THIS WEEK'S FEATURED STORIES
brought to you by
Quality Arabians bred for Endurance
Endurance Future Part Two
WeAreOnTheLoose.com - Full Article
by Jamethiel Morse
November 1 2025
Part One, Endurance: Where are the ribbons? is here.
Life got a bit lifey and delayed the second installment of musing about the future of the sport of endurance. We left off talking about the culture of endurance, and it affects the growth (or decline) of the sport. One of the thornier issues I didn’t touch on is the heated debate over what constitutes “real endurance”. There’s a camp of folks that firmly believes that calling anything under a 50 mile ride endurance is doing a disservice to the true ethos of the sport. Some say only 100 mile rides are true endurance, and anything less is “just” training towards that ultimate goal.
This debate comes up like clockwork, to the detriment of our sport I think. Folks should be welcome to share the trails and this horsemanship journey called endurance with us, no matter if their goal is to rack up 100 milers or if completing one LD takes all their effort and time. Crunching current numbers shows that most folks (especially those that “pay a ride managers bills”) are actually “Limited Distance Riders”, between 25 and 35 miles. I myself view 50s as a comfortable middle: I get more bang for my buck than an LD, both in terms of time on the trail and a challenge completed, but I don’t have to stay awake and functional for a full 24 hours to complete 100 miles. Honestly, I also don’t have to push my mare and myself hard enough during training to be 100 miler fit and ready. The leap from comfortably turtling 50s, as my mare and I do, to completing a 100 miler is just as exponential as getting her to the starting line of our first LD was...
Read the rest here:
https://weareontheloose.com/2025/11/01/endurance-future-part-two/
Tracing the forgotten path of the first wagon train to cross the Sierra
SFGate.com - Full Article
Everyone knows the Donner Party. These are the people who came before. By Julie Brown Davis, Mountain Towns Editor
Sep 28, 2025
It was late fall in 1844 when a group of pioneers, horses, oxen and wagons arrived on the shore of a beautiful lake embedded below the wall of the Sierra Nevada. Snow had already accumulated on the ground. River crossings were ice cold. The animals were weary and ragged. But the group had hope. They’d already traveled for months, walking day after day alongside the wagons. Upon reaching the Sierra Nevada, they knew they were close to the Sacramento Valley, a destination that had lured them across the continent, but cold temperatures and shorter days were a foreboding reminder that time was not on their side.
This was the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party, the first European Americans to cross the Sierra Nevada with wagons. All 52 people survived the journey to California, including two infants who were born on the westward journey.
“They were the original pioneers that proved that you could move wagons over the Sierra Nevada,” said David Antonucci, a Tahoe historian and author...
Read more here:
https://www.sfgate.com/renotahoe/article/stephens-townsend-murphy-sierra-nevada-california-21057626.php
Endurance Competition Returns to Biltmore Following Hurricane Helene
USEF.org - Full Article
“We were under more than 20 feet of water in some locations,” said Elizabeth McLean, Director of Equestrian Activities at Biltmore, when discussing the impact of the deadliest hurricane in North Carolina history.
by Debbie Elliot | Sep 2, 2025, 9:30 AM
On September 27, 2024, wind and flooding from Hurricane Helene devastated the western Appalachian area of North Carolina, including the town of Asheville, which is home to Biltmore, a majestic house and historic property dating back to 1895. Several rivers in the region overflowed and the subsequent destruction led Helene to become the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina history.
The 8,000-acre Biltmore estate hosts two endurance rides each year: a spring ride in May and a fall ride in September. While the spring event had to be cancelled earlier this year due to ongoing recovery efforts, the Biltmore Fall Endurance Ride to Benefit Hope for Horses will take place around the estate’s stunning trail system on September 20-21. The event features a number of different classes: 30-mile Limited Distance, 50-mile, 65-mile, and 75-mile Endurance Rides, plus FEI divisions (2* Open, 1* Open and Junior/Young Rider). Biltmore's bi-annual endurance rides follow the Biltmore trails; photo by Becky Pearman
“Our primary facility and a lot of our pastures are right alongside the French Broad River in Asheville, so we had significant flooding after Helene, worse than I've ever seen, and certainly worse than the area had seen in over a hundred years,” said Elizabeth McLean, Director of the Biltmore Equestrian CenterActivities at Biltmore. “We were under more than 20 feet of water in some locations.”
There was heavy rainfall throughout the week before the brunt of Helene hit the area, then the hurricane pummeled western North Carolina, ultimately leading to 108 deaths across the state.
Fortunately, no lives were lost at Biltmore despite the property suffering significant damage...
Read more here:
https://www.usef.org/media/equestrian-weekly/endurance-competition-returns-to-biltmore
Dale Horst 1945 - 2025
Obits.dallasnews.com
Dale Horst Obituary
Dale Richard Horst was born September 20, 1945 in Ontario Canada and passed away peacefully at home in Pilot Point on August 6, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He will be deeply missed by his loving companion, Roberta Corbett, and his children, Delinah Horst (Jason Hubbard) and Nicole Hammond. His beloved granddaughter, Cree Horst Hubbard, was a shining light in his life, and she will always be reminded of the wonderful grandfather she had.
Dale is survived by his siblings, Gloria King, Mary Lou Snyder, Myrna & Bob Schlegel, and Steve & Sandra Horst. He also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews: Eric, Bradley, Dan, Monica, Maria, Tammy, Barry, Steve, Kim, Kirby, Kari, Krystal, Seth, Roxanne, and Karl. He was predeceased by his parents, Myrtle and Elam Horst, as well as his brothers-in-law, Rev. Ed King and James Snyder.
Dale touched the lives of all who knew him. He was known for his gentle spirit, kind heart, and unwavering generosity. He carried himself with quiet strength and had a special way of making others feel valued. Loyal and hardworking, Dale formed lasting bonds with his colleagues and employees, earning deep respect in both his professional and personal life.
A lifelong animal lover, Dale had a profound connection with the animals around him-especially his beloved horse, Ramsey, and his faithful dog, Wylie. His compassion extended to every creature in his care. His warm personality and infectious sense of humor brought joy to those around him and made the world a little brighter.
For the first 40 years of his life, Dale was a successful entrepreneur in the produce industry in Ontario, Canada. After selling his business, he moved to Texas, where he embraced a new chapter as the partner and operator of White Oaks Ranch near Pilot Point. As Ranch Manager, he shared his deep love for the land and animals with friends and staff alike, inspiring others to find joy and purpose in their connection to nature.
An accomplished endurance rider, Dale earned numerous trophies in Canada and proudly held a national championship in cross-country riding. After moving to Texas, he continued his passion for the sport, immersing himself in the American endurance riding community and spending countless hours with his horses.
In honor of Dale's enduring love for horses and the sport of endurance riding, donations can be made to the American Endurance Ride Conference at https://aerc.org/compete/donations.
A celebration of Dale's life will be held in mid-October at White Oaks Ranch. He will be forever remembered for the love he gave, the laughter he shared, and the legacy he leaves behind.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Dallas Morning News on Aug. 17, 2025.