Name:
Kathy Brunjes
Address:
AERC # 14563
Age: old enough
Profession: Medical Librarian,
Research and Reference
Years riding: since before
I was 10 (hah! no age disclosure here)
Miles in CTR: over 7,000 - First CTR
as junior rider (I'm still not falling for that age disclosure trap!) in
Miles in endurance: over 4,000 -
First endurance: 1993 at the
Family: one son (and I'm not giving
out his age - let's just say he's old enough,
too) and married to Tom Hutchinson
Regardless of popular belief, I did NOT marry Tom just to ride his horse (!). However…you will all notice that it is Prymtym that I’m riding at the NAEC this year. Sorry, Tom – you get him back next year.
Prymtym is an 8 year-old Asgard
Arabian gelding that Tom bought from Julie Bullock, DVM in 2001.
In fact, Julie delivered Prym to us during the 2001 PanAms in
As for me, this has been an
eventful year both personally and professionally:
Tom and I were (finally) married in March, and I became more involved
with the AERC-International Committee as well as my professional medical
librarian (national) organization. I had the privilege of crewing for Dinah
Rojek in
Rider: Meg Sleeper
AERC#:
6059
Sex: Female
Age: 37
Height: 5.5 (and a little)
Weight division: Lightweight
At what age did you start riding? When I was 11 years old.
When did you start endurance riding? My first CTR was in 1980 as a
junior, and my first endurance ride was in 1987 (the Liberty Bell in PA).
Miles: about 10,000 including CTR, 6000 endurance
Profession: veterinarian
Family: Husband- Dave Augustine
Horse: Syrocco Rime (a.k.a Rime)
Age:
9 yr
Breed: Arab
Height: A little over 14-3
Color: Grey
Sex: mare
Miles: about 1600 miles (CTR and Endurance)
over 1200 miles (endurance)
6 one day 100’s
Where did you get her?: I bred her. Rime competed in most of her early rides with my stallion, Syrocco Troubador (a.k.a. "Rock") because they are the same age. It appears to have given her "attitude" and she continues to boss him around almost mercilessly.
Quirks, endearing traits, strengths: Rime believes that she absolutely, always and without doubt, knows best! Dave has said it the best: "In Rime's mind, endurance is not a team sport...it is her sport. You just have to accept the fact that she is allowing you to share her glory and enjoy the ride".
How would you describe her if I were going to race her? The previous statement says it all, but another way to explain it is with her name: "Rime" is an Old English word meaning, among other things, "hoarfrost". She can be sweet, but sometimes she is just a wh...
Rider: Krista Alderdice
Age: 29
AERC mileage: 900
ECTRA mileage: over 3000
Profession: Horseback Riding Instructor
Married to my wonderful husband, Guy, for seven years, and have two beautiful
boys, Justin who is three and Jase who is 9 months. Reside in Jericho, Vermont
History:
Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved horses. I was fortunate enough to get
my first pony when I was seven, a Shetland pony named Shane. I must have been
bitten by the endurance bug then, as I took off in the canter leaving my poor
Dad (Jeff) in the dust (keeping in mind, my Dad rides maybe once a year).
My Mom (Melody) took me on my first competitive ride in 1988 and I was hooked.
My Mom and I have logged almost 7,000 ECTRA miles between us. My favorite CTR
ride is the GMHA 3-day 100, which I have completed seven times. We got into
endurance in 1999, after I was fortunate enough to ride for someone. It was the
GMHA 50 and I instantly enjoyed the fast paced atmosphere. A huge attraction to
the sport is the crew!! Before my Mom and I began riding endurance, my husband
and Dad had little to no involvement (other than being worker bees at home).
Over the past six years they've become a big part of the equation of my getting
on the USA East Squad this year. It's a nice bonding experience that we all
share together. Thanks Mom, Dad and Guy for getting me this far and looking
forward to NAEC!!
Horse History: Manyone Praise Song Furka
"Song", as he's affectionately known, is a true gem!! I'm so proud of
him and feel really blessed to have found a horse with such a big heart. Song is
a 17 year old registered Morgan gelding. I rode Song for his previous owner in
1997 at the GMHA CTR 50 and the GMHA 3-day 100. I promptly told my then fiance,
Guy, that I had to have this horse!! Needless to say, a big chunk of our wedding
money went to purchasing Song!! I describe Song as a "comfy couch", so
fun and uncomplicated. At rides, he is all business and gets the job done. At
home, he is a loner, he could care less if there is another horse within a 100
mile radius. Yet, he so loving to us, especially my son, Justin, who refers to
him as Wong. Over the years, he has had a very high completion rate in both CTR
and endurance. My proudest moment with Song was when we tied for 1st at the VT
100 in 2004 with Kathy Downs and Deb DeShone. To my competitor's surprise, I was
four months pregnant with my second son, Jase. I would have never raced on any
other horse but Song. Go Morgan Power!!!
