Bringing up an Endurance Horse
A 100 mile endurance horse is not created overnight
Story and Photos by Darice Whyte
26 / Sport and Trail Magazine
CONTINUED >>
It was a stormy night, I was waiting for my Arabian mare to foal. I had gone out at 12:30 AM to check on the mare and when the 1:30 AM alarm rang I thought I'll just sleep 30 minutes more. When the alarm rang again I went out to the barn half awake and shone my flashlight into the stall. Imagine my surprise when I saw this little face with big bright eyes looking back at me! I was instantly awake.
She was up, had nursed and was obviously curious about the world. And thus was born my very own golden Barbie pony. She was 1/2 Thoroughbred and 1/2 Arab and, although she would turn palomino later, she was a brilliant shade of orange!
From the get go it was obvious that she was willful, mischievous and too smart for her own good. She would routinely get out of her pasture and then go back in but would make sure we knew she was out by leaving evidence on our front lawn. There was no doubt who it was!
I was worried that being 1/2 Thoroughbred she would be a hard keeper. Quite the opposite! She's been plump since the day she was born. She has a booty on her that would make a Quarter Horse jealous! If I didn't know she wasn't 1/2 Quarter Horse I would swear she was. This pony is one full figured gal.
As I'm not a trainer nor do I have the facilities to train a young horse, I sent her for training when she was 3 1/2. I had him put 60 days of training on her and then I started riding her. Although she is extremely athletic and could probably go in any direction, my ultimate goal for her was endurance, which is my chosen sport.
We had a rather rocky start with several unplanned dismounts. I've got a pretty decent stick but a horse completely disappearing from beneath me was a bit of a challenge. Being a newly minted senior citizen I don't bounce that well. And, based on the number of bones I've broken, it seems I'm somewhat fragile!
I decided that more training was probably in my best interest but also I wanted her more balanced using her body more effectively. I sent her for an additional three months of training with another trainer who did amazing things with her. As I'm just an every day trail rider, most of what he taught her to do was lost on me. However, she was definitely much more balanced, which was my goal.
My plan for her, if all goes well, is to take her to Auburn, California to participate in the Tevis Cup ride.
The Tevis is a gruelling 24 hour 100 mile ride through the mountains of California. Having been fortunate enough to complete the ride in 2016 I'm fully aware of the challenges it presents to horse and rider.
But a 100 mile endurance horse is not created overnight. As she is only 5 I have been limiting her to 25 mile endurance rides at a slower pace about once to twice per month. I want to
develop her legs before asking her for too much speed. There is NO doubt she has the speed as we have had a couple of unplanned gallops but she also needs the muscle/tendon strength to match. Later on in the summer, if the ride vet agrees, I will look at doing a 25 mile ride on her both days of the event. Providing that goes as planned then, by the end of the year, I will attempt a 50 mile ride with her.
Taking Serenade to the various ride sites has been hugely beneficial. I took her to the first ride of the year knowing full well I wouldn't be able to ride her. 10 days prior to the ride I had a rather serious break to my left wrist so trying to control a young horse wasn't going to happen. I would put myself at risk along with other riders so instead I had a friend ride her for me. Each ride since she has just settled in well to camp life, vet checks, trot outs and actually going down the trail on our own. Yes there is still a lot of work required around the vet checks as she's big and can be pushy but we are getting there. We are work in progress 😊
I know there are lots of endurance riders out there who set a more ambitious course of action for their horses but I'm in it more for the challenge, the comradery and well the fun!! I just want to safely finish the course with a sound healthy horse and if I'm dead last but complete I'm totally fine with that. At the end of the day my horses are pets just like my dog but bigger and they poop more 😛.
She may not have the "Right Stuff" for endurance but time will tell. The one thing she does do is stand out in a crowd. If she doesn't cut it in the endurance world she will still be my big yellow goofy pony who likes me to breathe into her nose. How can I not be happy with that?