Endurance Horse Podcast

🎙️ 23,000 Miles Later | A Conversation with Marci Cunningham

What can more than 23,000 endurance miles teach us about horses, horsemanship, and longevity?

In this episode of the Endurance Horse Podcast™, I sit down with longtime endurance rider Marci Cunningham, an AERC Decade Team rider, Pacific Southwest Region Director, and horsewoman whose endurance career spans decades and thousands of competition miles.

Marci shares stories of the horses that carried her through the years, the partnerships that shaped her journey, and the lessons learned along the way. We discuss why longevity matters, the benefits of a slower and more thoughtful approach to riding, and how listening to our horses can help us build partnerships that stand the test of time.

Whether you're a brand-new rider, chasing your first 50, or reflecting on a lifetime in the saddle, this conversation is a reminder that the greatest accomplishments are often built one mile, one ride, and one horse at a time.

Because sometimes the goal isn't simply to go farther or faster—it's to still be enjoying the trail years from now.

Learn More:

🐴 American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC)
https://aerc.org

🐴 AERC Pacific Southwest Riders Facebook Community
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1234813366533535/

🐴 The Warhorse Journal Podcast
https://thewarhorsejournal.podbean.com

🐴 WARHORSE Endurance Challenges
https://warhorseendurance.com

🐴 Join the WARHORSE Challenges Facebook Community
https://www.facebook.com/groups/warhorsechallenges

Thank you for listening, sharing, and helping us celebrate the horses, riders, and stories that make endurance riding so special.

#EnduranceHorsePodcast #AERC #EnduranceRiding #DistanceRiding #HorsePodcast #EveryMileAMemory

🎧 Endurance Horse Podcast Show Notes
🌲 Riding Across Michigan: The Shore-to-Shore Trail with Jan Gould (MTRA)
What does it feel like to ride across an entire state… on horseback?

In this episode of the Endurance Horse Podcast, we step into the heart of Michigan’s legendary Shore-to-Shore Trail—a trail system that stretches across the state and has been shaped, protected, and preserved by generations of riders.

Joining us today is Jan Gould, Secretary of the Michigan Trail Riders Association (MTRA) and a third-generation Shore-to-Shore rider. Jan shares the history behind this iconic trail, the origin story and the riders who helped build it, and the ongoing work required to maintain access for future generations.

From how to sign up for the organized ride… to favorite sections of the trail… to the deeper meaning of preserving equine access—this episode brings the Shore-to-Shore to life.

Whether you dream of hauling in for a weekend ride… or crossing the entire trail… this conversation will inspire you to get out there and ride.

🐎 In This Episode, We Cover:

The history and formation of the Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail

The role of the Michigan Trail Riders Association (MTRA) in preserving access

What it’s like to ride across the state of Michigan on horseback

Weekend-friendly trailheads and camping recommendations

The magic of trail life—and why riders return year after year

Favorite sections of the trail from a lifelong rider

The why & how behind the iconic “big blue bus”

How volunteers help maintain and protect the trail

Why preserving equine trail access matters now more than ever

How YOU can experience the trail—both in person and virtually

🌲 Ride the Shore-to-Shore Trail
Ready to experience it for yourself?

🐎 Michigan Trail Riders Association (MTRA)
Join an in-person Shore-to-Shore ride in June or September
👉 https://mtra.org

🏁 Great Lakes Distance Riding Association (GLDRA)
Explore endurance rides across Michigan
👉 https://gldrami.org (see Events tab)

🌎 WARHORSE 250 Mile Shore-to-Shore Virtual Challenge
Ride from wherever you are and be part of the journey
👉 https://warhorseendurance.com

Sign up at WARHORSE Endurance for the Virtual 250 Mile Shore to Shore Ride to gain access to the online journal & the awards packet of bracelet, belt buckle, metal sign, patch and more!  This event greatly supports GLDRA & endurance in the Great Lakes Region. 

🤝 Support the Trail
The Shore-to-Shore trail exists because of riders who care.

Join MTRA

Volunteer for trail work days

Support organizations that protect equine access

Share this episode to spread awareness

💛 Love the Podcast?
If this episode inspired you, encouraged you, or kept you company on your ride or drive today…

You can support the podcast by:

Sharing this episode with a friend

Leaving a positive review on your favorite platform

And if you’d like to support in a tangible way—join a WARHORSE event at
👉 https://warhorseendurance.com

🎙️ About the Podcast
Endurance Horse Podcast brings riders together from all across the world—sharing their stories, progress, and goals as they train for or compete in endurance events at every level.

Endurance Horse Podcast is produced by Christina Hyke Photography, LLC, a WARHORSE Endurance® production.

🎙️ THIS IS ENDURANCE HORSE PODCAST SIGNING OFF FOR NOW — Every mile a memory.

Natalie Law & CH-SH Mo  Motion Jack — Brave on the Mountain: The American Saddlebred in Endurance

 

A 16.3-hand American Saddlebred steps to the Tevis starting line.

Tall. Big-moving. Refined. Not the typical silhouette in an Arabian-dominated sport — but unmistakable in presence.

In this episode we cover a lot of ground and hear from Natalie Law about CH-SH Mo Motion Jack — “Brave” — and the rider who believed he belonged there.  ( and of course, Flash, Brave's sidekick hackney pony makes an appearance on the podcast again )

Stepping outside of the place where a Saddlebred is typically expected to be,  Brave brought power, elegance, and a brave heart to one of the most demanding endurance rides in the world — the Tevis Cup.

