Team 19 - Mischief *

My name is Katja, and I currently reside in Omaha. This is Duncan's and my second year in the Distance Derby and my second year riding. My goal was 365 miles for 2013, but Duncan was diagnosed with navicular disease in April of 2013 (at his young age of 6), and he he got to take a break from riding for a while. However, with the help of an amazing farrier and wonderful vet, we were able to make it through over 200 miles of riding last year nonetheless, and he is doing great! I am also very grateful for all the new people we met and friends we made this past year on the trails--I totally got hooked to trail riding!!! Our goal for 2014 will be 365 miles again. See you all on the trails!

2013 / 226.46 Miles / 57th Place

Team 16 - Rosebud

My name is Arlyce Thompson-Krug and I recently purchased Mary Mels Rosebud from Dwight and Mary Hanson.  "Rosie" is a gaited Morgan and has so much to teach me!  Since I have not ridden very much in the past year, I will set a goal of 200 miles for this year.  If I surpass that, well, I would be very happy!!

Team 15 - Purple **

My name is Christine Shenefield. I live in South Western Iowa. I have 4 fantastic equine! My GO-GO-GO mule TAZ ~18 years old, two Saddlebred mares Bling & Brooklyn ~both are 12 years old and Sky~ a 5 year old, grade Arabian.

This will be my second year in the Distance Derby. Had a blast participating in it this last year, riding like a crazy woman!! I have NEVER ridden so much in my life!

Do not know what 2013 will bring, hoping GOOD things! 2012 & the Distance Derby has been one 'great' year! It was so much fun riding with friends and watching everybody meet their riding goals. I have many wonderful memories & new friendships because of the Distance Derby.

One of my favorite things about the Distance Derby is that it is simple, fun riding. No competition or traveling cost necessary. Ride when ever, where ever, alone or with your friends.

Reach for the stars my friends and RIDE ON! 

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2012 / 2110.4 Miles / 2nd Place
2013 /  819.50 Miles / 21st Place

Team 6 - G Force

My name is Annette Griffin and I live in the great state of Texas.  This year I will be introducing my Spotted Draft, Tally, to the sport of Competitive Trail Riding so miles, miles and more miles are in order!  But of course I will always choose Ginger when I need a perfect ride or Bella when I am looking for my Painted Pony fix this year.  I can't wait to see where the girls and I find ourselves in 2014.

Team 14 - Messick **

I’m Brenda Messick. I live north of Lincoln, NE.  This is my 3rd year in the derby.  I’ll be riding 2 Rushcreek mares, Rushcreek Allie and Rushcreek Bonita, in CTR’s and Endurance, pictured above with Rushcreek Frontier, my 3 year old prospect.  I'll be trail riding with 1 or 2 QH geldings.  I hope to compete in my first 50 mile Endurance ride this year, and may set a goal for a 75 or 100!  My horses are featured on my Messick Performance and Endurance Horses Facebook page. You are welcome to visit the page and see what mares and foals, as well as the horses that I have for sale!

I’m breeding and raising Rushcreek bred Arabians for Trail Riding or Endurance.  This year, I’ll have 5 or 6 Arabian foals.  If you are looking for a trail or endurance prospect, I may have your next horse! I also have a few young QH’s that I’ll be starting.

I’m a Centered Riding Level 1 Instructor.  I teach riding lessons, with a focus on Centered Riding Techniques. I’ve had a few Western Dressage lessons, and hope to add more lessons this year.  Last year, I was able to ride in a Buck Brannaman clinic, and this year, I hope to focus on more of that style of riding clinics.  My focus with the horses this year will be about more quality time with them.

I write about my riding, training, grandchildren, and life around here on my blog, Horses Are Our Lives. I have a Horses Are Our Lives chat group where I talk about riding and training tips, horse health, books and other current topics. Come join in the discussion!


