September 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2023 Page 11 By Suzanne Bush Endurance. For some, the word conjures up the fortitude required to achieve an extraordi- nary feat, such as running a mar- athon. For others, endurance is what was required of them during a root canal. For Holly Corcoran of Stroudsburg, PA, endurance is a hundred miles or so on horse- back, enjoying quality time with a superbly trained horse. Corcoran is a busy woman. Besides training for competi- tion, campaigning to compete internationally and running her accounting business, she was the ride manager for the Muckleratz Endurance Ride, which took place in July. That’s Muckleratz. Which is in the Weiser State Forest in Halifax, PA. “It’s Muckleratz Boy Scout Camp, where we stay,” Corcoran explains. “The ride has been in existence for about 20 years and we have managed it for the last four years.” But the name? That’s a story that goes a long way back in history. “There are various stories about the name,” Corcor- an says, laughing. Some say it’s an old Pennsylvania Dutch expression meaning the place is so quiet you could sleep as if you were a log. Others believe the place used to be a farm owned by a family named Muckle. It’s unclear what Farmer Muckle farmed, but legend says that there was a robust population of very large rats running around. People came from nearby towns just to see Farmer Muckle’s rats. Yes, well, the Muckleratz Endurance Ride—sans rats—was what Corcoran calls a test event, in preparation for a June 2024 event that will be held at Fair Hill in Maryland. “It was basically a test of the format and how we were setting up the team event,” she explains. “The location will be different. A true test event is usu- ally in the same place a year in ad- vance of the event, so you can test the venue. And this one was set up with the formal team procedures at Muckleratz to see how everything worked.” It’s a daunting task to organize this type of competition. Attracting competitors seems like the easiest part. It Takes a Village—and Several Vets The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), under which endurance rides are sanc- tioned, puts the responsibility of competitors and ride organizers succinctly. “In endurance riding, the equine and rider are a team, and the challenge is to complete the course with a horse that is ‘fit to continue.’” Horses are judged before the ride begins, to ensure they are fit to start. There are designated veterinarian checks during the competition, during which horses can be held for up to an hour, to ensure their metabolic New Northeast Endurance Organization Plans FEI Fair Hill Ride for 2024 (Continued on page 26)