A BOY HORSE NAMED TULIP

18 YEARS OLD and 18,265 miles-AERC Hi-Mileage Horse

(How We Did It?)

Les Carr

Without AERC’s record keeping and supportive services; without the energetic efforts of ride managers; without XP multi-day rides; and without significant help from AERC members during the 13 years it took to make a hi-mileage horse----Tulip would not be the hi-mileage horse.

Prior to Tulip’s accomplishment, the AERC hi-mileage horse of all time in the world was an Arab, namely Rushcreek Lad with 18,215 lifetime miles and ridden by Trilby Pederson-a dedicated, determined, and highly skilled rider to be admired. Tulip is still going strong with 18,365 lifetime miles which includes 6,850 multi-day XP miles. In 2004, and again in 2006, Tulip and I have been the winner of the XP Gold Medal Award. To win this award the same horse and rider has to finish, without a single failure, all XP multi-day rides (155-250 miles) in a particular year-that is complete 1060 multi-day ride miles in a year. (Tulip has completed 6,850 XP miles.) XP stands for “Pony Express rides”.

There are breeders and others reading this article who may be interested in knowing of Tulip’s blood lines. Tulip was born 6/16/88- and is a gray gelding. The rumor is that a bed of lovely Tulips was observed during his birth. Tulip was bought from Steve Hanson (Powder River Partners-MT). Very frankly, I have never been influenced by blood lines. Tulip is the third horse that I have ridden over 10,000 AERC miles. My choice of a horse is influenced by my intuition and the behavior of the horse in an actual 50 mile ride. However, since knowledgeable horse breeders may read this article, the blood lines of Tulip are as follows. Tulip is by the Morgan stallion Calamity’s Pizzaz, whose sire is from the Kingston line. His dam is Belif, a grand-daughter of Bu-Zahar, a son of Ferzon-Hall of Fame sire of National Champions. It is conceivable that Tulip was inspired by having such a distinguished blood line – and this equine inspiration was a significant factor in determining his positive self-concept and hi-mileage success????

I purchased Tulip at his age of almost 5 years old, and was pleased that Tulip was somewhat of a runt in height-barely reaching 14 hands. I am 5’8” and about 148 pounds, so I preferred a horse in height on the small size. But Providence had the last laugh and Tulip grew to be 15.2+, and an approximate one thousand pounds.

Up to the first day of the 12/28/06 Death Valley Ride (multi-day 200 mile ride), AERC records indicated Tulip had completed 18,115 AERC miles , as compared to the hi-mileage horse Rushcreek Ladd who had completed 18,215 AERC miles and was the AERC hi-mileage horse. Quite by chance, Tulip had completed exactly 100 miles less than Ladd, and Tulip to be the hi-mileage horse had to complete 101 miles or 3 days of the 4 day, 200 mile, Death Valley Encounter. The first day of the Death Valley Encounter was tough as we braved throughout the day 70+ miles/hour winds mixed with sand-and at times, riding on relatively high mountains.

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So Tulip and I spent a difficult first day riding thru intense sand storms for the entire day. The second and third days were calm and sunny; a welcome change of weather. Having completed 100 miles over two days, we now had to finish a third day 50 mile ride in order to gain the one (1) mile required (101 miles in all) to exceed the hi-mileage record of Ladd. That night of the third day, upon completion of the ride and Tulip establishing a new hi-mileage record, Tulip and I received warm congratulations from my fellow riders, as well as the vets-Dr. David Nicholson and Dr. Gene Nance. Both vets were really there, providing excellent services for both the riders and horses. I am blessed with my wife, Jill, who is an excellent endurance rider and rode her quiet and trustworthy mule along with Tulip and I for all three days of the Death Valley Encounter. For those fans of Morabs, I am pleased to inform you that Jill’s mule, named Walker (for Walker, Texas Ranger), is part Morgan (and for fun titled a “Morass”). Jill worked 10 years as a vet tech with various vets. Jill’s passion is to train and drive carriage and harness horses for both wagon trains and living history. Jill and I elected not to do the fourth day of the Death Valley Encounter so we could go home and celebrate the New Year with family.

Now for the rest of the story-how Tulip and I succeeded to accomplish this goal

of Tulip becoming the AERC hi-mileage horse. Accomplishing this goal took place over a period of thirteen years doing approximately 1,000 miles per year, plus or minus over the 13 years. However, this last year of 2006, Tulip and I completed 1970 AERC miles involving a wide array of rides (from one to five consecutive days).

