Congratulations to our 2009 XP Medal Horses!  Click on their names below to read more.  Click here to see the 2009 list of XP Medal horses!

Kerry Redente and "Rio"

Jill Carr and "Walker"

Karen Chaton and "Chief"

Heather Van Fossen and "Corbin"


Jill Carr and Walker the Mule
 

Rider and horse name:

            Jill Carr & Walker the Mule

 

Barn name:

            Locally known as �The first place on the left with all the horses and mules.�


Breed:

            Morgan mule. (That�s really just our best guess, considering the few things we DO know about his origins. But also, since Les� horse Tulip is a Morab, its fun to call Walker a �Morass�.  Definition of morass:   A disordered situation or circumstance, esp. one that impedes progress.  Something that hinders, engulfs, or overwhelms: a morass of details. Mess, confusion, chaos, jam, tangle, mix-up, muddle, quagmire)

 

Horse & rider years in endurance & # of miles

            Walker was formerly a cow-cutting mule from Kentucky, but was sold to a dealer & sent to California after completing 90 days of professional cutting training. Maybe he dreamed of being an endurance mule??  He began his endurance career when we bought him in 2006 and currently has 2530 miles.

            I started endurance when I met Les in 2005 and currently have 3790 miles.  Before then I mostly drove carriage horses in combined driving, wagon trains, historical reenactments & just for fun. (And still do, when I�m not out on the endurance trail with you all!

Which XP ride did you enjoy the most this year?

I always love Ft Schellbourne.  I always come home with amazing pictures & new stories to tell, and for every day I survive the amazing trails, it makes me feel like I can really ride! 

Which ride did you find the most challenging, and why?

Well, at the Grand Canyon, I managed to make it to lunch 3 hours ahead of schedule, ahead of all the front runners.  For some reason, nobody believed me when I said Walker & I just hauled ass the whole way!  So of course, Walker & I had to go all the way back and take the RIGHT trail into lunch.  That was the only time I was ever lost for hours and didn�t even know�ignorance is bliss!
 
What do you feel is the most important thing you learned about yourself and your horse this past year?

You can fall in love with a mule, and he�ll treat you like he loves you back. Read the map more often. Don�t trust Walker to follow the ribbons � he�ll always take the DIRECT route to lunch.  (Note previous answer.)
 

Is there anything you did this year that you would do differently next year? (or, if you had a chance to do this last year over again)?

Ride more, eat less.

 
What do you think was the best thing that you did do?

My amazing husband Les, and all those XP miles and trails gave me the courage, experience and confidence to take a shot at Tevis this year for the first time � dang that rock with our name on it.  We�ll try again next year!

What are your horse�s best qualities?

Well, after the first 1000 miles or so of getting acquainted, Walker is steadfast and SAFE!  He has a great work ethic, and even if he�d rather not go out on a particular day, he figures it�s best to just get it over with, and he kicks in his really fast walk & takes us down the trail to home. With a few entertaining exceptions, I�m rarely worried about Walker being too difficult or dangerous to ride.
 
Did anything funny or strange happen on any of the rides this year?

Walker taught me early in our partnership never to argue with him about how to negotiate a particular trail obstacle or section.  This year Walker perfected his �Coon-jumping� skills. If you�ve never seen this at mule events, this is where a mule will stand at a fence, and leap straight up and over the top from a standstill, and also land at a standstill on the other side.  Walker can do this sideways or facing the obstacle up to about 3 feet high (seemed like about 5 feet, but probably not�). (He does this on his own � he doesn�t trust the horses in front of him to do it right, so he won�t follow them in really tough spots) I learned from landing in various heaps anywhere from his neck to behind the saddle to just give him his head, grab leather, go loose and hang on!  He then heads down the trail like everybody does it that way.  I wish I had a picture of THAT!


 
 

Heather Van Fossen and Corbin

 

Rider and horse name: Heather Van Fossen and Hearts of Harlem  (Corbin)

 

Barn name: Indian Orchard Ranch


Breed: National Show Horse

 

Horse & rider years in endurance & # of miles Corbin has 6000 + miles / 5 years Heather almost 10,000 and 7 years

Which XP ride did you enjoy the most this year? Schellbourne is a very special place.  We love all of the 5 day rides.

Which ride did you find the most challenging, and why?  I had truck problems before Bryce Canyon , luckily everything got worked out just in time.
 
What do you feel is the most important thing you learned about yourself and your horse this past year?  It is important to make these great rides a priority, they are very special times and way better that single day rides.

What do you think was the best thing that you did do? I enjoyed riding with friends and really appreciate the team effort, �we�re in this together� attitude that my riding buddies display.

What are your horses best qualities?  Corbin loves to be the center of attention.  He has a great time patronizing his unknowing neighbors in camp.  He is very honest and takes his job seriously.