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Mentors

MENTORING PROCESS

1. Find A Mentor

Find a mentor to help you learn the ropes of distance riding for both horse and rider. Don't be afraid to ask!

2. Get Experience

Continue talking with your mentor as you condition your horse(s) and start learning what works best for you.

3. Become A Mentor

Eventually we'd love to see your name here! Get experience to give back what others have shared with you.

HOW TO: GET PAIRED WITH A MENTOR

Who Is This For?

Personal Note From The Mentorship Chairman

Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA) was founded on the principle that this association would always be available and willing to help any member requesting it.  Our mentor program is one of the foundations of this principle.  It doesn’t matter if you are brand new to this sport or have tons of experience but your goals have changed.  Any EDRA member can request a mentor.

* Program note: this is voluntary. Some members learn from friends, some are happy with current progress, or they just don’t want help. * If you want a mentor because you feel you could up your game, but are still learning–cool. We’re ok with that. Fill out the fillable form on this page

If you’re reading this now, I can only say that you have made a great decision to take advantage of EDRA’s mentorship program. We believe there are no “stupid questions.” I have lot of questions, and I always try to ask as many questions as I can. This is your venue. You can ask all your questions and get advice or direction. My name is Lois Fox, and I will be coordinating mentee requests with mentors that we feel will be a good fit. If for some reason it’s not a good fit, please don’t hesitate to let me know, and I will do whatever I can to facilitate. So here’s how it’s going to work (at least for now, because who knows we may figure out a better way to communicate). All of you interested in having a mentor please answer the questions located in this link and hit send.  I will match you with a mentor whose interests and experience closely matches your description of what you hope to achieve. Then you andthe mentor will communicate between yourselves in whatever manner you all choose. There is no prescribed process for the mentor/mentee relationship.   The mentors are happy to help with your endurance journey whether it is help finding your first horse or aspirations of winning a 100 mile race or something in between.

I look forward to hearing from all of you! It’s time to throw a leg over this program and see where the ride takes you. Let’s get out there and “Start Ready and Finish Proud”!

Mentorship Request Form

    Your Name & EDRA #

    Location

    Your Email

    Your Telephone

    In a nutshell, what is your experience with horses?

    Have you ever done a long distance race with your horse?

    Do you have a goal for this upcoming season, or seasons?

    What breed horse do you ride/compete on?

    On a scale of 1-10, How competitive a rider do you see yourself? 1 being really excited to finish your first distance ride thru 10 wanting to win a 100 mile ride?

    What kind of information do you desire from your mentor?

    How do you prefer to interact with your mentor?

    LIST OF MENTORS

    JENNIFER KAPLAN,

    I am many things but two of the things that make me who I am are my kids and my horses. I started endurance when my daughter was 3 and my son was just born. I lived in rural eastern Montana , had lots of country, a good little horse and no one to ride with. I just kinda winged it and learned on the fly. I didn’t know the first thing about electrolytes, feed or specialized training. I had some good friends that were trainers and we rode a lot and it all worked out. My trainer friends weren’t endurance riders but they knew A LOT about horses. I learned a ton from them, conformation, feet, how to get a colt to lead, how to train a colt to tie solid, what is acceptable behavior and what is not. One of the most important things I learned from them is that a horse is capable of lot more than you would think. My jaw hit the ground the first time I saw my friend riding her stallion in the arena, pick up a barrel racing barrel from the back of her horse and carry it the other end of the arena while riding. Or the first time I saw a rather aged cowboy open and shut a wire gate from the back of his colt. Or rope a calf that got stuck in the alkali. I learned that our horse is capable of lot, as are you. That’s how I approach my endurance riding: have fun, learn new things, set the bar high and then work for it. Ask a lot of questions. The more I learn the more I realize how little I actually know.

    I am just shy of 5000 race miles and have ridden in the front, in the back, in the middle, at all distances and placing from first place to tail end. I have really talented horses, and I have horses that would rather stay home. Figuring out what you and your equine can do is all part of the journey to becoming the best you can be.

    Finally: I can honestly say that there is nothing I enjoy more than riding a race with my kids. I know a lot of games, songs, stories , what kind of snacks pack well in saddlebags, what to do when the tears come, how to teach kids how to be good sports, and how to be responsible for their horse. If you are trying to do this sport with your kids I am here to tell you it can be done and it can be done with a lot of love and laughs.

