Without the American Endurance Ride Conference’s (AERC) record keeping and supportive services; without the energetic efforts of ride managers; without Pony Express (XP) multi-day 3-5 day 50 mile/day rides; and without significant help from AERC members during the 15 years it took to make a hi-mileage Morab horse----Tulip would not be the hi-mileage horse of all time. Yes, Tulip has 15 years of riding and trails under his belly, and has averaged about 1,350 miles/year in recorded, vet-checked, endurance competition (American Endurance Ride Conference).

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 20,035 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”. That Tulip is still going strong down the trail is evidenced by the fact that Tulip and I, just a few weeks ago, finished an XP ride held in Southern Utah, Bryce Canyon.

We completed three days, 150 miles, 50/day for 3 days. We could have easily completed

two more days; but while riding I passed a kidney stone with some discomfort; but

we did complete the entire 50 miles. As we trotted along the endurance trail, at 8,000 feet, Tulip was quite sympathetic to my unanticipated bloody physical encounter of

“pulverizing” a kidney stone –as my urologist dubbed it.

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-and “using the same

principles”. 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, and 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???? Do you as breeders believe that?

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-14 hands would have been ideal.

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But Providence had the last laugh and Tulip grew to be 15.2+, and an approximate

one thousand pounds. But I have mastered identifying the log or stone along the trail

that will serve as a natural mounting block.                                                                                                               

Up to the first day of the 12/28/06 Death Valley Ride (multi-day 200 mile ride-50 miles/day), 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.

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 wife, and my fellow riders, as well as the vets-Dr. David Nicholson and Dr. Gene Nance. Dr. David Nicholson and his whole family have been instrumental in recreating Pony Express- XP rides along the original XP rides. 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 fifeteen years of doing approximately 1,350 miles per year, plus or minus, over the 15 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). In 2007 Tulip

completed 960 recorded AERC miles, and this year of 2008,  so far Tulip and I have completed 860 recorded AERC miles in endurance competition.

 Following are the strategies and principles that led to our completion of the 20, 035 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

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“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 (historically the oldest and toughest 100 mile ride), and the unique challenge of riding in international competition.

A. WHAT TULIP and I DID; THE OVERIDING PRINCIPLES

1.      “Free-Range Raising”----My first hi-mileage horse, Astro Aires was an unregistered Morab. I wished to follow in that tradition.

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

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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/or 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.

      For those of you who are not familiar with “cut-off” times, what this involves is

      ride management requiring you and your horse, in a one-day 50 mile ride for 

example, to reach  a certain mileage point in the ride by a certain time. For example, you might begin a 50 mile ride 7 a.m. in the morning, and you would be required to reach the 15 mile point in the ride by 9 a.m., and the 25 mile point in the ride by noon, and thus it goes. The design of rides with cut-off times dictates the pace of your horse rather than what works for your horse being the pace. As you are aware, some horses do best starting out slowly and speeding up toward the end of the ride. The bottom line for the health of the horse is that one must always ride their horse at what is the unique optimum pace for your particular

 horse.

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 the horse, 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 20,035 miles over a period of 15 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-in the $500.00 to $700.00 range.

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 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

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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. Of course, when the rider’s urine appears to be darker than the urine of one’s horse, you may expect your horse to be understandably concerned.

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 an 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 strongly 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 and 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. Human nature is such that the longer your relationship grows

with your beautiful horse that is a loser, the more difficult it is for your heartstrings to become untied from your beloved horse-who you have blessed with unrealistic expectations. Such a relationship is destined to failure and to cause the horse to break down when performing-whatever the type of challenge.

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 and easily. 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.

Hackamore- Use of a lightweight hackamore type bridle for the entire 20,030 miles permitted Tulip to drink and eat more easily and frequently.

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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                                                 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, retired in sound condition, and has since passed on at a ripe old age. Tulip’s friend Surrablue served as an important factor in keeping Tulip “happy”, and exercised naturally by running around and playing with his friend Surrablue. Tulip’s bosom companion of now, Walker the mule, shares there good times together; but also shares with Tulip a common Morgan ancestry.

Of course, Walker has complained to me that he feels discriminated against because he is part Morgan and does not get the same recognition as his

friend Tulip who is honored as a Morab with a Morab association. Walker would like to know why there is no an equally recognized Morass association?

      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 20,035 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.      Above all, one should never mask a horse’s

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problem, particularly from the vet, in order to complete a ride no matter the horse’s condition.

