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2026 Old Selam Day 1: Riding with my Hero! - Merri Melde



September 4 2026
by Merri Melde

September 4 2026

I’d planned to ride Willie on all 3 days of LDs at the Old Selam Pioneer ride. It’s still one of mine and Willie’s favorite rides ever, in the Boise National Forest, on fabulous trails of rolling soft logging roads.

We didn’t train *super* hard ahead of time, but Willie was plenty fit enough for LDs, and we’d have fun riding all 3 days. Horses get better and stronger on the third day in a row, right?

After I vetted in on Thursday for Day 1, my Endurance mentor/hero Suzy Hayes, said, “Don’t you want to ride the 50 on Day 1 with me and Tru? We won’t be going fast and we won’t be going slow.”

First I laughed. Willie and I got our 50 in for the year at City of Rocks. But once it got in my head, it didn’t go away. I’ve never ever gotten to ride with Suzy and finally after all these years, here was the opportunity! This is Suzy Hayes, you know, over 28,000 miles, with one horse in the Hall of Fame in 2011, Kootenai Zizzero, and Pard’ners Award with the same horse in 2007, winner of the Big Horn 100 in 2020 just six weeks after a horse wreck where she broke 10 ribs, fractured two vertebrae, punctured a lung and lacerated her liver, and spent five days in the ICU and 10 more days in the hospital. Yes, that Suzy Hayes! Didn’t take me long to change my mind and my plans, and I told Willie about it, and he was all in. (After an extra bucket of carrots.)

The rather unusual forecast for Old Selam this year was so thrilling, cooler weather and chances of rain!

I don’t like saddling up in the rain - it rained at night - but I didn’t have to. The rain let up when I woke early to get ready, and we carried rain jackets for the ride.

Trail for the 50s opened at 7 AM, and Suzy and I let everyone go ahead of us. Tru is a rescue horse for Suzy, and she’s bringing him along carefully. There’s always something to learn, from each other, and Suzy and Tru are still in this phase. He wasn’t super experienced, with only 2 completed 50s and a CTR under his girth.

I was sure hoping Willie was going to set a good example for him, with a calm start. He was wound up as we left camp, but when he saw that Tru wasn’t interested in shenanigans, they both started down the trail trotting like the professionals they could be.

The two moved through the Boise forest, up and down the rolling foothills on the soft two-track logging roads, at times riding above the clouds/fog over the valley, keeping our eyes peeled for moose (we saw none). Sometimes we talked, sometimes we didn’t. Suzy has always been generous with any kind of endurance answers to questions you might ask. She’s been particularly helpful to me and Willie about feeding.

Tru mostly set the pace, but Willie took the lead now and then. He always likes to size up his companions. Are they nice? Will they maybe let him be the boss? He’ll trot close beside and turn his head to his companion, and back off if he or she says so, but Tru kind of ignored Willie, so Willie didn’t have to prove anything. (Or have anything proved to him...)

Read the rest here

Frederick Cluskey 1944-2026


TheVillagesDailySun.com

Sep 15, 2026

BRIMFIELD - Frederick Joseph "Fred" Cluskey, formerly of Brimfield, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at his home in The Villages, Florida.

Fred was born in Peoria, Illinois, on February 20, 1944, the son of Wilbur H. and Dorothy R. (Stenger) Cluskey.

Fred is survived by his three sons, Eric J. (Dawn) Cluskey of New Jersey, Kenneth J. (Lisa) Cluskey of Washington, D.C., and Paul E. (Jill) Cluskey of Jackson, Wyoming; two grandsons, Paul E. Cluskey Jr. and William F. Cluskey; his brother, George (Linda) Cluskey; four sisters, Mary Ann Koehler, Carol Jensen, Jan McCaw, and Fran Litherland; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Charles Cluskey; his sister-in-law, Marie Cluskey; and three brothers-in-law, Norman Koehler, Chris Jensen, and John Litherland.

Fred proudly served his country as an Officer in the United States Army, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. He served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service.

Fred originally hoped to become a veterinarian, but he did not have the financial means to pursue college on his own. An opportunity came when he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Illinois to study Dairy Technology. Fred embraced that opportunity, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Technology and setting the course for what would become a successful career in the food industry. While at the University of Illinois, he was a member of Nabor House Fraternity and Alpha Zeta. He later earned a master's degree in Food Science from the University of Minnesota...

