Three Palms Arabians - News: Three Palms Arabians Has Luck of the Irish

Three Palms Arabians Competition Results

Three Palms Arabians Has Luck of the Irish

The Sand Hills Stampede 30/55 Mile Endurance Ride was held at the H. Cooper Black, Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area. This 7000 acre tract of land consisting of twenty miles of equestrian trails and sand road for riders is part of the Sand Hills State Forest located in Patrick, South Carolina. How fitting to conduct an endurance ride on St. Patrick's Day in a town named after the patron saint.

Three Palms Arabians had two horses, Citadel Batal (*Simeon Shai x Matrabbs Melody) and JF Ibn Serenada "Kacim" (*Ibn Safinaz x Ansata Serenada) competing in the Stampede.

Batal, a four year old bay straight Egyptian gelding, bred by Three Palms Arabians began his endurance training April 2006. The Sand Hills Stampede 30 would be his seventh outing.

Kacim, an eight year old grey straight Egyptian gelding, joined the Three Palms Arabians Endurance Team in October 2006 with no previous endurance experience. With two twenty-five mile rides to his credit, Kacim was ready to move on to bigger and better things. He would make his debut in the fifty-five mile ride at Sand Hills.

Gunnar Palm, owner and trainer of both horses, rode Kacim in the 55 mile ride. For the first two loops of the ride, Gunnar kept Kacim with the front runners. Around the fifty-one mile marker, Gunnar made the strategic decision to slow the pace in order to secure a top ten. In their first fifty-five mile ride, the team finished tenth in 5:21. Sixty-five horses started the ride and fifty-five finished.

Batal was ridden in the thirty mile ride by Michel Gauthier. Starting in the middle of the pack of fifty-eight horses, Michel was able to over take each rider one by one until he caught up with the leaders. The newly formed team finished second in 2:25.

For more information about the Three Palms Arabians' Endurance Team and Endurance Riding go to www.threepalmsarabians.com. Three Palms Arabians is located in Rembert, South Carolina.