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 45,000+ 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 religiously- 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  clinical psychology and mental health, and I still function as a practicing clinical psychologist -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.

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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 Walker the mule. 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.

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 5-6 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.

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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 result in my decision to “no go”. This was most unusual to find during Tulip’s 15 years of competition and cumulative 20,035 miles. But there were several times it was a “no go”.

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, for example,

cold packs, massage, and the usual wrapping of the 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 hurt. Tulip and I were following three horses and riders (the three were walking off and in front of their horses, each with a lead rope) on an 8 foot or so wide ledge type trail bordering an 8,000 or so foot high mountain. To the left of the trail it was simply straight down, and to the right of the trail was a very steep incline. The lead rider in the very front and walking along leading her horse lost control of her horse. Her very ”nutty” horse panicked, broke loose from her and ran up the steep

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incline to the right, about fifty feet, and panicked again and slid down back to the ledge trail, running past the two horses and their riders walking with lead ropes.

The herd instinct prevailed and it was now three horses running full blast toward Tulip--- and I sitting astride Tulip. Tulip and I held our ground and two of the three horses bounced off of Tulip and ran past Tulip toward the three horses behind Tulip. The three riders on the ground behind Tulip lost control of leading their horses. The three horses in front of Tulip joined in running with the other three horses behind Tulip-with now a herd of six horses galloping freely down the mountain and ending up in different places. It took searching to the next day to find all of the missing six horses. And some of the horses were no longer sound.

One of the missing horses, a mustang stallion ridden by a “great guy” and one of my riding friends, was fast becoming Tulip’s main competitor as a hi-mileage horse. When finally found the next day, his horse was hurt and is no longer participating in endurance rides and, likewise, the rider has dropped out of endurance riding. So, in conclusion, not even counting the safety factor of being on the horse and in control when difficult times suddenly come to pass, it is possible to not often get off a horse and “go the distance”-----without the horse or rider having a sore back, chronic back pain, or leg and joint problems, as in the case of Tulip and me. I do realize that some riders must walk some of the endurance miles off their horses to relieve rider leg, joint, and other bodily aches and pains, and also to rest their horse who may be stressed in some manner.

5. “No Perfect Horse”: Well-documented in the Bible (Old and New Testaments) is the wisdom that there is no perfect human being. We all have our particular strengths and weaknesses. The same is true of horses. Tulip is a great believer

in practicing the major theme of Frank Sinatra’s song, “I did it my way”.  Tulip is constantly observing the trail-with his head aimed downward evaluating the ground and looking all around. It takes a very minimum surprise for Tulip to shy with an extremely energetic jump of several feet to either side of the trail.                                                                                   

So, I must ride Tulip in a non-stressful relaxed manner; but at the same time being           prepared to be thrown to the ground. On the one hand, Tulip might seem rather exceptional given that Tulip has twice won the XP Gold Medal Award. As indicated earlier, to achieve this award, the horse must complete, without failing even once, all of the XP Pony Express multi-day rides (155-200 miles) during a particular year, thus completing over 1,000 miles on XP trails. But Tulip is not the mythical “perfect” horse--even with all his accomplishments.

On the very first day of the multi-day, four day, 200 mile Death Valley Encounter, as described earlier, we encountered 70+ mile/hour winds all day. About ten miles out the first day, Tulip, excited by the winds and riders galloping  up a short steep hill chose to also gallop up the hill. I tried to hold Tulip back to

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walk slowly up the short but very steep hill. Tulip’s response to walking up the hill was, “The Hell with you Les”, and Tulip my strong-minded Morab bucked me off (a long fall for me down the side of the hill). I managed to get up, walked up the hill, and there was Tulip at the top-eating grass along with my wife’s mule.

My wife’s trustworthy and dependable Mule had walked slowly up the same hill. As I walked up the hill, shaken somewhat from having been thrown hard to the ground, I kept thinking of Tulip singing like Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way”. As I indicated earlier, it was indeed rare that I did not follow the lead of Tulip. Tulip and I finished the first day, and the next two days of the Death Valley Encounter. Fortunately, I was not hurt and had no lingering aches or pains during the rest of the ride miles.                                             

C. THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S BLESSING and GOOD LUCK

1. Plain Unadulterated Luck Driving Back and Forth to the Ride

Both Jill and I share equally the challenge of getting safely to the ride and safely home. Along the highways my wife and I are confronted with drivers of automobiles who have no sense of what is involved in pulling a rig and are impatient with our driving at the relatively slow speed of 60 miles/hour. These impatient and impulsive drivers react to our slow speed in the innermost slow lane by whipping their mini-motors in and out of the

slow to fast lane-and making no distinction in speed between the two or three lanes. A serious accident that might result in fatal injuries to us and/or our horses is a continuing

concern. So, one major accident during 15 years of Tulip’s career could have resulted in a serious accident, and perhaps the very end of both the careers of Tulip and Les, as well as my wife.

