What does it take to ride 20,000 endurance miles?

Belief. Patience. And the courage to ride your own path.

As part of our Year of the Horse spotlight, February celebrates the American Saddlebred — and in this episode, I sit down with lifelong Saddlebred horsewoman and endurance rider Shelah Wetter, owner of Blue Haven Stable.

Shelah has logged over 20,000 endurance miles aboard American Saddlebreds and was honored in 2025 as Sport Horse Owner and/or Breeder of the Year by the
American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association.

In this conversation we talk about:
• How she chose her endurance partner
• What makes a Saddlebred shine on the trail
• And how welcoming new riders strengthens the future of endurance

If you love strong partnerships and the long game — this one is for you!

Learn More:

• American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA): https://www.saddlebred.com

• Versatile Saddlebred Association (VERSA): https://www.saddlebredversa.org/

• Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA): https://www.equinedistanceriding.com

• American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC): https://www.aerc.org

WARHORSE Challenges

Head to https://warhorseendurance.com and sign up for a WARHORSE Endurance® Challenge. Whether you ride one mile or one hundred, you’ll be part of a supportive community that celebrates every step forward.

Join us on Facebook in WARHORSE Challenges.

🤍 Love the Podcast?

Free ways to support:
• Leave a positive review
• Share this episode
• Text it to a friend

Word of mouth keeps this podcast growing — and I truly appreciate you for helping us to grow on this journey.

This is Endurance Horse Podcast signing off for now —
Every mile a memory.

Endurance Horse Podcast is produced by Christina Hyke Photography, LLC, a WARHORSE Endurance® production.

Endurance Horse Podcast

 It started with a Valentine’s Day surprise. 

Years ago, Dennis Summers  surprised his wife Sue with a special Valentine’s Day gift, a Paint/Arabian cross — before the fence was even up on their property, Dennis tied the horse a tree while they finished preparing the property. That moment would become part of a lifelong journey with horses and eventually into endurance riding for both  Sue and Dennis Summers.

In this episode of Endurance Horse Podcast, we trace that journey — from an article in Western Horseman that sparked a deep curiosity about endurance, to competing at some of the top rides in the world, and eventually back to the grassroots level of growing and protecting the sport he loves.

Dennis is an international endurance rider, author of 4th Gear and The Long and Winding Road, and a founding member of the Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA). But more than titles or accolades, this is a story about partnership, perspective, and the horses that shape us.

Along the way, we talk about more than one special horse — including the one that truly inspired his most recent book. We talk about training, longevity, listening to the horse, and what matters after thousands of miles.

So sit down, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and enjoy this story as it unfolds around our virtual campfire.

Every mile a memory.

Dennis Summers books available on Kindle

Dennis is the author of:

• 4th Gear: Power Up Your Endurance Horse

• The Long and Winding Road

Both titles are available on Kindle through Amazon.

🌍 Learn More About EDRA

Dennis is a founding member of the Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA), an organization focused on horse welfare, education, and supporting endurance riders.

🔗 EDRA- Equine Distance Riding Association

Support this Podcast & Ride With Us WARHORSE ENDURANCE®

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be part of a supportive endurance community, we invite you to join us at:

🔗WARHORSE Challenges fb group

🔗  https://warhorseendurance.com

Log miles. Share stories. Encourage one another.

You can also join our WARHORSE ENDURANCE® Facebook community and connect with riders from around the world who believe in honoring the horse, the journey, and the miles in between.  Your participation in our virtual challenges helps keep this community growing.

This podcast is a Christina Hyke Photography, LLC & WARHORSE ENDURANCE® production 

THIS IS ENDURANCE HORSE PODCAST SIGNING OFF FOR NOW — Every mile a memory.

A Decade Team and Three Tevis Completions: JayaMae Kaur & Foxfire’s Little Britches

What happens when a rider from the hunter-jumper and Warmblood world heads out on her first endurance ride and quickly learns that endurance has a sense of humor of its own?

In this episode of Endurance Horse Podcast, host Christina Hyke sits down with JayaMae Kaur for a fun, honest, and heartfelt conversation that includes plenty of laughter, learning, and long miles.

JayaMae shares her journey from hunter jumpers to trails and endurance, exchanging Warmbloods for a remarkable Missouri Fox Trotter mare who became her decade team horse and carried her to three Tevis buckles. She reflects on what surprised her most at her very first endurance ride, what she learned along the way, and why that experience made her stick with the sport.