Read the rest here

2026 Old Selam Pioneer - Jamethiel Morse


WeAreOnTheLoose blog - Full Story

September 12, 2026
by Jamethiel Morse

Strap on in for this one, all arms and legs inside the ride please, this is a bit of a doozy! I’ve never done a Pioneer ride before, and technically I still haven’t, but I may well be hooked now. I did end up riding three days in a row, but I only snagged one completion…and our first ever Best Condition!!!!

The Old Selam Pioneer ride is held over three days in the mountains north of Boise, just east of Idaho City. The haul from Canby to Centerville is at the bare edge of what I’ll ask Tarma to do in one day, and I only tried it because we’ve already done it once this year, in the opposite direction heading home from our big spring trip. 85% of the haul is all on I84, so fairly straightforward cruising with plenty of easy rest stops. I always unload Tarma at least once if she’s hauling more than 6 hours, which I did hauling over just outside Baker City and hauling home outside La Grande. It gives me a chance to get some wet mash into her, let her stretch her legs, pee, and get her head down. This does require a bit of equine calculus; can I trust her to load back up? I do and she does, but it’s something to consider.

My original plan was to haul over Thursday, have a rest day Friday, ride a 50 on Saturday and a 25 on Sunday, then haul home on Monday, Labor Day. In hindsight, I think I should have kept to this schedule. I had won at the PNER convention to have an experienced 100 miler rider crew for me, and as they were riding the 100 on Sunday and were not arriving to camp until Friday night I moved my schedule up a day. I think if the weather Thursday night hadn’t been cold and rainy, we might have done out better. But part of endurance is dealing with the variables handed to you, and doing your best.

Read the rest here:
https://weareontheloose.com/2026/09/12/ride-report-old-selam-pioneer/

UAE’s Al Kitbi and Moheeba crowned Young Horse World champions


Inside.FEI.org - Full Article

12 September 2026
Author: Bella Fricker

The Barroca d’Alva equestrian estate in Alcochete (POR) staged an impressive display of horsemanship, tactical pacing and equine endurance at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2026.

Setting a fierce but calculated tempo, Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (UAE) guided the Spanish-bred mare Moheeba to the Individual title while also leading his nation to Team gold. The pair completed the 120km course at an average speed of 23.764km/h.

Al Kitbi and Moheeba arrived in Portugal with proven form, having previously claimed victory in their qualifier at Loubejac (FRA) at an average speed of 19.9km/h. Al Kitbi – already an accomplished international championship medallist with Individual gold, Individual silver and Team gold medals to his name – reaffirmed his affinity for the Portuguese terrain, having also won the Barroca d’Alva test event in 2025...

Read more here:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/uae%E2%80%99s-al-kitbi-and-moheeba-crowned-young-horse-world-champions

UAE riders claim double gold at FEI Young Horses Championship


BigNewsNetwork.com -= Full Article

WAM
12th September 2026

LISBON, 11th September, 2026 (WAM) -- UAE riders claimed both the individual and team titles at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses (8-year-olds), held on Friday in Barroca d'Alva, Portugal, over 120 kilometres.

Sponsored by Emirates airline and held under the supervision of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the championship featured more than 100 riders representing 26 countries.

Salem Hamad Malhoof Al Kitbi won the individual title aboard Mahiba after completing the four-stage race in 5:02:59, while compatriot Mansour Saeed Al Farsi finished runner-up in 5:06:26. Spain's Rodrigo Blanco took third place in 5:22:45...

Read more here:
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/279301418/uae-riders-claim-double-gold-at-fei-young-horses-championship

UAE endurance team defends World Young Horses titles in Portugal


LISBON, 10th September, 2026 (WAM) -- The UAE national endurance team is set to defend its individual and team titles at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses (8-year-olds) in Barroca d’Alva, Portugal.

Sponsored by Emirates airline and overseen by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), the 120-kilometre competition features riders from 26 nations across four stages. The 13-strong UAE contingent includes five riders in the main team competition—Salem Hamad Malhoof Al Kitbi, Issa Abdullah Issa, Rashid Al Mheiri, Naser Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Falasi—alongside eight individual competitors.

Following successful weigh-ins, veterinary inspections, and technical briefings, as well as an opening ceremony in Alcochete attended by Dubai Equestrian Club Director-General Ahmed Rashed Al Kaabi, the squad aims to extend its dominant streak following gold-medal sweeps in Sardinia in 2024 and Jullianges in 2025.

