and training.

At the helm of the ranch located at 21415 Cypresswood Drive is Darolyn Butler, an entrepreneur who built a successful career around a passion for horses.

"If you're a horse person, we are about the only place you can go," she said.

The ranch caters to all skill levels.

"We get top riders who want to see the country and don't want to go on a pony ride," Butler said.

That's what attracted Lindsay Norris to the ranch in 2001.

"I soon found out they would allow me to ride to my ability, meaning I could walk, trot and canter," she said.

Now Norris heads to the barn four times a week from her home in the Houston Heights.

She also was inspired by Butler to start competing in endurance rides both nationally and internationally.

"Darolyn is determined," Norris said. "She rarely encounters a road block she cannot overcome. She has amazing physical fortitude, sometimes riding 50-plus miles each day for several days. Darolyn has pushed me way out of my comfort zone and has exposed me to an intense horse experience that I really enjoy..."

Read more here:
http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/kingwood/news/article/Equestrians-of-all-levels-find-horses-in-Humble-6755797.php#photo-9243946

Congress Passes Flurry of Bills in December

Horsecouncil.org

Several American Horse Council Priorities Win Approval

(Washington, DC)- The 114th Congress, though it started with the partisan gridlock that has become the new normal in Washington, ended the year with a burst of productivity by passing several major pieces of legislation including a tax extender bill, an omnibus appropriations bill, and a five year highway bill. Each of these bills includes provisions favorable to the overall horse industry that have been priorities for the American Horse Council.

In addition, other bills championed by the AHC have seen Congressional action and could be passed with enough industry support in the second session of this Congress which adjourns in December.

“The AHC works on a diverse set of issues that impact the horse industry, often over the course of several years. For this reason it’s not every day that we see several AHC priorities pass Congress in the span of a month,” said AHC president Jay Hickey. “These three bills included tax provisions, guest worker reforms, and trail programs that will benefit the racing, showing, and recreational segments of the industry.”

The Tax Extender bill, called the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, reinstates three-year-depreciation for all race horses for two more years. It also increases the Section 179 business expense deduction back to $500,000 and makes this provision permanent. The bill restores bonus depreciation for qualifying new property, including assets used in the horse business, such as horses and other equipment, purchased and placed in service during 2015 through 2019. The bill also restores and makes permanent favorable tax treatment for land donated for conservation purposes, particularly land donated by farmers and ranchers, like horse owners and breeders.

“These provisions benefit racing and everyone who is in the horse business. Importantly, horse businesses, breeders, and farms can now make long term plans to take advantage of these tax provisions instead of just hoping Congress will extend them for one year, as has been the case recently,” continued Hickey.

The omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the government until September 30, 2016, also includes important H-2B temporary worker changes. The bill rolls back parts of a burdensome new H-2B rule and will make it easier for horse industry employers to use the program when no American workers can be found.

“Horse industry employers, mainly horse trainers and owners who cannot find American workers to fill semi-skilled jobs at racetracks and horse shows, often have to turn to this program for workers. They do this because they have no choice and this program has gotten progressively more expensive and harder to use. Most H-2B workers in the industry are directly responsible for the care of the horses upon which the entire horse industry is dependent and without them thousands of American horse industry jobs could be lost,” said AHC vice president of government affairs Ben Pendergrass.

“We have been working on fixing the shortcomings of the H-2B program for years, both through the regulatory process, standalone legislation, and the appropriations process with a coalition of other users of the program. There is still work that needs to be done, but this bill will improve the program,” said Pendergrass.

The AHC says the end- of- the- year legislative sprint to the finish line also saw reauthorization of two programs important to recreational riders, the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

The multi-year national highway bill recently signed by the president known as the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or the FAST Act, reauthorizes RTP for the next five years and provides $85 million annually for the program. RTP provides funding directly to the states for recreational trails and trail-related facilities for all recreational trail users and has greatly benefited equestrians.

The omnibus appropriations bill reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for three years with funding of $450 million for FY 2016. The program, which expired on October 1, 2015, provides funds and matching grants to federal, state and local governments for the acquisition of land and water for recreation and the protection of natural resources and helps provide equestrians with increased recreational trail riding opportunities.

“We are very pleased RTP was included in the FAST Act. Every time a multi-year national highway bill is debated there is always an attempt to eliminate this program and this time was no different,” said Pendergrass. “The AHC has advocated for the RTP program since its inception and grassroots support from recreational trail users, including many equestrians, played an important role in making sure RTP was included in bill.”

“This has been a productive legislative session for the AHC and horse industry. In addition to these important legislative victories the AHC also advanced several other important bills. The Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (PAST Act) (S.1121/ H.R.3268) that would end the soring of Tennessee Walking Horses was re-introduced and currently has 232 co-sponsors in the House and 48 in the Senate. Additionally, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act (H.R. 845/S.1110) that would help improve trails on National Forests has been gaining momentum and has been called ‘the most bi-partisan bill in Congress’,” said Hickey. “We will be working on these bills and other issues that impact the entire horse industry in 2016.”

New Year, New Website: AHA Launches Guest User Portions of Newly Designed Website

USEFNetwork.com

RELEASE: January 11, 2016
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Arabian Horse Association

Aurora, Colo. – Today, January 11, 2016, the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) launched the guest user portions of its newly designed, customer friendly and highly efficient website.

The website’s domain name remains www.arabianhorses.org and features a sleek and modern look and feel, with new colors, bold pictures and easy to read formats. The ease of navigation is extremely improved, with most pages requiring only one or two clicks to retrieve desired information. A robust set of tools for promotion and outreach, as well as member and customer interaction, have been designed to make the website easy to navigate, use and interact with AHA.

The launch included only the guest pages and portions of the new site. Guest pages, by definition, are pages that guest users have access to – pages that can be accessed without a password or logging in. Some of these new pages include the homepage; the Discover and Youth portals; a leadership section; a Judges and Stewards portal; a Get Involved section and Get Local map for AHA clubs to use as outreach tools; a newly designed Event Calendar, and much more!

Current member/customer interaction with the website will change slightly. In order for AHA to better serve members and customers, password requirements for member/customer login have changed. For increased security and customer protection, AHA will no longer utilize a PIN system for login. Rather, a password, created by the member/customer, will be required. A current email address will need to be on file with the AHA office and associated with a member/customer account in order to use the new online ‘Password Help’ feature to reset a forgotten password.

The password will require a minimum of eight (8) characters and a maximum of twenty (20), with at least one upper case and one lower case letter, along with a number. Members/customers will be prompted to change their PIN to a password upon their first attempt at logging into their member portal on or after January 11, 2016. A confirmation email of the change will then be sent.

Once logged into their account, the member/customer portal pages will remain the same as they are now – the old design and layout. This is true of several other pages within the new site. New and old website pages will be intertwined, creating a user experience that shows off the new website portions, but is still fully accessible and functional to members and customers. Navigation between the old and new will be simple and not require accessing more than one site by the user.

AHA’s new website rebuild is part of a three-year plan for AHA business transactions and financial system infrastructure upgrades, known as ‘Future State.’ Future State is projected to last through the year 2018 and is an implementation of new AHA business rules, including customer-initiated, real-time, web delivered transactions; automated transactions to eliminate paper and speed up completion; the simplification of all business interactions with AHA members and customers, and much more.

AHA is excited for members and customers to see the newly designed AHA website guest pages. If you are a current member or customer and find that you need assistance with changing your PIN to a password, please call our customer service representatives at 303.696.4500, option #2.

Continue to look for updates and communication regarding the progress and status of AHA Future State, via AHA Insiders, e-blasts, social media and more.

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

Rounding up the wild mustangs: ‘Unbranded film documents ride along continental divide, plight of the wild mustang

Auburnjournal.com - Full Article

January 11 2016
By: Carol Guild, Features Editor

Some men are no match for the mustangs. Some mustangs are no match for men.

The rugged young cowboys who traveled 3,000 miles along the continental divide experienced both — and more.

Filmmaker Ben Masters, a graduate of Texas A&M University, and two of his friends first rode a 2,000-mile pack trip along the divide in 2010. “It seemed like a good way to spend a summer between college semesters,” Masters said.

After buying some mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to carry some gear, they quickly learned how well the horses perform. “Some of them are really good horses,” Masters said.

That’s when he came up with the concept for the film “Unbranded” about the plight of the wild mustangs.

“There are 50,000 mustangs in holding pens costing the government about $75 million a year,” Masters said. “Some people think it’s a good use of money and nobody has a solution. Some people think they are an endangered species. Some think they’re an invasive species.”

A screening of the film will be shown Tuesday in Auburn.

The event is a fundraiser for the Western States Trails Foundation...