Beyond riding, JayaMae also brings an important ride-manager perspective, sharing the deeply meaningful reason she became involved in managing a memorial ride. We talk about the heart behind the Kristina Chesterman Memorial Ride, the importance of community fundraising, and how endurance riders can support education, remembrance, and one another.

This episode is part of our Year of the Horse series, highlighting different breeds and the riders who love them — and reminding us that every breed has a place and can achieve great things at any distance.

Expect laughter, honest stories, and a whole lot of heart.

🔗 Links & Resources

JayaMae Kaur – Lightfoot Horse Farm
🌐 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AYAtDHFBF/

Support Endurance Horse Podcast & Learn More
🌐 https://warhorseendurance.com

Join the WARHORSE Challenges Community
📘 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1C6Fdc1TBJ/

Thank you for listening to Endurance Horse Podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive review, sharing it with a friend, or supporting the podcast by joining one of our WARHORSE Endurance challenges.

Endurance Horse Podcast is a production of Christina Hyke Photography, LLC, and WARHORSE Endurance®.

THIS IS ENDURANCE HORSE PODCAST SIGNING OFF FOR NOW — Every mile a memory.

Decade Team Wisdom: Dr. Ashley Sansome, DVM, MPVM & Her Missouri Fox Trotter Barney’s Single Shot

(click the image above to go to free online journal-will need a login)

What does it really take to go the distance in endurance—especially with a non-traditional breed?

In this upbeat and encouraging episode of Endurance Horse Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Ashley Sansome, DVM, MPVM,  as she shares with us about her AERC Decade Team partner, Missouri Fox Trotter gelding Barney’s Single Shot. Together, they share a story rooted in patience, partnership, and showing up year after year.

We talk about finding horses, discovering endurance, and what made Ashley stick with the sport for the long haul. Ashley also offers practical insight into conditioning a heavier-muscled horse, managing heat and muscle recovery, and adapting expectations when your endurance partner doesn’t fit the “traditional” mold.

Sprinkled throughout the conversation is sage, real-life advice about saddling up again after 50, listening to your body, and giving yourself permission to ride smart—not fast.

We’re also celebrating The Year of the Horse by giving away a free online Year of the Horse journal, and yes—we made a few “oops” along the way and left them in, because that’s real life and real horsemanship.

If you’re riding a gaited horse, a stocky horse, a comeback horse—or you’re a comeback rider yourself—this episode is for you.

Our gift to you to celebrate the Year of the Horse, a free online journal that helps you keep track of your year with your horse, simply follow this link and create a log in!   yearofthehorse.warhorseenduranc.com

🎧 Endurance Horse Podcast™ – Episode 71
✨ Virginia City 100 with Tami Rougrau
🎙 Hosted by Christina Hyke of WARHORSE Endurance™

In this heartfelt 71st episode of the Endurance Horse Podcast™, we head to the wild beauty of Nevada to visit with Tami Rougrau, ride manager of the legendary Virginia City 100.

Tami shares her deep love for the trail, her horses, and the endurance community, along with fun behind-the-scenes stories (yes—her chickens often chime in!) and insight into what it takes to keep a 100-mile tradition going strong. We talk about the spirit of endurance riding, the magic of the Virginia City 100 trail, and the dedicated team behind it all, NASTR.

We take time to highlight NASTR—Nevada All-State Trail Riders—a phenomenal organization that plays a critical role in trail preservation, mentoring new distance riders, and keeping the future of our sport alive. If you're looking for a club that blends heart, history, and boots-on-the-ground trail work, NASTR is worth joining and supporting.   

💛 You’re invited to ride with us!
Whether you’re in Nevada or riding from afar, you can be part of the legacy by joining the Virtual Virginia City 100 Challenge through WARHORSE Endurance™.

🐎 Ride your miles at your own pace.
📬 Receive your award packet of buckle, patch, sticker and metal sign. 
🏆 Celebrate your journey with our community online

👉 Sign up here: Sign up for the VIRGINIA CITY 100 Challenge
👉 Learn more about NASTR: Nevada All-State Trail Riders

Join the conversation, share your ride stories, and be part of a movement that honors the old trails, welcomes new riders, and makes every mile a memory.

