Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff
The 1997 Pan American Endurance Championship balanced all the best elements
of endurance riding, both AERC and FEI, to create an incredible CELEBRATION
of the best endurance riding has to offer. The next time you meet any of
our members from the Pacific North give them the “HIGH FIVE!!” and a big
thank you for giving us reason to be very proud of our sport, our
sportsmanship, and most of all our amazing equine athletes.
Personal stories and “humorous snap shot memories” from this year’s event
could fill the whole magazine. Here are just a few highlights from some of
our team medalists. Sit back and enjoy!
CANADA WEST
CHRISTY JANZEN & TANG
GOLD TEAM MEMBER, SILVER INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST AND RECEIPIANT OF BEST
CONDITION AWARD
submitted by Linda Riley, Chef d’Equipe
Canada West
What a great honor to be phoned by Lori Stewart of AERC and be
congratulated on our team’s success. I guess it will be a long time before
we come down from our cloud. I know that we will never lose the great
feeling of pride we have for our team and fellow endurance riders. I knew
when we went down there we had a good team, but so did all the other zones.
To win the gold medal is certainly the accomplishment of all dreams.
When asked to have Christy Janzen send in her personal story it was with
great pleasure that I contacted her. I am submitting her story, with a few
foot notes as Christy is not one to brag.
Submitted by Christy Janzen:
“I first started endurance riding in 1990, when Roy Cust asked if he could
cross our property for a ride he was putting on. I told him ‘sure, as long
as I can ride in it’. (I was three months pregnant at time). Was first to
finish the 25 mile ride (with the delightful companionship of Paul Riley).
Then I did a 100 miler three weeks later and finished 2nd. I was riding my
mare Jayla at the time, still barefoot. She had never been shod.”
*Christy went on to be one of Alberta’s top riders on her powerful mare
Jayla, doing the Tevis and winning the 1993 NAER pre-ride in Kananaskis.
It was a very sad day when Christy announced she had lost Jayla that Fall
to unknown causes. Not to diminish her great desire to compete in this
sport Christy tried out numerous horses over the next few years- ending up
with Tais, nicknamed Tang - short for Orangetan (plus her orange color
matched that animal and the drink).
“Tang was brought to my attention during a 1991Wild Cat Ride. Having a
discussion with ride manager, Pauline Rhodes, regarding my need for a
young, upcoming horse, I was told of a two year old that Pauline had raised
from her breeding stock. (Alberta bred - a true Canadian.) The filly had
run wild for her first year and then sold. In the summer of 1993, I looked
at this small, scruffy and extremely aloof animal - now owned by Gail
Anderson. Gail had been desperately trying to gentle her just so that she
could lead her and brush her. Tang went on to visit a few of my
neighbors. None of us were interested. At this time Jayla died and
neighbor and friend Elaine Delbeke says, maybe it’s fate that Tang’s at
your place. I needed an older horse to campaign now but still wasn’t
interested. The mare was then returned to present owner John Taylor where
it took my husband Ron 3 hours, (in a business suit), to unload Tang from
our horse trailer.
In 1995 Tang returns. John Taylor asks me to train her for him (The mare is
very obnoxious at this point.). It took two days to unload her from the
horse trailer. We eventually had to winch her out. She jumped out of an
eight foot pen, landing on her back on the saddle. Had friend Lou Sherron
ride the buck out of her (in one account she bucked 26 times, then fell
over). His neighbor Vern rode her one day. He had to wear big cowboy spurs
and said she will never have much ‘go’.
Then John Taylor says he needs to sell her. “Dad Janzen” convinces me to
acquire her as she would be great for breeding, even if we can’t ever ride
her.
· “Dad” Janzen crewed for Christy at the Pan Am Championship
Lou Sherron competes on her in fall of 1995. Then in the spring of 1996,
Lou rides her in a 24 hour marathon for 3 loops. He looked very dejected,
having to dismount in order to lead her out of camp as she balks and bucks.
Finally he abandoned riding her further. That year Tang did the Canadian
National Competitive Ride, three one hundred mile rides, winning a 3rd, a
BC and tie for 1st at Big Horn, and a 2nd place on a ride in fall. (Ridden
by Dave O’Callahan on her first one hundred miler).
Through all this Tang’s attitude isn’t improving. While marking trail with
Dave Sprecher, Tang ran over-top of me, knocked me with all four hooves,
left me holding the reins, and tried to drag me home behind her. I
finally let go and Dave and I had to hoof it in 9 miles and met my horse
one half mile from camp.
