Endurance Arabians to Showcase the Breed in the Rose Parade

Top left: *Ras El Ayn (Axdir x *Meca) was a 15.2 hand dappled grey Spanish Arabian stallion imported from Spain in 1934 by James Draper. He was the perfect ambassador for the Arabian breed in the 1939 and 1940 Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasadena, California. The stallion led the parade with grace and calm in front of cheering crowds, while his rider, A. N. “Al” Shureen, played a trumpet.

Middle left: The AERC riders’ group Grand Marshall, Gayle Pena (AERC member PS Region) of Moreno Valley, California with Hes All Heart (Bay Saladin x Kalikka).

Endurance Arabians to showcase the breed in the Rose Parade

STORY BY KIMBERLY RIVERS • PHOTOS COURTESY OF LISA PECK

*Ras El Ayn

(Axdir x *Meca) was a 15.2 hand dappled grey Spanish Arabian stallion imported from Spain in 1934 by James Draper. The stallion had the intelligent eye, alluring grace, and the classical carriage and build of the ancient Spanish lines. He was the perfect ambassador for the Arabian breed for the approximately one million people who witnessed the 1939 and 1940 Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasadena, California, on New Years Day. The stallion led the parade with grace and calm in front of cheering crowds, while his rider, A. N. “Al” Shureen, played a trumpet. A Rotarian newsletter printed by the South Pasadena Rotary Club, of which Shureen was a member, declared the horse to be worth $75,000 in 1939.

230 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ DECEMBER 2015

Arabians have remained frequent participants in the Rose Parade, seen most often in native costume — a favorite of the crowds. The 2016 parade will also feature a group of Arabians: but they will not be in native costume, nor decked out in showring attire. These Arabians, Half-Arabians, and an Anglo-Arabian (great-grandson of Seattle Slew) — joined by a few members of other breeds — will be riding in the January 1, 2016, Rose Parade to promote the sport of endurance riding and the American Endurance Ride Conference, the national governing body for the sport.

The AERC Rose Parade Riders will not only showcase a sport they and their horses love, but with a majority of Arabian or Half-Arabian horses (17 out of 25) in the mix, they will be showing the world — the Rose Parade is broadcast in over 200 countries — the versatility, beauty, and intelligence of the breed.

The AERC riders are one of 19 equestrian groups selected for the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade. The group’s Grand Marshall, Gayle Pena (AERC member PS Region) of Moreno Valley, California, organized the efforts to get the group accepted into the parade. Pena has been in the parade as part of the Region 1 Native Costume group, and has participated in AERC rides since 2003, accumulating 2,320 endurance miles (ride distance of 50 miles or more) and 1,450 limited distance miles (ride distance of 25 to 35 miles).

“I’ve had it in my heart to open up the opportunity for endurance riders to form a parade group since I last rode in the Rose Parade with my Region 1 Costumed Arabians,” said Pena. The AERC is helping to organize fundraisers and encouraging members to contribute to the extensive costs associated with being in the parade. The coordinating tack, riding attire, travel, and stall fees for the week before the parade can really add up.

The group began meeting for practices and rides, as Pena had to make sure all the horses were properly trained and desensitized to various things they might encounter at the many parades the group would be attending over the year. Some members of the group are veteran parade riders. For others, this will be their first parade. The event will surely be a different experience for these endurance horses. They will be spotless, with polished hooves, and there are rumors of some of the endurance horses wearing tail bags this year to ensure they have show quality tails for the parade. A show quality tail is not generally a top priority in the endurance world.

In addition to the riding team, the group has volunteers prepping their travel, trailering, stalls, paperwork, and the all-important out-walkers, who will accompany the group on the parade route, to help the riders if needed. Photographer Lisa Peck stepped in as official group photographer providing images for the application, media, and in general documenting the group’s adventure to the Rose Parade.

231 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ DECEMBER 2015

Endurance Arabians to showcase the breed in the Rose Parade

STORY BY KIMBERLY RIVERS • PHOTOS COURTESY OF LISA PECK

*Ras El Ayn

(Axdir x *Meca) was a 15.2 hand dappled grey Spanish Arabian stallion imported from Spain in 1934 by James Draper. The stallion had the intelligent eye, alluring grace, and the classical carriage and build of the ancient Spanish lines. He was the perfect ambassador for the Arabian breed for the approximately one million people who witnessed the 1939 and 1940 Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasadena, California, on New Years Day. The stallion led the parade with grace and calm in front of cheering crowds, while his rider, A. N. “Al” Shureen, played a trumpet. A Rotarian newsletter printed by the South Pasadena Rotary Club, of which Shureen was a member, declared the horse to be worth $75,000 in 1939.