Read more here:
http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/1/11/16/rounding-wild-mustangs-%E2%80%98unbranded-film-documents-ride-along-continental-divide#

Draft Agenda for AERC Board Meeting in January

January 11 2016

Business before the AERC Board for January includes:

• Strategic Plan - Finance implementation plan - John Parke Report on supporting organization

• Marketing Position contract renewal

• Ride Format (short ride) discussion – Do we need an ad hoc committee?

• Junior Motion by Stephanie Teeter

Motion Name: Junior Sponsor Age Change
Proposing Committee: Junior committee
Date of Motion: January 11
Classification of Motion Request : Rule modification
Proposed Motion : Change the minimum age for Junior Sponsor from 21 to 18 (Rule 10: FROM: “competent adult (21 years or older)” TO “competent adult (18 years or older)”

Background, analysis and benefit : It can be difficult for parents and guardians to find appropriate sponsors for junior riders, both before a ride starts, and during a ride in case the initial sponsor is eliminated from competition. This change will provide more choices, such as older siblings and family friends.

Eighteen is the age of majority in our legal system and a person is no longer considered a child
once they reach the age of eighteen. The average 18 yr old should have the maturity to understand the duty and take on the responsibility of sponsoring a Junior. Ultimately, it is the duty of the Junior's parent/guardian to ensure the Junior is on a suitable mount and the Junior's sponsor understands the responsibility and has the appropriate skill to sponsor the Junior.In all cases the parent or guardian must ultimately approve any sponsor

Distance Riding Extravaganza in Reno

January 11 2016

America’s largest distance riding organizations, the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) and the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC), are combining celebrations to host a whopper of a convention in Reno, Nevada, on February 19-20, 2016.

Open to anyone interested in distance riding, the two days of seminars are packed with presentations by leading veterinarians and other experts in these sports which require a level of horsemanship and fitness unmatched in other equestrian sports. Some of the topics include horse and rider communication, stresses on the human body, integrative sports medicine, the equine eye, equine lameness, human riding fitness, and outlandish online equine myths. There will even be a session with top competitors discussing audience questions.

Priced at $45 per day ($25 for the second person), the seminars are perfect for increasing your knowledge and getting you enthused for the ride year ahead. Prices increase to $55/$35 after February 5, 2016.

A two-day Veterinary Continuing Education course is being offered in conjunction with the convention on February 18-19.
“The convention is a great place for anyone who just wants to see if distance riding is right for them and their equine,” said AERC Executive Director Kathleen Henkel. “It’s great to gather competitive and endurance riders together,” said Henkel. “There is much crossover between our riders and we have much to learn from each other.”

The no-cost vendor area, open 8-6 on Friday, February 19, and 8-5 on Saturday, February 20, puts riders directly in touch with tack and saddle vendors, and an assortment of other knowledgeable sellers of both needed (feed) and fun (jewelry) goods. A tack swap held during vendor hours is super for finding pre-owned items at bargain rates.

The convention venue is the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, an all-in-one hotel/convention center with multiple restaurants, movie theater and family bowling center, just in case you have extra time to spare when not attending the trade show, seminars or award ceremonies put on both host organizations. Special rates apply at the hotel when you ask for the AERC rate at 800-648-5080.

No convention would be complete without a host of vendors and entertainment. The absolutely free vendor area at the Reno convention will have tried and true as well as the latest items in saddles, electronics, tack, clothing, feed, supplements, and other gear (and, yes, jewelry). A tack swap is the perfect way to sell your used gear or pick up some horse gear at bargain prices.

Entertaining convention-goers on Friday evening will be local music and cowboy poetry celebrities Richard Elloyan and Steve Wade.

NATRC sanctions timed distance competitions with winners determined from a combination of condition, soundness and trail ability. AERC sanctions distance competitions that have a maximum completion time, but winners are determined by order of completion provided the horses are fit to continue.

Online convention registration and hotel reservations are available through the AERC website: http://www.aerc.org/static/Convention.aspx.

More information about the convention and the sports is available from the NATRC and AERC websites, respectively: www.natrc.org and www.aerc.org.

NATRC Contact:
Bev Roberts
matefey@gmail.com
510-708-1439

NATRC Convention Contact:
Linda Thomason
linda.thomason0610@gmail.com
870-420-3244

AERC Contact
Troy Smith
endurancenews@foothill.net
PO Box 6027
Auburn, CA 95604
530-823-2260

January's Endurance Day on Horses in the Morning with Karen Chaton

January 11 2016

Tune in tomorrow, January 12th from 6-7:30 a.m. PST for the next episode of Endurance Day on Horses in the Morning on the Horse Radio Network.

We are going to have a really fun show talking about endurance tips, tack with The Distance Depot, and of course the Rose Parade.

Fun guests are lined up for us - the legendary Julie Suhr who rode in the parade at 91 years young.
We'll also be talking to a newer AERC member and Rose Parade rider Shelley Child of Sterling Shagyas. Learn about the selection process for equestrian groups riding in the Rose Parade from guest Ellen Swaggerty, the Equestrian Chair of the Tournament of Roses - Rose Parade.

Be sure to tune in!
http://www.horsesinthemorning.com/

Peg Greiwe: A Back Country Horsemen of America Horsewoman

By Sarah Wynne Jackson

Back Country Horsemen of America is at the forefront of the drive to protect our right to ride horses on public lands, but they wouldn’t be in that position without the tireless effort of people who share their vision. Peg Greiwe grabbed hold of the BCHA mission nearly 30 years ago and still refuses to let go.

Join the Family

“I was the typical city girl in love with horses. I got my first horse when I was 38. My brother bought a four-horse trailer and then proceeded to fill it. My brother taught me a lot about horses,” says Peg.

“In 1987, I went to a show called ‘Horses: A Standing Ovation’ at Tacoma Dome and met some Back Country Horsemen of Washington members who had a booth there. I asked them, ‘Where are the riding trails?’ They said, ‘Join and we’ll show you.’ Talking with them, I realized that was where I wanted to be, so I joined and I’ve been a member ever since,” she says.

Peg got involved with her local BCH chapter, the Pierce County Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Washington, and is still a member today. She explains why, “Back Country Horsemen of America is like a family. If there’s a problem or someone needs help, they’re there. If someone says ‘I’m building a certain type of trailhead; I’m looking for ideas,’ we get tons of replies. When there are emergencies, Back Country Horsemen respond to help whoever it is with whatever it is.

“Our chapter usually has a trail ride once month and work parties two to three times a month. Sometimes the older folks or the youngsters think they don’t belong on a work party, but I always tell people, ‘There’s a job for everyone on the work parties. If you can’t wield a Pulaski or a shovel, you can hold a horse or cook food or make sandwiches or do something else.’”

Enjoying the Horses and the Trails

Peg’s husband, Dale Kelley, is one of the charter members of the Pierce County Chapter BCH. His daughter has two teenaged children who rode and camped with Peg and Dale when they were kids. She says, “We live in a rural area outside of town, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. We keep the horses at home. What would be the point in having horses if we couldn’t have them at home?”

Not surprisingly, Peg and Dale ride on the same properties where their BCH chapter builds and maintains trails. She says, “We have a nice local state park, Nisqually Mashel, about 10 minutes away. It’s just raw land the state is trying to figure out what to do with, and we’re helping them with that. So far, we’ve put in some trails that are long enough for a Saturday afternoon ride.”

They also regularly truck their horses to Sahara Creek Horse Camp, managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Just a stone’s throw from the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park, the camp provides easy access to the Elbe Hills area through the 38-mile Nicholson Horse Trail System, which was built by the Pierce County Chapter BCH. “We have at least one work party there a month. It’s in the foothills at the base of the mountains, so you get the mountain experience without being in the mountains. We can ride there almost all year long,” says Peg.

For longer rides, they make the three hour drive east to the mountains and river valleys of the 1,368,300-acre Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the high elevation lakes and forests in the 169,081-acre William O. Douglas Wilderness. Peg says, “Because of the deep snow, we can access the mountain trails for only a short period of time in the summer. Our favorite place is Keenes Horse Camp and the trails at Mount Adams. We see lots of wildlife – bear, deer, elk, coyotes.”

Jill of All Trades

As time went by, Peg filled all the volunteer jobs there are to do in a BCH chapter: president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor, volunteer hours recorder, trail scout, and more. She explains how she started working for Back Country Horsemen of America, “Twenty years ago, I was volunteering with my chapter and working for other organizations as an administrative assistant, when BCHA announced they were looking to hire an executive secretary. My husband said, ‘That’s your job!’ I was one of five or so applicants who flew to Reno to interview, then flew home the same day. I was so excited to get the job.”

Peg literally became the voice of Back Country Horsemen of America. “The BCHA phone rings in my home office, and I always answer it, day or night. I get a big kick out of talking to the members. One of our spare bedrooms is called the ‘office annex,’ because all the BCHA brand clothing is stored there, and all the past newsletters are stacked in our garage.”

Also, as Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Back Country Horsemen Education Foundation, Peg handles the administrative duties of tracking donations, coordinating directors’ meetings, and allocating funds to various projects. She says, “We’ve given lots of grants over the years – close to $100,000. It’s pretty neat to be able to help these people out with their local trail work. We try to limit each grant to $1000 so more groups can get the funds.”

In her day job, Peg is a one-woman association management company. “I do work for a scholarship group and a business association. When the volunteers get tired of working, that’s when the associations call me.”

The Fun of Hard Work

Peg says working and volunteering with Back Country Horsemen of America has been an adventure. “Right after I first joined, all of Back Country Horsemen of Washington was involved in organizing an event for the Washington state centennial: horse-drawn wagon trains traveled from five different points in the state and all met in Olympia, the state capitol. I got to help with that and even ride some of it for a few days. It was a lot of fun.

“Traveling the nation to organize and attend all the national board meetings has also been great. I’ve seen Tennessee, Sacramento, San Diego, Reno, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, and met many wonderful people at every location.”

Coming Home

Why does Peg love Back Country Horsemen of America so much? “I love the trails and I love the horses,” she says. “It takes both to do what I want – to be riding out in the back country, enjoying the peace and quiet, seeing nature as it is. BCHA makes that possible. They have it all; I felt like I was home when I found them.”

Peg has big dreams for Back Country Horsemen of America. “It all started with a handful of men sitting around a campfire, concerned about losing horse access to trails… and we’re still concerned about that today. We’ve come so far, and I like to think of myself as a support that helped along the way, but there’s still so much to be done.”

About Back Country Horsemen of America

BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations, affiliates, and at-large members. Their efforts have brought about positive changes regarding the use of horses and stock in wilderness and public lands.

If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a member, visit their website: www.bcha.org; call 888-893-5161; or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on public lands is in our hands!

Contact: Peg Greiwe
1-888-893-5161

In which Fiddle did it! She's AERC High Mileage Standardbred!

Haikufarm Blog - Full Story

by Aarene Storms
January 6 2016

Fiddle has come a long way from the grouchy "hellbitch" mare delivered to me
in December of 2006, and she was the ultimate representative of Team Sensible
as a graceful (and powerful) Dragon on the trail in 2015.

We got confirmation of her win this morning via email from the United States Trotting Association.

I admit: I'm giddy.

In some cases, we went further than expected. The 75-miler at the Milwaukee Rail Trail Ride turned out to be an 80-miler, and the 50 at the Haunting Ride was a very long 55 miles.

Other rides, such as the Mount Spokane ride and the Jubilee Ranch ride, were cancelled because of our unbelievable forest fire season.

I kept in touch with other Standie riders, and compared notes. It's not a huge field, so it's possible for us to "know" almost everybody, at least via Facebook and blogs. We're all big advocates for Team Sensible, and we like to chat online about our beautiful brown horses...

Read more here:
http://haikufarm.blogspot.com/2016/01/in-which-fiddle-did-it-shes-aerc-high.html

2016 AERC Convention Speaker Lineup

January 6 2016

The 2016 AERC Convention that will be held in Reno on February 19-20 has scheduled a line-up of speakers you won't want to miss.

On Friday February 19th, Robin Foster, PhD, CAAB, CHCB, will present "Interspecies Sports: Working Together in Partnership," addressing communication between you and your horse.

Jerry Zebrack, MD, will present "An M.D's Guide to the Endurance Body," which will show you ways to keep yourself in peak physical condition for as many miles and years as possible.

Mary Lassaline, DVM, PhD, MA, DACVO, will present "The Equine Eye," an introduction to the equine eye.

Sarah le Jeune, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, CVA, Cert. Vet. Chiro, will present "Equine Integrative Sports Medicine," which will give you a whole new way of looking at your horse's performance.

On Saturday February 20th, Jeanette Mero, DVM, will present "Lameness: Prevention & Treatment," which will give you the tools to increase your chances of competing on a sound, healthy horse for as long as possible.

NATRC (which is holding their convention in conjunction with the AERC convention) will hold a Distance Rider Panel.

Deanna Guinasso, a longtime student of physiology and kinesiology, and the inventor of Suzanne Somers' "ButtMaster" machine, will present "Fit to Ride," giving you the impetus you need to get your body into condition to improve both your riding and your overall health.

Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, will present "But I Read It Online…!", showing you how to sort out the good from the bad online, exposing some of the more outlandish equine myths.

For more information and to sign up for the convention, see:
http://aerc.org/static/Temp/2016conventionflyer.pdf

Free Tickets to 4-H, FFA and Youth Riders for January Tevis Talks with Ben Masters

Donor program offers tickets for January 12 event at State Theater in Auburn, featuring Unbranded documentary film-maker.
The Western States Trail Foundation and Tevis Cup (Official) - 100 Mile One Day Western States Trail Ride consider education of future generations an integral part of the preservation, promotion and stewardship of trails, horsemanship and the sport of endurance.

As part that stewardship, Western States Board of Governors member Shellie Hatfield, has organized a scholarship program in which donors purchase tickets to donate to young horse enthusiasts.

"We use scholarship programs like this as a means of crossing borders," said Hatfield, who is also Treasurer of WSTF and its Fundraising Committee Chair.

"Tevis Talks in particular exposes kids across all disciplines to the sport of endurance, but also to our foremost cause, which is the trails. We want to show them the importance of developing a sense of passion for their interests, but also a sense of responsibility."

Masters, an ardent advocate for both the American Mustang and open space preservation, will discuss the making of his award-winning film, which National Geographic has named one of its top adventure movies of the year.

To obtain scholarship tickets to this event, contact Hatfield at Shellie@ValleyFinance.com.

All proceeds benefit WSTF.

http://teviscup.org/

Dr Kerry Ridgway Passes

Dr Kerry Ridgway passed away on January 3rd.

The son of a horseman, Dr. Ridgway was well known in endurance riding circles as both a competitor and a veterinarian. In 1990, he was elected to the Endurance Hall of Fame, for his contributions to the sport, and is most notably known for his development of the "Cardiac Recovery Index", a standard adopted internationally.

He was a founding member and officer for the "Association for Equine Sports Medicine," now a large international association. After practicing conventional medicine for over 20 years, and as a result of personal health issues that were helped greatly with alternative medicine, Dr. Ridgway decided to direct his focus toward chiropractic and acupuncture, a modality that has a written history of more than 2000 years. His illness set him on the goal of always seeking the root cause and not just treating the symptoms.

He spent many years specializing in equine performance issues. Because so many of the horse's functional and musculoskeletal problems are associated with issues such as dental problems, improper shoeing or trimming, saddle and tack induced problems, he developed a deep interest in the integration of these factors as part of a whole horse approach medicine.

All of these issues that can lead to not only performance and behavioral deficits, but also to pain and even unsoundness, enticed him to study and research the workings of muscles and fascia, and their ramifications.

Ridgway's philosophy that integrative veterinary medicine combined well with conventional medicine provided the best of both worlds with regard to health maintenance and peak performance potential.

2015 USEF Equestrian of the Year voting ends Monday Night

AERC is pleased to announce that TWO of the nine nominees for the 2015 USEF Equestrian of the Year award are endurance people who believe in 'to finish is to win'.   Each of these people won a USEF award that makes them eligible for the 2015 Equestrian of the Year Award- please go out and review the nine nominations and you are able to vote for three:  

The AERC nominees are:
• Cheryl Van Deusen of New Smyrna Beach, FL
• Martha Rattner of Georgetown, KY

To vote, click here. Don't forget to vote by midnight ET January 4, 2016.  If "here" doesn't work - use https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/eoty/. Each individual can vote for a first, second and third place winner. You do not need to be a USEF member to vote.

Lynne Glazer to be Guest on The Equine Photographers Podcast

Equinephotographerspodcast.com

Endurance ride photographer Lynne Glazer will be the guest on The Equine Photographers Podcast on January 15, 2016.

Lynn Glazer is a California based equine sport, ranch, portrait, pets and livestock photographer. In this interview she shares with us the ins and outs of being an event photographer.

Hosted by professional horse photographers Peter Demott and Gigi Embrechts, The Equine Photographers Podcast features interviews with the top equine photographers from around the world about how they got into photography, and specifically horse photography.

To tune in on the 15th and for more information see
http://www.equinephotographerspodcast.com/

Bumper convention for US trail and endurance groups

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | 1 January 2016

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2016/01/01/bumper-convention-us-trail-endurance-groups/#ixzz3w0aNAmbU

The USA’s largest distance riding organisations are joining forces for a mega convention in Reno, Nevada, next month.

The North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) and the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) convention is open to all and is being run over two days, from February 19 to 20, featuring several presentations by leading veterinarians.