    KATHLEEN FERGUSON

    I started endurance and ride and tie in 1982 while at WSU in grad school. I was looking for a sport that could combine my love for running and riding horses in a fair but competitive environment. Distance riding was the perfect fit!

    I attended a clinic sponsored by the IEDR (Inland Empire Endurance Riders) and met Lorie Stobie who became my mentor and best friend. Lorie had several thousand miles experience and was wise about the welfare of the horse before that ever became a focus for rules. I still use everything she taught me (and a host of other mentors along the way) during our years of riding and traveling together.

    I have just shy of 7000 miles experience. I have ridden every distance 25-100 and 2 and 3 day rides. I have been tail end and have won rides and earned BCs and everything in between. I have had talented competitive horses and horses that I rehomed to a new career because distance riding wasn’t their forte. I’ve ridden a number of horses and all that I’m no longer riding retired healthy and sound to second careers after endurance riding.

    I am currently riding a horse I have 5 years of work into – Whiskey (Deals Crown Royal) has been a real challenge and I had to acquire a lot of new skills for us to be successful but patience has paid off and I plan to do his first 75 and 100 this year.  I am also starting a new gelding, Mac (JV Jericho) with the aim of having one last competitive 100 mile horse.

    I have 38 years of experience with distance riding and 32 years of experience as a high school science teacher and leadership coach so I bring communication and organizational skills to the table.

    I really like helping new riders get started in distance riding because my mentors laid the foundation of my career early and helped me to avoid some of the common pitfalls that happen to beginners. I have mentored several new EDRA riders over the last 4 years who are enjoying quite a bit of success.

    Over the years, I have mentored several riders that have gone on to become active distance riders.

    I am a competitive rider – but know how to balance my need for competition and my horse’s welfare. Distance riding is my passion and my Zen time and my nirvana – I love helping other people to discover the joy of bonding with a horse and being a team member with a spectacular equine.

    MAX MERLICH

    I became interested in endurance in 2003 at the age of 50. I was given the book “The Great American Horse Race” about the pony express ride/race across the country in 1976. I found it to be very inspiring. At that time I owned a big quarter horse and a paint John mule. Neither were suited for the sport. I had only ridden a bit and mostly back country packing type stuff. Did not have any childhood experience with equines.

    The mule and I learned the sport together and he mostly forgave me for my mistakes.  I gleaned information from everywhere I could. I did a season of LD’s but I knew I wanted to do longer distances. People were friendly and helped me. I hung out with people who had lots of miles and I found they would answer questions. I wandered camps and looked at gear, pens, rigs, tack and horse foods. I went to conventions. Then I moved up to 50’s and longer. I was a mid to back pack rider.

    My old mule Junior did nearly 4000 miles and ten 100’s including Tevis, Bighorn and Swanton Pacific. Never got a win or a BC yet I consider him a champion today. He was bred to chase a cow 200 feet and rest. Non-typical breeds and types within breeds can do the sport but bring challenges. I rode the pony express 2011 race from St Joe Missouri to Virginia City Nevada. Fifty miles a day five days a week. I started with two mules and an Arab. One mule made it all the way. She did 19 rides 50 miles plus in 2011. The other two lamed up and I switched them out. It was an eye opening experience to watch equine management on that trip!

    Today I ride my first Arab who I got as a baby. I also ride a mule that is very suited for endurance. We go faster yes and it is a terrible amount of fun. However if I had the equines I have now when I was new to the sport some or all of us would not have survived. I would have had no idea how to manage a big forward Arab or a rank mule with a lot of attitude and go. I was lucky to have good mentors and I hope to be able to help folks wanting to learn the sport. But be careful… it can change your life!!

    SANDY CHEEK

    I have been in love with distance riding since 1983. I started up in Canada and rode in BC for a number of years before moving to Washington State. I haven’t had a ton of horses in the sport, but the ones that I’ve been lucky enough to partner with have been amazing athletes. My first horse Stranger was a ranch bred gelding, with a nice mix of Arab, Thoroughbred, and Appendix Quarterhorse. He took me to the North American Open Championship Endurance Ride as part of the Canadian team doing the 100 mile distance. I did quite a few 100s on him and retired him sound at age 21. Smoke was my other great partner—he’s got close to 5000 miles, a Tevis buckle and has one pull on his record. Now he gets to do Ride and Tie and TYM relays. My current horse Wilson is a little Ferrari—keeping up with me keeps me working on my horsemanship. I love helping new riders and old riders and sharing what I’ve learned over the years—but I also feel like I learn as much from others as I hope to teach to them. I live in Central Washington and try and make it to most of the EDRA rides. I am happy to talk on the phone, text, email, or you are always welcome to come ride with me if that’s feasible. This is an amazing sport, and if you have focus and discipline, you can accomplish your goals. Happy to help

