Endurance Riding | My Spanish Mustang

April 8, 2017April 5, 2025

Because I Love You More

By Jennifer Klitzke

I have always been passionate about the Spanish horse—anything with Iberian blood would do. Only I could never afford such a mount.

On a cold January 2012 morning, I was surfing Craigslist.com and light buckskin dun Spanish Mustang named Indian’s Legend (Indy) showed up in the results.

When my eyes met his, my heart leapt.

No, I didn’t need another horse, I already had four, but there was something about him.

The owner loved Indy, no doubt. Yet a single mom, working full time, and a full-time student, she was trying to hold her passions together when reality set in. She knew it was time to let Indy go.

Drop-dead gorgeous and the closest thing to Lusitano I’d ever afford, I had to have him.

It took some savvy negotiating with my husband to convince him my need of another horse. It was easy for me to justify. Two of our horses were approaching their thirties, one was a rescue horse strapped with heaves, the other was a non-aerobic gaited horse. Indy would be about the same cost as a gym membership and I’d enjoy him more.

Loading him into the trailer, Indy’s previous owner’s heart was breaking. Her love for him streamed from her eyes as we drove away.

It didn’t take long to realize that Indy was exceptionally intelligent, bold and curious. He needed lots of variety to keep him from getting bored. Miles of 20 meter circles wouldn’t cut it.

Indy was game for anything we faced. In the last five years he made many life-long dreams come true in my grandma age. We took up trail riding, which led to trail obstacle challenges, which led to endurance riding. Then we took up stadium jumping which led to cross country and dressage shows, which led to eventing. Then we tried cow sorting followed by becoming a demonstration horse/rider team at the Minnesota Horse Expo. We even rode in a Mary Wanless riding biomechanics clinic. She’s a clinician I have studied for decades through her books and videos.

In our five years together, Indy earned Spanish Mustang Performance Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2015, a Spanish Mustang Conquistador of Performance Award in 2012, and we achieved 2,000 trail miles.

my-spanish-mustang-1112-mary-wanless-clinic1 — Mary Wanless Clinic (2012)

my-spanish-mustang-lake — Lots of trail rides (2012-2016)

2016 Mosquito Run — Endurance riding (2012-2016)

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Jumping Stadium — Stadium Jumping (2013-2015)

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Jumping a Water Obstacle — Steepleview Schooling Days (2013-2014)

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Jumping a Log — Cross country (2013-2015)

Indians-Legend-Spanish-Mustang-Jennifer-Klitzke-2014-Dressage-D&G-Photography — Dressage Shows (2012-2016)

Indians-Legend-Spanish-Mustang-Jennifer-Klitzke-2014-Cross-Country-D&G-Photography — Steepleview Horse Trials (2013-2014)

My Spanish Mustang cow clinic — Sorting cows (2013-2016)

2016 MN Horse Expo featuring the Spanish Mustang — Minnesota Horse Expo (2015-2016)

Spanish Mustang Western Dressage — Western dressage (2017)

Then family crisis interrupted our adventures and I faced a cross roads.

On October 2014, after a family intervention, my Dad was admitted into a Memory Care Unit with Alzheimer’s disease. He was a genius in his own time–only 75 years old. The disease robbed him of his brilliant mind. Mom suffered two strokes trying to take care of him at home. Dad was out of control and Mom was exhausted trying to regain it.

I gave up many weekends of Indy time to be with my Dad and Mom during this crisis. Working full time and caring for my family meant that my intelligent and talented Spanish Mustang’s life was on hold. Weeks turned into months and then years. This weighed heavily on me.

Last summer was hard in many ways. I watched my Dad slip away, and I watched Indy grow bored and frustrated. He longed for the adventurous life we once had—game for the next new experience.

I squeezed in a couple arena rides each week, but miles of 20 meter circles didn’t cut it. Then I added obstacles, cavelettis, and jumps for interest. It helped, but Indy missed the life we once had and so did I. There wasn’t anything I could do about the crisis my family was in.

In January 2017, my Dad passed away. Even though I am relieved he is no longer anguished by that brain devouring disease, I miss him.

Now Mom needs more help that ever. Still working full time, my husband and I help her on weekends through life without Dad downsizing 54 years of memories into a manageable living situation.

I reviewed this year’s show schedule. Last year’s best intentions only got us to a couple virtual shows recorded from home. This year wasn’t going to be any different.

Going on two years in Indy’s prime of life, it just wasn’t right for me to horde him for myself.

During the last few years, Indy’s previous owner had graduated from college and married. We have kept in touch since I bought him. She asked if I ever needed to part with Indy to let her know. I watched how much fun she and her family have had riding their Spanish Mustangs through mature forest around their home year round. It is the life Indy came from. A life he loved and a life I can’t offer him.

I contacted Indy’s previous owner and asked if she would buy him back. She was thrilled to be reunited with Indy as her very own again.

Saying “goodbye” to the Spanish Mustang who made my dreams come true felt like another death, but I love Indy more than to see him waste away in boredom because of my busy life. I have deep gratitude in my heart for the five years we shared. I want Indy to be happy and in his element.

Nothing brings me greater joy than to see Indy go back to his first home whose owner loves him like I do and for Indy to live the trail horse dream.

Loading Indy into the trailer, my heart broke. My love for him streamed from my eyes as the trailer drove away.

Because I love you more, Indy. Because I love you more.

July 9, 2016January 30, 2021

Lost one and gained two at Mosquito Run

Oh my goodness. What a great day! I was so sad that my endurance riding friend had moved away, and I had high hopes to meet others in my area so that I could continue riding endurance style on the trail.

While at the Mosquito Run endurance ride held Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Crow Hassan Park Reserve in Rogers, MN, I met two wonderful ladies who live in my area. One of whom just moved to the area and is a seasoned endurance rider. The other is a “game for anything” rider like me. Now I have two new friends to ride with (endurance style). Woot! Woot!

Our novice group of seven was off to a great start, until four dropped off to take a slower pace.

Suddenly our leader’s horse threw a shoe and had to drop out.

Oh, boy! That left a first-time novice endurance rider and I to tackle the ten-mile course in one hour and 45 minutes without a map or timer. (Thanks to the crew who did a great job marking the trails!)

We held an extended trot until we encountered a wild turkey family who were hiding in the tall grass next to the trail. The horses sensed the birds long before we saw them. I coughed, but to no avail. (It seemed to scare away the bears last week at Sand Dunes State Forest.) Then I made my scariest predator sounds. Tom turkey popped up his head above the tall grass to take a gander. Followed by the hen and a dozen youngsters. The horses recoiled.

Finally our horses passed the flock of curious birds and we were on our way. We completed our ride 6 minutes over the optimum time.

Indy and I didn’t place, but we had a wonderful ride, and I enjoyed meeting new friends.

Special thanks to Bob Zimmerman for taking these beautiful photos, for the Park Reserve Staff who cleared the trails of fallen trees from last week’s storms, and for all of the volunteers who made the Mosquito Run possible.

P.S. Two people asked if Indy was a Kiger (and only one person asked if he was a Fjord)!

May 3, 2015January 30, 2021

2015 MnDra Novice Ride

By Jennifer Klitzke

The week after the Minnesota Horse Expo the annual MnDra endurance ride was held at Sand Dunes State Forest—my favorite place to ride. The footing is ideal for barefoot horses like mine and the scenery is breath taking. I took Indy to this ride in 2013 and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return.

Our weather couldn’t have been better. Our Novice group of four included two Arabians (one was ridden by our seasoned leader and the other by my friend), a Morgan, a Haflinger, and Indy my Spanish Mustang.

Following pie plates and ribbons to keep us on course.

The beginning of our 12 mile endurance ride. (Note how clean we both appear.)

What is that hanky doing there? — Indy wonders, “What is that hanky doing in that horse’s tail?”
(I kept him a safe distance not to find out.)

Heading toward the finish line after nearly two hours of brisk trotting.
(Note how not so clean we are.)

Completion awards — We made it back to receive our completion award.

Congratulations to my friend Michelle and her Arabian mare Molly who placed first in Novice out of nine.

Special thanks to volunteer photographers Bob Kaleido and Hank Hauser who took this fantastic photos and to the dozens of volunteers who made the endurance ride possible.

Visit www.mndra.com to learn about upcoming rides and get connected with these fun people on the MnDra facebook group.

April 26, 2014January 30, 2021

Wanna Carrot with That?

By Jennifer Klitzke

We all know how intelligent Spanish Mustangs are as a breed, right?

Well, my 2006 Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) is no exception. He is the only Spanish Mustang of our five horses, and the only one smart enough to figure out how to get from the pasture and into the vegetable garden and back. If that isn’t impressive, Indy discovered that carrots grow underground. So row by row, Indy began uprooting the carrots, having a snack, and leaving the carrot tops behind before returning to the pasture! (I caught him red handed with that “as-if-nothing-ever-happened” expression on his face.)

Adding to Indy’s antics, 108.5 trail miles, 507 training miles, eight Training Level dressage tests ridden, and 14 stadium jumping courses ridden, our 2013 milestones include a cow clinic, a novice endurance race, a cow sorting league, a competitive trail challenge, three rounds of cross country jumping over solid obstacles, an orienteering event, and learning how to speak French.

Ever since I began riding in 1982, I have longed for the courage to ride cross country over obstacles. This year, my bold and adventurous Spanish Mustang drug me to Steepleview Schooling Days. Seasoned event rider Len Danielson instructed us through ditches, banks, water obstacles, and fixed jumping obstacles with objective and systematic coaching which instilled confidence in both me and Indy. We left that day sparked with a desire for more. Indy and I rode Starter level cross country at two schooling shows and the Steepleview three-day recognized horse trial. We placed second or third at all three events!

Right after I had bought Indy last year, a co-worker purchased her first horse. She and I began to challenge each other and try new things with our horses. At work we became known as the “Dasco Duo.” Adding to last year’s trail rides and schooling dressage shows, the Dasco Duo entered our first novice Minnesota Distance Riders Association (MNDRA) sponsored endurance ride. What a great way for horse and rider to get in shape! One-and-a-half hours of brisk posting trot through the beautiful Sand Dunes State Forest. Of 16 entries, we took fourth place. It was also where I met Bethany Borchert, Spanish Mustang owner of Dun Adoby Fox who has done very well in competitive endurance races.

In April, my fellow Dasconian encouraged me to take Indy to an “Introducing Your Horse to Cows” Clinic held a Hi Circle Vee to help him overcome his cow phobia. Once Indy figured out that cows were easy to push around, he seemed to enjoy it, so in May, we joined a cow sorting league. Each week, Indy and I rode with three different partners and we had 90 seconds to transfer 10 cows in numbered order from one round pen to the other without letting one of the two blank cows sneak in. It is a lot harder than it looks. While one horse/rider team locates and negotiates the next numbered cow to the other round pen, the other horse/rider team guards the “hole” so that no other cows escape or sneak through the hole. Once the other horse/team member retrieves their numbered cow, they take over the “hole” while the other retrieves the numbered cow.

Then in October, the Dasco Duo entered a National Association of Competitive Mounted Orienteering (NACMO) event at Crow Hassan Park Preserve where followed a map, deciphered two clues that led us to two compass point reading that pointed to the hidden target. The six targets took us three-and-a-half hours of searching and cantering to our next clue. Our team took fourth place.

Also in 2013, Indy and I traveled to RNR Ranch in St. Croix Falls for a competitive trail ride. We rode two glorious hours through perfectly groomed trails and negotiated six obstacles for points. Out of 30 riders, Indy and I had the second best score.

Ending the year I took Indy to a “Riding in Lightness” Clinic with Susan Norman which introduced us to French classical dressage. Susan coached us in ways that promote balance, elegance, and harmony between horse and rider.

What will 2014 hold for us? Well, topping the list is figuring out a way to keep Indy out of the carrot patch!

Story published in the 2013 Spanish Mustang Annual, official publication of the Spanish Mustang Registry.

May 5, 2013January 30, 2021

Spanish Mustang: Indy’s First Endurance Ride

By Jennifer Klitzke

Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) and I were encouraged to give endurance riding a try last weekend. We had received gift certificates at the Minnesota Horse Expo from Minnesota Distance Riding Association (MNDRA) who organized a competitive trail ride through the scenic Sand Dunes State Forest. Although we had been riding all winter, I had no idea how strenuous eight miles of brisk trotting would be. It is no wonder endurance riders are so fit!

After our pre-ride vet check, each horse received a number. Now Indy has a new nickname “57.”

We were given a map and followed colored markers and pie plates. The newbie novice groups were blessed to have experienced endurance leaders who helped us stay safe, on course, and at pace to arrive at the finish line as rested as possible within our two hour time limit. All but the last two miles of our ten-mile ride was at a brisk trot. Reaching the eight-mile marker with 20 minutes to spare, allowed all of us to cool down and pulse down to the finish line.

Approaching the finish line were we received our times and ten minutes to the final vet check.

The horse’s pre- and post-ride vet checks are a very important part of the scoring system for endurance riding. Indy did very well recovering from the brisk trotting. Unfortunately he decided he was done with trotting when he reached the finish line. We were unable to show a trot at the post-vet check which resulted in a 20-point deduction. Nevertheless, I am extremely proud of how well he did. And I can honestly say that in 30 years of riding horses, I have never ridden that hard.

An enormous “thank you” to all of the volunteers and organizers of the MNDRA endurance ride at Sand Dunes State Forest. We will likely try it again!

Photo gallery with commentary>

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