THE HORSES - Distance Competitions
After about ten years of pleasure riding, mostly with quarter horses with the Ontario Trail Riders Association, we decided to try something more challenging for both the horses and ourselves. In 1998, we purchased our first Arabian, Halif, and started Competitive Trail and Endurance riding with the Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association. More can be learned about endurance riding at www.aerc.org and www.endurance.net.
It takes a very good horse to move at speed for 50 to 100 miles in one day. They must be conformationally very correct, with straight legs, strong lungs and heart, low resting heart rate and have the mind to want to keep going, even when very tired. Over the years, other than Redneck, our retired grade Quarterhorse, we have been using purebred Arabians of Egyptian and Al Khamsa bloodlines. However, in late 2011 we made a trip to Michigan where we purchased two purebred Arabians with French bloodlines. These two horses, Helfire and TT Contender (“Taz”) will be started in distance riding in 2012.
Moving to the Ganaraska Forest area has afforded us the opportunity to train daily on all types of terrain with no need to use our trailer. This has been a big plus for our training program.
We are always interested in the opportunity to introduce “newbies” to this sport and welcome the opportunity to talk to them about how they can participate. We do have experienced horses for them to lease on short or long term basis. OEF membership is always a requirement for insurance purposes.
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HAF Allieena+/ (Royal Jalliel x Imperial Nasreena)
Leena is our flagship mare, so to speak. Her easy canter and long trot “get the job done” when it comes to finishing successfully. To date, she has had only one pull in 40 endurance races. She has also won the King of Morocco saddle twice, the only Canadian horse to win it. Michelle is the usual rider, although others will when Michelle has work obligations. Leena has her AHA Legion of Supreme Honor, a distinction very few Arabians have achieved for endurance racing. Leena will continue competing through 2012, which may be her last year as she will be 17 years old. |
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Kashif (True Colours x HAF Allieena+/)
Kashif's first year was 2010 and we believe that he has potential to be a very talented distance horse. He is tall (16 hh) with long legs, even for his height. He is Leena's son and inherited her flowing canter and long trot. His recoveries are excellent. However, we do not believe in pushing new horses too hard so he did limited races in 2010. Having said that, he top tenned at the 2010 Canadian Championships and won the 50 mile Oktoberfest race. |
TT Contender (Jolly By Golly x Sawanna) “Taz” is an ex flat track racer and barrel racing horse that we purchased this year to try out on the endurance circuit. He is not a big guy, standing 14.3 hh, but makes up for it in heart. |
Helfire (Haffir El Rimal x SHF Garda) Helfire is a tall (15.3 hh), strong gelding we purchased from Tom Fritz in Michigan. Tom has been raising and racing flat track Arabians for years, with much success. Helfire will come out in 2012 as our second string distance horse, possibly to replace Kashif if he is unable to compete in 2012. He has shown an amazing level of training to date |