Following are the strategies and principles that led to our completion of the 18,365 AERC miles. However, there are certain considerations to ponder. As an endurance rider I must make a decision as to my riding style. The AERC motto is “To Finish is to Win”. However, winning can be accomplished in different ways. One can win by attempting to “top ten”, that is to ride as fast as your horse permits with the goal of finishing any ride in the top ten horses, and hopefully even winning the ride by coming in first, and also the horse being awarded “best-condition”. However, it is rare to find a top ten horse that continually top tens over a period of several consecutive years and remains both physically and psychologically sound. Another way to win is for the rider to make the decision to ride the same horse over a long period of time-and placing in the middle of riders, or coming in at the tail end of the ride. The latter approach has been my choice. Tulip and I usually come in toward the very end of the ride. AERC to its distinction and credit provides endurance riders the opportunity to engage in a range of alternative choices-for example, slow riding, fast riding, multi-day rides, from backyard type rides to the Tevis, and the unique challenge of riding in international competition.

A. WHAT TULIP and I DID ?

1. “Free-Range Raising”----My objective was to search for and acquire a fully registered young Morab that was raised more in a free-range manner rather than raised in a stall and limited area. A young horse’s physical and mental superior

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potential is much less likely to be attained when the horse is not challenged and stressed by the environmental impact. Tulip was raised in the rough terrain of Montana and had unusually excellent structure of his legs, feet, and hoofs, and was generally quiet when ridden-and displayed an excellent slow and smooth trot.

2. “Start the Horse Going Slowly and Carrying Light Rider Weight”----I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sponsor an excellent light-weight young

junior, Lainey Porter, who rode Tulip in the beginning for several thousand miles. I was campaigning Surrablue at the same time I sponsored and accompanied Lainey who rode Tulip slowly and followed my strategies and lead.

Lainey’s father, Jim Porter, is an excellent horseshoer and also helped out crewing. Surrablue was retired after our completing 10,590 AERC miles.

3. “Pace of Five and a Half Miles/Hour”----For some folks, my style of riding Tulip would be boring and seem uneventful. But that was a critical factor as to strategy. Regardless of how good or bad the terrain and environmental conditions, Tulip and I trotted the majority of the ride distance averaging 5 and a half miles/hour. This choice of a slow pace resulted in my being on Tulip-in the saddle- for an average of 9-10 hours during, for example, a 50 mile ride. (I have never cantered or galloped Tulip-endurance or training rides.) I have chosen not to participate with Tulip in any ride that has “cut-off” times (sometimes designed for the economic benefit of ride management and the limitations of vet availability). Rather than the rider recognizing that there is always another endurance ride; but not another horse, cut-off times may cause riders to follow their impulses and push their horses beyond the horse’s limits.

4. “Riding Standing-Up in the Stirrups”----For any and all rides, while trotting, I stand up with my legs unbent and held straight into both stirrups. While trotting, it is quite rare that my backside touches the saddle. Even when walking, I spend most of the time standing up in the stirrups, off the back of the horse. For the last approximate 5,000 miles of endurance competition, my saddle used was an Abetta with an Abetta “ultimate” sponge type pad. I started out with a Stonewall saddle and fleece pad that also worked well, until with increasing age and miles, the confirmation of Tulip’s back changed. At no time did Tulip have a chronically sore and/or painful back. This is quite amazing given Tulip’s completion of 18,365 miles over a period of 13 years. However, I would caution that there is no magical saddle and pad. Tulip’s conformation changed and changing saddles and pads was a necessity. The basic principle is that whatever works for both the rider and horse works. Saddle cost is not significantly correlated with what works! Both the Abetta and Stonewall saddles and pads are relatively inexpensive in cost.

5. “Focusing on Urine, Feces, and Water Intake”----For some readers, my emphasizing a focus on Tulip’s urine, feces, and water intake may seem

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unnecessary, if not a bit overly obsessive. However, riding Tulip so many miles in competition, I believe strongly that the quality and color of urine, the composition and frequency of feces, and the quantity of water taken in, as well as Tulip’s continuing desire for food and water, all provide significant clinical signs as to the condition of Tulip along the endurance trail-both his physical and psychological condition which are interactive and influence one another. Yes, I confess that I was focused to an obsessive degree on such clinical signs of Tulip’s condition along the trail of 50 + miles.

6. “ Continual Eating and Drinking Along the 50 to 100 Mile Trail”----Having a strategy of going slowly, for example, for 50 miles, with an average time of nine to ten hours on the horse, and with an average speed of five and a half miles/hour permits Tulip to eat continually along the trail. I believe strongly that a major factor determining Tulip’s longevity and ride completion is his constant eating along the trail and being an easy drinker of water, and an easy keeper in general. Every 15 or so minutes, Tulip would eat various plants along the trail and frequently drink water-clear to muddy. Tulip’s habit of continual eating resulted in a happy horse and a great amount of “poop”-and intestinal tract given to frequent elimination of poop. Psychologically Tulip might be thinking about pooping for several miles, and patience was required on my part not to push him to go faster, but to simply walk while Tulip was preoccupied with eliminating waste (urine or feces).

