Endurance Introspection
"To Finish Is To Win"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
Two-for-one emergency vet call (6/8/10)
A little back story here … About a year and a half ago, my dear friend Kathy Calanni discovered that she had cancer. She was terribly ill and having difficulty taking care of her four horses, so friends (who lived closer to her) were doing their best to stop over and...
Busy several days! (6/15/10)
Hello, hello! <knocking> Is anyone out there? The last few days have been crazy busy and I’ve neglected posting. Ace’s eyelid is finally starting to look less traumatized. My vet told me to keep riding him, so that’s what I’m doing. I decided to take Ned out for...
Speed bumps along the best-laid path (6/18/10)
Yesterday, after two days of being out of town for work, I decided I’d take my bike solo and head to the Clarence Bike Path. Stopped to pick up a tube repair kit, a little bag for my keys and cell phone, and a portable pump. I didn’t have the requisite tools so (yes,...
After almost 14 years of marriage … (6/19/10)
… I’ve come to the conclusion that it is my role to break things for my husband to fix.
Love, Hate and Hay (6/20/10)
I’m the first to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with hay. I love the fact that it smells so good, and the sound of my horses munching on it, particularly on a cold winter’s night. I hate the fact that I’m allergic to the stuff, and that when I handle it, I...
Getting those familiar old butterflies … (6/22/10)
… like I always do when I’m prepping for a 100. This morning I was wide awake at 4 a.m., making mental lists and thinking of the dozens of things I have to do before and during that ride. I believe firmly that the difference between riding 50 miles and riding 100...
One week until the Canadian 100!
I love it when a plan comes together … And so far, so good. Yesterday did a 3 or 4 fast, hilly heat acclimation ride on both boys. This involved tacking up when it was muggy and hot, then going as fast as we needed to go (and then some) to stay ahead of the...
Errand-running day …
… for various items needed for next week. Gatorade jelly beans, and electrolyte tablets and glowsticks and such. And wine, of course. For AFTER the ride. Was tempted to buy champagne but thought it might jinx us. The biggest news, however, is the weather, which is...
Myofascial Release Day
For years now, my horses and I have been getting myofascial release treatments from Doris Halstead, who wrote the book Symmetry in Motion and has also written Release the Potential and released a DVD. Lucky for us, Doris has been a local gal, a physical therapist who...
Inaugural post on my website — how exciting! (5/13/10)
My plan is to excavate old blog posts and cut and paste them here for posterity’s sake, but am excited to post on my own blog on my own website. Next stop, Oprah! It has been an exciting spring for us. I am presently staring down a rapidly slowing work schedule for...
Decade Team — Ned and I have arrived! (5/27/10)
The ride itself was much like the decade we’ve competed together. Moments of ups, downs, pride, embarrassment, laughter, impatience, disheartenment and renewal. My friend Joanie, a complete non-horsey type, decided going to Canada with me sound like “an adventure” so...
GMHA 100 3 Day CTR / 2009
Hit the road at 4:20 a.m. on Wednesday after a mostly sleepless night. Rich got up with me and fed the boys while I showered AND he found me some cash (forgot to stop at the bank) so all I had to do was load Ace and go. Despite some road work, I got to my client’s...