And he didn’t go alone.

Natalie Law and her daughter made history as a mother-daughter team on that mountain — one riding this magnificent American Saddlebred, the largest horse in the event that day, other piloting Piece of Perfection, a 11.2-hand Hackney pony affectionately known as "Flash", the smallest equine to ever complete Tevis. Together, they proved that endurance is not defined by breed, height, or expectation — but by preparation, partnership, and courage.

In this Year of the Horse spotlight, we explore the athleticism and mindset of the American Saddlebred, what it takes to condition a big-framed horse for 100 rugged miles, and why representation of diverse breeds in endurance matters.

We also discuss EDRA's young rider program, distance riding organizations, and the importance of preserving the trails we ride..

 

🔗 Organizations & Resources Mentioned
🔹 American Endurance Ride Conference


🔹 Equine Distance Riding Association


🔹 VERSA 


🔹 Saddlebreds in Endurance (Facebook Group)


🔹 Back Country Horsemen of America


📖 Featured Book
Race Against Time by Claire Eckhardt


 

If you enjoy these stories and want to see Endurance Horse Podcast continue to grow, there are a few meaningful ways you can help.

Share this episode with a friend.
Post it on social media.
Or leave a positive review on your favorite podcast platform.

Word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways this show reaches new riders, and we truly appreciate your support.

If you’d like to support the podcast in a tangible way, visit warhorseendurance.com and sign up for a WARHORSE Endurance® Challenge. Every mile you log helps sustain this show — and yes, we give out some beautiful awards.

Join the miles.
Join the community.
Be part of the story.

What does it take to ride 20,000 endurance miles?

Belief. Patience. And the courage to ride your own path.

As part of our Year of the Horse spotlight, February celebrates the American Saddlebred — and in this episode, I sit down with lifelong Saddlebred horsewoman and endurance rider Shelah Wetter, owner of Blue Haven Stable.

Shelah has logged over 20,000 endurance miles aboard American Saddlebreds and was honored in 2025 as Sport Horse Owner and/or Breeder of the Year by the
American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association.

In this conversation we talk about:
• How she chose her endurance partner
• What makes a Saddlebred shine on the trail
• And how welcoming new riders strengthens the future of endurance

If you love strong partnerships and the long game — this one is for you!

Learn More:
• American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA): https://www.saddlebred.com


• Versatile Saddlebred Association (VERSA): https://www.saddlebredversa.org/


• Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA): https://www.equinedistanceriding.com


• American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC): https://www.aerc.org

WARHORSE Challenges
Head to https://warhorseendurance.com and sign up for a WARHORSE Endurance® Challenge. Whether you ride one mile or one hundred, you’ll be part of a supportive community that celebrates every step forward.

Join us on Facebook in WARHORSE Challenges.

🤍 Love the Podcast?
Free ways to support:
• Leave a positive review
• Share this episode
• Text it to a friend

Word of mouth keeps this podcast growing — and I truly appreciate you for helping us to grow on this journey.

This is Endurance Horse Podcast signing off for now —
Every mile a memory.

Endurance Horse Podcast is produced by Christina Hyke Photography, LLC, a WARHORSE Endurance® production.

Endurance Horse Podcast

 It started with a Valentine’s Day surprise. 

Years ago, Dennis Summers  surprised his wife Sue with a special Valentine’s Day gift, a Paint/Arabian cross — before the fence was even up on their property, Dennis tied the horse a tree while they finished preparing the property. That moment would become part of a lifelong journey with horses and eventually into endurance riding for both  Sue and Dennis Summers.

In this episode of Endurance Horse Podcast, we trace that journey — from an article in Western Horseman that sparked a deep curiosity about endurance, to competing at some of the top rides in the world, and eventually back to the grassroots level of growing and protecting the sport he loves.

Dennis is an international endurance rider, author of 4th Gear and The Long and Winding Road, and a founding member of the Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA). But more than titles or accolades, this is a story about partnership, perspective, and the horses that shape us.

Along the way, we talk about more than one special horse — including the one that truly inspired his most recent book. We talk about training, longevity, listening to the horse, and what matters after thousands of miles.

So sit down, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and enjoy this story as it unfolds around our virtual campfire.

Every mile a memory.

Dennis Summers books available on Kindle
Dennis is the author of:

4th Gear: Power Up Your Endurance Horse

The Long and Winding Road

Both titles are available on Kindle through Amazon.

🌍 Learn More About EDRA
Dennis is a founding member of the Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA), an organization focused on horse welfare, education, and supporting endurance riders.

🔗 EDRA- Equine Distance Riding Association

Support this Podcast & Ride With Us WARHORSE ENDURANCE®
If you enjoyed this episode and want to be part of a supportive endurance community, we invite you to join us at:

🔗WARHORSE Challenges fb group

🔗  https://warhorseendurance.com

Log miles. Share stories. Encourage one another.

You can also join our WARHORSE ENDURANCE® Facebook community and connect with riders from around the world who believe in honoring the horse, the journey, and the miles in between.  Your participation in our virtual challenges helps keep this community growing.

This podcast is a Christina Hyke Photography, LLC & WARHORSE ENDURANCE® production 

THIS IS ENDURANCE HORSE PODCAST SIGNING OFF FOR NOW — Every mile a memory.