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2012 / 1351.07 Miles / 3rd Place 
2013 / 1610.21 Miles / 1ST PLACE

Team 13 - Taylor **

I'm Cheryl Taylor from Nebraska.  I like to set goals for my life and riding.  It helps me stay accountable plus its fun to compare how the hours and miles add up with the different horses in the months and years.  This will be my third year competing in the Distance Derby.  In 2012 we logged 851.3 miles and finished in 12th place.  That was quite an education.  In 2013 I will make the Millenium Club!  What's in store for 2014?

I will be splitting my time between the two paint mares pictured and a dun quarter horse.  Dakota has been my primary trail mount for the last four years.  She is the black and white, blue eyed beauty.  Maybe, the little dun stepped up to the plate in 2013.  Boon N Jane was added to my string in 2013 and I plan to have more miles on her in 2014!  this tracking miles is interesting, but my style of riding is really better suited to tracking hours so I keep track of both!

Enjoying the journey!

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2012 / 851.3 Miles / 12th Place
2013 / 1001.58 Miles / 13th Place

Team 11 - Blue's Clues **

My name is Jamie, I live south of Lincoln, Nebraska and have been with this program since the start. Married with 2 kids, finding the time to ride can be a challenge... especially since getting diagnosed with MS 8 years ago and needing to rely on outside help more and more. 

The first member of my team is Clue, who's 21 and I've owned since he was 3.  I've done everything with him from jumping and dressage to moving cattle and showing 4H and open shows... and now pretty much just trail riding.

I got the other member of my team, Cherokee, as a weanling 14 years ago about this time of year (January/February) for my yet unborn daughter. He hasn't been as trained as Clue, but he's a great trail horse.

Last year, Cherokee was still learning to drive, and failed miserably, so the 3rd member of my team is Midnight, a mini/shetland I'd got for my son and had broke to drive last year (my other passion, as I've 'spent some hours' driving draft teams in college and in a couple of my jobs).  Fairly comical, in my opinion, to go from dreaming of owning shires, etc, to owning and driving a mini... though her and her equipment's a lot easier to manage - and cheaper!

I still doubt I'll be logging a lot of miles, but have some hope as long as my daughter (Team Silver Spur) is as excited about doing this as she says.    Looking very much forward to logging some more miles!!

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2012 / 200.2 Miles / 43rd Place
2013 / 78.20 Miles / 74th Place

Team 12 - Range Rider

I'm Mark Taylor from Nebraska.  I have watched my wife Cheryl participate in the Distance Derby the last two years.  I decided to join in the fun for 2014! 

I ride the young horses and my bridle horse The Stormy Kid.  Stormy is a red dun QH gelding we raised and trained.  I will also be putting miles on a 3 year old paint mare, Tia and starting two 2 year olds. 

Looking forward to the ride!

Team 10 - Half Assed **

Mule & Mare Rider. Trail rider, Natural Horsemanship enthusiast, and have been dabbling in driving a cart.  I love to ride to see what's around the next corner or over the next hill.

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2012 / 1301.88 Miles / 5th Place
2013 / 882.00 miles / 17th place

Team 9 - Kaboom **

What a great idea!  My name is Tammy and I live just outside of Portland Oregon.  My husband and I have 5 horses; two are retired, 1 is young and in training, the other 2 are our riding horses.  My horse is Boomer,  a 9 year old Paint.  He is actually more like a 1200 pound dog.  He is a great partner and makes me laugh most days.

I am enrolling in the Derby to help me get out there and ride on those days I am feeling a bit lazy.  We trail ride often in the summer, but are stuck in the arena in the winter.  I will log those miles,  too, and think it will be very interesting!

Happy trails to all.

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2012 / 300.92 Miles / 36th Place
2013 / 154.25 miles / 65 place

Team 7 - Shoofly **

This is my third year to participate in the Distance Derby.  I set personal goals, but "winning the race" is never one of them.  As a trail rider who enjoys gazing at nature and stopping to look closer at wildflowers and pretty rocks I don't travel fast enough to be a competitor here, but I do enjoy tracking my miles, as well as my hours and speed.  Tracking my rides with a GPS is such a habit now I would feel cheated to come to the end of a ride without any stats to view!