Trainers Ismail Mohammed and Mohammed Al Subose highlighted the team's extensive preparation, high-calibre horses, and experience, while rider Salem Hamad Malhoof Al Kitbi noted the intense competition, high speeds, and challenging warm-weather conditions expected on the course.WAM.ae - Full Article

Rising Stars Ready for FEI Endurance World Championship 2026


Inside.FEI.org - Full Article

09 September 2026
Author: Bella Fricker

The global Endurance community turns its gaze to Portugal on Friday, 11 September, as the historic estate of Barroca d’Alva, prepares to host the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2026.

Barroca d’Alva has been a fixture on the international Endurance calendar since 2004, hosting more than two dozen major FEI events. Set among the cork oak pastures of Portugal’s Ribatejo region, its sandy tracks provide a test of technical skill, stamina and horse-and-rider partnership over the Championship’s 120-kilometre course.

Host Nation pride and European Championship pedigree

The home crowd will have plenty to cheer as Portugal fields a strong line-up...

Read more here:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/rising-stars-ready-fei-endurance-world-championship-2026

2026 Old Selam photos by Steve Bradley


2026 Old Selam Endurance ride photos in Idaho by Steve Bradley:
https://stevesphoto.smugmug.com/2026-Endurance-rides

The FEI Tribunal issues Final Decisions in cases involving a Prohibited Substance



Inside.FEI.org

02 September 2026
Author: FEI Communications

The FEI Tribunal has issued two Final Decisions in cases involving a Prohibited Substance.

In these cases, the horse Freesia De Lap AA (FEI ID 107MM78 /BRN), ridden by Hh Sh. Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa (FEI ID 10018838 /BRN), and trained by Muhammad Abbas Khalid (FEI ID 10220213/PAK (BRN)), tested positive for the prohibited substance Atenolol at the CEI3* 160 - Dubai (UAE), 28-31 January 2026.

The athlete provided a detailed explanation of the source of the Prohibited Substance in the horse and the circumstances surrounding the case, supported by corroborative evidence consistent with the horse's Adverse Analytical Finding.

In the Final Decisions, the FEI Tribunal concluded that both the athlete and trainer bore No Fault or Negligence for the Equine Anti-Doping Rule violation and consequently, the period of ineligibility was eliminated. The athlete and trainer will also not incur any fines and each party bears their own costs.

The full Decision for Hh Sh. Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa is available here.

The full Decision for Muhammad Abbas Khalid is available here.

Jack Evers 1938-2026


Legacy.com

September 3 2026
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home

John "Jack" Evers was born on April Fool's Day 1938, in Topeka, Kansas; within weeks of his birth, he came home to Green River, where his family has deep roots, dating back to the 1870s.

A lifelong horseman, little Jackie got his first semi-wild pony at age six and rode it through the streets of town. At age seven, he lost his mother to cancer.

As a student at Green River High School, Jack played football, participated in track, and served as student body president. After graduation, in 1956, he enrolled at the Colorado School of Mines, where he played varsity football, boxed, and wrestled on a club basis. He was a member of the 1958 RMFAC championship and Hall of Fame Football Team. He received a professional engineering degree in petroleum engineering in 1960 and went to work in Texas and Oklahoma for the Atlantic Company, later known as ARCO and Atlantic Richfield.

After a brief stint in the US Army, Jack married the former Ann Wilkinson. Their marriage lasted 30 years, produced a daughter, Chia Lynn, and ended amicably. A return to school resulted in a PhD from the University of Kansas. In 1970, Jack became an assistant professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Wyoming, where he advanced through the ranks to serve as department head, 1980–1986.

Jack retired from UW (for the first time) in 1996 and spent 10 years traveling the world with his partner, Lydia Dambekalns, and teaching industrial courses. His travels included destinations in the US, Canada, Columbia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan, Libya, Trinidad-Tobago, India, Hungary, and Indonesia. He returned to UW in 2006 on a part-time basis and earned the Outstanding Petroleum Engineering Teaching Award in 2008 and the Outstanding Undergraduate Engineering College Teaching Award before retiring (again) in 2015.

Never content with only one career, Jack also became a professional farrier and the first AFA-certified journeyman farrier in Wyoming. He served as farrier for the United States team at three World Championships - in Barcelona, Spain in 1992, the Netherlands in 1994, and the US in 1996 - as well as working for the Mountain Zone team at the Pan American Championships in 2003 and the North American Championships in 2005...