Speakers include Robin Foster, Jerry Zebrack, Sarah le Jeune, Mary Lassaline, and Jeanette (Jay) Mero...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2016/01/01/bumper-convention-us-trail-endurance-groups/#ixzz3w0aNAmbU

Auburn’s equestrian group riding in Tournament of Roses Parade

[More ...]

Dec 31 2015

Two dozen riders taking part in Pasadena New Year’s Day fixture
By: Gus Thomson of the Auburn Journal

The theme of this year’s Tournament of Roses Parade is “Find Your Adventure” and who better to exemplify that spirit than two dozen endurance riders representing the Auburn-based American Endurance Ride Conference.

The group of riders will be in the middle of Friday’s parade, which starts at 8 a.m. The posse of equestrians will be four “legends” – 91-year-old 22-time Tevis Cup finisher Julie Suhr of Scott’s Valley, Karen Chaton, Connie Creech and John Parke.

“What better group to be picked for a ‘Find Your Adventure’ parade theme than the American Endurance Ride Conference because we live for riding the trails,” conference parade marshal Gayle Pena said. “Riders also help ensure trails stay open and are useable. And by putting on rides, we make people aware of parks and trails...”

Read more here:
http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/12/30/15/auburn%E2%80%99s-equestrian-group-riding-tournament-roses-parade

Veronica Dyer Featured in San Diego News Report on Rose Parade Participation

December 23 2015

Endurance rider Veronica Dyer, of Encinitas, California, is featured in a CBS8-San Diego news video with reporter Jeff Zevely. Zevely rides along with Dyer as he interviews her about riding in the New Year's Day Pasadena Rose Parade - an item on her bucket list.

"Find Your Adventure" is the theme for this year's 127th annual Rose Parade. Dyer and her horse Tequila Sunrise will join 23 other AERC riders in their group in the Parade. They will be #49 in the march order.

See the video interview here:
http://www.cbs8.com/clip/12092767/local-woman-to-ride-horse-in-rose-parade

Cheryl Van Deusen Nominated as 2015 USEF Equestrian of the Year

USEF Announces 2015 Equestrian of the Year Nominees

RELEASE: December 21, 2015

AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky.- The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the nine 2015 Equestrians of Honor: Laura Graves, Dressage; McLain Ward, Show jumping; Cheryl Van Deusen, Endurance; Misdee Wrigley Miller, Driving; Liza Boyd, Hunter; Elizabeth Goth, American Saddlebred; Michael Damianos, Arabian; Martha Rattner, Arabian; Bill Deeney, Andalusian/Lusitano.

Cheryl Van Deusen
New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Endurance

The Becky Grand Hart Trophy is presented to international-level non-Olympic athletes.

2015 has been an amazing year for Cheryl Van Deusen, who is currently ranked number one on the FEI Open Riders World Endurance Rankings with 1,110 points. She completed 14 competitions this year, including a win in the CEI3* 120km in Pierce, Texas, with EBS Regal Majjaan. In addition to her personal success, two of the horses that Van Deusen bred and raised, Snake Eyes Leroy and Hoover and Moover, are ranked first and second, respectively, on the FEI Endurance Open Horse World Rankings out of 4,490 horses. Van Deusen and Snake Eyes Leroy also lead the FEI Open Combination World Endurance Rankings, and earned top honors as the 2015 AHA National Champion Half-Arabian Competitive Trail Horse.

This is the first time Van Deusen has been awarded the Becky Grand Hart Trophy.

For more on all the nominees, see
http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/13390/2015/12/21/usef_announces_2015_equestrian_of_t.aspx

Kathy Broaddus, DVM, Takes Tevis Challenge in Stride

MiddleburgEccentric.com - Full Article

By Lauren R. Giannini - December 18, 2015

Veterinarian Kathy Broaddus loves to go fast — she started running in high school, but horses deliver the best locomotion. Her sporting enthusiasms include foxhunting (she whips in at Snickersville Hounds), ultra marathon, adventure racing, pairs racing, Ride & Ties, and endurance riding. In August, Broaddus tackled the 100-mile Western States Trail Ride, aka the Tevis Cup, for the first time and finished 10th in 16 hours 25 minutes on Cowbboy Bob (aka Cowboy), 8-year-old Arabian, bred and owned by Terryl Reed.

Given the Tevis is the father of all endurance rides worldwide, to complete, let alone finish in the top 10 was a huge achievement. Broaddus, however, is a very accomplished horseman, in the old-fashioned, uber-complimentary sense that implies versatility and great skills, on and off horses. She knew that the Tevis was a true test of horsemanship and that the demanding and technical trail required a solid game plan.

In lieu of riding various segments of the Tevis in advance to get a feel for the terrain, Broaddus watched videos on YouTube, but quickly gave that up as a bad idea. Much of the trail is accessible only on foot, on horseback or by helicopter...

Read more here:
http://www.middleburgeccentric.com/2015/12/kathy-broaddus-dvm-takes-tevis-challenge-in-stride/

Tickets Still Available for Tevis Talks with Unbranded Mastermind, Ben Masters

TevisCup.org

Tickets are still available for the January 12, 2016 Tevis Talks, in Auburn, California, featuring an evening with the orchestrator behind the Unbranded film and adventure.

Join host Matt Scribner for an evening of conversation with Masters, whose film takes a deep and honest look at the current state of the American Mustang and its wild roaming spaces.

The event will be held at the State Theater in Auburn on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 with a no-host bar opening at 6pm and the main event to begin at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $40, and proceeds go towards the Western States Trail Foundation, a registered non-profit. They can be purchased through the Tevis store here:
http://teviscup.org/the-tevis-store#!/TEVIS-TALKS-Mastermind-Ben-Master-Jan-12-2016/c/14888581/offset=0&sort=nameAsc

AERC Board of Directors - Agenda for December meeting

The American Endurance Ride Conference will be holding a board meeting by telephone conference call Monday evening, December 14.

Items on the agenda include:

Voting to accept nominees for Southwest Regional Director (Barbara Reinke) and for West Regional Director (Hillorie Bachman).

Budget approval

Strategic Plan status update re implementation plans

Veterinary Committee motion re use Drug Testing Reserves to Increase DrugTesting (outside of California)

The draft agenda can be viewed on the AERC.org website at

http://aerc.org/Static/Temp/DraftAgenda121415.pdf

Sarah Holloway Chosen as AERC Youth Representative

Sarah and Phinneas at City of Rocks. photo by Steve Bradley

The AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference) has recently revived a formal opportunity for young AERC members (under the age of 21) to have a seat at the Board of Directors table. The Youth Representative will participate in all AERC board meetings with an opportunity to join in on discussions and express opinions on the many issues that come before the board.

Sarah Holloway was chosen as the primary Youth Representative for the 2016 season from a pool of applicants who submitted letters supporting their application. Sarah is a 13 year old rider with 1500 miles of AERC endurance rides and has been riding horses for six years. Sarah was instrumental in reviving the Youth Representative position with AERC by sending a letter to all board members telling us how important it was to keep youth active in the organization. She is also an active member in PNER (Pacific Northwest Endurance Rides).

Bryna Stevenson and Lily Turaski were chosen as Alternate Youth Representatives to attend AERC board meetings in case Sarah can not. They will all become members of AERC's Junior/Youth Committee and have an active role in helping shape AERC's future.

Welcome to all - we need you!

Steph Teeter
AERC NW Regional Director

Five Ways to Support the American Endurance Ride Conference During this Holiday Season and Beyond

AUBURN, California – December 12, 2015 – During this season of giving, we’ve compiled five easy ways to show your support for the American Endurance Ride Conference, the national governing body for endurance riding.

1. Join AERC or buy a membership for someone else. A new membership is $63.75, plus $42.50 for a second adult family member ($17 for a family member 17 and under), which includes tracking of AERC mileage for both you and your horse, a monthly issue of Endurance News magazine, and a new member packet filled with educational materials. To join, call 866-271-2372 or join online at http://www.aerc.org/mbrReg.aspx.

2. Renew your existing membership. The 2016 AERC ride season began on December 1, and rides are scheduled for every month of the ride year, which will run through November 30, 2016.

3. Donate to support a specific AERC initiative – your donations are tax deductible and will help to advance the sport through things like junior scholarships, research and trails, etc.

4. Buy AERC branded gear for yourself or the endurance enthusiast on your list. Show your support for AERC through the purchase of beautiful AERC shirts, hats, bumper stickers, travel mugs, trailer hitch covers and more! Visit AERC’s Cafe Press store (http://www.cafepress.com/aercstore) or phone the office for in-house specials.

5. Support AERC while you shop online! Amazon.com has a special program for charitable donations called AmazonSmile. Amazon will donate .5% of every eligible purchase made through Smile.Amazon.com to 501(c) (3) public charitable organizations, including AERC.