I believe that if your horse is not permitted by you and/or not naturally given to eating along the 50 to 100 mile trail, the horse may top ten-- and even win some rides; but the horse is very unlikely to remain sound over a number of years and thousands of miles-that is continuing to remain sound beyond, for example, 2000-3,000 miles of endurance competition. There are exceptions; but they are truly rare. Furthermore, if the horse you are planning to purchase or use in long-distance type endurance competition is not an “easy keeper”, then you would be wise in not becoming emotionally bonded to a horse that is likely to fail to perform well.

7. “Drinking Water Along the Trail”----There is the time honored truism-“You can lead a horse to water; but you can’t make him drink”. Some horses are born to drink water frequently and hydrate naturally. Other horses are born with a lack of desire for frequent and necessary drinking of water and are prone to electrolyte and other water-related problems that are not easily overcome.

It is indeed distressing to view a rider on the endurance trail greatly concerned and anxious that the horse was not naturally drinking water. Washing your horse down does in no way substitute for or replace the horse’s need to take in water frequently. For the rider who rationalizes his horse’s lack of interest in drinking water by stating that his/her horse does not require a great deal of water along the

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competitive trail, my response to the rider would be, “You should be riding a camel rather than a horse”.

8. “Risk Assessment”----My first hi-mileage horse of 12,130 AERC endurance

miles, Astro Aires (Morab gelding), died of Salmonella-on the trail. We were on

an endurance ride some 200 + miles from a vet clinic or hospital, and the ride vets simply did not have the quantity of fluids and medications that would be required to treat Salmonella. Astro Aires died in my arms and I will never get over what was a frightening and horrible experience. So, I would caution you to recognize that I may be over-reacting to Astro Aire’s death in my sense of risk-assessment. My second hi-mileage horse of 10,590 miles, Surrablue, is retired in sound condition. Tulip’s friend serves as an important factor in keeping Tulip “happy”, and exercised naturally running around and playing with his friend Surrablue.

Regarding risk assessment, my policies and practices in this regard are rigid and

quite strict. If Tulip is even slightly off in his gait (mild number 1 lameness), and even if the vet judges that Tulip can continue in the ride, Tulip and I load up and go home. If Tulip has very mild colic and we might be able to work it out by walking for some miles, my policy is to load up and go home as soon as posssible. In Tulip’s history of 18,365 miles, he has had mild number 1 lameness approximately three times, and mild to moderate severity of colic approximately 4 times. Any sign of colic results in my immediately pulling Tulip from the ride and requesting immediate vet treatment. My operating philosophy is that there is always another endurance ride to do; but not another Tulip. Again, I would caution you that I may be overly cautious in my concept of risk assessment and its application in the case of Tulip. I will never get over the death of Astro Aires and until the day I die will wonder how I could have found a way to prevent

Astro Aire’s death? It is always the rider, not the vet, who must take responsibility for the welfare of one’s horse. There are no justifiable excuses or rationalizations on the part of the rider in this regard.

9. “Happy Horse and Happy Rider”----In the case of myself, psychologically, I really enjoy my relationship with Tulip and being out there along the endurance trail. Beginning in 1963 and to date I have ridden approximately 10,000+ competitive miles and 40,000+ endurance miles, in many different geographic regions. I always ride listening to tapes on a range of subjects, or an FM radio with my selection of country Western music and religious related stations. For me personally, riding is a mystical and spiritual experience-Tulip and I connecting with the universe and its elements so to speak. Between rides, to keep in shape physically and psychologically, I engage in a routine of bodybuilding and weightlifting, and doing high reps to build endurance potential. Also, between rides, I spend time catching up on office paperwork since my doctoral degree is in

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psychology and mental health, and I still function as a practicing clinical psychologist and university administrator-in between, of course, my first priority--- riding the endurance trail.

In the case of Tulip, he has definite needs to maintain his psychological happiness on the trail and at home. If Tulip is not permitted to eat along the endurance trail, he becomes angry and depressed. If Tulip is not permitted to eliminate his wastes

while walking slowly and sometimes stopping (both urine and feces), he becomes depressed and lethargic. Tulip prefers to walk up hills and mountains, and prefers to trot slowly down hills and mountains that do not have sharp falls or steep declines. When it is a steep downhill Tulip prefers to walk very slowly and cautiously. My standard operating policy is most of the time, but not always, to go with Tulip’s desires and moods rather than imposing my own attitudes and needs upon Tulip. Thus, I must practice rider impulse control. In fact, I have often fantasized that ride managers in addition to having ribbons all along a well-marked trail should also feature periodic signs with the statement “Rider-Curb Your Impulses”. So if it is an intense rain, or the rider feels tired, or the rider feels impatient and wishes to get home, the rider should curb his impulses and go at a pace that is best for the horse-rather than what is best for the rider’s needs.

