It's that time of year again! AHDRA's Triple Crown Award has been announced--a floating-framed canvas portrait of your choice donated by Doug Palme of Timeless Equine Photography! For more information about Doug and his photography, go to www.timelessequine.com. Doug still has photos from the 2009 season up--order now!
To compete for the Grand Prize, one horse/rider team must compete and complete at least one ride at three out of four AHDRA Rides (AHDRA I: My Back Yard, AHDRA 1-1/2: Zumbro Bottoms, AHDRA II: Endure for the Cure, AHDRA III: Big River). Horses do NOT have to be Arab or Part-Arab for this Award; riders do NOT need to be AHDRA Members! This award is for anyone who meets the qualifications of the THREE rides and same horse/rider team! If you are competing on an Arab or half-Arab, you may want to consider joining AHDRA.
At each ride, there will be individual Jewels awarded. Individual Jewels may be won by anybody, regardless if they have been to previous AHDRA Rides (i.e., win the Jewel at AHDRA III, even if you were not able to come to AHDRA I, 1-1/2 and/or II).
Points are accrued based
on places and mileage. For scoring, all divisions in an event (age, weight, distance, event and breed) will be lumped
together. In increments of 25 miles, teams will receive 11 points for 1st place overall down to 2 points
for 10th place, and 1 point for every completion after that. Teams do not need to compete in the same
type of event at every ride. Endurance, LD, Comp (including Novice) and Driving will all be tallied in
the same manner. You need not register to let us know you are going for the Prize--we will know whether
or not you are eligible.
The winner will be announced
at AHDRA III: Big River. Have a great time competing with AHDRA!
The Harry McGlothlen Trophy began
in the year 1973, only one year after the American Endurance Ride Conference's (AERC) inception. From
1973 to 2008, 21 people and 25 horses have engraved their names into the plaques that are now filling
the trophy so much so that the next person who finds a new plaque may have to find a new trophy! This
trophy is given to the "First purebred Arabian gelding over the line" at one designated AHDRA ride
a year. This year, it will be awarded at the AHDRA III: Big River, 60 mile Endurance. So, who was
Harry McGlothlen?
In the early
20th century, the Arabian breeders in America, needing a way to promote their breed, challenged
the US Army to Cavalry Endance rides. They determined a distance and a minimum weight. More
about Arabs in the Army can be found on website
AHA's website. Harry McGlothlen,
while living in Vermont, was a competitor during the later years of these horse trials. Returning home
to Iowa, he wanted to continue his racing and the promotion of the breed through its "natural" activity
of Endurance and Competitive riding. Along with riding, he donated what we know as the Harry
McGlothlen Traveling Trophy, to a local Iowa ride. His criteria was this: 1.) That the trophy be given
to the "first Purebred Arabian gelding over the line"; and 2.) That should the trophy be won by the same
horse and rider three years in a row, it would find its permanent home with them.
It is not known for certain why McGlothlen chose the first "Purebred Arabian gelding", but it is believed
to be because he wanted to show a gelding's value. Many times, to keep the "best of the best", Arab
breeders sold many of their horse colts. Instead of being used for breeding and showing, McGlothlen
was proving the value of the gelding in Endurance and Competitive Riding. This trophy was later given
to AHDRA and we are proud to have it!
More information about the amazing
people and their wonderful horses is being saught after, found, and documented (and put on the website).
Soon, we hope to have information about everybody--and if not, we appeal to anybody who knows about them!
Here are the people and horses we currently know about! Louise Ridel and Caprison, 1973:
There have been two UMECRA horses
inducted into the AERC Hall of Fame, and Louise Riedel's "Capi" was one of them in 1980. Louise,
who has also been inducted to the Hall of Fame herself, always said that Capi was very persnickety. For instance,
on narrow trails, he would go increadibly slow to make the other horse(s) and rider(s) angry. As soon
as an area was open enough for the riders behind to pass, he would go so fast that the other horses
were unable to catch him! (We aren't sure, but it could have been Louise, as well!)
Bill Kean and Siram, 1974:
Not much is known about Bill
and Siram, but Siram was a grey horse, and had the chance to compete in the 1976 Bicentennial
Ride Across the Country. Bill used to ride some of Dr. Robert Beecher's horses--a man well known
by AHDRA, AERC, and FEI.
Bill Kean and Siram, 1975:
The first two-year reign!
Suzanne Morstad and Caliph, 1976:
Sorry, but the only thing we know
about Suzanne and Caliph is that she was a doctor, petite, and had red hair!
Sarah Davis and Juyan Blu, 1977:
Sarah bred all of her horses; she
only seemed to ride in lime green in her later riding years, and sometimes included the horse!