Interested in endurance riding and want to learn more? The AERC office will send you a free information packet, including their “Discover Endurance Riding” booklet. Email your request to aerc@foothill.net or call 866-271-2372 or by mail to AERC, P.O. Box 6027, Auburn, CA 95604—please include your name and mailing address.

Happy Trails!


About the AERC

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

The American Endurance Ride Conference, established in 1972, is headquartered in Auburn, California, “The Endurance Capital of the World.” For more information please visit us at www.aerc.org.

Contact:
Candace FitzGerald
Dobbin Group LLC
603-738-2788

December's Endurance Day on Horses in the Morning with Karen Chaton

Horseinthemorning.com - Listen in

HITM for 12-08-2015 by the AERC – Winter Horse Care Tip, Inspiration from Sousa & Vanderford

This month's AERC Endurance episode with Karen Chaton we feature Mike Mumford from Redmond Equine with some winter care tips, Joyce Sousa, Hugh Vanderford with some inspirational stories and Dr. Garlinghouse has the AERC update. The Distance Depot highlights the 25 Days of Giveaways. Listen in...

http://www.horsesinthemorning.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sousa-source-endurance-net-200x300.jpg

Tevis Annual Holiday Party

The Tevis Annual Holiday Party will be on Saturday, December 12, 2015 05:30pm - 11:30pm, at the Elks Lodge in Auburn, California.

Save the date for food, fun and good company. 
For tickets or more information contact the office at:

http://teviscup.org/about-us/contact-us/5-wstf-office

Virginia City 100 History

NASTR.org - Full Article

by Cliff Lewis

1968 saw the turning point of modern day endurance riding. Where as a couple of years previously there had been only the Tevis Cup and a few "Pony Express Races", there were now several good endurance rides. The Castle Rock, the Tellington's, the Peaceful Valley Ride (in Colorado), and much talk about others.

In the early spring of 1968 I was doing a lot of training with Dean Hubbard. It had been as easy winter with little snow and we were able to get way up into the mountains. We looked at wild horses and searched for a crashed airplane. We saw many deer and coyote, and talked enthusiastically about the coming endurance rides in California. I told Dean about a fifty mile ride I went on the year before, that went twice around a twenty-five mile circle. On that ride we were given the combinations of several locks so we could open gates along the way. We were now riding atop Clark Mountain and could see for 40 miles out across the lava beds. There wasn't a single sign of a fence, a gate, or a "No Trespassing" sign anywhere. Dean looked at me and said, "Why don't we have an endurance ride here"?

I never would have dreamed that this simple statement would eventually foster so many rides.

Dean and I realized it would take more than the two of us to put on an endurance ride. We decided we would start looking for support. We talked to most of the horsemen in the Reno area. We asked if they would be interested in putting on an endurance ride. The responses were mostly negative but some did say they would support a ride if we could get it organized. We had a hard time finding anyone who would jump in and get his feet wet...

Read more here:
http://www.nastr.org/docs/History-VC100byCliffLewis.pdf

Sign Up Now for the February 19-20, 2016 AERC Convention

AERC.org

The Convention is early this year!

February 19 and 20, 2016 - Grand Sierra Resort and Casino - Reno, Nevada

AERC's convention is the most fun you can have without your horse! Two days of informative and thought-provoking seminars, shopping galore, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, awards presentations, Hot Topics seminars, plus fun Friday night entertainment and the awards banquet on Saturday night. Convention is on the early side this year, so it may be more of a winter wonderland than usual. (Plus the regional award winners may not have their jackets for convention wearing but the office will try their best!)

NEW! Register for the convention online, easily and quickly, with our new secure 2016 AERC Convention Registration.

You may also sign up with the cheerful gals at the AERC office by phone: 866-271-2372, or fill out the form in your December EN or in the flyer link in the next paragraph and mail it to AERC, PO Box 6027, Auburn, CA 95604. (You can even fax it: 530-823-7805. Our fax machine doesn't get much of a workout lately and it would welcome your faxed form.)

Find out more about the convention with our 2016 AERC Convention flyer.

And don't forget to register with the Grand Sierra -- click for the AERC Convention - Grand Sierra Reservations. Or phone the hotel to reserve (be sure to mention you are with AERC, as we have a minimum number of rooms we must book!): 800-648-5080.

A favorite of AERC members, the Grand Sierra at 2500 East 2nd Street in Reno, has everything all in one spot, so it's a great place to stay, and eat, and shop -- all under one roof.

For more information about the Grand Sierra, visit the hotel website.

We're joining forces with NATRC for convention this year, and they are sponsoring Friday night's entertainment, featuring local singer/songwriter Richard Elloyan. If you purchase a seminar ticket, you'll get free entry to the Friday night shindig!

VETERINARIANS: The Veterinary Committee will be hosting a two-day Veterinary Continuing Education course in conjunction with the convention, on February 18 and 19, open to all veterinarians. Information to come soon!

TRADE SHOW EXHIBITORS: We'd love to have you! Click for the Trade Show information page

2016 AERC Central Region Convention to be held January 15-17

Texasenduranceriders.org

TO GET THE CONVENTION RATE, YOU MUST HAVE RESERVATIONS MADE BY JANUARY 1, 2016.

AERC CENTRAL REGION CONVENTION will be held January 15-17, 2016

Make your plans now to join the Central Region AERC family for our annual mini-convention in Ardmore, OK. The event will start with a meet and greet on Friday night; continue with vendor browsing (including the popular used tack exchange), speakers and the Awards Banquet for TERA and OCER on Saturday, and conclude with our annual members meeting on Sunday morning.

FACILITIES

Directions to Holiday Inn Ardmore are: From I-35 take exit 33 east to Rockford Rd. Turn south on Rockford Rd. Hotel on right 1/4 mile. This is a new facility with which we believe everyone will be pleased. All meetings and rooms will be in the same facility. There is a good grill/restaurant attached to the HI for easy access. This is a no-pet facility, but there are two motels within a half mile which do allow pets. The rooms are higher than we have paid in the past, but the hotel’s charges for meeting room and amenities, as well as the Banquet tickets will be noticeably lower. So, the registration fees have been drastically reduced in an effort to help people stay within approximately the same budget at they did last year.

HI has reserved a block of rooms for us at a special rate. The group block consists of 20 rooms with one king size bed and 20 rooms with two queen beds. The daily rate is $99.00 plus tax per room per night. Reservations can be made directly with the front desk staff at 580-226-3333 or online at www.holidayinn.com/ardmore-ok . Please use the group code AER with booking online. The cutoff date for the group block is Friday January 1, 2016, and any remaining group inventory with be returned to hotel inventory at midnight January 1 2016 to be sold by the hotel at prevailing rates. SO TO GET THE CONVENTION RATE, YOU MUST HAVE RESERVATIONS MADE BY JANUARY 1, 2016. We will be sending out reminders to help folks remember to make their reservations.

PROGRAM

Susan Garlinghouse will be our primary speaker. She will present two sessions: Ten Things You Can Do Better, on Saturday morning and The Myths of (Mostly Facebook) Equine Nutrition, in the afternoon.
Jamie Lemon will have a presentation on Mentoring and Membership, and our favorite Vet panel will close the sessions.
TERA and OCER awards will be presented at the annual awards banquet Saturday evening, followed by our “PARTY TIME”.

RAFFLE

Louise Burton will again work with all the central region ride managers to coordinate the annual Ride Entry Raffle which will go on all day Saturday. Raffle tickets may be purchased by proxy—i.e., someone in attendance can buy them for folks who can’t join us.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Sunday morning all AERC members will join for an update from our Regional Directors and planning for 2017 convention.

From Bucker to Blessing: 9000 Miles for Sousa's LV Integrity +/

November 28 2015
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

When LV Integrity and Joyce Sousa crossed the finish line in last weekend's second day of the Gold Rush Shuffle endurance ride in California with their family - Joyce's husband, daughter, and granddaughter - the 22-year-old gelding's AERC lifetime mileage total tallied at 9065 miles. It's a milestone that less than 3 dozen horses have reached in their endurance careers.

Looking back at the beginning of his 17 seasons of competition, it was a rather unlikely proposition that anything like this would have evolved. There's really no other explanation for how LV Integrity came to be a successful part of the Sousa clan but Divine Intervention.

It started with Joyce saving a life. She was riding her Hall of Fame horse Jim Bob on a 100-mile ride in 1992 with Chris Knoch on his horse NV Fifth Ave. Cantering along the forested trail, Chris was turned in his saddle talking to Joyce behind him, when suddenly up loomed a big tree branch over the trail. No time for Joyce to do anything but flatten over her horse's neck and scream at Chris, "DUCK!"

"He didn't even turn around," Joyce says. "He just ducked down and the branch went over our heads. He said, 'I owe you one for that!' At the time, I just joked with him, 'Yea, you can just let me win this ride!'"

Though nobody could know it at the time, repayment was ultimately in the unlikely form of an unruly, mean gelding with a bad buck in his soul.

