Endurance Introspection

"To Finish Is To Win"

Welcome to Endurance Introspection — a website for new, old, aspiring and contemplative endurance riders

About the Site

Authored by Patti Carey (formerly Patti Stedman), Endurance Introspection is a website for endurance riders, aspiring endurance riders and other sport horse enthusiasts interested in the cross-training aspect of endurance conditioning and training for horses. Patti’s vision for the website is to provide a place for endurance riding enthusiasts interested in the philosophies, training, conditioning strategies and life lessons learned during the act of enduring.

Patti is an AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference) endurance competitor/Ride Manager/former BoD member who truly embraces the sport’s motto of “To Finish Is To Win”.

About Patti

Patti was raised in rural Western New York. She started riding at the age of seven and eventually showing in various disciplines, until she discovered dressage (the art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility, and balance.) in her late teens. She attended Cornell University and received her BS in Animal Science.

While she taught and trained professionally for a few years, it became apparent that a career outside of horses allowed more financial security (and that wackily practical health insurance), so her love of teaching took her in the direction of occupational safety and environmental compliance. She owns two successful businesses, one providing live training and consulting, and the other providing web-based safety training.

Patti began to compete in endurance rides in the mid 1990s. A couple of decades and a few thousand miles of competition later, she has acted as a Ride Manager for the Allegany Shut Up and Ride and was formerly a member of the AERC Board of Directors, Ride Managers’ Committee, and Education Committee. She developed materials for and insurance coverage for AERC Endurance 101 Clinics and has taught dozens of clinics, and encourages others to do the same to give riders new to our sport the skills needed to succeed and a sense of community with other local endurance riders and mentors.

Her passion for sharing her sport led her to creating a web-based course for new and aspiring endurance riders, Endurance Essentials, which can be found at horselearningonline.com

Patti loves combining the disciplines of endurance and dressage, and observing and writing about the inside world of endurance riding competition. Patti currently lives in rural South Carolina, with her horses, dogs, cats and various vermin.

 

Header photo by Carien Schippers @imagequine

 

 

 

 

Are You On A Mentor Hunt?

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.   The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

Are You On A Mentor Hunt?

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.   The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

Are You On A Mentor Hunt?

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.  The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

Are You On A Mentor Hunt?

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.   The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

Are You On A Mentor Hunt?

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.   The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

Finding the Right Mentor(s)

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.   The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

Finding the Right Mentor(s)

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.   The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

Finding the Right Mentor(s)

AERC has a formal method for matching up new riders and mentors.   The Mentor Program lists, by region, individuals who have considerable experience in our sport and have reached out to the Education Committee or their Regional Director to volunteer to mentor new...

read more

High hopes for a 100 . . . fulfilled!

Reprinted from Endurance News, September 2005, monthly publication of the American Endurance Ride Conference, www.aerc.org, 866-271-2372 Vermont 100 – Done By Dawn a tale of determination, urination and hallucination After being pulled from Top of the Rock at 80...

read more

High hopes for a 100 . . . fulfilled!

Reprinted from Endurance News, September 2005, monthly publication of the American Endurance Ride Conference, www.aerc.org, 866-271-2372 Vermont 100 – Done By Dawn a tale of determination, urination and hallucination After being pulled from Top of the Rock at 80...

read more

Patti and Ned’s Luck Runs Out

Reprinted from Endurance News, August 2005, monthly publication of the American Endurance Ride Conference, www.aerc.org, 866-271-2372 Someone said it to me once, but I don’t recall who. Finishing a 100 is one third horse, one third rider, and one third luck. While I...

read more

Patti and Ned’s Luck Runs Out

Reprinted from Endurance News, August 2005, monthly publication of the American Endurance Ride Conference, www.aerc.org, 866-271-2372 Someone said it to me once, but I don’t recall who. Finishing a 100 is one third horse, one third rider, and one third luck. While I...

read more