2. Weathering the Weather

I am indeed lucky that Tulip is blessed with the capacity to truly enjoy very terrible weather, for example, excessive heat, intense rain storms, hail, snow, blizzards-you name

it! In fact, the worse the weather, the more Tulip is happy, and stimulated positively-mentally and physically. There are those A-1 endurance horses with great blood lines that simply do not do well in bad weather-heat and/or cold. And there is a quantum difference for both a rider and a horse tolerating and surviving through one day of bad weather, and doing well for all five days of terrible weather. Although I am not masochistic and macho and much prefer to ride in beautiful sunny cool weather, I have the capacity to bear terrible weather for an extended period of days-while I listen on my earphones, under my rain hat, to Country Western music-all day long.

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3. Rider Conditioning

At my age of 73, and fast going on 74, in order to be physically fit enough to ride many AERC miles (for example, 1970 miles in 2006 including all the XP 3-5 day rides), I keep my weight down (148 lbs., 5’8” in height), and do bodybuilding and weightlifting

between rides. So far, I am blessed with good health. But life has its surprises and uncertainties! As many of you are aware, the Universe itself has as a central force-

“chaos”. So why should we mortals expect that somehow we can avoid chaos in our

every day lives when the every day life of the universe is challenged by chaos and

unpredictability.

4.  Chaos Along the Endurance Trail

My riding on Tulip in recent years was interrupted by a rather humbling home accident.

While going downstairs to get an early morning cup of coffee, I slipped on the home’s solid oak thick stairs, fell down the stairs, and badly injured my back vertebrae and nerves. I was laid up in bed for several weeks and unable to walk without falling immediately down. The various attending doctors were agreed that it was unlikely that I

would ever walk correctly again, and certainly not be able to ride a horse. That was in the year 1999. It took a full year plus to recover almost fully and I have ridden many thousands of miles since then. The “almost fully recovered” left me with a slightly weakened left leg and my mounting of tall Tulip is facilitated by a nice helpful stone, log, or bank along the trail.

During my accident recovery time, the very wonderful and caring Johnson family (Brent, Cheryl, and Jennifer) continued to ride Tulip in AERC rides. Tulip and I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Johnson and his family, who in a superior manner, both cared for and rode Tulip during my absence from the trail. Another hard-working and devoted AERC family member, Karen Chaton (a  National Mileage and XP Gold Medal winner) has contributed significantly to Tulip’s success-by sharing her expertise with me, as well as keeping me informed as to Tulip’s correct AERC records. Another debt of gratitude is owed by Tulip and I to Dave Rabe from Nevada, a true gentleman and good Samaritan along the endurance trail, and well on his way to being the AERC hi-mileage “rider” of all time. Dave has come to my rescue several times when Tulip has bucked hard-and off I went.

These early riders of Tulip represented both males and females and a range of ages and skills. A great number of these riders were bucked off of Tulip-including me several times. From time to time, AERC has wrestled with the issue of junior riders and how much endurance riding experience a junior should have before being permitted to ride without a sponsor? Also, with or without a sponsor, at what age should a junior be permitted to do a 50 or 100 mile ride? Yes, I did sponsor Lainey Porter who rode the first thousands of miles on Tulip. Not once was Lainey bucked off or thrown from Tulip; Lainey’s riding skills prevailed- at the age of about 7-8 years old or so.

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Tulip and I owe a debt of gratitude to the supportive and caring XP Nicholson family.

XP rides are a Nicholson family commitment that results in an unusually supportive environment for horses, riders, and crews. I can remember rather vividly, when at the Eastern Mojave Ride, Tulip came in at the end looking good, and then later that evening,

quite suddenly laid down, and proceeded to repeatedly stretch his head and neck. Something was wrong with Tulip, since I had never seen this behavior before. I immediately took Tulip to a vet at the ride. Soon, two other vets at the ride joined the first vet in attempting to differentially diagnose Tulip’s behavior which did not let up.

