Why Endurance?

                                                               Why Endurance?

Patricia Clark and Lara Worden riding at St. Helena's Island

      The sweet sound of hay munching fills the air as you lay in your bed full of anticipation. A thousand thoughts flood your mind as you imagine how the day will go. Did you pack everything you need? Will the weather work out? Will luck be on your side? Will your ride plan go astray or will you hold fast to the adage “ride your own ride?” A grand adventure awaits each ride morning. The day could hold great success and validation of the partnership with your horse or perhaps you will find that rock with your name on it and have to call it quits early. One of the many reasons that I love endurance riding is because of the multitude of possible experiences. Every ride with my horse provides a chance to grow as an equestrian, bond with my horse and see the most beautiful trails that America has to offer.

      Each ride morning when I place my foot in the stirrup and swing over onto my horse, I know that I will be creating memories to last a lifetime. I keep a journal with all my ride cards and as I flip through, I can always remember the moments of jubilation or learning that happened on that trip. I love endurance because I can challenge myself and my horse at any level. I love all the distances offered by AERC and am likely to chose a different one each time! Think back to the moment you earned your first completion, the first time you accidentally top-tenned, the time you barely finished with time to spare, the moment you knew that you were on a great horse because he had pulled you through the ride. All of those small and large moments serve to create the identity of endurance. As a family that can show up and assemble a community in the middle of the most scenic areas of our country within a matter of hours, we share unique experiences that bind us together and create lasting bonds to others in the organization. 

Patricia Clark and Eli, Dody Sutton and Itchy, Lara Worden and Slick
Photo by Becky Pearman Photography

      An obvious obsession with horses has proven to be the main reason that I love endurance. What other equestrian sport requires so much time devoted to developing a partnership with one animal? There is literally no place I would rather be than out in the wilderness on the back of my favorite horse. What other sport could allow me to ride 100 miles on the beautiful Biltmore Estate, 75 miles through the most pristine forests of Alabama, 50 miles in the shadow of spanish moss in South Carolina or 30 miles across the ridges of the Virginia mountains? What other sport would allow me to see the true bravery of my horse as he transitioned from life as a racehorse, to life as my endurance partner? I will forever remember the pride that I felt when he finished his first LD and realize that was as huge an accomplishment as when he would eventually complete 75 mile rides. I love endurance because every moment in the saddle, every time I hear the call that the “trail is open,” every vet check, and every single footfall on trail signifies that I am living my life to the fullest.

     Magical moments happen all the time if we pay attention. Riding through the winds of Hurricane Irene when she swept across the mountains; trusting my mount on trails so dark that I could not see horse ears in front of me; sharing the trail with good friends and helping each other through the day; and every other moment in between. There are also moments that aren't magical but very humbling. Moments frozen in time when you wish you could go back and change something. A front shoe ripped and twisted and a puncture to the sole; that first rider option because of trail conditions; and the time we had to wait on trail for help because I knew something was wrong and we should go no further. We should never pretend that endurance is easy. It shouldn't be and as long as we learn from our mistakes, we are on the right path. 

Patricia and Eli
Photo by Becky Pearman Photography

      Loving endurance comes naturally. I have ridden horses my entire life. I cannot remember a moment that did not involve them. Having tried a variety of disciplines, none so satisfied my constant need to be in the company of horses as has Endurance riding. Good friends, amazing vets, dedicated ride managers and that all encompassing relationship with my horse propel me down the trail. I will always love my horse first, but I also love the sport of endurance because it strengthens that relationship and allows me opportunities I could have never imagined. Whether I am trotting the beautiful Appalachian mountains, the low country of South Carolina, the pine forests of Alabama or the rugged highlands of Virginia, I am at home in the saddle as my horse eagerly heads down the trail for a new adventure. So, love your horse, love the trail and continue to love Endurance Riding.