MEMBER Feature: TERRE O’BRENNAN

Terre O’ Brennan was totally fascinated with horses from childhood, but due to her urban lifestyle didn’t get to start riding until her teens...when she got her driver’s license and was able to drive herself to the barn. Terre started out by renting horses at first, then she bought her own. Her primary interest was trail riding, and she admits she did much of it. Then, in the early 1980s, Terre discovered Endurance Riding, which is intense trail riding with a challenge and purpose and has been doing it since. Terre sits on the Board of several equestrian organizations, including HCBC, the Endurance Riders Association of BC, and Pacific Northwest Endurance Rides. As well as competing in endurance riding, she also hosts several endurance rides every year.

Terre currently has two horses. One being Koszaar who we will unfold more of his story in this article and Koszaar’s, nephew Royale Warsaw SE. Terre has also just recently lost Moon Myth, at 37 years of age. All of Terre horses since the 1980s with the exemption of Warsaw, who still might, have competed in Endurance, specifically the 160 km events.

Koszaar and Warsaw come from exceptional Endurance bloodlines in the USA. When Terre acquired Koszaar (he was actually given to her by an internet ‘friend’ whom she had never met) he was a 5 year old stallion (standing). Terre had him gelded on arrival in Canada and began starting him under saddle; He was ‘trained’ for a year and he began competing at 7 years of age. From the beginning Terre had lofty goals for Koszaar; even before he was broken to ride, Terre had her eyes set on the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He became a leading competition horse provincially and regionally, qualified for WEG and in fact Terre and Koszaar went as the Alternate for the Canadian Team. They didn’t draw in to ride at WEG but did complete the pre-ride over the same course the year previous. What an accomplishment!

Koszaar was always an exceptional athlete, many wins and Best Condition awards, year end awards from many organizations. He completed 13 one-day 160 km rides, several of the FEI, two of those at World qualifying speed. A few years ago Terre, began to think about retiring him; he was in his twenties and had done everything she ever wanted him to do. Terre thought she had no goals left...except to go over 5,000 competitive lifetime miles (8000 kms). No horse from British Columbia has ever done that; the mountainous rides are extremely challenging compared to many other parts of the Endurance world. There is a dozen or so horses from Canada who have done it, but most of them spent the winter in the southern US, competing all year round. Most horses who have gone over that mileage did so via slow, steady completions; there are very, very few horses who combined both speed and longevity. There is a saying in the endurance sport that a horse can have a fast career, or a long one, but not both. Koszaar is the exception to that saying. Since Koszaar was already over about 4500 miles Terre began to aim for that goal. Unfortunately then came Covid, and fires, and cancelled competitions.... remarkably Terre and Koszaar crossed that final line in August of this year. He is 26 years old. NOW he can retire to ride recreationally!

In addition to being an exceptional athlete, Koszaar has an exceptional mind. He is steady as a rock and totally workoriented. Terre says, “you cannot tell him anything; he knows his job and considers me to be pretty much white noise.” If Terre tries to stop and encourage him to eat grass on the trail, he will snatch a mouthful and immediately move off again; he has no patience with wasting time. Terre explains that Koszaar is is a far, far more focused competitor than she will ever be!

Terre tell us about one of her memorable rides which was the first ever Highland Valley Endurance ride near Logan Lake. The event was 80 kms (50 miles). In Endurance, the horse undergoes a veterinary inspection prior to the ride, and then completes a number of phases of about 14-20 miles in length; after each phase they get a timed rest period that begins when their pulse returns to a pre-set criteria--during that time they are again inspected by a veterinarian to ensure that they are sound and metabolically able to go out on the next phase. During this time the horses are given food, water, the riders also clean tack during that ‘hold’, and then go out on the next phase.

This repeats until distance is done. Final veterinary inspection at the end; horses will be eliminated at the finish if they are not in acceptable condition, so the rider has to be very mindful of how they manage their partner. As with almost all Endurance rides, Terre says she camps with her horses. In this case, the ride was held at a spectacularly beautiful cattle ranch, with many facilities including a snack bar serving meals...Terre says that is a wonderful, and not typical, addition. Terre chose to take Koszaar to this ride because it was relatively ‘flat’ by British Columbia standards (only a mere 4000 ft of elevation change over 50 miles). She was trying to not ride my aging horse on the more mountainous rides; his young nephew can do those!

Terre explains that in order to get horses fit for riding these competitions you train them by riding...a lot. Not usually fast, but many, many miles to build fitness. Terre enlightens us on the pre-ride routine that includes walking, trotting in hand, stretching, and some trotting under saddle to warm up. These rides typically start at dawn, so there isn’t a lot of time to do this prior to the start. During the ride Terre says she tries to drink as much water as possible and she take electrolyte tablets. Terre jokes that now that she is in her 70s, it’s not as easy as it used to be! Terre tries to eat something and drink V8 juice during the holds, while catering to her horse’s every need.

When asked who inspires her the most, Terre says Koszaar. She works to try to deserve him. Terre gives thanks to her many friends who have helped her over the years, especially Elaine Bessuille who was Koszaar’s official “groom” at all his FEI events, and still helps Terre to this day. Koszaar and Terre share a special bond and their love and appreciation to one and other is ever so evident.