230 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ DECEMBER 2015

Top left: *Ras El Ayn (Axdir x *Meca) was a 15.2 hand dappled grey Spanish Arabian stallion imported from Spain in 1934 by James Draper. He was the perfect ambassador for the Arabian breed in the 1939 and 1940 Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasadena, California. The stallion led the parade with grace and calm in front of cheering crowds, while his rider, A. N. “Al” Shureen, played a trumpet.

Middle left: The AERC riders’ group Grand Marshall, Gayle Pena (AERC member PS Region) of Moreno Valley, California with Hes All Heart (Bay Saladin x Kalikka).

Arabians have remained frequent participants in the Rose Parade, seen most often in native costume — a favorite of the crowds. The 2016 parade will also feature a group of Arabians: but they will not be in native costume, nor decked out in showring attire. These Arabians, Half-Arabians, and an Anglo-Arabian (great-grandson of Seattle Slew) — joined by a few members of other breeds — will be riding in the January 1, 2016, Rose Parade to promote the sport of endurance riding and the American Endurance Ride Conference, the national governing body for the sport.

The AERC Rose Parade Riders will not only showcase a sport they and their horses love, but with a majority of Arabian or Half-Arabian horses (17 out of 25) in the mix, they will be showing the world — the Rose Parade is broadcast in over 200 countries — the versatility, beauty, and intelligence of the breed.

The AERC riders are one of 19 equestrian groups selected for the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade. The group’s Grand Marshall, Gayle Pena (AERC member PS Region) of Moreno Valley, California, organized the efforts to get the group accepted into the parade. Pena has been in the parade as part of the Region 1 Native Costume group, and has participated in AERC rides since 2003, accumulating 2,320 endurance miles (ride distance of 50 miles or more) and 1,450 limited distance miles (ride distance of 25 to 35 miles).

“I’ve had it in my heart to open up the opportunity for endurance riders to form a parade group since I last rode in the Rose Parade with my Region 1 Costumed Arabians,” said Pena. The AERC is helping to organize fundraisers and encouraging members to contribute to the extensive costs associated with being in the parade. The coordinating tack, riding attire, travel, and stall fees for the week before the parade can really add up.

The group began meeting for practices and rides, as Pena had to make sure all the horses were properly trained and desensitized to various things they might encounter at the many parades the group would be attending over the year. Some members of the group are veteran parade riders. For others, this will be their first parade. The event will surely be a different experience for these endurance horses. They will be spotless, with polished hooves, and there are rumors of some of the endurance horses wearing tail bags this year to ensure they have show quality tails for the parade. A show quality tail is not generally a top priority in the endurance world.

In addition to the riding team, the group has volunteers prepping their travel, trailering, stalls, paperwork, and the all-important out-walkers, who will accompany the group on the parade route, to help the riders if needed. Photographer Lisa Peck stepped in as official group photographer providing images for the application, media, and in general documenting the group’s adventure to the Rose Parade.

231 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ DECEMBER 2015

Karen Chaton riding TBR Granite Chief (CF Sorcerer x Mi Princessa), the 2005 AHA Distance Horse of the Year, second highest mileage Arabian in the sport, and a member of the AERC Hall of Fame with about 14,500 miles logged with the AERC. Chaton has over 36,000 AERC Miles logged herself.

“He is the versatile Arabian horse,” says Crysta Turnage of her gelding Dream Makker (Mackies Image x Falah Dream). “He can top ten an endurance ride, then turn around and ride bitless in full native costume down a street lined with thousands of spectators in a parade.”

“I think promotion is everything,” says Pena. “We want to show that endurance is a sport that celebrates our biggest partners, our horses. We are true horsemen and women, and we are not afraid to show it off — in this case, in front of a nationally-televised event!”

The total combined AERC mileage of all the parade riders (including limited distance and endurance distances) is about 218,996 miles. The group includes six living “legend riders.” (Riders who have reached outstanding milestones in the sport.) One is Julie Suhr riding Rushcreek Aubie (Comar Raphael x Rushcreek Galibi), owned by Anna Wolfe of Des Moines, New Mexico. It is extra special for Suhr to be joining the parade group. Now in her 90s and mostly retired from endurance riding, she is known at the Grande Dame of endurance riding. She has over 30,000 miles in her endurance career, which includes completions in 34 100-mile rides, including Tevis Cup rides. She placed second in 1985 and third in 1986

in what many consider the toughest ride on earth.

Another is Karen Chaton riding TBR Granite Chief (CF Sorcerer x Mi Princessa), the 2005 AHA Distance Horse of the Year, second highest mileage Arabian in the sport, and a member of the AERC Hall of Fame with about 14,500 miles logged with the AERC. Chaton has over 36,000 AERC Miles logged herself. Her two Arabians are the only two horses to have finished the complete 2,040-mile XP Ride along portions of the Pony Express Trail. They did that ride in 2011. While she is riding “Chief ” in the parade, her second horse Pro Bono D (Bon Vivant V x Samors Promise) or “Bo” is also in the parade.

Bo survived a bought of colic requiring surgery last year, and is back on the endurance trail. He has over 8,000 miles and is currently carrying a brand new 10-year-old junior rider, Riley McHenry on her first endurance rides. McHenry met the riders at the Carson Valley Days parade in Nevada. She struck up a 232 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ DECEMBER 2015

conversation and before she knew it, she was soon trotting down the trail on Bo. Even before the Rose Parade, the group is reaching new endurance riders.

“My curiosity makes me want to see what’s around the next bend or up the next hill,” said Chaton about her love of endurance riding. “It doesn’t matter how many times I do the same ride, every time it is different — the same things won’t always be around the same bend. I love the smell of the woods, the dirt under my fingernails, and the scent of horse sweat while enjoying the rhythm of hoofbeats.”

Legend rider Connie Creech, who will be riding LS Shardonney Bey (Barberry Bey x LS Shareem), who has completed ten 100-mile rides, has been endurance riding for 42 years, beginning when she was 16. Her cumulative lifetime AERC miles total is 29,620.

She has been a rider, ride manager, volunteer, trail worker, and served as an official for the Federation Equestrian International (FEI). “Endurance riding is for adventurous people — beautiful country to see, new friends to meet, and a special partnership to develop with your horse. It has taken me all over the world and has shown me many great adventures around our country.” Her 17-year-old mare LS Shardonney Bey has a storied endurance bloodline. Creech rode that mare’s dam — whom she bred and raised — LS Shareem (Luzero x Bint Amine), to a gold medal at the World Endurance Championships in Front Royal, Virginia, in 1988 as member of the U.S. Endurance Team. And the team rode in the first World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1990.

Dave Rabe will be riding Cheys Cocamoe Joe (LC Psylent Knight x Orinoca). Rabe started endurance riding at the Tevis Cup, completing it in 1984.

He is a member of the AERC Hall of Fame and in 2014 he became the highest mileage AERC rider of all time with 60,530 miles, with no end in sight.

Dr. Dave Nicholson, DVM, or “The Duck,” as he is affectionately known, is mostly retired from endurance riding now, but he is not retired from the sport entirely, as he will be riding Pena’s CH Satin Doll (EF Emberr x TLC Snowflake). As a ride manager, and head veterinarian of XP Rides, he continues to make it possible for riders to enjoy trails through mountains, deserts, valleys, and vistas that would otherwise be inaccessible. He is adept at working with national parks, rangers, and local land owners to obtain permission for endurance riders to trek down trails on their property or land they manage. With over 6,000 miles on his record prior to 1985, Nicholson has been a part of the sport for decades. “What else do you need other than a marked trail, a sunrise, a good horse, and friends waiting at the finish,” says Nicholson about the appeal of the sport.

The final legend team needs mention, even though the horse is not an Arabian. Endurance Hall of Fame

Icelandic Horse Remington, owned and ridden by John Parke, have together over 14,000 miles and will add character to the parade lineup.

Aside from high mileage awards the AERC also promotes longevity in the sport — by encouraging riders to manage their horses in a way that ensures they stay sound for the long-term and are not overridden. The Decade Team award is a coveted accolade. To qualify for the award a rider must ride the same horse in at least one 50-mile ride for ten years. Those years need not be consecutive.

Dale Raymond, and her 18-year-old gelding My Desert Sun (Wazirs Karahty x SF Tiffany Star), are an AERC Decade Team. Together they have completed at least one 50-mile ride every year for a total of 10 years. My Desert Sun is sired by Wazirs Kharaty, the winningest

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endurance stallion of his time when he was in competition. He completed 3,250 miles in five years.

The 2015 Half-Arabian AHA Region 1 Champion, RHA Ambersuns Raynne (Ambersun x Houstons Prize), owned and ridden by Kerrie Tuley, is a great-grandson of Seattle Slew and represents the Anglo-Arabian contingent.

RHA Ambersuns Raynne is also the 2014 Desert Sounds Triple Crown Winner.

“He is the versatile Arabian horse,” says Crysta Turnage of her gelding Dream Makker (Mackies Image x Falah Dream).

“He can top ten an endurance ride, then turn around and ride bitless in full native costume down a street lined with thousands of spectators in a parade.”

He is also qualified as an official sweep horse providing safety and support on the Western States Trail run and The Tevis Cup trail ride. Turnage and Dream Makker mix it up even more with local team sorting, trail trial events, reining clinics, and dressage lessons. He is truly a jack-of-all-trades.

And you can bet at the end of the short five-and-a-half-mile parade, these endurance horses will be wondering where the next long trail is.

On January 1, if you find yourself in front of your television or sitting on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, keep an eye out for the AERC Rose Parade riders, and then get out, find a great trail, and ride.