    SUSAN SUMMERS

    My endurance career started back in 1988 and I can blame it on a Western Horseman magazine. While on a pack trip in the high country (our hobby at the time) I brought along a magazine that had an article on the Tevis and on adopting BLM Mustangs. At the time I had never heard of the sport of endurance riding and I had no idea about the Mustang situation in the US. Being young, curious and very headstrong I made it my mission to adopt a BLM horse with the goal of doing this Tevis thing. As luck would have it our hunting partner at the time happened to board his horse with someone that did this crazy endurance stuff. We got hooked up (thanks Laurel Kingman) and almost 20,000 miles and 50 plus 100 mile rides including competing all over the world the rest is history. I started out on 50’s with an 18 year old Quarter horse eventually doing longer distances with her. I did adopt a BLM horse; B Banshee who became one of 3 of my Decade team horses and I did complete Tevis on her. I excelled at riding non-typical bigger bodied horses in the longer distances and although they aren’t all suited for this sport I feel I can help riders that have that one that is an exception to the rule.

    In 1999 I decided to go to Farrier school in Walla Walla WA as I had always been intrigued with horses’ feet and was excited to learn the craft in hopes it would give us an edge in the sport. I have since been educated on the use of synthetic shoes and glue-ons and although use all types of shoes I believe having a large bag of tricks is what makes us successful.

    TANI BATES

    One day at a feed store in 1987 I happened to notice an advertisement for an endurance ride in my area. I didn’t know anything about endurance back then, but I was intrigued as I rode my horse all the time. I figured this might be the sport for me! I hated the show ring and western type riding was too boring. I tore off the contact number, made the call and never looked back. Little did I know my life was to change forever.   I had a reason to ride all the time now, goals were created. I have enjoyed endurance riding for over 32 years. The countless friends made from all over the country during this time are the best treasure of all!

    Some years I didn’t compete because of raising two children, moving, remodeling and other life events, but I have never stopped riding or training my horses. I have over 10,000 competition miles. My entire life is centered around my horses. They make me who I am, and they make me whole.

    Mentoring others to do distance riding is a passion of mine, I really like helping others get into the sport and help them with their conditioning and feeding programs. Mentoring has given me so many great new friends over the years.  I have hauled many newbies to rides. I usually have a young horse going, so bringing along a new rider is the perfect combination. In this sport the learning never stops, keeping an open mind is important. Sharing what I have learned over the years has been very rewarding

    LOIS FOX

    I am the senior citizen of the mentor group.  I started riding long distance in 1986 while in my 40s.  I’ve stayed with it ever since.  My first endurance horse was a survivor (of me)!  Back in the early days of endurance, very little was known about how to keep horses metabolically and structurally sound.  I made many mistakes, but thankfully the horse kept going. Every year we learn more about how to safely compete and increase the horse’s longevity.  I’ve slowed down a lot in the last few years.  My current horse hasn’t taken kindly to his new reality.

    My strengths are developing horse and rider for long careers.  I have very little experience with 25 mile rides.  In my “youth” I loved the 75 and 100 mile distances. Now, I pretty much stick to 50s. I am goal driven.  It is difficult to prepare a horse for long distance competition without goals, both short term and long term.  It is important to work within a horse’s past history, current ability and conformation.  There are no short cuts.  Developing a training plan and sticking to it are critical to successful long distance riding.  Getting started can by hard but with amazing successes.  I had wonderful mentors when I started, and I’d like to pay it forward whenever I can

    BECKY OSBORNE

    I started endurance riding in 2002. I have a less-than-competitive ride history—I just like to go, see new places and see friends, hang out with horses, and ride through the beautiful Northwest, in the presence of veterinary help if I need it. Endurance lets me do that.

    I don’t have a lot of time to train, so usually just stay with the limited distance rides. I’ve done about 10 50s. Nothing longer. If I can ever retire, that might change.

    In the meantime, my ride divides into three parts:

    • Arrive safely to ride camp
    • Have a successful and safe ride ending with a healthy horse as the number one priority (healthy rider is the next priority)
    • Arrive home safely.