Read the rest here

2026 Iron Mountain Jubilee photos by Becky Pearman


2026 Iron Mountain Jubilee Endurance ride photos in Virginia by Becky Pearman:
https://beckypearman.smugmug.com/Other/Endurance-2026/Iron-Mountain-Jubilee

2026 Wahatoya Cup photos by Merri Melde


2026 Wahatoya Cup Endurance ride photos in Colorado by Merri Melde, The Equestrian Vagabond:
https://www.theequestrianvagabond.com/Clients-Endurance

2026 Spanish Peaks photos by Merri Melde


2026 Spanish Peaks Pioneer Endurance ride photos in Colorado by Merri Melde, The Equestrian Vagabond:
https://www.theequestrianvagabond.com/Clients-Endurance

2026 Tevis Cup photos by various photographers


2026 Tevis Cup Endurance ride photos in California by various photographers:
https://teviscup.org/tevis-photographers/

Beyond the Barn Podcast Episode 120: 4 Mistakes Horse Owners Make with Salt and Electrolytes


StandleeForage.com Beyond the Barn Podcast - Listen

On this episode of the Feeding Fumbles & Fixes series of Beyond the Barn, host Katy Starr chats with equine nutritionist Dr. Kelly Vineyard to count down the four most common mistakes horse owners make with salt and electrolytes, including:

• A common electrolyte label-reading mistake that could have you paying for the wrong ingredient
• The overlooked reason some horses may not drink as much water as you'd expect
• A simple daily feeding habit that can help support hydration throughout the year

If you've ever wondered whether your horse is getting enough salt, how to choose an electrolyte supplement, or whether a salt block is really enough, you won't want to miss this episode.

Listen now on the Beyond the Barn podcast:
https://www.standleeforage.com/podcast/episodes/ep-120-4-mistakes-horse-owners-make-with-salt-and-electrolytes/

Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser gifts 33 horses in support of private stables


GDNOnline.com - Full Article

Wed, 26 Aug 2026

HORSERACING – His Majesty King Hamad’s humanitarian works and youth affairs representative, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman, and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) honourary president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has directed the distribution of 33 horses as a gift to private stables, in support of their preparations for the 2026-27 endurance horseracing season.

This will contribute to increasing the base of participation and raising the level of competition in endurance events.

The initiative stems from Shaikh Nasser’s vision to elevate the sport of endurance horseracing, which requires high levels of preparation, qualification, and equipment, thereby enhancing their technical readiness and ability to achieve the best results in various competitions...

Read more here:
https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1404450/Shaikh-Nasser-gifts-33-horses-in-support-of-private-stables

Federal wild horse sales program under fire after investigation confirms slaughter pipeline


EquusMagazine.com - Full Article

Skydog Sanctuary's probe into BLM activities provided evidence for New York Times exposé of 'legal loophole'

Edited Press Release
⎯ August 24, 2026

On August 20, Skydog Sanctuary, a national voice for wild horse and burro protection, called for the immediate suspension of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse & Burro Sale Authority program following an investigation published that day by The New York Times. According to a sanctuary news release, the report confirmed its allegation that the federal program is actively funneling federally protected wild horses and burros directly into commercial slaughter pipelines.

In a formal letter sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Skydog Sanctuary founder and president Clare Staples—representing 1.5 million supporters and followers—accused the BLM of violating federal law that bars the agency from using federal funds to sell wild horses in a manner that results in their commercial slaughter.

‘In plain sight’

“Following months of providing documentation, combing through BLM sales records, and monitoring BLM placement events and kill pens, Skydog is proud to see these urgent findings brought to national light by The New York Times,” said Staples. “The report published today confirms what we have documented on the ground for more than a year: The BLM’s Sale Authority program is sending America’s federally protected wild horses and burros into the slaughter pipeline...”

Read the rest here:
https://equusmagazine.com/news/investigation-confirms-federal-horse-slaughter-pipeline

First Alaskan Endurance Ride is a Win!


The inaugural running of the Great Alaskan Endurance Race was absolutely amazing. Many thanks go out to all the volunteers, especially the incomparable Regina Rose and Pam Haynes showing us Alaskans how to do the things. These local powerhouse impressed the hell out of me...

Read the rest here:
http://endurance.net/international/USA/2026TheGreatAlaskanEnduranceRace/#Done!

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