4th place in the Owyhee Fandango 100, May 2008

Fast forward a few years to the 1999 Big Bad Bally ride near Shasta, California. Chris was there with that very beast to sell. "He had to sell the horse because he was really mean and used to charge his little girls - he had to take a pitchfork to him once - and he was a bad bucker," Joyce says.

Nobody was interested in the 6-year-old LV Integrity because he was a rather wild looking thing. He'd been tethered all day between two trees on a highline. "He spent the day running back and forth, back and forth, all day long. He was covered with sweat; he was just a miserable looking thing."

Chris sought out Joyce that evening. Joyce recalls, "'I've got this horse," Chris told me. 'I can't keep him on my place; I can't trust him around the kids at all, and he bucks like a sonofagun. But I think you can do something with him. I will take anything you have to offer me for this horse.'

"I went to look at him. There wasn't much to look at, really. He was just a lanky, bay, sweaty-looking piece of horse flesh, but what captured my heart was his eyes. They just had a look of despair. They weren't able to love, and nobody was able to love him. He just looked like he was at the end of his rope. I didn't even really look at his conformation that much. It was his eyes that got me."

She conferred with her husband Dennis, and their kids Jenny and John; they said it was totally up to Joyce to decide. What Joyce decided was to write a check to Chris for the horse. "Chris told me that was great, but under no circumstances should I get on his back or try to ride him, because he'd kill me. And I believed him!"

at the finish line with Dennis and Joyce, May 2008

Auspiciously dubbed "Ritzy" by Joyce, the Sousas hauled him home, and Joyce called up an older cowboy trainer she knew named Rex Hinton, and told him Ritzy's story. He agreed to work with the horse, and they delivered Ritzy to Hinton's ranch.

3 weeks later Joyce got a call from Rex. "He told me, "'Joyce, I believe you've got a horse. Come on down and get him.'"

The first week of training hadn't been easy for Rex or Ritzy. The first day, Rex haltered the horse in a round pen and put a saddle on him, and as soon as he cinched the saddle, that horse went to bucking. "Vicious bucking," Joyce says. "Rex couldn't get near him. He just walked away and let Ritzy buck it out." After the horse eventually stopped, Rex was able to approach him and remove the saddle, and he put the horse away and let him be for the day. That same thing happened for 6 straight days. "No way Rex was even thinking about getting on him. Rex told me he'd cowboyed all his life, and he'd been on bucking horses, and he didn't think Arabs could buck. But Ritzy was a BUCKER."

But on the 7th day, when Rex went out and saddled Ritzy, this time the horse stood stock-still. He didn't move. Rex put the bit in his mouth with no problem, then very very carefully put a foot in the stirrup, expecting Ritzy to start bucking at any moment - but he didn't. Rex sat on his back a while, then asked the horse to move around the corral a bit, which he did with no problems at all; then Rex took the saddle off and put Ritzy away for the day.

1st place in the Owyhee Fandango 100, May 2009

Rex saddled and rode Ritzy for a week in the arena, and only one time did Ritzy act like he might think of bucking, but Rex popped him on the butt with his reins and told him to stop that, and he never did it again.

After a week of that, Rex took him out of the arena and rode him up and down the hills for another week. Ritzy never once made another move to buck, so he called Joyce up. "He told me there was nothing else he could do for the horse. He wasn't bucking, Rex was riding him, and now it was my turn.

"When Rex was telling me this, I was scared of that horse. Then I thought, well, God created the earth and he rested on the 7th day too… maybe that's what Ritzy is doing!

"It hit me then. I felt I had saved Chris's life, and he had told me, "I'll pay you back" - so I thought that this was God's way of showing me that Ritzy was Chris's gift to me. I have always felt that, because that horse NEVER, at any point in time, since then, has ever bucked with me, or ever tried to hurt me in any way."

Despite Ritzy's good behavior, Joyce was a bit tense riding him the first two seasons and 4 rides on the endurance trails, because she knew what Ritzy had been like.

But he never did anything wrong; and the next year was a real turning point for the gelding when he went on the 2001 XP ride from St Joseph, Missouri, to Virginia City, Nevada, with the Joyce family.

2nd place in the Bandit Springs 100, riding with daughter Jennifer Niehaus and MC Gallantly, July 2009

"We had 2 other horses along, and he was the closest horse to my camper door. When he wasn't being ridden, he hung out there. That's when we really bonded." Joyce rode him 500 miles in those 6 weeks across the country; and 2 weeks later, she rode him in the Tevis Cup to a 19th place finish on his first 100 mile ride. "He had proved to me that I could trust him with my life, literally. This horse was a solid horse."

This bonded team of Joyce Sousa and LV Integrity went on to phenomenal success, racking up 9,065 AERC miles over a 17-season career (to date), 143 completions in 151 starts, with 35 100-mile finishes out of 41 starts, including 4 Tevis Cup finishes without a pull. His record includes 18 first-place finishes, 7 of those in 100 mile rides. Ritzy picked up 12 Best Conditions along the way, and National 100-mile awards in 2002 and 2009, in addition to numerous Regional awards. This year he received the Arabian Horse Association's Legion of Supreme Honor award. He has never been pulled in a 50 or 75-mile ride.

Included in those accomplishments were two trips overseas. In 2003 Joyce and Ritzy were invited to Abu Dhabi to compete in the President's Cup; Ritzy made it 91 miles in the ride before the Sousas pulled him because he just wasn't acting right despite cruising through the vet checks with a pulse below 60. Turned out he had caught a bug and was running a high temperature the next day; and his return home was delayed until he recovered. In 2005 they qualified for the World Endurance Championship and returned to the UAE, though unfortunately they were unable to start.

4th place in the AERC National Championship 100, September 2009

"Life went on," as Joyce puts it - life on the U.S. endurance trails with another decade of multi-day 50 mile rides and 100-mile rides, until September of 2014, when at 21 years of age, Ritzy started showing some inconsistent, undiagnosable, slight rear end lameness.

"I thought he was starting to show the signs of aging, and thought I probably should take him out of endurance totally. I started riding a 9-year-old that I had. In the meantime, in 1 1/2 months, Ritzy wasn't showing any lameness at all; he was just going great guns. So I started riding him again as my mounted patrol horse."

But when Joyce's new horse was injured in September of this year, she started riding Ritzy on the endurance trails again. "He's just sound as a dollar. Getting all A's on attitude and gait. I give him a year off and he comes back better than the last couple of years I rode him!" Joyce's daughter, Jennifer, also took him on a 50 miler in October, riding with her daughter Alex.

"His time off was probably the best thing that ever happened to him," Joyce says. "He came back gangbusters. He's happy, real happy going down the trail. I was just thrilled. It felt so good to ride him again, I can't even tell you."

Joyce has over 23,000 AERC miles; and with one horse, Jim Bob, already in the Hall of Fame with 9005 miles (2005), and Ritzy having now gone over 9000 miles in his stellar career, one wonders what the Sousas' secret is.

Warming up for Tevis, 35th place (4th buckle), July 2013

She replies, "In all honesty, I believe there has to be Divine Intervention here.

"We are no different horse handlers than anybody else. We aren't gurus! We love our horses; we manage them the best way we can; we treat them as individuals. Each horse IS an individual. We try to train properly. We try not to overtrain. We try to figure out what training methods work for what horses.

"This isn't about me, or about Ritzy. It's about us all enjoying each other. It's about going and doing your business the best way you can and thanking God, living in a mode of total thankfulness. I just have to believe that.

"And that horse is a part of our family who will fill the bill wherever he's needed, and he is our blessing!"


Top photo:
4th place in the AERC National Championship 100, September 2009

Two friends can ‘ride on’ thanks to the generosity of the one

Riverfallsjournal.com - Full Article

By Gretta Stark on Nov 30, 2015

Cathe Cheesebrow and Janet Sarver met and became friends doing endurance riding with the American Endurance Ride Conference.

They grew closer in 2013, when both were competing in the same Upper Midwest Endurance and Competitive Rides Association (UMECA) category: rookie endurance.

Endurance riding involves spending hours on horseback, and the friends ended up spending that time riding together.

“We’re not riders that have to go for the first place finish...we just enjoy the ride,” Sarver said. “We were kind of jockeying each other for points, and so at rides we were together... we just started taking turns (crossing the finish line). People would come up and they would say, ‘Why are you riding with her, aren’t you competing for rookie of the year?”

Cheesebrow, 57, a River Falls resident since 2001, was asked the same question, and gave this reply, “because we have fun together.”

Today these close friends don’t just share a love of horses or endurance riding -- they share something more intimate -- a kidney.

One year ago, on Nov. 12, 2014, Sarver, of Wyoming, Minn., donated her kidney to Cheesebrow who had been struggling with kidney failure for years.