For example, if on a particular day of a competitive endurance ride, the rider’s horse performs in a superior manner for just a few miles, and the rider feels tired and/or impatient to get to one’s nice comfortable camper, the rider must find ways and means to curb the impulse to rush home ------with the rider’s rationalization that one is riding “super horse” with the capacity for significantly increased speed.

10. “Horse and Rider Rest and Conditioning at Home”----My policy regarding Tulip is to provide him complete rest (no riding whatsoever or human controlled exercise) between multi-day rides (3-5 days; 155-250 miles). Except in rare circumstances (available geographically close ride), my policy is to do one multi-day ride per month and to rest Tulip between multi-day rides. Resting Tulip involves his running freely on approximately 5 acres with his friend and companion Surrablue (my second hi-mileage horse). Where there is a time gap of approximately four to six weeks between endurance rides, one week before an upcoming ride, I simply walk Tulip up and down mountains, each day for about 10 miles. I do not trot; I do not canter or gallop Tulip; I simply walk him at his own desired pace. I continue to believe that a hi-mileage horse doing repeated endurance or competitive type rides experiences unseen and not easily detected minor tears in tissues and ligaments, so rest time rather than overtraining, is an absolute must for healing to occur between rides. If you are going slowly, the ride itself can serve as an excellent form of conditioning for the horse.

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11. “Hauling Tulip to and from the Ride”---- Our policy is to choose, whenever

practical, roads to and from the ride with less curves and hassle, even if it takes more time to reach the ride or home Driving to and from the ride, every 4-5 hours of driving, we unload the horses and permit them to graze on, if at all possible, green grass-preferably green grass that is being watered or has been recently watered. Over the years, I have identified for use selected locations for stopping and horse grazing. There are a number of restaurants, gas stations, and public rest areas that make for excellent rest stops with grass for the horses to eat. We have seldom been asked to leave and we permit adults and their children to pet the horses while they continue to eat grass.

B. WHAT TULIP and I DID NOT DO; It is important to emphasize that “what Tulip and I did not do” may only apply to the rider who rides slowly in competition (averages five and a half miles over 50 miles with 12 hours to complete). Also Tulip is permitted and encouraged to eat and drink freely along the endurance trail. Not many riders have a riding style of standing straight up in their saddle stirrups while slowly trotting most of the endurance ride. For the rider who wishes to top ten or win the ride, strategies and policies and practices of riding, training, and feeding are likely to be quite different than the hi-mileage longevity approach of Tulip and I.

1. “No Excessive Use of Supplements”----I have not used the variety offered of nutrition, vitamin, and other quasi-energy type supplements. In fact, the only supplements I have used are Purina Equine Senior mixed with electrolyte powder. At home 4 days prior to a ride and 4 days after a ride, Tulip is fed two scoops of Equine Senior mixed with electrolyte powder, along with a thick flake of oat or grass hay in the evening, and a thick flake of alfalfa in the morning. After four days of feeding after a ride, then Tulip no longer gets the Purina Equine Senior. During the ride, Tulip receives the same hay and grain feeding with electrolyte powder during the ride breaks and lunch stops. I do always carry a tube of electrolyte paste; but very seldom use it-except in excessive heat resulting in excessive sweating of Tulip.

2. “No Go”---- In the morning when I arise, always two and a half hours before the ride begins, thereby permitting me ample time to feed and observe Tulip, I will not go on the ride if I see no evidence of urine and feces waste deposited overnight or the feces deposited overnight were overly loose or overly hard; and/or the hay and/or grain was not eaten during the night. Any of the above conditions resulting in my decision to “no go”. This was most unusual to find during Tulip’s 13 years of competition and cumulative 18,365 miles. But there were several times it was a “no go”.

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3. “No Wrapping of Legs”---- During my riding of Tulip in competition, I have never, even once, wrapped or treated in any manner Tulip’s legs. Going slowly on Tulip, along with his naturally well-structured and strong legs and hoofs to begin with, resulted in an absence of any swelling or ligament problems of Tulip.

4. “No Getting Off of Tulip”---- During my riding of Tulip in competition, I very very seldom ever dismount from Tulip-excepting for vet checks, lunch stops, and pit stops. So going up and down the steepest mountains, I remain on Tulip rather than off Tulip and on the ground. I do ride standing up straight in the stirrups, with my rear not touching the saddle. Going up mountains and even moderately high hills I ride off the saddle and leaning way over the neck of Tulip, thus taking stress off his hindquarters.

On one XP ride (Blue Fly trail), my being on rather than off Tulip, may well have saved me from getting hurt and/or losing Tulip and his possibly getting hu