SubscribeGift a Sub
Enable cache 100
Categories: Horse News

AERC to Investigate Horse Deaths at Endurance Ride

American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) President Mike Maul announced on Sept. 14 that his organization will investigate the deaths of two horses that were hit by a car after crossing the finish line on day seven of the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Ride. The investigation will be conducted independently of the insurance investigation into the incident.



“An incident such as this during the ride or at the finish has never happened before in the 35-year history of AERC,” Maul said. “All incidents, whether large or small, are investigated by the AERC with the purpose of making the sport safer for both riders and the horses participating in the event.”



Rider Teresa Wilcox suffered bruises and scrapes. Rider Sandy Olson suffered a dislocated hip and broken thumb. The horses they were riding died at the accident scene. Both riders were released from the hospital and returned to the ride site.

The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is an 800-mile endurance ride completed over a 13 day period. The ride started in Santa Fe, N.M., on Sept. 3 and ended in Missouri on Sept. 15.
“This is a terrible thing that has happened,” Maul said. “My heart goes out to the riders who were injured.”

View Comments

  • The Sante Fe Trail Ride was advertised for a year before it was held. They had plenty of time to cover all the bases neccessary to protect both horse and rider. At the finish line, the safety procautions should have been securily monitored. This could have been provented. I feel really bad for the girls and the loss of their beloved horses. The event organizer should be held completely liable.

  • I have never approved of endurance rides. This is a tragic accident. The article doesn't go into much detail on the accident and the circumstances. I'd like to know how these two horses came to be on the road. Why didn't the riders see the car coming? More information needed to understand what happened.

Recent Posts

An Overview of White Line Disease

It's often what you can’t see that leads to trouble, and that’s definitely the case with white line disease. Understanding…

6 hours ago

ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: My Man Ira

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…

1 day ago

Riding Lipizzaners in Hungary

Two hours’ drive from Budapest in the picturesque Bükk National Park lies Szilvásvárad, a beautiful little village that is home…

2 days ago

How Horses Helped Two Boys with ADHD

During the height of the pandemic and racial tension around the U.S., two boys struggling with ADHD found healing through…

3 days ago

Adopting a Companion Horse

When you think of the term “companion horse,” one that is versatile with the ability to fill a variety of…

4 days ago

Emergency and Natural Disaster Preparedness with Horses

Each year, hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms force thousands across the country to evacuate their homes. When preparing for a…

1 week ago