Cheesebrow, diagnosed years before with IGA nephropathy -- a common type of kidney failure caused by a virus -- learned from her nephrologist in spring 2014 that she would need a kidney transplant...

Read more here:
http://www.riverfallsjournal.com/life/health/3892937-two-friends-can-ride-thanks-generosity-one

Discover Endurance Riding with the American Endurance Ride Conference

November 28 2015

If you (or your horse) are interested in endurance riding, there is no better time to get started than right now. The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) ride season began onDecember 1, and rides are scheduled for every month of the ride year, which will run through November 30, 2016.

“New members are welcomed into the sport,” said AERC Executive Director Kathleen Henkel. “We have an active group of mentors who will help you get started and answer any questions you may have about this sport, which can seem a little intimidating at first.”

New memberships are $63.75, plus $43.75 for a second adult family member ($17 for a family member under 18), which includes tracking of AERC mileage for both you and your horse, a monthly issue of Endurance News—an actual magazine sent by mail, not online—and a new member packet filled with educational materials.

The nonprofit organization, formed in 1972, has both an annual awards program and a lifetime mileage recognition program. “One of our most recognized awards is the Decade Team,” said Henkel, “which recognizes those riders and equines who have competed together on rides of 50 miles or longer for 10 seasons. It’s something many of our riders have as a goal when they get started in the sport.”

For a more in-depth experience, all are invited to attend the organization’s annual convention, held February 19 and 20, 2016, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The two-day event includes a free trade show with all the newest gear for distance riders, plus seminars and awards presentations.

Among the 2016 convention presenters will be Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, a recognized expert in equine nutrition, with a seminar entitled “But I Read It Online!” which will examine the good and bad of online horse nutrition claims. Jeanette Mero, DVM, will cover the topic every equestrian needs to know: “Lameness: Prevention and Treatment.”
Dr. Robin Foster, a certified applied animal behaviorist, will present a seminar on horse-human communication in “The Social Horse.” Rider fitness will be covered by Deanna Guinasso, a longtime fitness expert. Other seminar topics are being finalized over the next couple of weeks.

At the 2016 convention, GF Brazil’s Envy, a 1998 Arabian mare owned by California rider Ann Kratochvil, will be recognized as a Perfect Ten equine—the horse has competed for 10 years, more than 10,000 AERC miles, and has won 10 first place finishes and 10 best conditions. “Ann and GF Brazil’s Envy are the epitome of what endurance is all about,” said Henkel.

Also honored will be hundreds of regional award winners, the AERC Hall of Fame rider and equine, and the horse and rider team that best exemplifies sportsmanship in AERC’s Pard’ners Award.

Just ready to find out more about endurance riding without making a commitment yet? The AERC office will send out a free information packet, including their “Discover Endurance Riding” booklet, upon request to aerc@foothill.net or 866-271-2372 or by mail to AERC, P.O. Box 6027, Auburn, CA 95604—just send your name and mailing address.

For AERC convention information, visit http://www.aerc.org/static/Convention.aspx and click on Convention Information.

To join, call 866-271-2372 or join online at http://www.aerc.org/mbrReg.aspx.

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

Ride Like Potato - ebook by Potato Richardson

Ride Like Potato: Learn to Enjoy Trail Riding More Than Ever from the Winner of the 2015 Tevis Cup Race

The Kindle version is here!

This first edition covers in detail the winning experience I had in 2015 while riding the 100 Mile One Day Race through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This event known as the Tevis Cup had nearly 200 riders from all over the world most riding their own horses brought from all parts of the world. Top rider in the sport participated and many were past winners as well as riding horses that had won in the past annual event. This annual event from Lake Tahoe to Auburn California was first held in 1955 and is now the most prominent Endurance Ride in the world.

Available on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/RIDE-LIKE-POTATO-RIDING-WINNER-ebook/dp/B017GJG0W4

AERC Board Changes in November

AERC.org

November 25 2015

AERC Board member Randy Eiland of New Mexico announced his resignation after 23 years on the Board.

Carla Richardson of Colorado replaces him as a Director-at-Large.

2016 Ride Season starts in 6 days!‏

November 25 2015

From the AERC office:

First of all, THANKS to all of you for your support of endurance riding and AERC. Our membership numbers are up this year and it's all due to you, our enthusiastic members, those both new to the sport and longtime members.

Also, a big thank you to the 1,300 members who are already renewed for 2016. (If you're already renewed, skip the next paragraph!)

Not yet renewed? Please take a moment and do so now. You may give us a call, 866-271-2372, or use the form in your October EN. Or renew online: http://www.aerc.org/erol/aerc/reg/

The office will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, but we plan to mail out lots of 2016 AERC cards before then.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and best of luck to those of you getting in one last ride this coming weekend.

Standardbred Racehorse Transitions to Endurance

Twohorsetack Blog - Full Story

Congratulations to Jen and Sidney Rain!
October 30 2015

Sidney Rain isn’t pulling a sulkey anymore, but that doesn’t mean his racing days are over. The 15-year-old Standardbred has transitioned to a new career with his human Jen.

Jen adopted Sidney four years ago from the American Standardbred Adoption Program and describes him as “my big love.” The pair are in the midst of their second full season of endurance riding and the ex-racehorse loves his new gig.

“He loves just being at ride camp and going new places,” Jen told us. “Zooming through the woods is one of our favorite things to do, whether training or at a competition...”

Read more here:
https://twohorsetack.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/congratulations-to-jen-and-sidney-rain/

Celebration of Life for Sue Hedgecock on December 12

Legacy.com

Suzanne "Sue" Chase White Hedgecock
July 16, 1952 – October 22, 2015

Suzanne Chase White Hedgecock passed away peacefully in the Hedgecock Family home on Hedgecock Hill in Park City on Oct. 22, 2015, with her son, Wesley Anson Hedgecock, by her side. She was surrounded by the support of Andrea Shotwell and close friends. Sue was born on July 16, 1952 in Brattleboro, Vermont with her identical twin sister Sally. Sue was the daughter of Arnold Miller and Ruth Ann Cerosky White. Sue was preceded in death by her father Arnold Miller White and her husband William "Tony" Anson Hedgecock, Jr., on March 16, 2014.

Sue grew up at her family farm in Marlboro, Vermont, with her identical twin sister Sally, both girls riding horses in the summer, and skiing every day in the winter at the family-owned Hogback Mountain Ski Area in Marlboro. Sue attended school in Marlboro and Brattleboro, Vermont. She went to college at Johnson State College in Vermont, Keene State College in New Hampshire, and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Sue went on to a career in Alpine Ski Racing as an amateur enjoying success locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. In the early 1970's Sue was named to the USST and competed in domestic World Cup Races.

Sue worked for UVEX in Salt Lake City for a time. She was a Certified USSCA Alpine Ski Coach Level 3, and a PSIA Level 3 Instructor for 40 or more years. She taught skiing in the family business at Hogback Mountain Ski Area, and she worked at Skyline Restaurant and Hogback Mountain Gift Shop in Marlboro, and later at Haystack Ski Area, Ski Club Vail, Aspen Ski Club, Alyeska Ski Club, and Juneau Ski Club. She spent time coaching the Women's Team at the University of Utah and spent approximately 35 years as a ski instructor at Deer Valley in Park City. During her years in Alaska, Sue worked as an Interpretive Guide and Naturalist for the U.S. Forest Service at Portage Glacier, and had a similar job in Juneau, Alaska. She was also a successful business woman, and worked for a number of years as Store Manager at the Guess Park City Outlet Store when it was first opened.

Her love for and involvement with horses never diminished, and later in life she was able to get back to her roots with horses. She became a highly regarded competitor in the Endurance horse racing field, having won numerous races and Best Condition awards both locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally with her own horses. Sue was a sought-after horse trainer, and highly-respected horsewoman.

Sue leaves behind her son Wesley Anson Hedgecock, her nephew Justin White Chandler (whom she called her other son), her identical twin sister Sally Miller White, and her mother Ruth Ann Cerosky White and cousins, aunts, and uncles in the Cerosky, Douglas, and Hamilton families, nieces Jessica and Jennifer Ray and many, many friends in the Alpine Ski Racing World and Winter Sports Industry, and the Endurance Horse Racing World, as well as her many close friends that she loved. Sue lived her dream in Park City.

Celebration of Life will be held at Mountain Life Church, 7375 Silver Creek Rd., Park City on Dec. 12 at 4 p.m.

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/parkrecord/obituary.aspx?n=Suzanne-Chase-Hedgecock-Sue-White&pid=176483421#sthash.SE5hkK5M.dpuf

New sport gives Baris chance to run – and ride – her way to national ranking

Polksports.com - Full Article

By Andy Rhinehart - November 15, 2015

As did her older sister, Laney, Carrie Baris ran cross country and track competitively in high school.