About an hour later with the vets still trying to figure out Tulip’s odd behavior, Dr. Nicholson on his way to the evening ride meeting observed the three vets dialoging and puzzling over Tulip’s behavior. Dr. Nicholson, in his inimical manner, took a quick look at Tulip and declared that something was stuck in Tulip’s throat! Dr. Nicholson proceeded to insert a tube to flush down the blockage in Tulip’s throat. A few minutes later Tulip was up and just fine eating his hay and grain. During this period of diagnostic limbo and the increasing darkness of the evening, I was rather concerned and worried-standing there with three puzzled vets and Tulip. Ann Nicholson, in her usual kindly and caring manner, observing my discomfort, brought me a cup of hot coffee which was truly welcomed and helped me to get warmed physically and relaxed mentally.

D. FUTURE PLANS of TULIP and LES:

At what point does one retire a horse from competition? Tulip is now 20 years old and still going strong with no problems to overcome. My judgment as to continuing to ride Tulip in endurance rides will be determined by how Tulip does and his clinical signs and symptoms from ride to ride, and more critically from mile to mile on a ride.

However, as a precaution, Tulip and I will no longer focus on doing all the multi-day rides spanning a period of five consecutive days (250 miles). Tulip and I will focus on doing one-day 50 mile rides and doing multi-day rides spanning a period of three days (155 miles). However, I must confess that I violated the latter principle about 6 weeks ago, when Tulip and I completed the 5 day, 250 mile Fort Schellbourne Ride, held in Northeastern Nevada, not far from Ely, Nevada. I will continue to use all of the strategies and policies that I have described in this article. In other words, I do not plan to change my riding style or practices with Tulip. Maybe Tulip and I will do only one more ride or we will advance from Tulip’s record of 20,030 AERC miles. Life along the endurance trail is unpredictable in line with our universe that is inherently chaotic and unpredictable, as I mentioned earlier.

At what point does a rider retire from endurance riding competition? I am 73 soon to be 74 years of age. So far, I am blessed with good health and personal endurance. However, yesterday is gone forever, and tomorrow we do not know. So each moment of riding is it!

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My very supportive wife, Jill, will continue to ride her mule or mustang mare with Tulip and me on endurance rides, and we share the crewing and driving back and forth to rides.  

I hope to be riding in endurance rides well into my late 80’s. The official trails of ride management are often marked with colored ribbons along the trail. I will probably               conclude that it is my quitting time when I am riding along the endurance trail and I look

way up at the sky and I see little pink ribbons hanging from the clouds. This will be the last trail for me to follow; hopefully riding my beloved first hi-mileage horse Astro Aires----- from one cloud to the other.

I end this article with a confession. In the year of 1976, I was heading a University quite close in miles to where the Great American Horse Race was leaving and providing the opportunity to ride across the U.S.- from Illinois to California. Well, I never got to do that

because we moved to another job in California. So, I have unfinished business to complete-that is to-at a more advanced age while I am still fit-to ride with my wife on an upcoming ride from St. Joseph, Missouri to Virginia City Nevada, 2000 miles. The ride manager is Dr. David Nicholson, a veterinarian by profession, who has spent several decades developing and providing Pony Express multi-day rides along XP trails. This 2,000 mile ride will involve riding (2 or more horses) 250 miles/week, resting on Saturday and Sunday, and thus taking 2 months to complete. As I understand it, no adult has been able to ride all of the days, each day 50 miles. A junior did complete all of the 50 mile days. So, the challenge is there for an adult to complete, that is to finish every 50 mile day-without fail.

I am planning to use and alternate two mules, one being Walker the Morass; my wife will be riding along with me on her two Bureau of Land Management mustangs. Before I do see those pink ribbons hanging from the clouds, I hope to complete all the 50 mile days of this 2,000 mile ride due to take place in the year of 2,011. For those who wish to be in touch with me, my email addresses are:

les@horsearound.us             or         elder100@bigplanet.com

  (See you on the trail passing Tulip and I!)

  Best of Trails----Les

P.S.  In preparation for the upcoming 2,011 XP Ride of 2,000 miles, my wife and I

         are looking to buy a new or recently new 4 horse slant trailer, bumper pull

          trailer-at a reduced cash price. If you have one to sell or know of one for sale,

          please email us. It must be a four horse trailer.

P.S. I am not in the business of selling any horse or horse related products; and

        I am not in the business of buying and selling horses. My wife and I simply have

        fun riding horses and mules for long distances.