Wendy lives in Ridgecrest, CA and has sky-rocketed onto the international scene with her amazing 9 year old, 16H, Anglo Arab mare, Flikka. Wendy and Flikka have completed over 2000 AERC miles together earning many wins and BC's. She and Flikka are new to international riding but NOT to the winner's circle.
Wendy & Flikka
Fire Mt. Flikka
1925 Career Miles
BCs: 7
Wins: 7
Top Tens: 12
Wendy and Flikka. First place finish and course record 1998 Oregon 100.
Flikka is a nine year old, 16 hand Anglo-Arabian mare. She is by Hall of
Fame stallion Sierra Fadwah+/ and out of an Anglo-Arab mare - Corrianda.
Flikka was bred by Jim and Jackie Bumgardner of Fire Mt. Arabians.
I have been riding horses for almost 30 years. I have shown horses in Western pleasure and performance and in Hunters flat and over fences. I first became interested in endurance about 13 years ago and I did my first ride eight years ago on my then Arab show gelding. He was not thrilled with the sport, so I began my search for an endurance horse.
I first saw Flikka at the Geo Bun Buster endurance ride. She was a four year old and was being ridden through her first 30 mile ride. I was riding a gelding that was a handfull at the starts. He was spinning, crow hopping and being a general pain in the butt! Flikka was standing calmly, looking around just taking in all of the activity. She was tall and gangly all elbows and knees, but her eyes were so quiet and soft.
I could not stop thinking about that mare's quiet eyes, so I contacted Jackie a couple months later to ask about that tall, gangly four year old Anglo. She was for sale! I went up to Bridgeport to try her, and it was love at first ride. That was five years ago and I have been thanking the Gods ever since.
For the first two years Flikka and I took dressage lessons and went on light trail rides. She completed her first 50 when she was six, and her first 100 the next year as a seven year old. Flikka's first top ten (5th) was in 1997 at the Geo Bun Buster 50.
Flikka's first BC was the first day of the 1997 Death Valley Encounter multi-day ride, where she was also awarded the Overall Best Condition award. Her first win was at the 1998 Fire Mt. 50, where she received her second BC. She swept the High Desert Triple Crown by winning all three rides (Fire Mt. 50; 20 Mule Team 100; Geo Bun Buster 50) and was also awarded BC at all three rides. Flikka has set course records at three rides this year including the Oregon 100 were she broke the previous record set by RT Muffin.
Flikka is an amazing athelete, she can do well on the trail or in the ring. I have shown her at open shows in Hunter Pleasure and she has taken the blue each time out.
I am excited and honored to be representing the United States at the WEC in Dubai, Flikka and I will do our best to help bring home the GOLD!