Some 10 years ago, Laney began running again, and so too did Carrie. Laney entered the Death Valley Marathon, so Carrie entered and ran with her.

But when Laney suggested Carrie follow her lead and take up a new sport, one that involved both riding on and running with horses, Carrie wasn’t exactly certain whether to stay that course or not.

“She told me many stories about this crazy sport,” Baris said of the perhaps not-so-well-known sport of Ride and Tie.

“In 2013, when a race was held at Clemson for the first time, one of her regular partners, Janice Heltibridle, needed a partner for the 30-mile course. Laney volunteered me, and I partnered with Janice and her horse, Bubba. Hot, steamy, exhausted and filthy, we crossed the finish line last in my first race. But I had been instantly drawn in by the close-knit community...”

Read more here:
http://polksports.com/new-sport-gives-baris-chance-to-run-and-ride-her-way-to-national-ranking/

AERC Board of DIrectors Meeting Nov 10

The AERC Board of Directors met by phone conference November 10. The membership report shows significant increases over last year in the 8-10% range with about a 12% increase in rider fees.

The board heard reports on USEF and FEI from Jan Stevens (AERC liaison to USEF), Dr. Meg Sleeper (chair of the AERC-I Cmte.) and Valerie Kanavy (athlete representative to the FEI Technical Committee). Board members asked questions and the ladies were very helpful.

The Board also reviewed the Strategic Plan.

The Board passed a motion from the Trails and Land Management Committee to fund a Trails Grant project in Wisconsin.

The Board passed a motion to include Phenibut in the prohibited substance and referred back to committee the addition of Levothyroxine a drug used to treat hypothyroidism in horses. If you have a competing horse that is treated with Levothyroxine, the Board would like to hear from you.

Posted by AERC President, Michael Campbell

5000 Miles of Morgan Power: Bogar Tucker and Cindy Bradley

November 12 2015
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

"How was he?" Steve Bradley asked his wife Cindy, as she led Bogar Tucker, her big bouncing Morgan back to the horse trailer after vetting in for the Owyhee Canyonlands endurance ride.

"Airs above the ground," Cindy said, trying to sound exasperated, but clearly delighted. "He thinks he's 4 years old again!"

It's a typical scenario for the 16-year-old gelding, who is in his 12th year of endurance competition - always full of himself, confident, and very opinionated.

He's been that way since he was a foal, when Cindy first saw him and fell for him at Karl Morris's Morgan farm near Boise, Idaho. "Some horses just hit me right off, and he was a lot like an old horse I had that my dad gave me when i was 15."

Morgans have been in Cindy's family since she was a little girl, and they've been an integral part of her life ever since. And as her primary endurance horse was getting old and Cindy was looking to replace him, it was inevitable she'd want another Morgan for endurance.

She'd previously trained some of Karl's Morgan horses to drive, and Cindy really liked Bo's sire, Stick Tucker. When she asked Karl about the foal, he answered her with a little sarcasm. "Karl told me, 'Well, everything here is for sale, for the right price.' I made an offer for him, and Karl's mouth just dropped. He said, 'Well, I guess he's sold then,' but he wasn't too happy, because he kind of wanted to keep him. So I picked Bo up when he was 3 months old, because Karl was kind of angry about it!"


When Cindy and Steve pulled up at Karl's farm in their horse trailer to fetch Bo, out of the kitchen came Karl, followed by Bo, as if it were completely normal to have a foal in your house. "He loaded right in the trailer and came home with me."

Bo was an easy horse to break. "When I took him home at 3 months, I started taking him out and hand-walking him with me, just down the side of the road, through the creeks, and playing in the water. And when he got a little bit older, I started ponying him. I think that's where he learned to walk so fast. He's got a very fast walk, because he had to keep up. I drove him first, before I put a saddle on him."


At 16 hands, Bo's a big horse. And because he grew so big so fast, that's probably why he had some issues with stifle joints in his early years. Cindy started Bo on 25-mile endurance rides when he was 4 years old. "I was told, oh, he'll never be an endurance horse," Cindy said, "so for quite a few years I did 25's. And they said oh, he's only going to be able to do a couple of 25's, he won't be able to do any more that that; but after about 4 years of riding 25's, I said 'Well, maybe he can do a 50.' And that's when I started riding him on 50's.

"He's got 5000 miles of 'em now! But slowing him down for those 25 miles for several years was probably the best thing I could have done for him."

After finishing 3 of 4 50 mile rides as as an 8-year-old in 2007, and then finishing all 5 of his 50-mile starts in 2008, Bo and Cindy never looked back. In 2009, Bo finished all 22 of his 50-mile starts, for a total of 1,010 miles. He did two days in a row for the first time that season, at Old Selam in Idaho, the Owyhee Canyonlands in Idaho, and the Grand Canyon XP in Arizona.


Cindy and Bo became a familiar sight: the big dark bay opinionated horse and his rider gliding down the endurance trails solo in the West, Southwest, Northwest, and Mountain regions. But don't try to catch up and ride with them, because Bo won't let you.

Bo does best alone on a ride, and Cindy prefers it that way anyway. "He's better by himself," she said. "He doesn't like to be alongside others. He's sort of competitive - he likes to get ahead of everybody. And I can actually tell when a horse is feeling better when they're alone, because they're not interacting with another horse."

The 'slow and steady wins the race' motto has been a key to success for this pair over the seasons, where they've consistently finished mid to back of the pack. "We've done slow miles just because I want to ride slower, and I wanted him to get to 5000 miles. He doesn't want to go slower. I think slow and steady is better than trying to race."


Riding solo so many miles together builds close communication and a strong bond between horse and rider. A few years back in an Idaho ride, Bo and Cindy came to a 3-way intersection where the ribbons were down. "It was an area where it was hard to tell by ground hoof prints which way to go," Cindy recalled. "I remembered riding there sometime before and decided to go left. I urged Bo with leg pressure.  His ears went back... more urging and he started backing, whirling, and being an ass.  

"After several minutes of this I got angry and said, 'Okay, go your way, but you're wrong, and you will see!' About half a mile his way we ran into the right color ribbons. I patted him on the neck and thanked him! Many people went the wrong way that day.  

"Doing all those miles together, you get really bonded. Riding with somebody else, you lose all that special connection with your horse." It's a closeness that Cindy treasures with her special gelding. "Some people miss the whole issue of being that connected with a horse, I think. "

In 2010, Bo did 5 days in a row at the Paunsagaunt XP at Bryce Canyon in Utah. "That's a very tough ride," Cindy said, "and I just had it in my head, we would do all 5 days - not even thinking he had only done 2 50's in a row before that. He did it easily. That was our biggest event!"


Their next biggest milestone was when Bo passed 5000 endurance miles, at this year's Grand Canyon XP on September 6th. He was only the 5th Morgan (or part Morgan) in AERC history to reach this laudable, coveted milestone.

Bo's is an outstanding AERC record: (to date) 5090 endurance miles, 495 LD miles over 12 seasons. He has only 6 pulls in 124 starts. The pair made the cover of the 2012 December Endurance News magazine issue, in a spectacular photo taken by Cindy's husband Steve at the Grand Canyon XP that year.


In addition to his AERC achievements, Bogar Tucker won the American Morgan horse high point award for endurance twice. He also won 2 reserve championships in endurance from the American Morgan Horse Association.

One more AERC award is waiting just around the corner: the Decade Team. According to AERC.org, "this special award recognizes an achievement that represents the foundation on which AERC was formed, by acknowledging a rider who, over a long period of time, has kept an equine sound and actively competing. The Decade Team award recognizes those equine and rider teams who completed at least one endurance ride (50 miles or more) each year for 10 years."

With the new endurance season set to begin in December, Cindy is looking toward the Death Valley XP, in California on December 28-31, to reach this next milestone with Bo.

Cindy said she'll start to back off on Bo, now that he's reached 5000 miles. "We're going to do some 25's and a few 50's." Just don't tell the big horse that, though, since he might have a few other opinions about that.

"I have owned and ridden many horses in my life, but Bo is my once-in-a-life time horse," Cindy said.

"I hope we have many more years together!"

November's Endurance Day on Horses in the Morning with Karen Chaton

Horsesinthemorning.com - Listen

HITM for 11-10-2015 by the AERC – Endurance Listeners Radiothon Challenge, Mechanics of Better Riding, Flax Myths Busted

This month's AERC Endurance episode with Karen Chaton: following our usual adventures with Karen's re-cap we'll get down to the mechanics of better riding with Donna Snyder Smith, The Distance Depot offers up clever covers for your consideration, and rounding out the show, Dr Susan Garlinghouse offers some advice on social media etiquette and busts a few online myths. Listen in...

http://www.horsesinthemorning.com/hitm-for-11-10-2015-by-the-aerc-endurance-listeners-radiothon-challenge-mechanics-of-better-riding-flax-myths-busted/