Australia: Clare's top of the class

Invernell Times
05 February 2008 - 9:54AM

Local high school teacher Clare Fleming has reached the top in the Queensland Endurance Riders Association pointscore for 2007.

Clare scored 36 points.

This ranked her as Queensland's most successful Lightweight Endurance Rider.

The next competitor, Karen Hamelink, scored 31.5 points.

Without a grey Arab gelding known as Mangueira Moksha and a dark bay mare known as Birramalee Queen of Hearts, Clare’s success would not have been possible.

Together, these two horses clocked up around 1000 kilometres doing competitive endurance rides last year.

Clare rides competitively, and usually finishes in the top five placegetters of a ride.

In 2007, she won the Lake Manchester Ride, the Spring Mountain Ride, the Bungawalbyn Forest Ride and the Eden Creek Ride.

Endurance riding originated in the United States , where cavalry horses where tested for strength over long distances, and came to Australia in around 1966.

It is the fastest growing equestrian sport in the world. It is hugely prestigious in the Middle East , where sheiks spend up big to enjoy the privilege of racing and riding their own horses.

Recently, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, hosted the world’s most valuable endurance race.

While Australia does not allow prize money, there are special awards for placegetters.

Clare emphasised that while endurance rides are a race, her main goal is to complete the ride with a sound, healthy horse.

In fact the motto of the Australian Endurance Riders Association is: "to complete is to win ".