Guy Worthington and Garman, 1978:
When questioned about Garman,
Lori Windows (long-time member) said, "Garman? Who's Garman?? ... Oh, Killer!" Even
though Garman was known as Killer, it wasn't his registered name so it couldn't be put on the trophy.
Killer--so named because they got him right before he went to the kill-buyers (same as Alpo, Lori's
niece's future pony, who is still alove today at over 35!)--is said to have only allowed Guy to ride him.
At a ride in Palmyra with Bonnie Mielke, Michelle MacDonald, and Chuck Melcher, Guy asked Bonnie
if she thought her horse, Max, could check in 10 minutes (there used to be a rule where everybody
had to wait ten minutes before calling "check"--if you did not meet criteria, you had to wait an additional
ten minutes!). Bonnie thought Max could--they galloped into the last check, and had a 10 minute lead.
"Killer was VERY fast," Bonnie says, "but so was Max and I don't really remember who won the race
off. Back then we almost always raced."
Bonnie Kaufman and S.A. Maxzi, 1979:
You all know Bonnie now as
Mielke. This horse is considered to be Bonnie's first really good endurance horse. "He was
related to, and looked very much like, my horse Loki. He could really sprint and could trot a hole
through the wind, so we won a lot of rides, more than
half of his starts." Sadly, Max died in 1983 at the age of 13 of a ruptured intestine. Thanks for you
wonderful horse, Bonnie!
Bonnie Kaufman and S.A. Maxzi, 1980:
The second-second year reign!
In 1981, Max and Bonnie did the Kettle Moraine 100 (known to be a difficult 100) in 10 hours, and 20
minutes in deep mud to win the International Arabian Senior Championship.
Jan Worthington and Dan Yankee, 1981:
One race, Jan was riding Dan
Yankee in a Competitive ride. In a stream, a junior's horse got cut on garbage in the water and
began to bleed profusely. Jan ran Yankee into camp, got a vet, beat the vet back to the rider, and
went on to not only complete but also win the competitive ride!
Jan Worthington and Dan Yankee, 1982:
third second-reigning gelding and rider!
Jan Worthington and Dan Yankee, 1983:
The FIRST three-year reign!!
A big thank-you to Jan for keeping the trophy in circulation! This generosity has allowed the trophy
to gain history and continuing its journey! Unfortunately, Yankee died later that year.
Joey Mattingley and Czar Louis, 1984:
Lori met "Joey" the year before,
at about 12 years old. Riding with his mom, Grace Mattingley on C.L. Shurwell, Lori and a few others
decided to meet the riders at the finish line. Not far from the end, Lori and crew yelled to Joey to
race Grace--Shurwell was not only a purebred, but also Sweepstakes, whereas Louis (affectionately
known as "Screwy-Louis" was not. Joey raced and won, much to Grace's aggravation! Joey went on
to become the first UMECRA member to race abroad in the World Equestrian Games.
Wendy Mattingley and C.L. Shurwell, 1985:
Joey's sister went on to win the
trophy the following year--on the horse that was supposed to win the year before with Grace!
Brian Weaver and Rushcreek Kapper, 1986:
Sorry, we don't have anything!
Roberta Harms and Kass, 1987:
Roberta is well known in
the Endurance world, and has been involved in Endurance before AERC's beginning!
Tom Pickard and Brown-R Fad, 1988:
Tom and his wife were only in
the sport for a few years. When they left endurance, due to health reasons, they sold their horses
to rider JoAnne Gernant.
Herb Dolphin and Rasman, 1989:
To quote Lori, Dolphin was "The
most gorgeous man on a horse" (and that's saying a lot, considering she is in love with Kevin Costner
and Kris Kristofferson!) He was one of Jim "Nutsy" Leick's neighbors and probably knew our "Beer Horse".
Lori Windows and Galamon, 1990:
The "Beer Horse"! After watching
this horse, owned by friend Nutsy, continually fail at reaching this trophy year after year, Lori bought
him after learning Nutsy's training regime--his "idea" of conditioning was to ride to Petey's house
and have a beer; pick up Petey and ride to Herbie's and have a beer; pick up Herbie and head to
the local bar, and so fourth and so on. When Lori would ride Galamon at his old stomping grounds, he
would inevitably swerve down the road to Petey's, Herbie's, the bar, and so fourth and so on.
Lori Windows and Galamon, 1991:
The fourth two-year reign. The horse
was 20 years old!
