An Interview with Susie Kramer with Karin Floyd & Nichole Grodski
Arizona Endurance Rider & Runner With Her Al Khamsa Arabian Made of Steel
We sat down with one of 2021’s Tevis Cup’s Top 5 competitors, athlete Susie Kramer, who competes on her 2010 Al Khamsa Egyptian Gelding, A Ali Aseel (Ali Reshan x Zeena Z), otherwise known as “Steel”, and got to pick her brain on her amazing partner, the sport of endurance and everything in between.
Al Khamsa: You are an inspiration and ambassador for our horses! How long have you been involved with horses and could you provide us with some information on your horse background so we can get to know you better? Susie Kramer: I acquired my first horse, Reveille, a young Thoroughbred filly from the race track, in 1991. I took lessons and learned how to ride with her and we went on to have success in many local hunter/jumper shows over several years. I also had an older gaited paint mare that was her companion when I lived in Pennsylvania.
At the time of this interview, Susie and Steel have 2180 endurance miles under their belt. Steel has 38/40 rides with Susie, 40 completions, 18 Best Conditions (two of those were LD’s), 26 1sts, 10 2nds, and completed The Tevis Cup 100 Mile Ride and Western States Endurance Run 100 in 2021. As if completing these two grueling races in the same year wasn’t a victory enough, the duo currently holds the fastest combined time for female competitors, and Susie is also the oldest woman to do this. Their 2021 Tevis finish time was 15hrs:58sec — four hours quicker than 2019 … and came in at the same time as the 2nd and 3rd place runners for her 4th place victory! They picked up 1st in Mileage, 1st in Featherweight, 1st Overall Points and 1st Best Condition for the Southwest Region, as well as 3rd Best Condition nationally with the AERC in 2021. By the time this interview gets to print, however, their accomplishments may very well have exceeded what’s printed today, as it’s hard to keep up with this fastmoving team!
Are you an Arizona native or transplant? I moved to Arizona in 2009. I am a Pennsylvania native, but I feel so much more at home living in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. I began a part time job as an equestrian trail guide for Windwalker Expeditions, and it was there that I was introduced to the Arabian breed and to the sport of endurance riding. How long have you been a long distance runner? I joined the cross country and track teams in 8th grade and I continued until graduation from high school in 1983. I ran my first marathon in 1998 and my first ultra marathon in 2006, and my first 100 mile distance in 2012. My interest in endurance running just sort of evolved as I ran with friends who encouraged me to run longer distances after having success at the marathon distance. I qualified for the Boston Marathon with my first marathon in 1998.
You might recognize some of the famous Straight Egyptian name’s in Steel’s pedigree from the show rings of the past, such as Ruminaja Ali, The Minstril, Ansata Ibn Halima, and The Egyptian Prince, along with a slew of E.A.O./Inshass breeding, but one thing is for sure — he is a force to be reckoned with over some rough terrain and long miles! His performance record speaks for itself, and it’s apparent this horse LOVES his job. He is a perfect example of the versatile and functional Al Khamsa Arabian athlete.
How did your interest in endurance racing develop and why do you love it? Upon moving to Arizona and getting the job as the equestrian trail guide, it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Arabian breed or endurance riding. My lead horse, Ariel, was an Arabian. She was smart, athletic, and gorgeous! I developed a friendship with a local endurance rider, and she mentored me through several rides with Ariel. We completed top 10 in three rides together in 2010.
We are grateful to have gotten to talk with Susie and for her taking time out of her schedule to share both her insight and experience with our readers, and are honored to have them as Al Khamsa ambassadors. She is such an interesting and inspiring woman…and he is such an amazing horse! Watch out for them in 2022!
I took a break from endurance riding until 2014 when I was asked if I would like to ride Tevis on my friends’ horse. I needed to have a minimum of 300 endurance miles to compete, 44