    I over prepare everything if humanly possible. I try to think of every possible contingency and every need, and address that. Because of that, I have, in my opinion, an overly-thorough list of what to take with you to the ride. I have a sportpak full of emergency equipment—like a Wells Fargo wagon going down the trail if you need a boot, zip tie, or BCAA—I am your overly-prepared person.

    DENNIS SUMMERS

    Here’s what I have cooking far as mentoring. I have years of experience- some good, some bad but all invaluable. Past history and experience is great to fall back on but I prefer now to be in the moment and look forward. My focus now is safely prepping and racing the best athletes I can put my hands on to compete at their highest level. I think it’s important to reread this last sentence, most important being “to compete at their highest level” as that is all we can do. Each horse has a best case scenario performance-wise. It is our job to do every, single little thing to allow them to perform their best. It may not be in the cards of your horse, or mine to win Tevis or some such but if we prepare them to perform at their best we have done our job. If we partner up on this mentoring deal I will try to give u the tools to “git er done”!

    GAIL WILLIAMS

    I began endurance riding in 1988 and did quite a few 25’s (LD now) before I bumped up to 50’s. My AERC record shows 2250 endurance miles and 685 LD miles and there are probably 200+ LD miles that were done in 1988 and 1989 that are not recorded by AERC as I was not a member then and I don’t believe the LD’s were even recorded by AERC in those days.

    In 1990, I managed my first ride—Yakima Sun Duel, held the first Saturday in June at the Nile Sawmill Site (Renegade Rendezvous ride camp). In 1992, I started managing Chinook Challenge in addition to Yakima Sun Duel. All in all, I have managed at least one ride a year since then, and many years two and three rides, some with multiple days. When I took over the Home on the Range ride, ride participation at that particular ride went to over 200 riders—so much so that Fish and Wildlife put a rider limit of 100 on our participation. 2 years later, we moved the ride to the Palouse country where we didn’t have a rider limit. Renegade Rendezvous is my favorite even though it is very challenging to manage. In good years we have a 50 mile loop and a 25 mile loop, two out checks, and lots of wonderful country to ride through. We struggle with sheep herds, fire damage, and active logging operations, along with the usual winter blow downs. If snow pack is too great to allow access to the trail at Clover Springs (6600+ feet elevation), we have an alternate trail lower down that still allows us to utilize both out vet checks. Renegade is a true endurance ride, whether you do the 25 or the 50.  I have passed the manager ship of Renegade in 2019 to Kathleen Pillo, who will continue the Renegade tradition.  I will continue to help Kathleen with the Renegade trails and in any other way I can.

    My husband Mike and I have a stock of ride tools (tanks, signs, ribbons, etc) that we loan out to other ride managers who need them. I also have timed for several rides and help ride managers whenever possible.

    I was AERC Sanctioning Director for most of my 20 years on the AERC Board, and as such was able to help ride managers schedule their rides and give new ride managers any advice they were willing to take.

    I will gladly help any ride manager get started, improve their existing ride, loan ride equipment or just talk logistics to help get going on paperwork

    KATHLEEN DUNHAM PILLO

    I grew up with horses. My parents owned Tennessee Walking horses and from a very young age I would ride them any chance I got. At 13 yrs old I got a spooky little Arabian mare from one of my neighbors and I rode the hair off her until she became very old. I

    I first got into endurance riding in 2006 at the age of 28. Since then I have started 52 races and finished 49. I have successfully ridden distances of 25, 50, 75, and 100 miles The horses I have ridden in endurance have been:

    American Paint Horse Gelding (50’s and 25’s)

    American Morgan horse Gelding (several 50’s, two 100’s & two 75’s)

    Arabian Mare (several 50’s and two 100’s including 2019 Tevis Cup)

    I enjoy setting goals and I enjoy having fun! I believe this sport should be fun for both horse and rider and I like to come up with a ride plan that is realistic for the horse I am riding to have success.

    Goals vary for everyone and change from year to year. A riders goal might just be to learn how to overnight horse camp (I remember the first time I was packing up to take the horse for an overnight stay at an event. This was unknown for me and it took time and experience to come up with a good system). People have goals for distance, time, placing, best condition, just finishing the ride without hitting the ground, etc.

    I would be a good mentor for people who want to set a goal and then put in the mental and physical effort to work towards it.