Training for Tang this year basically began in February - long slow
conditioning, doing close to 200 miles each month. She did a two day/120
miler (1st and BC); 100 miler (1st) and four 50 milers before the Pan
American Championship. I have a big problem juggling time with a full time
job, two children and Ron. Ron has his own business and works lots of
evenings and weekends. Hence, I ride early Saturday and Sunday before he
goes to work and grandparents look after the kids some evenings so I can
condition. I also trade off child care with neighbors.
MY BIGGEST SUPPORT IS RON. He’s never complained about the time and
dollars involved and always encourages my training. If I run into a
behavior problem (happens with Tang), he gets on and rides her through it.
He’s calm, confident and powerful. He also helps with a more intense
training session for the mare. MY NEXT BEST SUPPORT is my son Brett, 6
years old, (helps with feeding and leading) and 4 year old Jaylene.
Jaylene gives Mom and Tang love and encouragement.
Regarding my strategy for Pan American Championship ride, I planned to ride
with Larry Handziuk and his tough mare Misty, but she took awhile to settle
metabolically and so we were separated. Many riders must have heard me in
the early morning, yelling, ‘SLOW DOWN LARRY!’. We made especially good
time on winding, climbing trails after lunch at Vet Check #4 and after
Check #5. I rode with Shirley Delsart before VC #5 and had a great time.
At mile 80 I told Shirley I would not race her at the end. I felt Tang was
traveling fast enough and did not want to risk stress on her legs at the
end. She’s young (8 yrs. old) and racing to the finish was too much to
ask. I still hadn’t been able to remove her martingale. She was still a
handful and required holding in the end.
· My reward as Chef was fulfilled in Christy’s following remarks:
Regarding Race Day: my favorite comment was when I asked my Chef d’Equipe,
Linda, about how to ride the last 25 miles. She said “You’ve been here
before - you know what to do”. It made me feel so good that she had total
faith in me plus reminded me of Jayla’s awesome ride @ Kananaskis pre-ride
(which we used as a training ride for the Tevis!) That memory and her
faith certainly ‘spurred’ me on and Tang needed no encouragement. On the
trail you certainly have time to think and these were inspiring thoughts
and memories to draw on.”
Thank you all for making this sport possible and thanks to my side-kick
Tang. As Ron says, ‘this sport requires strong personalities’ ( real
driven, cranky, obnoxious) - we both fill that bill!”
* Christy rode a superb ride at the Pan Americans that she surely has to
be congratulated for - her horse was her utmost concern at all times
,(e.g.. arranging at Vet Ck 2 to have a farrier ready at the lunch stop to
change Tang’s shoes) and best of all - bringing Tang in for a good sound
second place! Congratulations Christy & Tang.
PACIFIC SOUTH
submitted by:
SHIRLEY DELSART
INDIVIDUAL GOLD MEDALIST AND TEAM BRONZE
Shirley’s Story: It is always a thrill and an honor to have the
opportunity to compete against the top endurance horses and riders. I was
given this opportunity once again at the Pan American Championship
Endurance Ride in Bend, Oregon this past September to ride as a member of
the USA Pacific South Squad. One of the special things about this ride for
me was the mutual support, camaraderie, and fun which I experienced as a
member of our squad which included Heather Bergantz, Kirsten Berntsen, Gary
Ceragioli, Jack Enderle, Wendy Lumbert, and Barbara Sanches. We laughed
together, cried together, and shared many special moments and memories. One
moment that I will always remember was when a member of my crew came up to
me as I was preparing to leave one of the early vet checks and said, "I
don't want to alarm you, but there's a wounded cat on the trail between
this VC and the next." I looked at her incredulously and slowly repeated
her words. "A wounded cat. You mean as in mountain lion??" Well, I kept my
eyes open, but fortunately never saw the wounded cat. However, I did see a
lot of beautiful scenery and volcanic landscapes. When Dusty broke into a
hand gallop as I approached the finish line, and it appeared that victory
would be ours, all I could do was smile. Dusty and I had worked so hard for
so many years, and now victory was finally ours. It was a very nice way to
end the year.