Hello - My name is Sarah Hunt
Engsberg, I am 41 years old and I am a horse-aholic. There, I said it and
"they" say the first step to recovery is owning your addictions. Well,
I have been owning horses for years and just like the hangers in the closet,
they keep multiplying!
I was born in Charlottesville, VA, raised on the east coast
of North Carolina and educated at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. I
am recently semi-retired after 14 years as a farrier and am starting a new
career as an artist. I am learning silver and goldsmithing, beading, painting,
furniture making, and am launching a private label BBQ sauce. I have been
married to Towson Paul Engsberg for 18 years and have no children. I have 4200
recorded competition miles and 16 100 mile completions.
I started riding lessons at 6 years old, did the H/J circuit
during the teen years and early college and was introduced to my first Arabian
at college. He was a donation to the universities riding program, small (by
thoroughbred standards) and unbroken. He was too small to be any interest to the
leggy college girls and too quick for the kids lesson program. He promptly
dumped into the dirt every kid they put on him.. Since I was small and a good
rider, the task went to me to ride him. The only place he was happy was on the
trail so that's where we went for hours a day. I learned to love trail riding.
After graduating from college and moving to Atlanta, GA where I still live
today, he was given to me after a series of serendipitous events. He died this
spring at the age of 29.
My first introduction to endurance riding was when I happened
onto a copy of Karen Paulo's book, "America's Long Distance
Challenge." I read that book through and through and spent the next two
years "training" for an endurance ride. I could not imagine that I
could ever get a horse fit enough for this sport. Luckily in 1990 I met Betsy
Gilman and she knew just how to get me started. She took me to my first
endurance ride at Wesley Crowes Million Pines. (Let me clarify that I had the
truck and trailer and Betsy is very resourceful.) I entered the 25, finished it
very slowly and have never looked back. Angie McGhee coached us through our
first 50. Very scary leap but one day I finished a limited distance ride and
wanted to ride some more. By the way, Angie is dead on about the endurance
community, they are one of a kind and I love my endurance family.
I prefer pioneer rides (thank you James Barnett) and 100's.
The desire for 100's came from somewhere deep inside and I find them to be a
truly unique and fullfilling experience. I think every endurance rider should
give them a try. Thank you to Jan Worthington and Grace Ramsey for leading me to
my first 100 mile completion.
I have two horses other than Vanna that compete and a
yearling Anglo-arab out of Mary Lynne Johnsons Secretariat bred Thoroughbred
mare and by Gini and James Agnews Belisemo stallion that I am quite excited
about.
Riding for the USA-East at The North American Endurance
Championship is step 1 in a two part goal I set for myself several years ago.
Step 2 is to represent the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen,
Germany in 2006. I am excited to be a member of such an incredible squad and
USA-East is going to dominate! GO TEAM EAST!
Koweta Vanna Kaye is a grey Russian/Crabbet mare, 15 + hands, and, as a friend once commented, built like a brick (out) house. She was bred by Koweta Arabians and Denni Mack of Monticello, Georgia. She came to me as a 7 year old "give-away" labeled as unsuitable for the sport of endurance and a pasture rogue. I took her based on a photograph, her pedigree, her breeder and what I knew to be her potential. My plan was to condition and sell her to a good home but the more I rode and handled her, the more I fell in love. She is affectionate and loyal, beautiful and powerful, a fierce competitor and lovely to travel. She is all girl, hence the pink tack and accessories, prissy about her legs being touched, and chatty. She will talk you out of any food or affection you have. She has excelled in each division of the sport we have attempted. She really likes multi-days, getting stronger each day we go out. She is also the kind of horse we love for 100's. A voracious eater, she reluctantly leaves her vet check meals, but once on the trail, she is all business, strong and sound to the end. Now at 11, she is just maturing as an athlete. She has 1650 recorded miles and 8 100-mile completions. We are proud to represent USA-East squad at Fairhill this fall.