January 2019 Issue

OUR TH YEAR 3 - PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 280 LANC., PA 17604 Vol. 26 No. 1 (Continued on page 18) January 2019 By Suzanne Bush Growing up in New Jersey, Holly Corcoran rode horses on her family’s farm. She loved horses and she loved trail riding. But she took some time off to raise her two children and eventually found herself back in the company of horses after a 15-year break. “When I got back into riding, my kids were riding one horse and we did showing. My daughter was into the showing, but I was not excited about the horse show prospects.” She thought about what she really loved: trails. And her odyssey began. Really. It became an epic adventure! Corcoran, who has a small farm in Effort PA, in Monroe County, joined a close-knit band of riders who compete against each other and against teams from all over the world in Endurance Riding. The competitions can be short (it’s all relative, of course) 25 or 30 miles, or longer, as in 50 miles and 100 miles, during which horse and rider compete against other teams. But they’re also competing against their own stamina, heart and ability to stay focused when it’s dark and cold or sunny and brutally hot or rainy, snowy, misty or you-name-it. The footing isn’t always predictable. There are “craggly” places, as Corcoran describes them. But those are mere footnotes in the adventure. Endurance isn’t for every- one, but it clearly is something at which Corcoran is very good. Like anything, though, she started slowly and had to learn about the sport and the ways to win. In 2003 she finished 46th in a 25-mile ride; her time was five hours and 45 seconds. A couple of months later, she finished fourth in another 25-mile ride in four hours and 23 minutes. Holly Corcoran and her 15 year old mare Authentika at the 100-mile Coates Creek Challenge in British Co- lumbia in July 2018. They won the race, despite 100-degree heat and high humidity. Photo Credit: Teresa Mae Endurance Rider Holly Corcoran Shines in a Sport She Loves AMagical Experience In the years since she began competing in Endurance in 2003, she has logged more than 4,000 miles on horseback—in competi- tion. That doesn’t count the hours and miles—averaging 350-400 annually—she logs keeping herself and her horses fit. “What happens is my horses are working six days a week. If they have too much rest time they could tie up.” She also has a walker at her farm which provides more exercise for the horses. “I usually do heavier trail rides of 15 miles or so on Saturday or Sunday.” But it’s not all trail work and walking. “I’m a firm believer in Dressage, and I think it’s valuable for a horse to gain muscle tone and balance,” Corcoran explains. “This helps them support their back better across the trail.” Endurance is not a sport for the fair-weather rider. “Over the summer I was in a 100-mile ride in Canada and the weather that week was ungodly hot. We started at 4:30 in the morning when it was still dark.” Corcoran won that competi- tion, the Coates Creek Challenge in British Columbia, in 13 hours, 10 minutes and 48 seconds. So, how does someone stay focused, alert and—okay, awake —for a competition that demands competitors’ attention for more than 12 hours? “I’ve been in the saddle for 16 hours,” Corcoran says, “and I was never at a point where I personally fell asleep. I think it’s the adrenalin that keeps you going.” She says there is something beyond the horse and the saddle and the terrain and the heat and darkness. “On my first ride I was so excited to compete it was just a magical experience.” Vet Checks Ensure Horse Safety Magical, yes. But strictly supervised, too. There are check- points at which veterinarians certify whether or not individual horses are capable of continuing. At these checkpoints, riders can rest and eat and ensure their own ability to continue. Once arriving at a checkpoint, each horse is ex- amined by a veterinarian. Horses have 30 minutes to achieve a heart rate of 64 beats per minute. If a horse’s heart rate does not achieve that standard, it is dis- qualified. Horses are also checked for lameness and other injuries. In American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) events the veterinarians have the authority to disqualify horses that they deem unfit to continue competing. In September the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Endur- ance competition was canceled at the direction of veterinarians because weather conditions were so dangerous for the horses. In addition to rain-soaked footing, the heat and humidity caused serious health issues for several horses. In an event that had been dogged by controversy from the start, tragedy struck when a horse died from kidney failure after completing one loop of the race. “What happens is there are loops or phases averaging 15-20 miles per loop,” Corcoran says. “Many have a central camp. When you come back to camp you are given an in-time.” She says that in-time starts the clock for the horse to “reach pulse cri- teria.” Once the horse is cleared, the horse and rider team can get back on the trail. “The key,” she says, “is to have an absolutely superior crew.” She says that for 100-mile races she usually has a crew of two people. These folks Inside... Quentin Riding Club update—there may be hope… pg. 6 Preserving the traditional Morgan—only about 100 remain … pg. 10 Will McWicked be 2018 Horse of the Year? … pg. 4 Maryland proposes demolishing, rebuilding Pimlico … pg. 12 … and much more!