Bronze Medal Team Highlights: Pacific South was once again fortunate to
have as its dedicated leaders, Teresa Cross as Chef d'Equipe and Kathy
Campbell as assistant Chef d'Equipe. Our Team Vet was Susan McCartney. This
year we were also fortunate to have a number of sponsors who kindly donated
products and cash to support the efforts of our squad.
Seven horses and riders made the journey to Bend, Oregon, site of the Pan
American Championship. They were Heather Bergantz and Tyler, Kirsten
Berntsen and WS Callisto, Gary Ceragioli and Czar, Shirley Delsart and
Dusty, Jack Enderle and Silver, Barbara Sanches and Tor, and Wendy Lumbert
and Whip. Many family members, friends, and other Pacific South faithful
were kind enough to support our efforts by crewing for us. THANK YOU
EVERYONE!!! Our team consisted of Gary and Czar, Shirley and Dusty, Jack
and Silver, and Barbara and Tor, with Kirsten as our sole individual rider.
The Pacific South Team was very proud to receive the Team Bronze medal and
the individual gold. And we're sure that those of you who saw Pacific South
at the Celebration party the Sunday night after the ride will always
remember us as the backup hula dancers for Naomi(r-e-s-p-e-c-t) Tyler
a.k.a. Aretha Franklin. Pacific South sure does know how to celebrate. Look
for our encore in 1999.
EAST ZONE
TEAM SILVER
submitted by: Patti Pizzo
(5th place riding Savaq)
Seven representatives of the USA East (six squad members and one alternate)
traveled an average of 3000 miles each way to Bend Oregon. Amanda, Ellen
and myself arrived Tuesday Sept. 2 and the Rojeck crew and horses
arriving two days later. We were able to pre ride quite a bit of the trail
from our
early camp at Vet check 4. We rode on wooded trails along a beautiful
stream with waterfalls, up to a lake created by a Volcanic eruption. The
following Monday we moved onto the main camp at the Stephenson Ranch.
Here we camped in a lush pasture with the Cascade Mountain range with its
snow covered peaks greeting us every morning. Shortly were joined by Guy
and Myra. Crew members and support staff arrived every day after that
right
up to the ride. Teddy Lancaster, Ed, Barb Thomas, Nancy Smart, Joe Sheldon
(Asst. Chef d’equipe), Lori Stewart (Asst. Chief d’Equipe), Mary Ann Wates,
Dwight Hooten - Chief d’Equipe, Ann Stuart DVM, Team Veterinarian, families
and friends of the riders all pitched in together to be the pit crews for
all riders.
A few of the vet checks weren't accessible to everyone so this made team
pit crewing essential. From our first squad meeting on there were two
things that seemed obvious about this group from the East. First - we all
believed that the motto still is and always will be "To Finish is To Win" ,
everyone of us proud to be there representing the East. The second was that
we were a team of seven riders - all hoping that each team member would
reach their goal during the ride, each one of us willing to help each other
in every way possible.
Between Vet Checks 1 - 2 and 5 - 6 there was a water stop that management
decided the crews could not go to during the ride. Roger Rittenhouse and
Teddy's gracious friend Rosemary who lives in Bend volunteered to man this
stop for all teams during the ride. Roger and Rosemary did a wonderful
job - passing out water for riders and jugs for the horses. Their
encouragement
before and after the long climb was comforting. The East Team (Thanks to
Pete Fields) had supplied them with 2 way radios which came in handy. Two
horses needed Veterinary assistance at the water stop and Roger was able to
get it there quickly with the radios.
This ride was extremely well managed and run. Mike Foss, DVM always
seemed to have a smile on his face and a pleasant greeting for everyone.
Heidi
Smith, DVM seemed to be everywhere you looked (maybe a clone?)
Everything ran smoothly, the weather was great, and the scenery
breathtaking.
The East team was picked from the squad - Amanda, Steve, Guy and Patti
making up the team and Ellen and Myra riding as individuals. Diana was the
alternate. We all were very confident from the start that all team
members would finish the ride. What an honor it was to win the silver
medal, being the highest placing US Team, and the only team to finish all
four of their riders. Ellen and Myra were not as lucky, both pulling
their horses.
Thank You's are due a whole lot of people, and I have a feeling these
people know who they are. But that’s not what’s important. Tuckers Rum,
Bahrain, Niota, Sam, Hawk, Zak, and Asterisk are all home in their
pastures, happy, sound, and ready to give their riders another memorable
experience. A big Thank You to these horses for being the champions they
all are.
Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff