The first “test” is behind us and I’m pleased to report the No Frills 55 Mile equine endurance ride was a success. As with most distance and endurance sports, we only truly go the distance during the race itself. When I ran marathons in my 20s, I never trained a full 26.2 mile distance. I trained distances up to 12 miles, and trusted the structure was in place to make it through the 26.2 when the test came, and this proved true.

My mare Khaleesi had not completed over 50 miles in one day since May 2024, when she finished 5^th place at the Biltmore in Asheville, NC. While I believed she was still capable, and I put in the regular training to bring back her fitness after time off, until the test, it was all hypothetical. In order to prepare for the 50 mile level, we do training rides of 10-25 miles at home and trust the structure is in place for a 50 mile event.

The last time Khaleesi completed 100 miles in a single day was June 2023, so I believe with the right preparation, she is capable of finishing the Vermont 100 in July of 2025.  Successful 55 mile rides leading up to the Vermont 100 give me confidence that our framework will hold up.

There are two 55 mile rides on the calendar: the No Frills 55 we just completed, and the Old Dominion 55 in June. A failure to complete one of these doesn’t have to mean scrapping the whole plan, but how these rides go instruct the training plan and confirm we are on the right track or show where adjustment is necessary.

Here is how the No Frills 55 went for us by the numbers.

At the vet in the numbers 4 and 36 were good signs for us. The number 4 was Khaleesi’s body condition score and 36 was her pre-ride heart rate.

While the ideal body condition score is 5, in years past Khaleesi usually registered as a 6 which is “moderately fleshy.” While she competed strong as a 5-6 body score horse, the extra layer of fat insulates (makes it harder to cool) and carrying extra weight is a factor in long races. A 4-5 body score means easier going for her. 

The change in her body score from our 2023 season to 2025, is an unintended consequence of bringing my horses home to my smaller property. Her entire life previously was lived on large Virginia pastures which are particularly rich. I learned years ago to curb her 24/7 grazing, or she would begin to show metabolic issues often presenting as hoof sensitivity in spring or fall. Even when I restricted her grass access substantially, and she was an endurance horse with an active physical workload, she would still show up as “moderately fleshy” at our vet inspections.

In Fall of 2023 I needed to relocate, and it became clear my only option was to bring the horses home to my small property. At first I worried about bringing the horses to limited space where they would live the majority of time in what we call a “dry lot” (which means no grass), with minimal occasional pasture, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how much healthier they’ve been overall from the change. When I recently asked my trusted hoof care professional and the ride vet for their opinions of her weight and body condition, both said she appeared healthy and at a good weight for an athlete.

 The vet-in exam is the day before the event; 36 was Khaleesi’s resting heart rate. Her normal vet-in heart rate is around 40-44BPM. A heart that is more physically fit is more efficient in pumping blood resulting in a lower resting heart rate. This was a very good sign!

The number I did not like was 87. That was the predicted high temperature which is unseasonably hot and also could be the highest temps I’ve seen at a ride, at least in recent memory. For the record, I’ve been sleeted on at the No Frills ride in years past!

The high temperatures in spring are particularly troubling because horses still carry much of their winter coat. We had just seen freezing temps overnight, and some snow flurries not long ago. The No Frills ride camp is in Star Tannery, VA which is about 100 miles North and slightly East of where I live, with similar weather patterns. Temperatures in the high 80s meant clipping some of that winter coat. The day before we departed for ride camp, Khaleesi got a shower and what is called a “trace clip” where only some of the hair is clipped off in the places that are most likely to help her dissipate heat, particularly her neck, underbelly and hips. For fun, Matt helped me artistically clip out a heart and star pattern on her hind. Might as well go in style!

The next numbers numbers that filled in the whole picture are 52/48 (10:09am), 56/56 (4:15pm), and 56/52 (6:28pm). These are also heart rate numbers and if you caught our article in February about the heart, you might recognize that these show cardiac recover index or CRI. The minimum pulse requirement for the vet check is 64BPM and we not only met the minimum, but exceeded it. The two biggest issues for a horse to pulse down is when they are having trouble cooling down, or if they are in pain. If the heat was a problem for us it would have shown up in the CRI and ability to meet the pulse requirement. It was the middle of the day pulse, when it was hottest around 4pm that was in question as it took six minutes to get below 72BPM and required cooling the horse with a bucket of water and a sponge. For a horse that generally pulses down quickly, and had done so in the morning, this was a concern. We had come in to the hold fast, and it was very hot, but after a few extra minutes her heart rate dropped. We then vetted through with perfect scores and plenty of time to get back out and finish our last segment of the day.

The last number of the day for us was 10. 

This number actually served two pieces of data: we finished in 10^th place (out of 17 horses to start), and spent about 10 hours on the trail (it was actually 9 hours 58 minutes, and this time does not include the two 45-minute vet exam holds).

I was pleased that we skimmed into the “top 10” finish category, which is the cut off for upgraded prizes and points. There are the “top 10 horses” and then all the rest of the “winners” because the motto of the American Endurance Ride Conference is to finish is to win. The truth is anyone who completes 50 or more miles in one day and walks back to camp with a healthy horse is part of an elite group of equine athletes. 

The 10 hour ride time is a full hour faster than the last time we completed the No Frills 55 in 2023. Considering the heat index was higher this year, this indicates that our training is on a good track, and she is coming into this 2025 season strong and fit.

Looking back, I wouldn’t change anything either in the training or competing, which is a great place to be. This year, my husband Matt is installed as my crew, and Matt is always leveling up everything he touches. He is in charge of the details for packing and camp gear and it’s great for me, because he has it so dialed in! My favorite upgrade is the portable love seat we picked up last month. It’s cozy, built for two, and perfect to lounge on after a long hot day on the trail! Also, he traded my traditional camp stove for the JetBoil system particularly for the morning coffee, and that thing is amazing! It boiled the coffee water before I could even set up the Aeropress. Last is a Jackery solar battery unit so not only could we easily charge electronic devices, but it powered the milk frother and now you know what a coffee nerd I am making fresh lattes even from base camp! 

The only adjustment we both agreed on were the tiny camping pillows which Matt loved because they condensed into our one pelican case for all things camping. They were not comfortable at all and neither of us slept much the first night, we added make shift sweatshirt pillows for the second night, but agreed pillows can be accommodated in the future and are worth the space they take up in the packing plan.

All in all the test was a success and now we look toward the next test with the Old Dominion 55 in June!