Three Palms Arabians Endurance Team Opens Season in Florida
It was an unusually hot and humid January weekend for the Gator Run I, II, & III Pioneer Endurance Ride at Goethe State Forest in Dunnellon, Florida.
Gunnar Palm of Three Palms Arabians had made the trip with his two endurance hopefuls, Citadel Batal (*Simeon Shai x Matrabbs Melody) and JF Ibn Serenada (*Ibn Safinaz x Ansata Serenada) better known as "Kacim". Both are of straight Egyptian bloodlines.
Batal is a four year old bay gelding that was bred by Three Palms Arabians. He has been under saddle for only nine months and has already competed in six limited distance rides.
Kacim is an eight year old grey gelding who was recently purchased from owner and breeder Jennifer Faga, DVM of Beshraka Egyptian Stud in Scarsdale, New York.
Gunnar chose the Gator Run because it was a multi day ride and was early in the 2007 season. It also offered a new and different set of challenges for the horses because of the heat and humidity. The terrain was sandy and about ten percent of the Gator II trail was through water two to three feet deep.
On ride day, Batal was calm in the chaos of the start and ran with the leaders for the first eight miles, before Gunnar began to work him at an extended trot.
Batal's overall progress is good for such a young and inexperienced horse. Gunnar's goal is to increase his conditioning to improve his stamina for the longer distance rides.
Batal finished the 25 mile ride in 15th place. There were 36 riders competing in the ride.
Gator Run III, which took place on Saturday, was Kacim's initiation into the sport of endurance riding. Never having raced Kacim, Gunnar was uncertain as to what his reaction would be to the multitude of horses gathered at the starting point.
The big, leggy gelding was a little energetic at the start so they ran with the leaders to burn off some of his energy.
From his conditioning workouts, Gunnar knew that Kacim had a remarkable extended trot, which is the gait he used to complete the first loop.
Kacim drank well along the trail, pulsed down quickly at the vet checks and ate well while in camp; three very important things that a good endurance horse should do.
Kacim finished the 25 mile ride with a phenomenal time of 2:21 in eleventh place missing a Top Ten by only one second. There were 51 riders competing. This was a very respectable showing for a horse with less than two months training.
Gunnar is extremely pleased with the newest addition to the Three Palms Arabians Endurance Team. Kacim has a very promising future as an endurance contender. All that is needed is a little more muscle and stamina.
For more information about the Three Palms Arabians' Endurance Team and Endurance Riding please click around the web site. Three Palms Arabians is located in Rembert, South Carolina.
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