Holly Engstrom and Galamon, 1992:
To ensure the continuance of the
trophy's travel, Lori had her step-daughter, Holly, ride Galamon to a win. While in camp, a restless
Benny (Lori's horse) kicked Holly, causing her to bleed the whole ride. A friend crewing yelled,
appalled that she was bleeding, and Lori yelled back "Throw a bucket of water on her!" When they
got off to run, blood spurted out of the leg, so she got back on. Doctor Hopper (the ride vet) sewed
her back up in the trailer after the ride. She had no broken bones, and probably has an amazing scar!
Lori Windows and Ibn Ben Bask, 1993:
This was the first year that the race
was a Sweepstakes race. When Lori was bringing the trophy to the ride, the refrigerator door in
the trailer opened and a beer can fell on top of the trophy, breaking the top piece. Deciding that
she didn't want to pay a fortune to send the trophy to Timbuktu, she decided to be the first person
with her name on the trophy with two different horses.
Bonnie Mielke and Pieraaz, 1994:
Lori says that Galamon should have
won the trophy yet again this year. There was a mailbox not far from the finish line that many a
rider had been hurt on. Lroi told her friend and Galamon's rider, Dr. Dee Crittendon, that Galamon
would not take her out on the mailbox and to take the inside corner in the race-off. Dee did not
take the inside corner--Bonnie and Pieraaz did and won, to which Lori said that Galamon probably
would not have beat Pieraaz anyway because they were so fast!
Lori Windows and Ibn Ben Bask, 1995:
For three loops, Lori rode with Jan Worthington
and Wendy Mattingley. At the third check, Benny didn't pulse down and was a few minutes behind the
other two. Bummed about not being able to win the trophy again, Jan and Wendy's crew told Lori
that the other two were entered in the FEI/Sweepstakes ride--not the UMECRA/AHDRA ride, and
therefore Lori won the trophy back.
1996:
An AHDRA ride was not held,
and therefore the trophy was not given out. There is a possibility it was because the former ride
location was unavailable and AHDRA did not know what to do that year. Does anybody know
what happened to Harry?
Lori Windows and Ibn Ben Bask, 1997:
The scrawny, random-white-spot,
son of the BASK does it again!
Elizabeth Whitcomb and Cherishably Taj, 1998:
Sorry, but nothing is known about these two!
Elizabeth Whitcomb and Cherishably Taj, 1999:
Sorry--don't know!
Holly A Fleming and Monongahela, 2000:
This race was at Comlara State
Park near Bloomington. It was so cold and rainy that even Lori (who loves Alaska and dog sledding)
couldn't stand it--"Gandie came in at a check and was literally frozen--literally." Way to Persevere, Holly!
Ian Muir and Chief, 2001:
Sorry, we don't know!
Michelle Mattingley and Blazing Saddles, 2002:
"Little Joey's" wife won the trophy
for the first time.
Michelle Mattingley and ENM Handsome, 2003:
The Sixth two-year reign! Race
was held at Panther Creek. Because the trails weren't open until noon, Michelle and Lori rode along
roads for 25 miles (2 loops). Their crew (Beecher--the owner of Handsome; John Engstrom--Lori's
husband; and another, name unknown) clocked the two horses and riders going about 23-24 mph.
During one of the loops, Beecher and the other man decided that if they could make John mess up
one more time for Lori, Michelle would win. John's reply? "That won't be hard to do, Beech!" Michelle
got ahead at the third check, but came in slightly lame so Lori's JA Bannarr got BC.
Myra Fleming and Victory Dance, 2004:
Sorry, we need something to add!
Joe Mattingley and S.A. Laribou, 2005:
After 21 years, "Joey" comes back
to win on Larry!
Joe Mattingley and S.A. Laribou, 2006:
The seventh two-year reign!
Maxine Bernsdorf and Lucas Bask, 2007:
Another great of Bask to grace
the Endurance world and the trophy's plaques. An out-of-area woman, Paula Kay, caught up to Max
and Linda Hamerick (who was riding Secret Agent) near the end. Wanting to keep the trophy in the
"Family" (UMECRA's), Linda graciously offered Paula first place lightweight if she would let Max come
in for first purebred. Thanks Linda--and Kay!
Lori Windows and JA Bannarr, 2008:
After riding sixty miles, Lori
brought home the trophy once again. It is the SIXTH time Lori is on this trophy. It is the THIRD
horse she has had on it--more than anyone else! On March 17th, 1999, Bannarr
had broken his leg and was said to never race again. On March 13th 2008, Lori broke her leg--four
days short of nine years after Bannarr broke his leg. Tom Gowar, who rode with Lori and Bannarr
on JG Saqr the whole way, had to be pulled at the end, but made sure Lori went for BC--and won!
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The Harry McGlothlen Traveling Trophy!
Updated on 12/10/2009