Our horses are Jake (22yo palomino QH gelding), Cooper (18yo gray QH gelding), and Bravo (coming 4yo green-broke Morgan gelding).  Adding a youngster to our herd has been fun, it makes for a different type of ride and new challenges.  As always, my 2014 goal includes visiting new trails and seeing new places and new fauna and flora, and meeting fellow trail riders.  

Happy trails to us all!  


Sheila Christiansen
Northern California

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2012 / 470.4 Miles / 24th Place
2013 / 400.86 miles / 45th place

Team 5 - Cindy **

A country girl born and raised in the city, I always dreamed of living in the country and owning my own horses. That dream was realized 7 years ago when my dad bought me my first horse. His health was failing and he wanted to see my dream realized before he left this earth. I was no longer a little girl, but a married woman with four kids! Rarely doing things for myself, he wanted me to finally realize that dream.  My older 3 kids were teenagers or married. Busy lives of their own. My youngest , Sierra, was 8. So in order to get time on my horse, I bought her a older horse to learn to ride on also.  We spent many hours playing with and riding our horses together. Couldn't think of a better way to spend time with my little girl. And thus the passion I had for horses soon became hers as well.  We dabbled in 4H, and she soon caught the show bug. As Sierra grew in her horsemanship I felt more confident in buying her a show horse. Now we enjoy a 4H club, and she shows at local and state level. 

After show season winds down in the fall, I get to enjoy my time on the trails with friends. I've come to realize horses are my rest. When I am riding, all the stressors of life seem to go to another place. I love the quietness of the barn when I am feeding. The sighs and snorts coming from their stalls. And of course the smell of their coats! I am now living my dream in the country with my own small herd of 3 horses.

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2012 / 307.7 Miles / 33rd Place
2013 / 221.34 miles / 58th place

Team 4 - MacKeogh **

Hi

Terri Mackeogh here, embarking on my third year of Distance Derby participation.

Year one:  Bounced me out of my comfort zone and my young Arabian cross and I made leaps and bounds, from barely being comfortable loping circles in a pasture to logging over 20 miles at a shot. You just can't get enough miles loping circles! Didn't bust a 1000 but logged over 800 miles finishing just out of the top ten.

Year two: The least amount of miles ridden since my return to horses in the early 90's after taking time off for marriage, kids, that kind of thing. It was the year of choices and balance. No regrets. Just over 400 miles this year.

Year three: About to unfold in front of us! My goals: Narrow my priorities to allow more time for the things I have learned I truly care about! The Derby has helped strengthen old friendships and created new ones. I want to ride with you guys! Royal . . . he and I have had our share of challenges and more lie before us. I have incredible tools at my disposal . . . Riding with Peter Campbell, the wisdom and encouragement my fellow students provide, and the absolute bottom line. Butt in saddle time! Come on 2014 and thanks to the people who kicked this thing off and keep it going for all of us to play and enjoy!


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2012 / 836.02 Miles / 13th Place
2013 / 441.22 miles / 41st place

Team 3 - Vallery **

Hi.  My name is Jessica Vallery and I am a 2012 Distance Derby Competitor.  I have one horse who's name is Cutter and we do just about everything.  I've done one CTR and several Trail Challenges and competitions.  Cutter is pretty much a jack of all trades you could say, but our favorite activity is just trail riding with friends and enjoying the country side on horse back.

In my other life I am married to a farmer/rancher and have two boys who really don't have much to do with the horses.  It's pretty much my thing.  I hope to meet up on the trails with a lot of you this year!  This is my third year in the Distance Derby.

Happy Trails!!

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2012 / 1071.73 Miles / 9th Place
2013 /  539.34 miles / 33rd place

Team 2 - Awesome Haily **

This will be Haily’s and my 3rd year in the Derby, sure hoping this will be our year to finally really hit the trails. Sometime only having one horse can be challenging especially when you have health issue with your horse. She is my heart horse so worth all the tears, dollars and missed rides. Goal for this year is 7 new places to ride and 980 miles, with 400 of those miles in AERC Endurance and MOTDRA CTR.

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2012 / 668 miles / 19th place
2013 / 400.22 miles / 46th place