September 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2023 Page 41 Holly McLaren on Cookie, a Crillo/QH mix. Holly was the team captain for the Horsing Around team that won the 30 mile gold team medal at Muckleratz. Photo by Paige Beiler New Northeast Endurance Organization Plans FEI Fair Hill Ride for 2024 event and the Fair Hill event. “Muckleratz we set up truly as an educational event and putting everybody on the same playing field. Each team had to have a be- ginner rider which was defined as an adult with less than 1,000 miles of competition, a young rider or a junior on their team. So out of the four member teams one of them had to be one of those people. We hoped that the team would mentor the inexperienced riders and the captain on the 50-mile teams, would mentor the entire team.” Corcoran’s organization, USANortheast Endurance, Inc. (usaneenduranceinc.org ) is a newly-formed 501(c)3, set up to support endurance horses and athletes in the region, and to sponsor events such as the June 20-23, 2024 Fair Hill endurance competition. “It’s going to be set up as a two-day event—we’re still working on the details—with the idea that limited distance 25-mile and 50-mile rides will take place on one day with individuals and teams. The second day we’ll have 65, 75 and 100-mile distances.” She says the second day will be Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) as well as AERC sanctioned. “Between now and the end of September we’re sending out a sponsor and vendor packet. We’re hoping to have up to ten vendors and then we want to have the platinum, gold, silver, bronze sponsors of the event because we’re really hoping to make this a big event,” she says. “The ven- dors would be there for shopping, but also contributing awards and so forth. And that’s for the 2024 event. We’re getting this out in advance, so potential vendors have time to make decisions.” Unlike the July event at Muckleratz, there will be teams of five at Fair Hill. “And they won’t have the limitation of having to include a beginner rider. You can create your own dream team, and it’s a big competitive event, but for the higher miles we’re going to have some qualifications to make sure that people—and horses—are prepared for the event.” She says she and her fellow officers at USA Northeast En- durance, Inc., Holly McDonald, Steven Hay, Mary Howell and Heather Hoynes, are focused on the Fair Hill event, and ensuring it’s as big a success as the Muck- leratz ride. From the Show Ring to the Trails Endurance riding has turned out to be the Holy Grail for Corcoran. “I got started in endurance in 2003, coming out of the show ring. My preference was being on the trail. In 2008 I made the goal of riding internation- ally. In 2009, I lost my son and endurance really gave back to me a huge gift, because it supported me mentally and physically and emotionally. Interestingly at that time, not a lot of people knew me in the international endurance world, and I didn’t share it very much. And I would go to the rides and I would just be a nor- mal person and I didn’t have this elephant in the room and I could just pretend that everything was normal for a little bit.” Although her horses are in light work now, Corcoran is looking ahead to a busy season. “The next training ride will be in September. The Hector Half Hundred in Hector, NY. This year, sadly, the Vermont 100 was wiped out because of flooding. That was going to be one of our team rides. So, we’re hoping that Hector might pick up the next informal team event. “I think I have to ride for my own sanity. I’m just really lucky because I’m self-employed and I have flexibility. So if I choose to put my efforts in this direction for a time period, I can work later or start earlier, so I’m very fortu- nate.” (Continued from page 26)