Tell us about your horse. When/how did you come to get him/her?  He was on death row when he was 4 years old for being dangerous and unpredictable. I bailed him out for $145.00.

What is your horses breeding?  Arabian, pure Polish.

Sex: G
DOB: 4/2/87
Horse height: 16 hh
Approx. Weight: 1100 pounds
Color: Bay
Shoe size: 1

Why did you decide to purchase this horse (or if you didn't purchase, why did you choose to use this horse in endurance)?  I actually rode him when he was 3 years old and just broke. I took him out on trails for his 1st time and he did great. Plus he had great conformation. I offered to buy him at that time, but the owner would not sell. I guess he got pretty wild over the next year, which sentenced him to death row, so I saved him.

Did you do endurance with any other horses before this horse?  Yes.

How many different horses have you ridden in this sport?   About 5.

Do you participate in any other horse sports or activities?  I worked a few years on the race track with pacers and trotters, driving and training. I've done gaming, played polo and a little dressage and jumping.

How many years have you been involved with horses? In endurance?  Horses, about 35 years. Endurance – off and on total of about 12 years.

What got you interested in endurance riding? What was it that kept you interested?  I started out in ride and tie. After a knee injury, I was unable to run long distances anymore, so I rode. I love being out in the woods with my horse riding trails. And, it's fun to ride a horse that does so well in the sport.

How old was your horse when first started? First ride?  6 years old. First ride was 25 miles at Scott's Flat.

How many rides did you do the first, second, and third ride seasons?  First year: One 25 and three 50's. Second year: Four 50's. Third year: Five 50's.

What mileage distance did you start with?  Did one 25 then 50's.

How long till you top tenned or 'raced'?  First 25 I finished 1st. Our 1st 50 we finished 16th, then it was pretty much top 5 for years. Raced for about 6 to 7 years.

How much time off do you give between ride seasons?  About 4 months of easy riding, arena and short trail rides.

If you have done 100's, how much time off do you give after doing one? What is your schedule in the month leading up to the ride?   I have not done a 100 miler.

If you have done multidays, how much time off do you give after doing one? What is your schedule in the month leading up to the ride?   I have not done multiday rides.

What kind of tack do you use?  Lightweight synthetic dressage saddle with Skito pad. No bit, he goes in a rope halter. I could probably ride him with a rope around his neck.

What kind of shoes do you use on your horse?   I use natural balance in the front, regular steel in back. Rarely ever pad. I have used Easyboots over shoes for really rocky trails.

What kind of problems have you encountered?  One stone bruise.

What was the worst or most severe injury your horse has had?  Arthritis in left front fetlock.

How did you work thru it?   The joint was injected with cortisone. He received chrondroitin injections for a month, then oral glucosamine and 6 months off.

Describe the best ride you ever had on your horse?  It was an IAHA sweepstakes 50 mile ride. I had led all day. We were about 1 ½ miles from the finish and I was thinking “we're going to win, just trot across the finish line nice and easy”, when Ellorean's ears twitched back and I knew he heard the other riders coming. No one said a word, but we all knew that the 1st rider to the road would win. It was a single track trail to a gravel road about ¼ mile to the finish. About 100 yards from the road there was a big mud puddle in the middle of the trail. Ellorean went to the right side around the puddle and the horse behind me jumped in front of me on the left. Now he would hit the road 1st. And when he did he took off in a dead run. Ellorean and I were right on his heels and closing fast. Just as we were going to pass on the right, the other horse moved to the right cutting us off. In that split second I thought 'we led all day and now are going to finish 2nd because he's cutting me off”, but Ellorean had other thoughts and squeezed by that horse as if he were standing still and went on to win by a length. Ellorean is the fastest horse I have ever sat on and I've ridden Thoroughbreds on the racetrack.

Describe the worst day you ever had with your horse?  When he was pulled at the finish of a 50 mile ride for being pre-metabolic.

What was your most humbling experience?  Being pulled for the first time after over 2000 competitive miles.

What lessons have you learned along the way that you feel are the most important?   It's all about the horse. Not whether you win or not, but that the horse does well and is never injured. And don't argue with the vets.

Where does your horse live?  At home on about 4 acres of pasture that he shares with 2 other horses and 2 goats. Always free to go in and out of his stall as he pleases.

What kind of environment did your horse spend the first few years of its life in?  Mostly boarded and stalled the first three years of his life.

What are your horse's strengths? Weaknesses?  Strengths – he is very smart. He will do anything that is asked of him. He takes care of himself on the trail. Weaknessses – He is very smart. He can open gates and stall doors. He once let all my horses out and they were loose and free for 36 hours. Another weakness is that he gets nervous and does not eat well at rides, but that has improved over the past 2-3 years.

What advice do you have for new riders?  Put in the time on the trail to build muscle and bone before you ever start racing. Start slow. It's all in how you train them and what you feed them.

Looking back, what would you do differently?  Maybe not so many fast 50's.

What do you feel you did right?   I did 2 years of trail work before starting endurance. A lot of long slow miles.

What was your highest goal for your horse? Did you achieve it?   Consistently winning 50 mile races and continuing to compete this long without injury.

Describe your horse's personality? How is it like or unlike yours?  He prefers the company of horses, and hates to be alone. He still is wary of humans, but he knows his job and always performs well. I enjoy the company of horses and don't mind being alone. I probably trust people more than Ellorean does.

What kinds of rides do you enjoy the most?  50 milers, but on challenging courses (not flat).

Describe your electrolyte protocol.  On hot days I electrolyte almost every time he drinks. On cooler days, about 5 times during the whole trip including once before ride and once after and then when I get home.

Is there anything special about your nutrition program you attribute to your success?  I had trouble keeping weight on Ellorean, no matter what I fed. He also is a picky eater. A few years ago I started him on Equerry's Plus and was able to feed half the grain and he kept his weight well.

Are there any major changes you've made to your nutrition program (i.e., changed from one hay to another, added something special) that you feel made a noticeable improvement or solved a problem?   Equerry's Plus, which is a vitamin and mineral supplement with probiotics, enzymes and live yeast culture. I feed grass hay and a mix of wet and dry cob.

What kind of supplements (if any) do you use?  Equerry's Plus daily and Equerry's large animal probiotics at rides.

Do you give any kind of joint products?  Oral glucosamine.

How far do you usually travel to rides?  2-5 hour drive time.

Do you go to many rides outside of your region?  No.

Name three people involved in the sport of endurance that you look up to, and why?   Ramona Thacker; consistent long distance rides, always takes care of her horses no matter how much she is hurting, and never gives up. Ona Lawrence; for her good sportsmanship, good advice and friendly attitude. Ona is cool. Elaine Kerrigan; for getting me started in endurance and teaching me how to take care of my horse on the trail, and strategies for winning.

Did you have a mentor or first trail partner? Tell us about him/her/them.  Elaine Kerrigan introduced me to the sport of endurance in 1983, and helped me find my first Arabian horse. I still use Elaine's philosophies in training and riding.

In choosing your next horse, what would you look for?  Arabian or Arabian cross, with good conformation and strong bone. Probably a 4 or 5 year old with some training.

I feel pretty lucky to have been given Ellorean. Even though he had some problems in the beginning he has turned out to be a very nice horse and excels in the sport of endurance. I will continue to ride him until he decides he wants to retire.

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