Congratulations to Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss and Hadji Halef Omar, winner’s of this year’s AERC Pard’ners award.

Steve Bradley photo

From AERC: This award was established in honor of the late Mae Schlegel and her horse “Pard” and recognizes the rider and horse who perform together as a mutually bonded team. Rider and horse engender a spirit of friendship, enthusiasm and championship that makes those around them glad to have attended the ride. However competitive they may be, good sportsmanship remains their first priority. Horse and rider take care of each other. Together horse and rider personify the prevailing and abiding goal of AERC: “To finish is to win.”

Stephanie and Hadji, a 25-year-old Arabian gelding, have been competing in endurance for 18 consecutive years, have over 10,000 miles together, with almost 8000 miles in Renegades since 2007. Stephanie is a long-time user of Renegades, and has multiple horses compete in Renegade® Hoof Boots. She is a gracious competitor who is always willing to loan out a spare boot to a fellow rider, or offer up one of her horses to those in need of a ride.

Thank you so much to Renegade Hoof Boots. Without your amazing products and customer service Hadji and I would have never achieved this epic milestone together. [Over] 10,050 Endurance miles! Over 7,700 of those miles in Renegade Boots since 2007! Your Boots have made it possible for Hadji to continue to go down the trail safe and sound for 18 consecutive years to date. Over 700 miles last year alone and he will be turning 25 years old in September, with no signs of slowing down. Can’t thank you guys enough. — Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss

In addition to the Pard’ners Award, Stephanie and Hadji finished the 2017 AERC year in the following awards standings:

  • 6th place National Mileage Championship, 1085 miles
  • 2nd Place Pioneer Award, Lightweight Division
  • 1st Place Southwest Region points, Lightweight Division
  • 2nd Place Southwest Region points overall
Steve Bradley photo