🎉 Connect with us:
📱 Facebook Group: WARHORSE Challenges™
🌐 Website: www.warhorseendurance.com
🎧 Subscribe to Endurance Horse Podcast never miss an episode.  If you enjoyed the podcast we would appreciate it if you'd share with a friends & leave a kind review if we inspired you today.

 

"Welcome back to the Endurance Horse Podcast! In our last episode, we heard from endurance rider and dedicated volunteer Jennifer Shooshanian, and today, we’re shifting gears to explore another incredible equestrian story. We’re excited to introduce David Silver, the founder of Detroit Horse Power, a nonprofit bringing the life-changing power of horses to urban youth in Detroit. David’s mission is to provide kids with opportunities to develop confidence, perseverance, and leadership through horsemanship—proving that horses have an impact far beyond the trails. Get ready for an inspiring conversation about how horses are making a difference in places you might not expect. Let’s dive in!"

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Endurance Horse Podcast! I’m your host, Christina Hyke, and today, we’re diving into an inspiring story from the Michigan ride, the Metropark Express—also known as Detroit Horse Power, named in honor of the charity tied to this event.

In this episode, I’ll be talking with Jennifer Shoshanian, who helped bring this ride to life, and in a follow up episode we will then be talking with with  founder of Detroit Horse Power, David Silver.  We recorded close to the event date, so while I couldn’t share it with you before it took place, I’m thrilled to bring it to you now. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to add this one to your ride calendar for next season!

So, without further ado, let’s jump into this episode of Endurance Horse Podcast.

 

Gathering Painted Ponies with Maribel Paulson.

Encourage.   Inspire.  Celebrate. 

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Maribel Paulson, a seasoned endurance rider with over 40 years of experience and the current Chair of the AERC Junior & Young Rider Committee. Maribel is on a mission to build a vibrant community for young riders, actively creating events and outreach programs to encourage current horse owners to explore the exhilarating world of endurance riding.

In this episode, we dive into Maribel's efforts to raise awareness and support for the Young Riders Committee through creative fundraising initiatives, including a call for donations of the beloved Painted Ponies collection for raffles and awards. We also discuss the concerning trend of declining horse ownership and what it means for the future of our sport.

Tune in to hear Maribel's insights and discover how we can all contribute to nurturing the next generation of endurance riders!

  Welcome to episode 67 of the Endurance Horse Podcast, host Christina Hyke talks with Scot MacGregor, the coach and trainer of Pam Reband. Scot played a crucial role in helping Pam overcome her fear and regain her confidence to return to endurance riding. He shares insights into the strategies and training methods he used to support Pam's journey back into the sport. The episode shares how a supportive coach can make a significant difference. Scot's expertise and dedication highlight the importance of personalized coaching in achieving endurance riding success. If you would like to support Endurance Horse Podcast please visit  www.warhorsenedurance.com to join one of our challenges.  Also, like, share and subscribe if you like the podcast!  If you LOVE it please leave a positive and kind review. 

In this exciting episode of the Endurance Horse Podcast, we sit down with author Pamela Reband to discuss her incredible 2024 Tevis Cup journey. Pam shares her motivations, challenges, and the passion that drives her to compete in one of the most prestigious endurance rides in the world. This episode is part one of a two-part series that dives deep into her inspiring story. Stay tuned for part two, where we will interview Pam's trainer, Scot McGregor. Scot will reveal his process for helping Pam regain her confidence and courage to get back on her horse after a traumatic accident. If you enjoy this episode, please consider supporting the podcast by joining one of our Warhorse Endurance Challenges at www.warhorseendurance.com. Your support helps us continue to bring inspiring stories and valuable insights from the endurance riding community.  You can buy Pam's book on amazon by clicking this link: "Three Steps Up To Mediocrity" - by Pamela Reband, M.D. 

Episode 65  Welcomes the ride managers of Trade River Run in beautiful Cushing, Wisconsin.   Ride Managers Lindsay Nichols and Bobbi Belz talk about becoming a RM and the details of their event.  You can see their ride flyers at this link: Trade River Run  Trade River Run is a multi sanctioned event sanctioned by AERC, UMECRA, MnDRA and DRAW.  The trails are said to be soft and barefoot friendly with great views of the river.  Many sponsors equals great awards at this event.  Sponsors include: Hay Chix, US Rider, Endurance Horse Podcast, Cashel, Distance Depot and more!   Check out their ride flyer linked above!